---
title: gnomon — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «gnomon» in the school dictionary: The part of a sundial that sticks up and casts the shadow that shows the time. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# gnomon

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** sundial, shadow, shaped piece, gnomon, We, you · **What happens:** stick up, cast, show, shape, leave, cut out · **To what, where:** shadow, geometry, smaller shape, corner, sundial, gnomon

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The part of a sundial that sticks up and casts the shadow that shows the time.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnomon:m1:1
# text = The part of a sundial that sticks up and casts the shadow that shows the time.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	sundial	sundial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	sticks	stick	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	up	up	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	casts	cast	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	acl:relcl	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stick up** | present | a sundial |  |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **cast** | present | a sundial *not said here* | the shadow |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent shadow=Product |
| 3 | **show** | present | the shadow |  |  |  | time |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In geometry, the L-shaped piece left when a smaller shape is cut out of the corner of a larger similar shape, such as a square.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnomon:m2:1
# text = In geometry, the L-shaped piece left when a smaller shape is cut out of the corner of a larger similar shape, such as a square.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	geometry	geometry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	L	l	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	amod	_	_
8	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	15	mark	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	13	amod	_	_
13	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	advcl	_	_
16	out	out	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	corner	corner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
21	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
22	larger	large	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	24	amod	_	_
23	similar	similar	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
26	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	29	case	_	_
27	as	as	ADP	IN	_	26	fixed	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset |
| 2 | **leave** | participle | the shaped piece |  |  |  |  | in geometry *result* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in geometry=Result |
| 3 | **cut out** | present · passive |  | a smaller shape |  | the corner of a larger similar shape and a square |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gnomon casts a shadow on the sundial.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnomon:x1:1
# text = The gnomon casts a shadow on the sundial.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gnomon	gnomon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	casts	cast	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	sundial	sundial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cast** | present | the gnomon | a shadow |  | the sundial |  |  | vn throw-17.1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent shadow=Theme on sundial=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a sundial with a pencil as the gnomon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnomon:x2:1
# text = We made a sundial with a pencil as the gnomon.
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	4	det	_	_
4	sundial	sundial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	gnomon	gnomon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a sundial |  |  |  | with a pencil; as the gnomon | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sundial=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At noon the shadow of the gnomon is shortest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnomon:x3:1
# text = At noon the shadow of the gnomon is shortest.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	noon	noon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	gnomon	gnomon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	shortest	short	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the shadow of the gnomon |  |  |  | noon | short *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **shadow** |  |  | the gnomon |  |  |  |  | nom shadow «state transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gnomon must point north in the UK.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnomon:x4:1
# text = The gnomon must point north in the UK.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gnomon	gnomon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	point	point	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	north	north	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | must | the gnomon |  |  |  |  | in the UK; north *property* | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in uk=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Australia the gnomon of a sundial points south.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnomon:x5:1
# text = In Australia the gnomon of a sundial points south.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Australia	Australia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	gnomon	gnomon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sundial	sundial	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
8	points	point	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	south	south	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **point** | present | the gnomon of a sundial |  |  |  |  | in Australia; south *property* | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent in australia=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths, a gnomon is the L-shape left when you take a small square out of a big one.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:gnomon:x6:1
# text = In maths, a gnomon is the L-shape left when you take a small square out of a big one.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gnomon	gnomon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	L	l	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	acl	_	_
12	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	square	square	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
18	out	out	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	one	one	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a gnomon | the L shape |  | maths |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | participle |  | the L shape *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **take** | present | you | a small square |  |  |  | out a big one | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location»: agent=Agent square=Theme out one=Initial\_Location |

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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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