---
title: etymology — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «etymology» in the school dictionary: Etymology is the study of where words come from and how they have changed over time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# etymology

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Etymology, words, your, I, word, Dinosaur · **What happens:** be, come, change, mean, break, fast · **To what, where:** study, own history, language, fast, etymology, story · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Etymology is the study of where words come from and how they have changed over time.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:etymology:m1:1
# text = Etymology is the study of where words come from and how they have changed over time.
1	Etymology	etymology	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	study	study	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
6	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	8	advmod	_	_
7	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	come	come	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	obl	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
11	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
12	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	changed	change	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	8	conj	_	_
15	over	over	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Etymology | the study |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | present | words |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **change** | present · perfect | words *= word* |  |  |  | time |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The etymology of a word is its own history: which language it came from and what it meant before.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:etymology:m2:1
# text = The etymology of a word is its own history: which language it came from and what it meant before.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	etymology	etymology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
8	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	which	which	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	12	det	_	_
12	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	from	from	ADP	IN	_	14	obl	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	14	conj	_	_
18	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
19	meant	mean	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	acl:relcl	_	_
20	before	before	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the etymology of a word | etymology's own history and which language |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | past | etymology | which language *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location language=Theme |
| 3 | **mean** | past | etymology |  |  |  |  | before *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The etymology of «breakfast» is «breaking your fast» after the night.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:etymology:x1:1
# text = The etymology of «breakfast» is «breaking your fast» after the night.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	etymology	etymology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	breakfast	breakfast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	breaking	break	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	fast	fast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
13	after	after	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** *in a quote* | present · progressive | the etymology of breakfast | your fast |  |  | night |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer fast=Patient |
| 2 | **fast** *in a quote* |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom fast «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I love etymology because every word has a story.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:etymology:x2:1
# text = I love etymology because every word has a story.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	love	love	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	etymology	etymology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	det	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | I | etymology |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer etymology=Stimulus |
| 2 | **have** | present | every word | a story |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Dinosaur» has a Greek etymology meaning «terrible lizard».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:etymology:x3:1
# text = «Dinosaur» has a Greek etymology meaning «terrible lizard».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	etymology	etymology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	meaning	mean	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	terrible	terrible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	lizard	lizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Dinosaur | a Greek etymology |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent etymology=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | gerund | a Greek etymology *not said here* | terrible lizard |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent lizard=Topic |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dictionary gives the etymology at the end of each entry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:etymology:x4:1
# text = The dictionary gives the etymology at the end of each entry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dictionary	dictionary	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	etymology	etymology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	at	at	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	11	det	_	_
11	entry	entry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | the dictionary | the etymology |  |  | at the end of each entry |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent etymology=Theme at end=Asset |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Etymology shows that «hello» and «hallo» are related.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:etymology:x5:1
# text = Etymology shows that «hello» and «hallo» are related.
1	Etymology	etymology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	hello	hello	INTJ	UH	_	12	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	hallo	hallo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	related	related	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Etymology |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | related *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some funny stories about word origins are false etymologies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:etymology:x6:1
# text = Some funny stories about word origins are false etymologies.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
2	funny	funny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
4	about	about	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	origins	origin	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	false	false	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	etymologies	etymology	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	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 | some funny stories about word origins | false etymologies |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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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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