---
title: incipient — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «incipient» in the school dictionary: Just beginning to happen or to show: an incipient cold, incipient baldness. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# incipient

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** doctor, incipient crack, Grandad, incipient signs, storm, gardener · **What happens:** begin, happen, show, grow, spot, give · **To what, where:** stage, early stage, incipient infection, medicine, doctor, engineers

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Just beginning to happen or to show: an incipient cold, incipient baldness.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incipient:m1:1
# text = Just beginning to happen or to show: an incipient cold, incipient baldness.
1	Just	just	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	beginning	begin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	incipient	incipient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	incipient	incipient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	baldness	baldness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **happen** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | 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}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In an early stage, before it is fully grown or obvious.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incipient:m2:1
# text = In an early stage, before it is fully grown or obvious.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux:pass	_	_
9	fully	fully	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	obvious	obvious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present · passive |  | stage |  | a early stage |  | fully *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor spotted an incipient infection and gave him medicine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incipient:x1:1
# text = The doctor spotted an incipient infection and gave him medicine.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spotted	spot	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	incipient	incipient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	infection	infection	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	iobj	_	_
10	medicine	medicine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spot** | past | the doctor | a incipient infection |  |  |  |  | vn fill-9.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme infection=Destination |
| 2 | **give** | past | the doctor *not said here* | medicine | doctor |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent he=Recipient medicine=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An incipient crack in the dam worried the engineers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incipient:x2:1
# text = An incipient crack in the dam worried the engineers.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	incipient	incipient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	crack	crack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	dam	dam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	worried	worry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	engineers	engineer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worry** | past | a incipient crack in the dam | the engineers |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus engineer=Experiencer |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad has incipient baldness, he jokes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incipient:x3:1
# text = Grandad has incipient baldness, he jokes.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	incipient	incipient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	baldness	baldness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	jokes	joke	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Grandad | incipient baldness |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent baldness=Patient |
| 2 | **joke** *speech: other* | present | Grandad |  |  |  |  |  | vn chit\_chat-37.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There were incipient signs of spring: tiny green buds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incipient:x4:1
# text = There were incipient signs of spring: tiny green buds.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	incipient	incipient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
8	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	green	green	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	buds	bud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | incipient signs of spring and tiny green buds |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **sign** |  |  | spring |  |  |  |  | nom sign «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The storm was still incipient, just a dark line of clouds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incipient:x5:1
# text = The storm was still incipient, just a dark line of clouds.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	incipient	incipient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
7	just	just	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the storm | incipient |  |  | still |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The gardener caught the incipient disease before it spread to the other roses.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:incipient:x6:1
# text = The gardener caught the incipient disease before it spread to the other roses.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	gardener	gardener	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	caught	catch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	incipient	incipient	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	disease	disease	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	roses	rose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **catch** | past | the gardener | the incipient disease |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent disease=Theme |
| 2 | **spread** | past | gardener |  |  |  |  | to the other roses | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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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.

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