---
title: anachronism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «anachronism» in the school dictionary: Something put in the wrong time, especially in a story or picture, like a wristwatch on a Roman soldier. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# anachronism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thing, film, mobile phone, you, clock, such clocks · **What happens:** put, seem, belong, show, be, spot · **To what, where:** story, knight, funny anachronism, anachronism, Rome, Julius · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«anachronism» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 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: [anachronism in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/anachronism.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Something put in the wrong time, especially in a story or picture, like a wristwatch on a Roman soldier.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:m1:1
# text = Something put in the wrong time, especially in a story or picture, like a wristwatch on a Roman soldier.
1	Something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
2	put	put	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	1	acl	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	wristwatch	wristwatch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
18	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	Roman	roman	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	soldier	soldier	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | participle |  |  |  | a story or picture | time | like a wristwatch on a Roman soldier | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in story=Destination |

<!-- .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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person, custom or thing that seems old-fashioned and belongs to an earlier time.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:m2:1
# text = A person, custom or thing that seems old-fashioned and belongs to an earlier time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	custom	custom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	xcomp	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	belongs	belong	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	earlier	early	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	amod	_	_
17	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present | thing |  |  |  |  | fashioned *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **belong** | present | thing *not said here* |  |  |  | time |  | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The film showed a knight with a mobile phone, which is a funny anachronism.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x1:1
# text = The film showed a knight with a mobile phone, which is a funny anachronism.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	showed	show	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	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	mobile	mobile	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	anachronism	anachronism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | past | the film |  | a knight |  |  | with a mobile phone and a funny anachronism | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent knight=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a mobile phone and a funny anachronism | a funny anachronism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you spot the anachronism in this picture of ancient Egypt?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x2:1
# text = Can you spot the anachronism in this picture of ancient Egypt?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spot	spot	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	anachronism	anachronism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	8	det	_	_
8	picture	picture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	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 | **spot** | can | you | the anachronism |  |  |  | in this picture of ancient Egypt | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent anachronism=Destination in picture=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clock striking in Julius Caesar's Rome is an anachronism, because such clocks did not exist yet.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x3:1
# text = A clock striking in Julius Caesar's Rome is an anachronism, because such clocks did not exist yet.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clock	clock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	striking	strike	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	acl	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Julius	Julius	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	Caesar	Caesar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	Rome	Rome	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	anachronism	anachronism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
13	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
14	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	clocks	clock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
16	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
18	exist	exist	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	conj	_	_
19	yet	yet	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strike** | gerund | a clock *not said here* | Caesar's Rome |  | Julius |  |  | vn hit-18.1-1 «NP V NP PP»: agent=Agent rome=Instrument |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a clock | a anachronism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **exist** | past · do-support | such clocks |  |  |  | yet |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some people think writing cheques is an anachronism now that we pay by phone.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x4:1
# text = Some people think writing cheques is an anachronism now that we pay by phone.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	cheques	cheque	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	anachronism	anachronism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	_
9	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	3	advmod	_	_
10	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
11	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	pay	pay	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
13	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | some people |  |  |  | now |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | writing cheques | a anachronism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **pay** | present | we |  |  |  |  | by phone | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad says the old red phone box is a lovely anachronism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x5:1
# text = Grandad says the old red phone box is a lovely anachronism.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
5	red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	lovely	lovely	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	anachronism	anachronism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the old red phone box | a lovely anachronism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher hid three anachronisms in the story about the Vikings.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x6:1
# text = Our teacher hid three anachronisms in the story about the Vikings.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	hid	hide	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	anachronisms	anachronism	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	about	about	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Vikings	Viking	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hide** | past | Our teacher | three anachronisms |  | the story about the Vikings |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent anachronism=Patient in story=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A dinosaur next to cavemen is a famous anachronism in cartoons.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x7:1
# text = A dinosaur next to cavemen is a famous anachronism in cartoons.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	next	next	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cavemen	caveman	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	anachronism	anachronism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	cartoons	cartoon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a dinosaur to cavemen | a famous anachronism |  | cartoons |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The steam train in the medieval story was an anachronism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x8:1
# text = The steam train in the medieval story was an anachronism.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	steam	steam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	train	train	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	medieval	medieval	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	anachronism	anachronism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the steam train in the medieval story | a anachronism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My battery captain called me a Pachydermatous Anachronism the other day.”

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:anachronism:x9:1
# text = My battery captain called me a Pachydermatous Anachronism the other day.”
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	battery	battery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	captain	captain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	Pachydermatous	Pachydermatous	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	Anachronism	Anachronism	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	xcomp	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | participle | My battery captain |  | me |  | day |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent i=Recipient |

<!-- 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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