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Read and compare legal definitions

get_defined_term
Read-onlyIdempotent

Use this to read and compare the held legislative definitions of a term, such as payment transaction in PSD2 and PSR. These are source definitions, not a general dictionary or a legal opinion. Every definition verbatim and resolved, clustered by what the text actually says, with the chronological and concurrent views and word-level comparisons between them. Resolution follows the CITED version, never legislative succession: a definition citing a repealed act resolves to that act and is labelled repealed, not silently replaced by its successor's wording. A term the corpus does not define is refused with suggestions — nothing is substituted. references_in gives the reverse edges: which definitions lean on this one.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
termYesThe defined term, as written in the legislation ("payment account"). Matched exactly after normalisation; a term the corpus does not define is refused with suggestions, never answered with a neighbouring one.
viewNoWhich text clusters and comparisons run on. "resolved" (default) follows each definition's pointers to its root; "verbatim" uses the text as each instrument prints it.
on_dateNoISO date. Adds operative_on_date and temporal_state_on_date per definer, and makes the concurrent view that date's rather than the release's.
comparisonNoWhich comparisons to compute. "adjacent" (default) compares consecutive distinct clusters in chronological order; {baseline: cluster_id} compares one cluster against every other; {pair: [cite, cite]} compares two named definitions; {concurrent_pairs: {}} compares every pair that was in force at once.
instrumentNoNarrow the definitions listed to one definer. The clusters, views and comparisons stay corpus-wide: what the term means elsewhere does not change because you asked about one instrument.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
dataYes
errorYes
coverageYes
warningsYes
paginationYes
provenanceYes
derivationsYes
corpus_releaseYes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed7 schema fields changed
    • changedInput schema / properties / comparison / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
      -  {
      -    "anyOf": [
      -      {
      -        "const": "adjacent",
      -        "type": "string"
      -      },
      -      {
      -        "properties": {
      -          "baseline": {
      -            "type": "string"
      -          }
      -        },
      -        "required": [
      -          "baseline"
      -        ],
      -        "type": "object"
      -      },
      -      {
      -        "properties": {
      -          "pair": {
      -            "prefixItems": [
      -              {
      -                "type": "string"
      -              },
      -              {
      -                "type": "string"
      -              }
      -            ],
      -            "type": "array"
      -          }
      -        },
      -        "required": [
      -          "pair"
      -        ],
      -        "type": "object"
      -      },
      -      {
      -        "properties": {
      -          "concurrent_pairs": {
      -            "properties": {
      -              "cursor": {
      -                "anyOf": [
      -                  {
      -                    "type": "string"
      -                  },
      -                  {
      -                    "type": "null"
      -                  }
      -                ]
      -              }
      -            },
      -            "type": "object"
      -          }
      -        },
      -        "required": [
      -          "concurrent_pairs"
      -        ],
      -        "type": "object"
      -      }
      -    ]
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]New value: +[
      +  {
      +    "anyOf": [
      +      {
      +        "const": "adjacent",
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      {
      +        "properties": {
      +          "baseline": {
      +            "type": "string"
      +          }
      +        },
      +        "required": [
      +          "baseline"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "object"
      +      },
      +      {
      +        "properties": {
      +          "pair": {
      +            "items": false,
      +            "maxItems": 2,
      +            "minItems": 2,
      +            "prefixItems": [
      +              {
      +                "type": "string"
      +              },
      +              {
      +                "type": "string"
      +              }
      +            ],
      +            "type": "array"
      +          }
      +        },
      +        "required": [
      +          "pair"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "object"
      +      },
      +      {
      +        "properties": {
      +          "concurrent_pairs": {
      +            "properties": {
      +              "cursor": {
      +                "type": [
      +                  "string",
      +                  "null"
      +                ]
      +              }
      +            },
      +            "type": "object"
      +          }
      +        },
      +        "required": [
      +          "concurrent_pairs"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "object"
      +      }
      +    ]
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "type": "null"
      +  }
      +]
    • removedInput schema / properties / instrument / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedInput schema / properties / instrument / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • removedInput schema / properties / on_date / anyOf
      Removed value: -[
      -  {
      -    "type": "string"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]
    • addedInput schema / properties / on_date / type
      Added value: +[
      +  "string",
      +  "null"
      +]
    • changedOutput schema / properties / data / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": {},
      -    "properties": {
      -      "clusters": {
      -        "items": {
      -          "additionalProperties": {},
      -          "properties": {
      -            "cluster_id": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            },
      -            "member_cites": {
      -              "items": {
      -                "type": "string"
      -              },
      -              "type": "array"
      -            }
      -          },
      -          "required": [
      -            "cluster_id",
      -            "member_cites"
      -          ],
      -          "type": "object"
      -        },
      -        "type": "array"
      -      },
      -      "comparisons": {
      -        "items": {
      -          "additionalProperties": {},
      -          "properties": {
      -            "from_cite": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            },
      -            "ops": {
      -              "anyOf": [
      -                {
      -                  "items": {
      -                    "prefixItems": [
      -                      {
      -                        "type": "string"
      -                      },
      -                      {
      -                        "type": "string"
      -                      }
      -                    ],
      -                    "type": "array"
      -                  },
      -                  "type": "array"
      -                },
      -                {
      -                  "type": "null"
      -                }
      -              ]
      -            },
      -            "to_cite": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            }
      -          },
      -          "required": [
      -            "from_cite",
      -            "to_cite",
      -            "ops"
      -          ],
      -          "type": "object"
      -        },
      -        "type": "array"
      -      },
      -      "definitions": {
      -        "items": {
      -          "additionalProperties": {},
      -          "properties": {
      -            "cite": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            },
      -            "defined_within": {
      -              "anyOf": [
      -                {
      -                  "type": "string"
      -                },
      -                {
      -                  "type": "null"
      -                }
      -              ]
      -            },
      -            "instrument_id": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            },
      -            "qualifier": {
      -              "anyOf": [
      -                {
      -                  "type": "string"
      -                },
      -                {
      -                  "type": "null"
      -                }
      -              ]
      -            },
      -            "resolution_status": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            },
      -            "resolved_definition": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            },
      -            "verbatim_definition": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            }
      -          },
      -          "required": [
      -            "instrument_id",
      -            "qualifier",
      -            "defined_within",
      -            "cite",
      -            "verbatim_definition",
      -            "resolved_definition",
      -            "resolution_status"
      -          ],
      -          "type": "object"
      -        },
      -        "type": "array"
      -      },
      -      "references_in": {
      -        "items": {
      -          "additionalProperties": {},
      -          "properties": {
      -            "cite": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            },
      -            "instrument_id": {
      -              "type": "string"
      -            }
      -          },
      -          "required": [
      -            "instrument_id",
      -            "cite"
      -          ],
      -          "type": "object"
      -        },
      -        "type": "array"
      -      },
      -      "term": {
      -        "type": "string"
      -      },
      -      "view": {
      -        "type": "string"
      -      },
      -      "views": {
      -        "additionalProperties": {},
      -        "properties": {
      -          "concurrent": {
      -            "items": {
      -              "additionalProperties": {},
      -              "properties": {
      -                "cite": {
      -                  "type": "string"
      -                }
      -              },
      -              "required": [
      -                "cite"
      -              ],
      -              "type": "object"
      -            },
      -            "type": "array"
      -          },
      -          "evolution": {
      -            "items": {
      -              "additionalProperties": {},
      -              "properties": {
      -                "cite": {
      -                  "type": "string"
      -                }
      -              },
      -              "required": [
      -                "cite"
      -              ],
      -              "type": "object"
      -            },
      -            "type": "array"
      -          }
      -        },
      -        "required": [
      -          "evolution",
      -          "concurrent"
      -        ],
      -        "type": "object"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "term",
      -      "view",
      -      "definitions",
      -      "clusters",
      -      "views",
      -      "comparisons",
      -      "references_in"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]New value: +[
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": {},
      +    "properties": {
      +      "clusters": {
      +        "items": {
      +          "additionalProperties": {},
      +          "properties": {
      +            "cluster_id": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            "member_cites": {
      +              "items": {
      +                "type": "string"
      +              },
      +              "type": "array"
      +            }
      +          },
      +          "required": [
      +            "cluster_id",
      +            "member_cites"
      +          ],
      +          "type": "object"
      +        },
      +        "type": "array"
      +      },
      +      "comparisons": {
      +        "items": {
      +          "additionalProperties": {},
      +          "properties": {
      +            "from_cite": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            "ops": {
      +              "anyOf": [
      +                {
      +                  "items": {
      +                    "items": false,
      +                    "maxItems": 2,
      +                    "minItems": 2,
      +                    "prefixItems": [
      +                      {
      +                        "type": "string"
      +                      },
      +                      {
      +                        "type": "string"
      +                      }
      +                    ],
      +                    "type": "array"
      +                  },
      +                  "type": "array"
      +                },
      +                {
      +                  "type": "null"
      +                }
      +              ]
      +            },
      +            "to_cite": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            }
      +          },
      +          "required": [
      +            "from_cite",
      +            "to_cite",
      +            "ops"
      +          ],
      +          "type": "object"
      +        },
      +        "type": "array"
      +      },
      +      "definitions": {
      +        "items": {
      +          "additionalProperties": {},
      +          "properties": {
      +            "cite": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            "defined_within": {
      +              "type": [
      +                "string",
      +                "null"
      +              ]
      +            },
      +            "instrument_id": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            "qualifier": {
      +              "type": [
      +                "string",
      +                "null"
      +              ]
      +            },
      +            "resolution_status": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            "resolved_definition": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            "verbatim_definition": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            }
      +          },
      +          "required": [
      +            "instrument_id",
      +            "qualifier",
      +            "defined_within",
      +            "cite",
      +            "verbatim_definition",
      +            "resolved_definition",
      +            "resolution_status"
      +          ],
      +          "type": "object"
      +        },
      +        "type": "array"
      +      },
      +      "references_in": {
      +        "items": {
      +          "additionalProperties": {},
      +          "properties": {
      +            "cite": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            },
      +            "instrument_id": {
      +              "type": "string"
      +            }
      +          },
      +          "required": [
      +            "instrument_id",
      +            "cite"
      +          ],
      +          "type": "object"
      +        },
      +        "type": "array"
      +      },
      +      "term": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "view": {
      +        "type": "string"
      +      },
      +      "views": {
      +        "additionalProperties": {},
      +        "properties": {
      +          "concurrent": {
      +            "items": {
      +              "additionalProperties": {},
      +              "properties": {
      +                "cite": {
      +                  "type": "string"
      +                }
      +              },
      +              "required": [
      +                "cite"
      +              ],
      +              "type": "object"
      +            },
      +            "type": "array"
      +          },
      +          "evolution": {
      +            "items": {
      +              "additionalProperties": {},
      +              "properties": {
      +                "cite": {
      +                  "type": "string"
      +                }
      +              },
      +              "required": [
      +                "cite"
      +              ],
      +              "type": "object"
      +            },
      +            "type": "array"
      +          }
      +        },
      +        "required": [
      +          "evolution",
      +          "concurrent"
      +        ],
      +        "type": "object"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "term",
      +      "view",
      +      "definitions",
      +      "clusters",
      +      "views",
      +      "comparisons",
      +      "references_in"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "type": "null"
      +  }
      +]
    • changedOutput schema / properties / pagination / anyOf
      Previous value: -[
      -  {
      -    "additionalProperties": false,
      -    "properties": {
      -      "complete": {
      -        "type": "boolean"
      -      },
      -      "next_cursor": {
      -        "anyOf": [
      -          {
      -            "type": "string"
      -          },
      -          {
      -            "type": "null"
      -          }
      -        ]
      -      },
      -      "total": {
      -        "type": "number"
      -      }
      -    },
      -    "required": [
      -      "complete",
      -      "next_cursor"
      -    ],
      -    "type": "object"
      -  },
      -  {
      -    "type": "null"
      -  }
      -]New value: +[
      +  {
      +    "additionalProperties": false,
      +    "properties": {
      +      "complete": {
      +        "type": "boolean"
      +      },
      +      "next_cursor": {
      +        "type": [
      +          "string",
      +          "null"
      +        ]
      +      },
      +      "total": {
      +        "type": "number"
      +      }
      +    },
      +    "required": [
      +      "complete",
      +      "next_cursor"
      +    ],
      +    "type": "object"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "type": "null"
      +  }
      +]
  2. First observed

TDQS

A4.5/5.0
Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Beyond the annotations (readOnlyHint, idempotentHint), the description discloses key resolution behavior: definitions follow the CITED version rather than legislative succession, repealed acts are labelled as such, undefined terms are refused with suggestions, and references_in provides reverse edges. This is substantive behavioral context that annotations alone do not supply.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is dense but every sentence serves a purpose: purpose, scope, output style, resolution semantics, refusal behavior, and a related output field. It is front-loaded with the core purpose and avoids filler.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's complexity, the annotations, the fully documented schema, and an output schema, the description is complete. It explains subtle behavioral guarantees (cited-version resolution, refusal with suggestions) that an agent needs to call the tool correctly and interpret results.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema already covers all parameters with detailed descriptions, so the baseline is 3. The tool description adds general context about resolved vs verbatim views and comparisons but does not add parameter-specific meaning beyond the schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb ('read and compare') and resource ('held legislative definitions of a term'), giving a concrete example (payment transaction in PSD2 and PSR). It also distinguishes itself from a general dictionary or legal opinion, separating it from broader lookup tools.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The opening 'Use this to...' clearly frames the intended scenario, and the 'not a general dictionary or a legal opinion' phrasing sets boundaries. However, it does not explicitly name alternatives or state when to choose a sibling tool like search_defined_terms or compare_versions.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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