---
title: progenitor — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «progenitor» in the school dictionary: A person or animal from whom others are descended, an ancestor: «the progenitor of the family». 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/P/progenitor/)

<!-- 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/) / [P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/) / progenitor

# progenitor

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** thing, things, He, wolf, Some, Scientists · **What happens:** descend, start, live, develop, be, call · **To what, where:** others, movement, living thing, progenitor, band, progenitor cells · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«progenitor» in the school dictionary: its 3 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: [progenitor in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/progenitor.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person or animal from whom others are descended, an ancestor: «the progenitor of the family».

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:m1:1
# text = A person or animal from whom others are descended, an ancestor: «the progenitor of the family».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	whom	whom	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	4	nmod	_	_
7	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	descended	descend	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	ancestor	ancestor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	progenitor	progenitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **descend** | present · passive |  | others |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7-1 «PP.location V NP»: subject=Theme |

<!-- .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: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A person or thing that starts a movement, idea or style; a founder or first model: «the progenitor of rock music».

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:m2:1
# text = A person or thing that starts a movement, idea or style; a founder or first model: «the progenitor of rock music».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	movement	movement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	founder	founder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	first	first	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	18	amod	_	_
18	model	model	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	progenitor	progenitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	_
23	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	rock	rock	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | thing | a movement |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent movement=Eventuality |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A cell or living thing that later things develop from.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:m3:1
# text = A cell or living thing that later things develop from.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	cell	cell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	living	live	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	obj	_	_
7	later	late	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	9	advmod	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	develop	develop	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **live** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **develop** | present | things | living thing |  |  |  | late *property* | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent that=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was the progenitor of a long line of farmers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:x1:1
# text = He was the progenitor of a long line of farmers.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	progenitor	progenitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | He | the progenitor |  |  |  | of a long line of farmers | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wolf is the progenitor of all pet dogs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:x2:1
# text = The wolf is the progenitor of all pet dogs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wolf	wolf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	progenitor	progenitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
8	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	dogs	dog	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the wolf | the progenitor |  |  |  | of all pet dogs | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some call that band the progenitor of punk music.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:x3:1
# text = Some call that band the progenitor of punk music.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	nsubj	_	_
2	call	call	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	4	det	_	_
4	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	progenitor	progenitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	xcomp	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	punk	punk	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	music	music	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 | **call** | present | Some | that band |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent band=Recipient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study progenitor cells that grow into blood cells.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:x4:1
# text = Scientists study progenitor cells that grow into blood cells.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	study	study	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	progenitor	progenitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	cells	cell	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | progenitor cells |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cell=Topic |
| 2 | **grow** | present | progenitor cells |  |  |  |  | into blood cells *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into cell=Result |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Adam is called the progenitor of humankind in the Bible.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:x5:1
# text = Adam is called the progenitor of humankind in the Bible.
1	Adam	Adam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	progenitor	progenitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	humankind	humankind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Bible	Bible	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Adam |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Wright brothers' plane was the progenitor of every modern aircraft.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:progenitor:x6:1
# text = The Wright brothers' plane was the progenitor of every modern aircraft.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Wright	Wright	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	brothers	brother	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	progenitor	progenitor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	12	det	_	_
11	modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	aircraft	aircraft	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the Wright brothers's plane | the progenitor |  |  |  | of every modern aircraft | tree rules |

<!-- 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: [profusion](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/profusion/)
- next →: [progeny](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/progeny/)
- ↑ back to [P in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/)