---
title: fossa — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fossa» in the school dictionary: A fossa is a slim, cat-like meat-eating animal that lives only in Madagascar, the island's top predator. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fossa

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** fossa, slim like eating animal, Fossas, long tail, doctor · **What happens:** eat, be, live, leapt, look, not be · **To what, where:** slim like eating animal, Madagascar, small hollow, anatomy, trees, one

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fossa is a slim, cat-like meat-eating animal that lives only in Madagascar, the island's top predator.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossa:m1:1
# text = A fossa is a slim, cat-like meat-eating animal that lives only in Madagascar, the island's top predator.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fossa	fossa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
5	slim	slim	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
10	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	eating	eat	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	amod	_	_
13	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
14	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	15	nsubj	_	_
15	lives	live	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	only	only	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
18	Madagascar	Madagascar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	island	island	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	's	's	PART	POS	_	21	case	_	_
23	top	top	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	predator	predator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a fossa | a slim like eating animal |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **live** | present | a slim like eating animal |  |  | Madagascar |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in madagascar=Location |

<!-- .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 -->
In anatomy, a fossa is a small hollow or dip in a bone or the body.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossa:m2:1
# text = In anatomy, a fossa is a small hollow or dip in a bone or the body.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	anatomy	anatomy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	fossa	fossa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	hollow	hollow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	dip	dip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a fossa | a small hollow or dip in a bone or the body |  | anatomy |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fossa leapt through the trees after a lemur.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossa:x1:1
# text = The fossa leapt through the trees after a lemur.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fossa	fossa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	leapt	leapt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	through	through	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lemur	lemur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leapt** | present | the fossa |  |  | the trees | after a lemur |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Fossas live only in Madagascar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossa:x2:1
# text = Fossas live only in Madagascar.
1	Fossas	fossa	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	live	live	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	Madagascar	Madagascar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | present | Fossas |  |  | Madagascar |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in madagascar=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A fossa looks like a cat but isn't one.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossa:x3:1
# text = A fossa looks like a cat but isn't one.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fossa	fossa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | present | a fossa |  |  |  |  | like a cat | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | present | a fossa *not said here* | one |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Its long tail helps it balance on branches.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossa:x4:1
# text = Its long tail helps it balance on branches.
1	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tail	tail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	balance	balance	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	branches	branch	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Its long tail | it |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent it=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **balance** | infinitive |  |  |  | branches |  |  | vn spatial\_configuration-47.6-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on branch=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor pointed to a small fossa in the skull bone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossa:x5:1
# text = The doctor pointed to a small fossa in the skull bone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	pointed	point	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	fossa	fossa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	skull	skull	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | past | the doctor |  | a small fossa in the skull bone |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to fossa=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fossa is the largest predator on Madagascar.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossa:x6:1
# text = The fossa is the largest predator on Madagascar.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fossa	fossa	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	largest	large	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	predator	predator	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Madagascar	Madagascar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the fossa | the largest predator |  | Madagascar |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- 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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