---
title: infancy — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «infancy» in the school dictionary: Infancy is the time when someone is a baby or very young child. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# infancy

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Infancy, someone, Many children, babies, internet, Mum · **What happens:** be, mean, die, learn, smile, sit · **To what, where:** time, baby, early stage, infancy, child, love

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Infancy is the time when someone is a baby or very young child.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:m1:1
# text = Infancy is the time when someone is a baby or very young child.
1	Infancy	infancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	very	very	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Infancy | the time |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | someone | a baby or young child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Infancy also means the very early stage of something new, like an idea or invention.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:m2:1
# text = Infancy also means the very early stage of something new, like an idea or invention.
1	Infancy	infancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	early	early	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	_
10	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	invention	invention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Infancy | the early stage of something |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent stage=Topic |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Many children died in infancy in the 1800s.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:x1:1
# text = Many children died in infancy in the 1800s.
1	Many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	infancy	infancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	1800s	1800	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **die** | past | Many children |  |  |  |  | in the 1800s; in infancy | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.patient V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient in infancy=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
During infancy, babies learn to smile, sit and crawl.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:x2:1
# text = During infancy, babies learn to smile, sit and crawl.
1	During	during	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	infancy	infancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	smile	smile	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	sit	sit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	crawl	crawl	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **learn** | present | babies |  |  |  | during infancy |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **smile** | to-infinitive | babies *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **sit** | infinitive | babies *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **crawl** | infinitive | babies *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The internet was in its infancy when Mum was a child.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:x3:1
# text = The internet was in its infancy when Mum was a child.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	internet	internet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	infancy	infancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
8	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the internet |  |  | internet's infancy |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Mum | a child |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His love of drawing started in infancy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:x4:1
# text = His love of drawing started in infancy.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	drawing	draw	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	started	start	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	infancy	infancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | gerund · passive |  | His love |  | infancy |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |
| 2 | **love** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom love «feeling transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The project is still in its infancy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:x5:1
# text = The project is still in its infancy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	project	project	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	infancy	infancy	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** | present | the project |  |  | project's infancy | still |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Vaccines protect babies during infancy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:x6:1
# text = Vaccines protect babies during infancy.
1	Vaccines	vaccine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	protect	protect	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	during	during	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	infancy	infancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **protect** | present | Vaccines | babies |  |  | during infancy |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent baby=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Ever since my infancy, I have dwelt in the cave of Chiron the Centaur.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:infancy:x7:1
# text = "Ever since my infancy, I have dwelt in the cave of Chiron the Centaur.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	5	advmod	_	_
3	since	since	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	infancy	infancy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
8	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
9	dwelt	dwell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
14	Chiron	Chiron	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	Centaur	Centaur	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dwell** *in a quote* | present · perfect | I | my infancy *not said here* |  | the cave of Chiron |  |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme infancy=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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