---
title: cuneiform — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «cuneiform» in the school dictionary: Cuneiform is one of the oldest kinds of writing in the world, made of small wedge-shaped marks pressed into wet clay with a reed, first used in ancient Mesopotamia (now Iraq) over 5,000 years ago. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics
---

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# cuneiform

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Cuneiform, Sumerians, Cuneiform marks, Scribes, cuneiform tablets, We · **What happens:** be, make, shape, press, use, describe · **To what, where:** one, small shaped marks, wet clay, ancient Mesopotamia, something, wedge

<!-- .vabout -->
«cuneiform» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [cuneiform in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cuneiform.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cuneiform is one of the oldest kinds of writing in the world, made of small wedge-shaped marks pressed into wet clay with a reed, first used in ancient Mesopotamia (now Iraq) over 5,000 years ago.

<!-- fold The tree, 36 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:m1:1
# text = Cuneiform is one of the oldest kinds of writing in the world, made of small wedge-shaped marks pressed into wet clay with a reed, first used in ancient Mesopotamia (now Iraq) over 5,000 years ago.
1	Cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	oldest	old	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
7	kinds	kind	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	world	world	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	parataxis	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
16	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
17	wedge	wedge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	amod	_	_
20	marks	mark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obl	_	_
21	pressed	press	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	acl	_	_
22	into	into	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
23	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	_
25	with	with	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
29	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	30	advmod	_	_
30	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	acl	_	_
31	in	in	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
32	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	33	amod	_	_
33	Mesopotamia	Mesopotamia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	30	obl	_	_
34	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	36	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	36	advmod	_	_
36	Iraq	Iraq	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	33	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	36	punct	_	_
38	over	over	ADV	RB	_	39	advmod	_	_
39	5,000	5000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	40	nummod	_	_
40	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	41	obl:unmarked	_	_
41	ago	ago	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
42	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Cuneiform | one |  |  |  | of the oldest kinds of writing in the world | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | of small shaped marks | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 4 | **press** | participle |  | small shaped marks *not said here* |  | wet clay |  | with a reed | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent into clay=Trajectory |
| 5 | **use** | participle |  | small shaped marks *not said here* |  | ancient Mesopotamia |  | ago, first *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cuneiform describes something shaped like a wedge, or written in this script.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:m2:1
# text = Cuneiform describes something shaped like a wedge, or written in this script.
1	Cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	wedge	wedge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
11	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	13	det	_	_
13	script	script	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present | Cuneiform | something |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  | like a wedge | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 3 | **write** | participle |  | a wedge *not said here* |  | this script |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in script=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Sumerians wrote in cuneiform on clay tablets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:x1:1
# text = The Sumerians wrote in cuneiform on clay tablets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Sumerians	Sumerian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	tablets	tablet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | the Sumerians |  |  | cuneiform |  | on clay tablets | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in cuneiform=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cuneiform marks look like tiny triangles and lines.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:x2:1
# text = Cuneiform marks look like tiny triangles and lines.
1	Cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	marks	mark	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	triangles	triangle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	lines	line	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | Cuneiform marks |  |  |  |  | like tiny triangles and lines | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scribes pressed a reed into wet clay to write cuneiform.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:x3:1
# text = Scribes pressed a reed into wet clay to write cuneiform.
1	Scribes	scribe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	pressed	press	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	wet	wet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	write	write	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **press** | past | Scribes | a reed |  | wet clay |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reed=Theme |
| 2 | **write** | to-infinitive | Scribes *not said here* | cuneiform |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cuneiform=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some cuneiform tablets are lists of sheep and barley.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:x4:1
# text = Some cuneiform tablets are lists of sheep and barley.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
2	cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	tablets	tablet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	lists	list	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	sheep	sheep	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	barley	barley	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | some cuneiform tablets | lists |  |  |  | of sheep and barley | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We tried writing our names in cuneiform with lollipop sticks and clay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:x5:1
# text = We tried writing our names in cuneiform with lollipop sticks and clay.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	writing	write	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	lollipop	lollipop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	sticks	stick	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	clay	clay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **write** *not said to happen* | gerund | We *not said here* | our names |  | cuneiform with lollipop sticks and clay |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent name=Theme in cuneiform=Destination |
| 3 | **name** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The British Museum has thousands of cuneiform tablets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:x6:1
# text = The British Museum has thousands of cuneiform tablets.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	British	British	PROPN	NNP	_	3	compound	_	_
3	Museum	Museum	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	thousands	thousand	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	tablets	tablet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the British Museum | thousands of cuneiform tablets |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thousand=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Experts can now read cuneiform.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:cuneiform:x7:1
# text = Experts can now read cuneiform.
1	Experts	expert	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	now	now	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	_
4	read	read	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	cuneiform	cuneiform	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | can | Experts | cuneiform |  |  | now |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cuneiform=Topic |

<!-- 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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