---
title: retro — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «retro» in the school dictionary: Copying or looking like the style of the past, especially the 1950s to 1990s. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# retro

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Dad, café, She, Vinyl records, new phone · **What happens:** copy, look, mean, retrograde, love, play · **To what, where:** 1950s, retro video games, cool retro look, retro sunglasses, 1970s, Retro sweets · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Copying or looking like the style of the past, especially the 1950s to 1990s.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:m1:1
# text = Copying or looking like the style of the past, especially the 1950s to 1990s.
1	Copying	copy	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	looking	look	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	style	style	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	1950s	1950	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	1990s	1990s	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | gerund |  | the 1950s to 1990s |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | like the style of the past | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .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 — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old-fashioned in a fun or cool way.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:m2:1
# text = Old-fashioned in a fun or cool way.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	1	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a prefix «retro-» means «backwards», as in «retrograde» or «retrospective».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:m3:1
# text = As a prefix «retro-» means «backwards», as in «retrograde» or «retrospective».
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	prefix	prefix	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	retro	retro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	backwards	backwards	ADV	RB	_	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
14	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	16	mark	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	retrograde	retrograde	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	retrospective	retrospective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | as a prefix | tree rules |
| 2 | **retrograde** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad loves playing retro video games.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:x1:1
# text = Dad loves playing retro video games.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	loves	love	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	playing	play	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	retro	retro	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	video	video	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **love** | present | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **play** *not said to happen* | gerund | Dad *not said here* | retro video games |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent game=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The café has a cool retro look.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:x2:1
# text = The café has a cool retro look.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	retro	retro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the café | a cool retro look |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent look=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wore retro sunglasses from the 1970s.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:x3:1
# text = She wore retro sunglasses from the 1970s.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	retro	retro	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	sunglasses	sunglasses	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	1970s	1970s	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | She | retro sunglasses |  | the 1970s |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent sunglasses=Theme from 1970s=Source |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Retro sweets are sold in old-fashioned jars.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:x4:1
# text = Retro sweets are sold in old-fashioned jars.
1	Retro	retro	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	sold	sell	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	fashioned	fashioned	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	jars	jar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sell** | present · passive |  | Retro sweets |  | fashioned jars |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Vinyl records are retro but popular again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:x5:1
# text = Vinyl records are retro but popular again.
1	Vinyl	vinyl	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	records	record	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	retro	retro	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	popular	popular	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	again	again	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Vinyl records |  |  |  | again | retro *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | Vinyl records *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The new phone has a retro design.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:retro:x6:1
# text = The new phone has a retro design.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	retro	retro	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	design	design	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the new phone | a retro design |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent design=Patient |

<!-- 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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