---
title: petrification — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «petrification» in the school dictionary: The process by which a dead plant or animal slowly turns into stone over a very long time, as minerals replace it: petrified wood. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# petrification

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** process, minerals, dead plant, you, Petrification, fossil · **What happens:** turn, replace, petrify, process, be, not move · **To what, where:** stone, process, ancient tree, petrification, bones, millions · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The process by which a dead plant or animal slowly turns into stone over a very long time, as minerals replace it: petrified wood.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petrification:m1:1
# text = The process by which a dead plant or animal slowly turns into stone over a very long time, as minerals replace it: petrified wood.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	process	process	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	dead	dead	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	turns	turn	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	into	into	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
14	over	over	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
16	very	very	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
21	minerals	mineral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj	_	_
22	replace	replace	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
23	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
25	petrified	petrify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	26	amod	_	_
26	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | present | the process by a dead plant or animal |  |  | stone | time | slowly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme into stone=Trajectory |
| 2 | **replace** | present | minerals | process |  |  |  | petrified wood *obl* | vn substitute-13.6.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme it=Co-Theme |
| 3 | **petrify** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **process** |  | a dead plant or animal |  |  |  |  |  | nom process «act transitive»: by=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 -->
Being so frightened that you cannot move (usually "petrified").

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petrification:m2:1
# text = Being so frightened that you cannot move (usually "petrified").
1	Being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	cop	_	_
2	so	so	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	frightened	frightened	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
9	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
11	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	petrified	petrify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | frightened *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **move** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **petrify** *in a quote* | participle | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | usually *property* | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Petrification turned the ancient tree into stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petrification:x1:1
# text = Petrification turned the ancient tree into stone.
1	Petrification	petrification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | Petrification | the ancient tree |  | stone |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent tree=Theme into stone=Trajectory |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The fossil shows petrification of the bones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petrification:x2:1
# text = The fossil shows petrification of the bones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	fossil	fossil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	petrification	petrification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | the fossil | petrification of the bones |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent petrification=Recipient |
| 2 | **petrify** |  |  | the bones |  |  |  |  | nom petrification «process transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Petrification takes millions of years.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petrification:x3:1
# text = Petrification takes millions of years.
1	Petrification	petrification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	takes	take	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	millions	million	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	years	year	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | Petrification | millions of years |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent million=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the myth, Medusa's stare caused petrification.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petrification:x4:1
# text = In the myth, Medusa's stare caused petrification.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	myth	myth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	Medusa	Medusa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	stare	stare	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	caused	cause	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	petrification	petrification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | past | Medusa's stare | petrification |  | the myth |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition petrification=Patient |
| 2 | **stare** |  | Medusa |  |  |  |  |  | nom stare «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw petrified wood that looked like a log but was stone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petrification:x5:1
# text = We saw petrified wood that looked like a log but was stone.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	petrified	petrify	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	log	log	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
10	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	stone	stone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | petrified wood |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer wood=Stimulus |
| 2 | **petrify** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **look** | past | petrified wood |  |  |  |  | like a log | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **is a** | past | We *not said here* | stone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Minerals in water cause petrification.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:petrification:x6:1
# text = Minerals in water cause petrification.
1	Minerals	mineral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
4	cause	cause	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	petrification	petrification	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | present | Minerals in water | petrification |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition petrification=Patient |

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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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