---
title: scribe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scribe» in the school dictionary: A person whose job was to write or copy documents by hand, before printing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scribe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** scribes, adult, pupil, Ancient Egyptian scribes, monk, scribe · **What happens:** be, copy, print, write down, answer, write · **To what, where:** documents, experts, Jewish law, answers, test, papyrus · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«scribe» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [scribe in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scribe.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person whose job was to write or copy documents by hand, before printing.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:m1:1
# text = A person whose job was to write or copy documents by hand, before printing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	whose	whose	PRON	WP$	Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	job	job	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	copy	copy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	documents	document	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
14	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
15	printing	print	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past |  |  |  |  |  | write *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **copy** | infinitive |  | documents |  |  |  | by hand | vn transcribe-25.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent document=Theme by hand=Destination |
| 3 | **print** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the New Testament, the scribes were experts in Jewish law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:m2:1
# text = In the New Testament, the scribes were experts in Jewish law.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	New	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	Testament	Testament	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	scribes	scribe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	experts	expert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	Jewish	Jewish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the scribes | experts |  | Jewish law |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An adult who writes down a pupil's answers in a test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:m3:1
# text = An adult who writes down a pupil's answers in a test.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nsubj	_	_
4	writes	write	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
5	down	down	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pupil	pupil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	's	PART	POS	_	7	case	_	_
9	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write down** | present | a adult | a pupil's answers |  | a test |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent answer=Theme in test=Destination |
| 2 | **answer** |  | a pupil |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A writer or journalist.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:m4:1
# text = A writer or journalist.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	writer	writer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	journalist	journalist	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient Egyptian scribes wrote on papyrus.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:x1:1
# text = Ancient Egyptian scribes wrote on papyrus.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	Egyptian	Egyptian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	scribes	scribe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	papyrus	papyrus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Ancient Egyptian scribes |  |  | papyrus |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent on papyrus=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The monk worked as a scribe copying the Bible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:x2:1
# text = The monk worked as a scribe copying the Bible.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	monk	monk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	worked	work	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	scribe	scribe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	copying	copy	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | past | the monk |  |  |  |  | as a scribe | vn employment-95.3 «NP V PP.attribute PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent as scribe=Attribute |
| 2 | **copy** | gerund | a scribe *not said here* | the Bible |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bible=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the Bible, Jesus argued with the scribes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:x3:1
# text = In the Bible, Jesus argued with the scribes.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	argued	argue	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	scribes	scribe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | past | Jesus |  |  | the Bible |  | with the scribes | vn chit\_chat-37.6-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with scribe=Co-Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scribe helped Sam write his test answers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:x4:1
# text = A scribe helped Sam write his test answers.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scribe	scribe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | a scribe |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **write** | infinitive | Sam | Sam's test answers |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 3 | **answer** |  | Sam |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can be the scribe for your group.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:x5:1
# text = You can be the scribe for your group.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
3	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	scribe	scribe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | You | the scribe |  |  |  | for your group | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king's scribe wrote down every word.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:x6:1
# text = The king's scribe wrote down every word.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	scribe	scribe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	down	down	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write down** | past | the king's scribe | every word |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
By his orders this story and the others I had told him were written by his scribes in letters of gold, and laid up among his treasures.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scribe:x7:1
# text = By his orders this story and the others I had told him were written by his scribes in letters of gold, and laid up among his treasures.
1	By	by	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	orders	order	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
9	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	told	tell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
12	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj:pass	_	_
13	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	xcomp	_	_
15	by	by	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	scribes	scribe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
18	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	gold	gold	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
23	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	laid	lay	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	conj	_	_
25	up	up	ADP	RP	_	24	compound:prt	_	_
26	among	among	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	28	nmod:poss	_	_
28	treasures	treasure	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past · perfect · passive | his orders | this story and the others |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent subject=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **write** *not said to happen* | past · passive | his scribes | him *= he* |  | letters of gold |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent subject=Theme in letter=Destination |
| 3 | **lay up** | participle | his orders *not said here* |  |  | his treasures |  |  | vn put\_spatial-9.2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent among treasure=Destination |
| 4 | **order** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom order «communication transitive»: poss=agent |
| 5 | **letter** |  |  | gold |  |  |  |  | nom letter «communication transitive»: of=patient |
| 6 | **treasure** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom treasure «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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