diff --git a/parsimonious/examples/__init__.py b/parsimonious/examples/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/parsimonious/examples/grammar_syntax_extension.py b/parsimonious/examples/grammar_syntax_extension.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f1692d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parsimonious/examples/grammar_syntax_extension.py
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+"""
+This example extends parsimonious's grammar syntax for a different approach to token grammars:
+* CAPITALIZED references are refer to ``token.type`` names. They do not need to be explicitly
+  named elsewhere in the grammar.
+* lowercase references are refer to other rules.
+* A token's attributes can match rules, e.g. requiring that an attribute be a date in a particular
+  format. This uses a syntax similar to Xpath's ``node[@attr='value']`` syntax.
+"""
+
+from typing import Dict
+
+from parsimonious.grammar import Grammar, LazyReference
+from parsimonious.expressions import Expression
+from parsimonious.nodes import Node
+
+
+class TokenRef(Expression):
+    def __init__(self, ref, name=""):
+        super().__init__(name=name)
+        self.ref = ref
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        if self.name:
+            return f"TokenRef({self.ref!r}, {self.name!r})"
+        else:
+            return f"TokenRef({self.ref!r})"
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return self.ref
+
+    def _as_rhs(self):
+        return self.ref
+
+    def _uncached_match(self, token_list, pos, cache, error):
+        if self.ref == getattr(token_list[pos], "type", None):
+            return Node(self, token_list, pos, pos + 1, children=[])
+
+
+class AttrsPredicateExpression(Expression):
+    """
+    A predicate expression that matches a node with a given set of attributes.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, token_type, attrs: Dict[str, str], name=""):
+        self.attrs = attrs
+        self.token_type = token_type
+        super().__init__(name=name)
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f"AttrsPredicateExpression({self.token_type}[{self.attrs}])" % self.attrs
+
+    def _uncached_match(self, token_list, pos, cache, error):
+
+        tok_match = self.token_type.match_core(token_list, pos, cache, error)
+        if tok_match:
+            tok = token_list[pos]
+            for k, v in self.attrs.items():
+                attr = getattr(tok, k, None)
+                if not isinstance(attr, str) or not v.parse(attr):
+                    return None
+            # TODO: should children have each of the attr matches?
+            return Node(self, token_list, pos, pos+1, children=[tok_match])
+
+
+class AttrsTokenGrammar(Grammar):
+    rule_grammar = Grammar.rule_grammar.extend(r"""
+        # TODO: Support lexer natively?
+        term = attrs_predicate_expression / ^term
+
+        # Token names are required to be all-caps alphanumeric, with underscores.
+        reference = token_reference / ^reference
+        token_reference = ~r"[A-Z_][A-Z0-9_]*" _ !equals
+
+        attrs_predicate_expression = token_reference "[" _ attr_expressions "]" _
+        attr_expressions = ("@" label "=" _ expression _)+
+    """)
+
+    class visitor_cls(Grammar.visitor_cls):
+        def visit_token_reference(self, node, children) -> str:
+            ref, _, _ = children
+            return TokenRef(ref.text, name=ref.text)
+
+        def visit_reference(self, node, children):
+            if isinstance(children[0], TokenRef):
+                return children[0]
+            else:
+                return LazyReference(children[0])
+
+        def visit_attrs_predicate_expression(self, node, children):
+            label, _, lbrac,  attr_expressions, rbrac, _ = children
+            return AttrsPredicateExpression(label, attr_expressions)
+
+        def visit_attr_expressions(self, node, children) -> Dict[str, Expression]:
+            predicates = {}
+            for at, label, equals, _, expression, _ in children:
+                assert isinstance(label, str)
+                predicates[label] = expression
+            return predicates
diff --git a/parsimonious/expressions.py b/parsimonious/expressions.py
index f93f2c6..aafa9f5 100644
--- a/parsimonious/expressions.py
+++ b/parsimonious/expressions.py
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ def resolve_refs(self, rule_map):
         # Nothing to do on the base expression.
         return self
 
+    def resolve_inherited_references(self, rule_map):
+        return self
+
     def parse(self, text, pos=0):
         """Return a parse tree of ``text``.
 
@@ -324,6 +327,10 @@ def resolve_refs(self, rule_map):
         self.members = tuple(m.resolve_refs(rule_map) for m in self.members)
         return self
 
+    def resolve_inherited_references(self, rule_map):
+        self.members = tuple(m.resolve_inherited_references(rule_map) for m in self.members)
+        return self
+
     def __hash__(self):
         # Note we leave members out of the hash computation, since compounds can get added to
         # sets, then have their members mutated. See RuleVisitor._resolve_refs.
diff --git a/parsimonious/grammar.py b/parsimonious/grammar.py
index 367f27e..a888e99 100644
--- a/parsimonious/grammar.py
+++ b/parsimonious/grammar.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 """
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from textwrap import dedent
+from typing import Type
 
 from parsimonious.exceptions import BadGrammar, UndefinedLabel
 from parsimonious.expressions import (Literal, Regex, Sequence, OneOf,
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ class Grammar(OrderedDict):
       increase cache hit ratio. [Is this implemented yet?]
 
     """
+    rule_visitor: Type["RuleVisitor"]
+    rule_grammar: "Grammar"
+
     def __init__(self, rules='', **more_rules):
         """Construct a grammar.
 
@@ -58,15 +62,29 @@ def __init__(self, rules='', **more_rules):
             ``rules`` in case of naming conflicts.
 
         """
+        # Retain a copy of the arguments to allow grammar extensions
+        self.rule_definition = rules, more_rules
 
         decorated_custom_rules = {
             k: (expression(v, k, self) if is_callable(v) else v)
             for k, v in more_rules.items()}
 
-        exprs, first = self._expressions_from_rules(rules, decorated_custom_rules)
+        exprs, first = self.expressions_from_rules(rules, decorated_custom_rules)
         super().__init__(exprs.items())
         self.default_rule = first  # may be None
 
+    def extend(self, rules: str, **more_rules) -> "Grammar":
+        """Return a new grammar with the given rules added.
+        """
+        new_rules = f"""
+            {self.rule_definition[0]}
+            =========================
+            {rules}
+        """
+        new_more_rules = self.rule_definition[1].copy()
+        new_more_rules.update(more_rules)
+        return Grammar(new_rules, **new_more_rules)
+
     def default(self, rule_name):
         """Return a new Grammar whose :term:`default rule` is ``rule_name``."""
         new = self._copy()
@@ -86,7 +104,8 @@ def _copy(self):
         new.default_rule = self.default_rule
         return new
 
-    def _expressions_from_rules(self, rules, custom_rules):
+    @classmethod
+    def expressions_from_rules(cls, rules, custom_rules):
         """Return a 2-tuple: a dict of rule names pointing to their
         expressions, and then the first rule.
 
@@ -99,8 +118,8 @@ def _expressions_from_rules(self, rules, custom_rules):
             Expressions
 
         """
-        tree = rule_grammar.parse(rules)
-        return RuleVisitor(custom_rules).visit(tree)
+        tree = cls.rule_grammar.parse(rules)
+        return cls.visitor_cls(custom_rules).visit(tree)
 
     def parse(self, text, pos=0):
         """Parse some text with the :term:`default rule`.
@@ -141,18 +160,6 @@ def __repr__(self):
         return "Grammar({!r})".format(str(self))
 
 
-class TokenGrammar(Grammar):
-    """A Grammar which takes a list of pre-lexed tokens instead of text
-
-    This is useful if you want to do the lexing yourself, as a separate pass:
-    for example, to implement indentation-based languages.
-
-    """
-    def _expressions_from_rules(self, rules, custom_rules):
-        tree = rule_grammar.parse(rules)
-        return TokenRuleVisitor(custom_rules).visit(tree)
-
-
 class BootstrappingGrammar(Grammar):
     """The grammar used to recognize the textual rules that describe other
     grammars
@@ -162,7 +169,7 @@ class BootstrappingGrammar(Grammar):
     grammar description syntax.
 
     """
-    def _expressions_from_rules(self, rule_syntax, custom_rules):
+    def expressions_from_rules(self, rule_syntax, custom_rules):
         """Return the rules for parsing the grammar definition syntax.
 
         Return a 2-tuple: a dict of rule names pointing to their expressions,
@@ -222,6 +229,7 @@ def _expressions_from_rules(self, rule_syntax, custom_rules):
     # leafmost kinds of nodes. Literals like "/" count as leaves.
 
     rules = _ rule*
+
     rule = label equals expression
     equals = "=" _
     literal = spaceless_literal _
@@ -238,11 +246,12 @@ def _expressions_from_rules(self, rule_syntax, custom_rules):
     lookahead_term = "&" term _
     term = not_term / lookahead_term / quantified / atom
     quantified = atom quantifier
-    atom = reference / literal / regex / parenthesized
+    atom = inherited_reference / reference / literal / regex / parenthesized
     regex = "~" spaceless_literal ~"[ilmsuxa]*"i _
     parenthesized = "(" _ expression ")" _
     quantifier = ~r"[*+?]|\{\d*,\d+\}|\{\d+,\d*\}|\{\d+\}" _
     reference = label !equals
+    inherited_reference = "^" reference
 
     # A subsequent equal sign is the only thing that distinguishes a label
     # (which begins a new rule) from a reference (which is just a pointer to a
@@ -251,8 +260,13 @@ def _expressions_from_rules(self, rule_syntax, custom_rules):
 
     # _ = ~r"\s*(?:#[^\r\n]*)?\s*"
     _ = meaninglessness*
-    meaninglessness = ~r"\s+" / comment
+    meaninglessness = ~r"\s+" / comment / divider
     comment = ~r"#[^\r\n]*"
+
+    # At least two dashes or equals signs. Used for separating grammars which inherit by
+    # concatenation. Currently has no semantic content, though may later be used to make
+    # the syntax of the inherited/overridden rules explicit.
+    divider = ~r"={2,}|-{2,}"
     ''')
 
 
@@ -292,7 +306,10 @@ def resolve_refs(self, rule_map):
 
     # Just for debugging:
     def _as_rhs(self):
-        return '<LazyReference to %s>' % self
+        return f'<{self.__class__.__name__} to %s>' % self
+
+    def resolve_inherited_references(self, rule_map):
+        return self
 
 
 class RuleVisitor(NodeVisitor):
@@ -389,7 +406,7 @@ def visit_reference(self, node, reference):
         We resolve them all later.
 
         """
-        label, not_equals = reference
+        label, *_ = reference
         return LazyReference(label)
 
     def visit_regex(self, node, regex):
@@ -459,7 +476,9 @@ def visit_rules(self, node, rules_list):
         # override earlier ones. This lets us define rules multiple times and
         # have the last declaration win, so you can extend grammars by
         # concatenation.
-        rule_map = OrderedDict((expr.name, expr) for expr in rules)
+        rule_map = OrderedDict()
+        for rule in rules:
+            rule_map[rule.name] = rule.resolve_inherited_references(rule_map)
 
         # And custom rules override string-based rules. This is the least
         # surprising choice when you compare the dict constructor:
@@ -479,6 +498,24 @@ def visit_rules(self, node, rules_list):
         return rule_map, (rule_map[rules[0].name]
                           if isinstance(rules, list) and rules else None)
 
+    def visit_descendant_rules(self, node, visited_children):
+        divider, _, rules = visited_children
+        return rules
+
+    def visit_inherited_reference(self, node, visited_children):
+        caret, name = visited_children
+        return LazyInheritedReference(name)
+
+
+class LazyInheritedReference(LazyReference):
+    def resolve_refs(self, rule_map):
+        # If triggered, this indicates a bug in RuleVisitor.visit_rules.
+        raise AssertionError(
+            f"Inherited references should have been resolved, but has not been resolved {self!r}.")
+
+    def resolve_inherited_references(self, rule_map):
+        return rule_map[self]
+
 
 class TokenRuleVisitor(RuleVisitor):
     """A visitor which builds expression trees meant to work on sequences of
@@ -496,13 +533,24 @@ def visit_regex(self, node, regex):
                          'than characters.')
 
 
+class TokenGrammar(Grammar):
+    """A Grammar which takes a list of pre-lexed tokens instead of text
+
+    This is useful if you want to do the lexing yourself, as a separate pass:
+    for example, to implement indentation-based languages.
+
+    """
+    visitor_cls = TokenRuleVisitor
+
+
 # Bootstrap to level 1...
-rule_grammar = BootstrappingGrammar(rule_syntax)
+Grammar.visitor_cls = RuleVisitor
+rule_grammar = Grammar.rule_grammar = BootstrappingGrammar(rule_syntax)
 # ...and then to level 2. This establishes that the node tree of our rule
 # syntax is built by the same machinery that will build trees of our users'
 # grammars. And the correctness of that tree is tested, indirectly, in
 # test_grammar.
-rule_grammar = Grammar(rule_syntax)
+rule_grammar = Grammar.rule_grammar = Grammar(rule_syntax)
 
 
 # TODO: Teach Expression trees how to spit out Python representations of
diff --git a/parsimonious/nodes.py b/parsimonious/nodes.py
index 7839097..7d22cea 100644
--- a/parsimonious/nodes.py
+++ b/parsimonious/nodes.py
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ def visit(self, node):
             # Don't catch and re-wrap already-wrapped exceptions.
             raise
         except Exception as exc:
-            # implentors may define exception classes that should not be
+            # implementors may define exception classes that should not be
             # wrapped.
             if isinstance(exc, self.unwrapped_exceptions):
                 raise
diff --git a/parsimonious/tests/test_examples.py b/parsimonious/tests/test_examples.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16fbf1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parsimonious/tests/test_examples.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+import pytest
+
+from parsimonious.exceptions import ParseError
+from parsimonious.examples.grammar_syntax_extension import AttrsTokenGrammar
+
+
+def noparse(grammar, text):
+    with pytest.raises(ParseError):
+        grammar.parse(text)
+
+
+def test_extended_grammar():
+    Tok = SimpleNamespace
+    g = AttrsTokenGrammar(r"""
+       a = B[@foo=("bar" / "baz") @baz=~"baz"+]
+    """)
+
+    assert g.parse([Tok(type="B", foo="bar", baz="bazbaz")])
+    assert g.parse([Tok(type="B", foo="baz", baz="bazbaz")])
+    noparse(g, [Tok(type="C", foo="bar", baz="baz")])
+    noparse(g, [Tok(type="C", foo="bar", baz="baz")])
+
+    g2 = AttrsTokenGrammar(r"""
+        segment = TEXT (DATA_SEP TEXT)* SEG_TERM
+    """)
+    Tok2 = lambda t: SimpleNamespace(type=t)
+    tokens = [
+        Tok2("TEXT"),
+        *([Tok2("DATA_SEP"), Tok2("TEXT")] * 10),
+        Tok2("SEG_TERM"),
+    ]
+    assert g2.parse(tokens)
+    SEGMENT_GRAMMAR = AttrsTokenGrammar(r"""
+        x12 = segment+
+        segment = TEXT (DATA_SEP elem)* SEG_TERM
+        elem = value (REPEAT_SEP value)*
+        value = TEXT (COMPONENT_SEP TEXT)*
+    """)
diff --git a/parsimonious/tests/test_grammar.py b/parsimonious/tests/test_grammar.py
index 2f979f6..e3e016e 100644
--- a/parsimonious/tests/test_grammar.py
+++ b/parsimonious/tests/test_grammar.py
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ def test_expressions_from_rules(self):
 
         That the correct ``Expression`` tree is built is already tested in
         ``RuleGrammarTests``. This tests only that the ``Grammar`` base class's
-        ``_expressions_from_rules`` works.
+        ``expressions_from_rules`` works.
 
         """
         greeting_grammar = Grammar('greeting = "hi" / "howdy"')
@@ -620,7 +620,6 @@ def test_binary_grammar():
         body = ~b"[^\xFF]*"
         terminator = b"\xFF"
     """)
-    length = 22
     assert g.parse(b"\xff22~" + (b"a" * 22) + b"\xff") is not None
 
 
@@ -650,6 +649,40 @@ def test_inconsistent_string_types_in_grammar():
     """)
 
 
+def test_grammar_extend_method():
+    g = Grammar(r"""
+        a = (b / c)+
+        b = "b"
+        c = "c"
+    """)
+    g2 = g.extend(r"""
+        b = ^b / "B"
+        c = ^c / "C"
+    """)
+    assert g.parse("bc")
+    assert g2.parse("bBcC")
+    with pytest.raises(ParseError):
+        g.parse("bBcC")
+
+
+def test_grammar_extend_dsl():
+    g = Grammar(r"""
+        a = (b / c)+
+        b = "b"
+        c = "c"
+    """)
+    g2 = Grammar(fr"""
+        {g.rule_definition[0]}
+        ======================
+        b = ^b / "B"
+        c = ^c / "C"
+    """)
+    assert g.parse("bc")
+    assert g2.parse("bBcC")
+    with pytest.raises(ParseError):
+        g.parse("bBcC")
+
+        
 def test_left_associative():
     # Regression test for https://github.com/erikrose/parsimonious/issues/209
     language_grammar = r"""