---
title: prehistoric — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prehistoric» in the school dictionary: Prehistoric means from the very long time before people wrote things down, so before written history began. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prehistoric

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Prehistoric, people, Prehistoric people, Dinosaurs, We, Woolly mammoths · **What happens:** mean, write down, write, begin, build, paint · **To what, where:** things, Stonehenge, animals, cave walls, prehistoric reptiles, prehistoric flint tool

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prehistoric means from the very long time before people wrote things down, so before written history began.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:m1:1
# text = Prehistoric means from the very long time before people wrote things down, so before written history began.
1	Prehistoric	Prehistoric	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
11	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
12	down	down	ADP	RP	_	10	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	so	so	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
15	before	before	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	amod	_	_
17	history	history	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
18	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Prehistoric |  |  |  | time |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **write down** | past | people | things |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |
| 3 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **begin** | past | Prehistoric *not said here* |  |  |  | before written history |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prehistoric can also mean very old-fashioned or out of date.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:m2:1
# text = Prehistoric can also mean very old-fashioned or out of date.
1	Prehistoric	Prehistoric	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	mean	mean	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	ccomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	date	date	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | can | Prehistoric |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stonehenge was built in prehistoric times.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:x1:1
# text = Stonehenge was built in prehistoric times.
1	Stonehenge	Stonehenge	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	built	build	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	prehistoric	prehistoric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past · passive |  | Stonehenge |  |  | time |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prehistoric people painted animals on cave walls.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:x2:1
# text = Prehistoric people painted animals on cave walls.
1	Prehistoric	prehistoric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	painted	paint	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	cave	cave	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	walls	wall	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **paint** | past | Prehistoric people | animals |  | cave walls |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V NP.theme PP.destination»: agent=Agent animal=Theme on wall=Destination |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dinosaurs were prehistoric reptiles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:x3:1
# text = Dinosaurs were prehistoric reptiles.
1	Dinosaurs	dinosaur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	prehistoric	prehistoric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	reptiles	reptile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We found a prehistoric flint tool in the museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:x4:1
# text = We found a prehistoric flint tool in the museum.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
4	prehistoric	prehistoric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	flint	flint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | We | a prehistoric flint tool |  | the museum |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tool=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Woolly mammoths were prehistoric animals that lived in the Ice Age.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:x5:1
# text = Woolly mammoths were prehistoric animals that lived in the Ice Age.
1	Woolly	woolly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	mammoths	mammoth	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	prehistoric	prehistoric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	Ice	Ice	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Age	Age	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Woolly mammoths | prehistoric animals |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **live** | past | prehistoric animals |  |  |  | in the Ice Age |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in age=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(humorous) Dad's phone is prehistoric — it can't even take photos!

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:x6:1
# text = (humorous) Dad's phone is prehistoric — it can't even take photos!
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	humorous	humorous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Dad	Dad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	's	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	prehistoric	prehistoric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
9	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
11	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	even	even	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	conj	_	_
15	photos	photo	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Dad's humorous phone |  |  |  |  | prehistoric *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **take** | can | it | photos |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent photo=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Archaeologists dig up prehistoric bones to learn how people lived.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prehistoric:x7:1
# text = Archaeologists dig up prehistoric bones to learn how people lived.
1	Archaeologists	archaeologist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dig	dig	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	prehistoric	prehistoric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lived	live	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dig up** | present | Archaeologists | prehistoric bones |  |  |  |  | vn poke-19-1-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent bone=Theme |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Archaeologists *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **live** | past | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- 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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