---
title: indistinct — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «indistinct» in the school dictionary: Not clear or sharp; hard to see, hear or remember clearly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indistinct/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [I](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/) / indistinct

# indistinct

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Indistinct voices, indistinct shape, you, cell, memory, He · **What happens:** see, hear, remember, blur, come, move · **To what, where:** indistinct shapes, door, fog, knob, microscope, indistinct murmur · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«indistinct» in the school dictionary: its 2 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: [indistinct in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/indistinct.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Not clear or sharp; hard to see, hear or remember clearly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:m1:1
# text = Not clear or sharp; hard to see, hear or remember clearly.
1	Not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	clear	clear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	remember	remember	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
13	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **hear** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **remember** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: 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 -->
Blurred or faint: indistinct shapes in the fog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:m2:1
# text = Blurred or faint: indistinct shapes in the fog.
1	Blurred	blur	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	faint	faint	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	indistinct	indistinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	shapes	shape	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fog	fog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **blur** | participle |  | indistinct shapes in the fog |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Indistinct voices came from behind the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:x1:1
# text = Indistinct voices came from behind the door.
1	Indistinct	indistinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	behind	behind	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Indistinct voices |  |  | the door |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from door=Initial\_Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An indistinct shape moved in the fog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:x2:1
# text = An indistinct shape moved in the fog.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	indistinct	indistinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	moved	move	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fog	fog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **move** | past | a indistinct shape |  |  | the fog |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in fog=Trajectory |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Turn the knob until the cell is no longer indistinct under the microscope.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:x3:1
# text = Turn the knob until the cell is no longer indistinct under the microscope.
1	Turn	turn	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	knob	knob	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	until	until	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	no	no	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	longer	long	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	10	advmod	_	_
10	indistinct	indistinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
11	under	under	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	microscope	microscope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | imperative | you *not said here* | the knob |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent knob=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | the cell |  |  | the microscope |  | indistinct, long *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My memory of being a baby is very indistinct.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:x4:1
# text = My memory of being a baby is very indistinct.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	memory	memory	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	indistinct	indistinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of a baby | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | My memory |  |  |  |  | indistinct *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He spoke so quietly his words were indistinct.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:x5:1
# text = He spoke so quietly his words were indistinct.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
7	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	indistinct	indistinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | He |  |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | his words |  |  |  |  | indistinct *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **word** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old writing on the stone was indistinct.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:x6:1
# text = The old writing on the stone was indistinct.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	indistinct	indistinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old writing on the stone |  |  |  |  | indistinct *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then the voice melted again into the indistinct murmur of the rustling leaves, and died gradually away.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:indistinct:x7:1
# text = Then the voice melted again into the indistinct murmur of the rustling leaves, and died gradually away.
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	melted	melt	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	again	again	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	indistinct	indistinct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	murmur	murmur	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	rustling	rustling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
13	leaves	leave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
17	gradually	gradually	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	away	away	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **melt** | past | the voice |  |  | the indistinct murmur | then; again |  | vn knead-26.5 «NP.material V PP.product»: agent=Material into murmur=Product |
| 2 | **leave** | present | the indistinct murmur *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of the rustling | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme of rustling=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **die** | past | the voice *not said here* |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

<!-- 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 -->
- ← previous: [indisposition](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indisposition/)
- next →: [indistinguishable](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/indistinguishable/)
- ↑ back to [I in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/)