---
title: psalm — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «psalm» in the school dictionary: A psalm is a holy song or poem in the Book of Psalms in the Bible, used by Jews and Christians to praise, thank, or call out to God. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# psalm

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** psalm, choir, teacher, Lord, shepherd, Many psalms · **What happens:** be, use, praise, thank, call out, sing · **To what, where:** holy song, God, such song, church service, psalm, start · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«psalm» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [psalm in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/psalm.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A psalm is a holy song or poem in the Book of Psalms in the Bible, used by Jews and Christians to praise, thank, or call out to God.

<!-- fold The tree, 29 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:m1:1
# text = A psalm is a holy song or poem in the Book of Psalms in the Bible, used by Jews and Christians to praise, thank, or call out to God.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	holy	holy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	poem	poem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Book	Book	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	Psalms	Psalm	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	11	nmod	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
19	by	by	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	Jews	Jew	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	18	obl:agent	_	_
21	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
22	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	20	conj	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	praise	praise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
26	thank	thank	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
28	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
29	call	call	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	26	parataxis	_	_
30	out	out	ADP	RP	_	29	compound:prt	_	_
31	to	to	ADP	IN	_	32	case	_	_
32	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	29	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a psalm | a holy song or poem in the Book of Psalms in the Bible |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a holy song or poem in the Book of Psalms in the Bible *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **praise** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **thank** *speech: thank* | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **call out** *speech: assert* | infinitive |  |  | God |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to god=Recipient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A psalm is any such song sung or said in a church or synagogue service.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:m2:1
# text = A psalm is any such song sung or said in a church or synagogue service.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	sung	sing	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	conj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
12	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	compound	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	synagogue	synagogue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	_
15	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a psalm | any such song |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | participle |  | any such song *not said here* |  | a church service |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in service=Location |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The choir sang a psalm at the start of the service.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:x1:1
# text = The choir sang a psalm at the start of the service.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	choir	choir	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | the choir | a psalm |  | the start of the service |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location psalm=Theme |
| 2 | **start** |  |  | the service |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our RE teacher read Psalm 23 aloud to the class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:x2:1
# text = Our RE teacher read Psalm 23 aloud to the class.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	RE	re	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	Psalm	Psalm	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	23	23	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	flat	_	_
7	aloud	aloud	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | Our teacher | Psalm | the class |  |  | aloud *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent psalm=Topic to class=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The Lord is my shepherd" is the first line of a famous psalm.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:x3:1
# text = "The Lord is my shepherd" is the first line of a famous psalm.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Lord	Lord	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	shepherd	shepherd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	11	amod	_	_
11	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the Lord | my shepherd |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | my shepherd | the first line |  |  |  | of a famous psalm | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many psalms are prayers for help in hard times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:x4:1
# text = Many psalms are prayers for help in hard times.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	psalms	psalm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	prayers	prayer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Many psalms | prayers |  |  |  | for help in hard times | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At Grandpa's funeral, the vicar read a psalm about green pastures.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:x5:1
# text = At Grandpa's funeral, the vicar read a psalm about green pastures.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	funeral	funeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	vicar	vicar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	pastures	pasture	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | the vicar | a psalm |  | Grandpa's funeral |  | about green pastures | vn register-54.1-2-1 «NP V NP PP.value»: agent=Agent psalm=Theme at funeral=Value |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We wrote our own psalm of thanks for the harvest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:x6:1
# text = We wrote our own psalm of thanks for the harvest.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	thanks	thanks	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	harvest	harvest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | We | our own psalm of thanks for the harvest |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent psalm=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some psalms are happy and some are full of sorrow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:x7:1
# text = Some psalms are happy and some are full of sorrow.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	psalms	psalm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	nsubj	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	sorrow	sorrow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | some psalms |  |  |  |  | happy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | some |  |  |  |  | of sorrow; full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was a psalm of praise and thanksgiving.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:psalm:x8:1
# text = It was a psalm of praise and thanksgiving.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	psalm	psalm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	praise	praise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	thanksgiving	thanksgiving	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | a psalm and thanksgiving |  |  |  | of praise | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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