---
title: fossilise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «fossilise» in the school dictionary: To slowly turn into a fossil, where a dead plant or animal is preserved in rock over millions of years. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# fossilise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Footprints, mud, Soft parts, We, Mary, Grandpa · **What happens:** turn, preserve, become, fix, change, fossilis · **To what, where:** fossil, dead plant, rock, ideas, dinosaur bones, millions · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To slowly turn into a fossil, where a dead plant or animal is preserved in rock over millions of years.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilise:m1:1
# text = To slowly turn into a fossil, where a dead plant or animal is preserved in rock over millions of years.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
2	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fossil	fossil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
8	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	15	advmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	preserved	preserve	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
18	over	over	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a fossil |  | slowly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme into fossil=Trajectory |
| 2 | **preserve** | present · passive |  | a dead plant or animal |  | rock |  | over millions of years | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: subject=Beneficiary |

<!-- .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: of ideas or habits — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To become fixed and unable to change, as in «Their ideas had fossilised».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilise:m2:1
# text = To become fixed and unable to change, as in «Their ideas had fossilised».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	become	become	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	fixed	fix	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	xcomp	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	unable	unable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
9	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
14	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	fossilised	fossilis	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fix** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **change** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **fossilis** *in a quote* | past · perfect · passive |  | Their ideas |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dinosaur bones fossilised over millions of years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilise:x1:1
# text = The dinosaur bones fossilised over millions of years.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	dinosaur	dinosaur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
4	fossilised	fossilis	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	over	over	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fossilis** | participle |  | the dinosaur bones *not said here* |  | millions of years |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Footprints can fossilise in mud that turns to rock.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilise:x2:1
# text = Footprints can fossilise in mud that turns to rock.
1	Footprints	footprint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	fossilise	fossilise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	mud	mud	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fossilise** | can | Footprints |  |  | mud |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **turn** | present | mud |  |  | rock |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme to rock=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soft parts like skin rarely fossilise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilise:x3:1
# text = Soft parts like skin rarely fossilise.
1	Soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	parts	part	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	rarely	rarely	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	fossilise	fossilise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fossilise** | present | Soft parts like skin |  |  |  |  | rarely *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a fossilised leaf print from plaster.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilise:x4:1
# text = We made a fossilised leaf print from plaster.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	fossilised	fossilis	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
5	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	print	print	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	plaster	plaster	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a fossilised leaf print |  | plaster |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent print=Product from plaster=Material |
| 2 | **fossilis** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mary Anning found a fossilised ichthyosaur.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilise:x5:1
# text = Mary Anning found a fossilised ichthyosaur.
1	Mary	Mary	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Anning	Anning	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	fossilised	fossilis	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	ichthyosaur	ichthyosaur	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 | **find** | past | Mary | a fossilised ichthyosaur |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ichthyosaur=Topic |
| 2 | **fossilis** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa jokes that his old car is a fossilised wreck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:fossilise:x6:1
# text = Grandpa jokes that his old car is a fossilised wreck.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	jokes	joke	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	fossilised	fossilis	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	wreck	wreck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **joke** *speech: other* | present | Grandpa |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **fossilis** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **is a** | present | Grandpa's old car | a fossilised wreck |  |  |  |  | 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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