---
title: dorsum — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «dorsum» in the school dictionary: The back or upper surface of a body part, like the back of the hand or the top of the foot or tongue. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# dorsum

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** doctor, dorsum, fish, you, us, frog · **What happens:** look, be, have, label, help, taste · **To what, where:** top side, spiny dorsum, dorsum, us, food, green dorsum

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The back or upper surface of a body part, like the back of the hand or the top of the foot or tongue.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsum:m1:1
# text = The back or upper surface of a body part, like the back of the hand or the top of the foot or tongue.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	upper	upper	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	_
23	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
24	tongue	tongue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The back of an animal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsum:m2:1
# text = The back of an animal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor looked at the dorsum of my hand.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsum:x1:1
# text = The doctor looked at the dorsum of my hand.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dorsum	dorsum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hand	hand	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the doctor |  |  |  |  | at the dorsum of my hand | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at dorsum=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dorsum of the foot is the top side.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsum:x2:1
# text = The dorsum of the foot is the top side.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dorsum	dorsum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	foot	foot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the dorsum of the foot | the top side |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fish has a spiny dorsum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsum:x3:1
# text = The fish has a spiny dorsum.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fish	fish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	spiny	spiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	dorsum	dorsum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	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 fish | a spiny dorsum |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dorsum=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Label the dorsum and the belly side on the diagram.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsum:x4:1
# text = Label the dorsum and the belly side on the diagram.
1	Label	label	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dorsum	dorsum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	belly	belly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	diagram	diagram	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **label** | imperative | you *not said here* | the dorsum and the belly side on the diagram |  |  |  |  | vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent dorsum=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dorsum of the tongue helps us taste food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsum:x5:1
# text = The dorsum of the tongue helps us taste food.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dorsum	dorsum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tongue	tongue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	taste	taste	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | the dorsum of the tongue | us |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **taste** | infinitive | us *not said here* | food |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Theme food=Attribute |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A frog has a green dorsum and a pale belly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:dorsum:x6:1
# text = A frog has a green dorsum and a pale belly.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	frog	frog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	dorsum	dorsum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	pale	pale	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	belly	belly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | a frog | a green dorsum and a pale belly |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dorsum=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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