---
title: civilisation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «civilisation» in the school dictionary: A civilisation is a large, organised society with cities, government, writing, laws and culture, such as ancient Egypt or the Maya. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# civilisation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** civilisation, back, Ancient Egypt, Maya civilisation, Many early civilisations, Writing · **What happens:** be, mean, camp, build, grow up, help · **To what, where:** large organised society, way, towns, great civilisation, Nile, huge pyramids

<!-- .vabout -->
«civilisation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 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: [civilisation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/civilisation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A civilisation is a large, organised society with cities, government, writing, laws and culture, such as ancient Egypt or the Maya.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:m1:1
# text = A civilisation is a large, organised society with cities, government, writing, laws and culture, such as ancient Egypt or the Maya.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	organised	organised	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
12	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	culture	culture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	23	case	_	_
21	as	as	ADP	IN	_	20	fixed	_	_
22	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	16	appos	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a civilisation | a large organised society and government and writing and laws and culture |  |  |  | with cities | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Civilisation is the way of life of an advanced society, as in the history of civilisation.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:m2:1
# text = Civilisation is the way of life of an advanced society, as in the history of civilisation.
1	Civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	advanced	advanced	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	in	in	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Civilisation | the way and the history of civilisation |  |  |  | of life of a advanced society | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Civilisation can mean towns with comforts, as in back to civilisation after camping.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:m3:1
# text = Civilisation can mean towns with comforts, as in back to civilisation after camping.
1	Civilisation	civilisation	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	towns	town	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	comforts	comfort	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
13	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
14	camping	camp	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Civilisation | towns |  |  |  | with comforts | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent town=Topic |
| 2 | **camp** | gerund | back to civilisation *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn odge-46-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient Egypt was a great civilisation on the Nile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:x1:1
# text = Ancient Egypt was a great civilisation on the Nile.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Nile	Nile	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Ancient Egypt | a great civilisation |  | the Nile |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Maya civilisation built huge pyramids.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:x2:1
# text = The Maya civilisation built huge pyramids.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	huge	huge	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
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 Maya civilisation | huge pyramids |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset pyramid=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many early civilisations grew up near rivers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:x3:1
# text = Many early civilisations grew up near rivers.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	civilisations	civilisation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	near	near	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rivers	river	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 | **grow up** | past | Many early civilisations |  |  | rivers |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme near river=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Writing helped civilisations keep records.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:x4:1
# text = Writing helped civilisations keep records.
1	Writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	civilisations	civilisation	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
5	records	record	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Writing |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **keep** | present | civilisations | records |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent record=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After a week of camping we were glad to be back in civilisation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:x5:1
# text = After a week of camping we were glad to be back in civilisation.
1	After	after	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	camping	camping	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	glad	glad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
10	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	cop	_	_
11	back	back	ADV	RB	_	8	ccomp	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | we |  |  |  | week | glad *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  | civilisation |  | back *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Indus Valley civilisation had drains and toilets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilisation:x6:1
# text = The Indus Valley civilisation had drains and toilets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Indus	Indus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Valley	Valley	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	civilisation	civilisation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	drains	drain	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	toilets	toilet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the Valley civilisation | drains and toilets |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drain=Patient |

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**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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