---
title: historical — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «historical» in the school dictionary: Historical means to do with history or the past: «historical events», «historical facts». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# historical

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Historical, person, We, Old diaries, castle, She · **What happens:** mean, do, describe, exist, set, read · **To what, where:** person, past, story, film, historical novel, King Arthur · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«historical» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [historical in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/historical.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Historical means to do with history or the past: «historical events», «historical facts».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:m1:1
# text = Historical means to do with history or the past: «historical events», «historical facts».
1	Historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	13	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	events	event	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	facts	fact	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Historical |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | with history or the past | vn act-114-1 «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 -->
Historical describes a person or event that really existed in the past, not only in a legend.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:m2:1
# text = Historical describes a person or event that really existed in the past, not only in a legend.
1	Historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	event	event	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
8	really	really	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	existed	exist	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	18	advmod	_	_
15	only	only	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	legend	legend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present |  | a person or event |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 2 | **exist** | past | a person or event |  |  | the past and a legend |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in past=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Historical describes a story, film or novel set in the past: «a historical novel».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:m3:1
# text = Historical describes a story, film or novel set in the past: «a historical novel».
1	Historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	film	film	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	set	set	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present |  | a story and film or novel |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP to be ADJ»: agent=Agent story=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **set** | participle |  | film or novel *not said here* |  | the past |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent in past=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We read a historical novel about the Romans.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:x1:1
# text = We read a historical novel about the Romans.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	novel	novel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Romans	Roman	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | We | a historical novel |  |  |  | about the Romans | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent novel=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is King Arthur a historical person or a legend?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:x2:1
# text = Is King Arthur a historical person or a legend?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	Arthur	Arthur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	legend	legend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old diaries are useful historical sources.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:x3:1
# text = Old diaries are useful historical sources.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	diaries	diary	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	sources	source	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Old diaries | useful historical sources |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The castle is an important historical site.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:x4:1
# text = The castle is an important historical site.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	site	site	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the castle | a important historical site |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She dressed as a historical figure for the school day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:x5:1
# text = She dressed as a historical figure for the school day.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dressed	dress	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	figure	figure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	day	day	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 | **dress** | past | She |  |  |  | day | as a historical figure | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Historical records show the town flooded many times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:x6:1
# text = Historical records show the town flooded many times.
1	Historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	records	record	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	flooded	flood	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Historical records |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **flood** | past | the town |  |  |  | time |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
So close is the resemblance, indeed, that it is impossible not to surmise an historical relation between the two.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:historical:x7:1
# text = So close is the resemblance, indeed, that it is impossible not to surmise an historical relation between the two.
1	So	so	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	resemblance	resemblance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	expl	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	impossible	impossible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
13	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	surmise	surmise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	csubj	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	historical	historical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	relation	relation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	_
19	between	between	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | the close resemblance |  |  |  | indeed *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | impossible *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **surmise** | to-infinitive |  | a historical relation |  |  |  | between the two | vn conjecture-29.5 «NP V NP to be NP»: agent=Agent relation=Eventuality |

<!-- 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 -->

<!-- pn -->
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