---
title: What is the meaning of the term steward as employed in the passage,… — Fairy Tales, The Gold-Bearded Man, par… · tree and pragmatics
description: What is the meaning of the term steward as employed in the passage, and what is the approximate equivalent of that office in contemporary usage? Exam question 4 of lesson 694 «Fairy Tales, The Gold-Bearded Man, part 34: the prince frees a prisoner, meets three grateful creatures, and is set a grain-
---

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# Exam question 4 · Fairy Tales, The Gold-Bearded Man, part 34: the prince fre…

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What is the meaning of the term steward as employed in the passage, and what is the approximate equivalent of that office in contemporary usage?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 2 · **The right answer:** option 2 · right ✓ · **Who acts:** meaning, term steward · **What happens:** be, employ, mean · **To what, where:** term steward, passage, approximate equivalent

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 4 of lesson 694 «Fairy Tales, The Gold-Bearded Man, part 34: the prince frees a prisoner, meets three grateful creatures, and is set a grain-sorting task» of the books course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/books/694-pg2435-part34/#e4).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:694-pg2435-part34:e4:1
# text = What is the meaning of the term steward as employed in the passage, and what is the approximate equivalent of that office in contemporary usage?
1	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	term	term	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	steward	steward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	employed	employ	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	passage	passage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
16	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	20	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	cop	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	approximate	approximate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	equivalent	equivalent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
21	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	23	det	_	_
23	office	office	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	_
24	in	in	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	contemporary	contemporary	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	usage	usage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the meaning of the term steward and the approximate equivalent |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **employ** | participle |  | the term steward and the approximate equivalent *not said here* |  | the passage |  |  | vn hire-13.5.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present | the term steward and the approximate equivalent | the approximate equivalent |  |  |  | of that office in contemporary usage | tree rules |
| 4 | **mean** |  |  | the term steward and the approximate equivalent |  |  |  |  | nom meaning «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .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.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steward was a kind of officer who oversaw the lord's servants and goods, roughly like a present-day administrator

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:694-pg2435-part34:e4:o1:1
# text = A steward was a kind of officer who oversaw the lord's servants and goods, roughly like a present-day administrator
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steward	steward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	officer	officer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	oversaw	oversee	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	's	PART	POS	_	11	case	_	_
13	servants	servant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
17	roughly	roughly	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
18	like	like	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
20	present	present	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	administrator	administrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a steward | a kind and a day administrator |  |  |  | of officer | tree rules |
| 2 | **oversee** | past | a kind and a day administrator | the lord's servants and goods |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2-1 «NP V NP.predicate»: agent=Agent servant=Eventuality |

### Option 2 · ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steward is a manager of a lord's household and goods, equivalent to a modern manager or housekeeper

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:694-pg2435-part34:e4:o2:1
# text = A steward is a manager of a lord's household and goods, equivalent to a modern manager or housekeeper
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steward	steward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	household	household	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	equivalent	equivalent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
15	to	to	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	housekeeper	housekeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a steward | a manager |  |  |  | of a lord's household and goods | tree rules |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steward is a manager of a lord's household and all of its goods, servants, and affairs, equivalent in modern times to a general manager, bursar, or household administrator who oversees daily operations

<!-- fold The tree, 34 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:694-pg2435-part34:e4:o3:1
# text = A steward is a manager of a lord's household and all of its goods, servants, and affairs, equivalent in modern times to a general manager, bursar, or household administrator who oversees daily operations
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steward	steward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	household	household	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	10	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	goods	goods	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	servants	servant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
20	affairs	affair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	equivalent	equivalent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	obl	_	_
26	to	to	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
28	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	29	amod	_	_
29	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	31	punct	_	_
31	bursar	bursar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	35	punct	_	_
33	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	35	cc	_	_
34	household	household	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	35	compound	_	_
35	administrator	administrator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
36	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	37	nsubj	_	_
37	oversees	oversee	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	35	acl:relcl	_	_
38	daily	daily	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	39	amod	_	_
39	operations	operation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	37	obj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a steward | a manager or household administrator |  |  |  | of a lord's household | tree rules |
| 2 | **oversee** | present | household administrator | daily operations |  |  |  |  | vn supervision-95.2.2-1 «NP V NP.predicate»: agent=Agent operation=Eventuality |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A steward is a type of household servant who runs a lord's estate and property, similar to today's estate manager

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:books:694-pg2435-part34:e4:o4:1
# text = A steward is a type of household servant who runs a lord's estate and property, similar to today's estate manager
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	steward	steward	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	type	type	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	household	household	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
8	servant	servant	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	runs	run	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	lord	lord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	's	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	estate	estate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	property	property	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
19	to	to	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
20	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	's	's	PART	POS	_	20	case	_	_
22	estate	estate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	compound	_	_
23	manager	manager	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a steward | a type |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **servant** | present | a type *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of household | tree rules |
| 3 | **run** | present |  | a lord's estate and property |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme estate=Trajectory |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **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 text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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- ← previous: [Fairy Tales, The Gold-Bearded Man, par…, exam 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/694-pg2435-part34/e3/)
- next →: [Fairy Tales, The Lost Princess and the…, test 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/695-pg2435-part35/t1/)
- ↑ back to [Fairy Tales, The Gold-Bearded Man, part 34: the prince frees a prisoner, meets three grateful creatures, and is set a grain-sorting task](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/questions/books/694-pg2435-part34/)