---
title: civilization — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «civilization» in the school dictionary: A large, organised society with cities, government, laws, writing, art and trade: «the ancient Egyptian civilization». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# civilization

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** its, we, ancient Egyptian civilization, Writing, Maya civilization, Valley civilization · **What happens:** achieve, camp, be, build, have, help · **To what, where:** civilization, pyramids, one sign, own calendar, drains, food · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«civilization» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [civilization in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/civilization.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A large, organised society with cities, government, laws, writing, art and trade: «the ancient Egyptian civilization».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:m1:1
# text = A large, organised society with cities, government, laws, writing, art and trade: «the ancient Egyptian civilization».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	large	large	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	organised	organised	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cities	city	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	laws	law	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	art	art	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	trade	trade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
21	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
22	Egyptian	Egyptian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	civilization	civilization	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Human society in general, especially its achievements: «the history of civilization».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:m2:1
# text = Human society in general, especially its achievements: «the history of civilization».
1	Human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	general	general	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
6	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	achievements	achievement	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	civilization	civilization	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **achieve** |  | its *= it* |  |  |  |  |  | nom achievement «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Comfortable modern life with shops, toilets and internet: «After camping we were glad to be back in civilization.».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:m3:1
# text = Comfortable modern life with shops, toilets and internet: «After camping we were glad to be back in civilization.».
1	Comfortable	comfortable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	shops	shop	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	toilets	toilet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	internet	internet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	camping	camp	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	16	advcl	_	_
14	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	16	cop	_	_
16	glad	glad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	parataxis	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
18	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	cop	_	_
19	back	back	ADV	RB	_	16	advcl	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	civilization	civilization	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **camp** *in a quote* | gerund | we *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn odge-46-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | past | we |  |  |  |  | glad *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** *in a quote* | to-infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  | civilization |  | back *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ancient Egyptian civilization built the pyramids.

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

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

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Writing is one sign of a civilization.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:x2:1
# text = Writing is one sign of a civilization.
1	Writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	civilization	civilization	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Writing | one sign |  |  |  | of a civilization | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Maya civilization had its own calendar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:x3:1
# text = The Maya civilization had its own calendar.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Maya	Maya	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	civilization	civilization	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	calendar	calendar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the Maya civilization | civilization's own calendar |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent calendar=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:x4:1
# text = After a week of camping we were happy to be back in civilization.
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	happy	happy	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	civilization	civilization	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 | happy *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive | we *not said here* |  |  | civilization |  | back *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

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

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:x5:1
# text = The Indus Valley civilization 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	civilization	civilization	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 civilization | drains and toilets |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent drain=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rivers helped early civilizations grow food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:x6:1
# text = Rivers helped early civilizations grow food.
1	Rivers	river	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	civilizations	civilization	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | Rivers |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **grow** | present | early civilizations | food |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location food=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
All the means used by centuries of civilization in subduing wild beasts failed in this case.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:civilization:x7:1
# text = All the means used by centuries of civilization in subduing wild beasts failed in this case.
1	All	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	3	det:predet	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	centuries	century	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	civilization	civilization	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	subduing	subdue	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	acl	_	_
11	wild	wild	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	beasts	beast	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	nsubj	_	_
13	failed	fail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	ccomp	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	16	det	_	_
16	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  | century |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **subdue** | gerund | civilization *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **fail** | past | wild beasts |  |  | this case |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1-1 «NP V PP.eventuality S\_ING»: agent=Agent in case=Eventuality |

<!-- 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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