---
title: neoteny — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «neoteny» in the school dictionary: Keeping young or baby-like features after growing up, in animals or people. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# neoteny

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** axolotl, Neoteny, animal, scientists, like dogs, science teacher · **What happens:** keep, grow up, be, mean, think, show · **To what, where:** young features, famous example, baby features, neoteny, salamanders, gills · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keeping young or baby-like features after growing up, in animals or people.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neoteny:m1:1
# text = Keeping young or baby-like features after growing up, in animals or people.
1	Keeping	keep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
4	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
7	features	feature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
8	after	after	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	growing	grow	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
10	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | gerund |  | young features |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feature=Theme |
| 2 | **grow up** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | in animals or people | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in animal=Location |

<!-- .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.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The axolotl is a famous example of neoteny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neoteny:x1:1
# text = The axolotl is a famous example of neoteny.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	axolotl	axolotl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	neoteny	neoteny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the axolotl | a famous example |  |  |  | of neoteny | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Neoteny means an animal keeps baby features as an adult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neoteny:x2:1
# text = Neoteny means an animal keeps baby features as an adult.
1	Neoteny	neoteny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	features	feature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
8	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Neoteny |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **keep** | present | a animal | baby features |  |  |  | as a adult | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent feature=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some scientists think puppy-like dogs show neoteny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neoteny:x3:1
# text = Some scientists think puppy-like dogs show neoteny.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	like	like	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
9	neoteny	neoteny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | present | some scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn consider-29.9-2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **show** | present | like dogs | neoteny |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent neoteny=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our science teacher explained neoteny using salamanders.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neoteny:x4:1
# text = Our science teacher explained neoteny using salamanders.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	neoteny	neoteny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	_
7	salamanders	salamander	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | Our science teacher | neoteny |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent neoteny=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | Our science teacher *not said here* | salamanders |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent salamander=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Humans show some neoteny compared with chimpanzees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neoteny:x5:1
# text = Humans show some neoteny compared with chimpanzees.
1	Humans	human	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	show	show	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	neoteny	neoteny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	compared	compare	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	chimpanzees	chimpanzee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | Humans | some neoteny |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent neoteny=Recipient |
| 2 | **compare** | participle |  | some neoteny *not said here* |  |  |  | with chimpanzees | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Patient with chimpanzee=Co-Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Because of neoteny, the axolotl keeps its gills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neoteny:x6:1
# text = Because of neoteny, the axolotl keeps its gills.
1	Because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	3	case	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	1	fixed	_	_
3	neoteny	neoteny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	axolotl	axolotl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	gills	gill	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 | **keep** | present | the axolotl | axolotl's gills |  |  |  | because neoteny | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gill=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Neoteny can make adult animals look cute.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:neoteny:x7:1
# text = Neoteny can make adult animals look cute.
1	Neoteny	neoteny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	adult	adult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	ccomp	_	_
7	cute	cute	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | can | Neoteny |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | adult animals |  |  |  |  | cute *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- 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 -->

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