---
title: ancient — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ancient» in the school dictionary: Ancient means belonging to a time very, very long ago, often thousands of years ago. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ancient

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ancient, Ancient Egyptians, We, forest, museum, ancient Romans · **What happens:** mean, belong, say, build, learn, have · **To what, where:** thousands, pyramids, ancient oak trees, ancient coins, straight roads, ruins · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ancient» 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: [ancient in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ancient.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient means belonging to a time very, very long ago, often thousands of years ago.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:m1:1
# text = Ancient means belonging to a time very, very long ago, often thousands of years ago.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	very	very	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	11	advmod	_	_
11	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	_
17	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ancient |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **belong** *not said to happen* | gerund | Ancient *not said here* | thousands of years |  |  | time | ago *property* | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .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 -->
Ancient can mean very old (often said as a joke about something old).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:m2:1
# text = Ancient can mean very old (often said as a joke about something old).
1	Ancient	ancient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	very	very	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
6	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	often	often	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	about	about	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	nmod	_	_
14	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Ancient |  |  |  |  | old *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | as a joke about something; often *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x1:1
# text = The Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Egyptians	Egyptian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	pyramids	pyramid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the Ancient Egyptians | the pyramids |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent pyramid=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We are learning about Ancient Greece.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x2:1
# text = We are learning about Ancient Greece.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	learning	learn	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	Greece	Greece	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present · progressive | We |  |  |  |  | about Ancient Greece | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about greece=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The forest has ancient oak trees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x3:1
# text = The forest has ancient oak trees.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	oak	oak	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the forest | ancient oak trees |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum shows ancient coins.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x4:1
# text = The museum shows ancient coins.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	coins	coin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the museum | ancient coins |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent coin=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ancient Romans built straight roads.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x5:1
# text = The ancient Romans built straight roads.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	straight	straight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	roads	road	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | the ancient Romans | straight roads |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent road=Product |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This computer is ancient!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x6:1
# text = This computer is ancient!
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	computer	computer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | this computer |  |  |  |  | ancient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The temple is in ruins because it is so ancient.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x7:1
# text = The temple is in ruins because it is so ancient.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	temple	temple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	ruins	ruin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the temple |  |  | ruins |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | temple |  |  |  |  | ancient *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dinosaur fossils are found in ancient rocks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x8:1
# text = Dinosaur fossils are found in ancient rocks.
1	Dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	fossils	fossil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	found	find	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | present · passive |  | Dinosaur fossils |  | ancient rocks |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ancient:x9:1
# text = MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME.
1	MYTHS	myth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	AND	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	LEGENDS	legend	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	OF	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	ANCIENT	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	GREECE	GREECE	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	AND	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	ROME	ROME	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

<!-- 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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