---
title: vestigial — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «vestigial» in the school dictionary: Describing a part of a body that is still there but has become small or useless over a very long time, such as the tiny leg bones inside some snakes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# vestigial

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** body, Ostriches, vestigial wings, Whales, kiwi, Scientists · **What happens:** describe, be, become, remain, use, have · **To what, where:** part, vestigial wings, wings, air, small vestigial leg bones, bodies · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Describing a part of a body that is still there but has become small or useless over a very long time, such as the tiny leg bones inside some snakes.

<!-- fold The tree, 30 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vestigial:m1:1
# text = Describing a part of a body that is still there but has become small or useless over a very long time, such as the tiny leg bones inside some snakes.
1	Describing	describe	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	still	still	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	become	become	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
14	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	xcomp	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	useless	useless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	_
17	over	over	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
19	very	very	ADV	RB	_	20	advmod	_	_
20	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	28	punct	_	_
23	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	28	case	_	_
24	as	as	ADP	IN	_	23	fixed	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
26	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	28	amod	_	_
27	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	compound	_	_
28	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	appos	_	_
29	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	31	det	_	_
31	snakes	snake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | gerund |  | a part of a body |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent part=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present | a body |  |  |  | still | there *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **become** | present · perfect |  |  |  |  |  | small *property* | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

<!-- .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 -->
Remaining as a small trace or bit of something that used to be bigger or more important.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vestigial:m2:1
# text = Remaining as a small trace or bit of something that used to be bigger or more important.
1	Remaining	remain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	trace	trace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	acl:relcl	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	cop	_	_
14	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	11	xcomp	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	advmod	_	_
17	important	important	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **remain** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | as a small trace or bit of something | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **use** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | big *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ostriches have vestigial wings that cannot lift them into the air.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vestigial:x1:1
# text = Ostriches have vestigial wings that cannot lift them into the air.
1	Ostriches	ostrich	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	vestigial	vestigial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	lift	lift	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	into	into	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Ostriches | vestigial wings |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 2 | **not** **lift** | can | vestigial wings | wings *= wing* |  | the air |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent they=Theme into air=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whales have small vestigial leg bones inside their bodies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vestigial:x2:1
# text = Whales have small vestigial leg bones inside their bodies.
1	Whales	whale	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
4	vestigial	vestigial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	leg	leg	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	bones	bone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	bodies	body	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Whales | small vestigial leg bones |  | Whales's bodies |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bone=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The human tailbone is often called a vestigial part.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vestigial:x3:1
# text = The human tailbone is often called a vestigial part.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tailbone	tailbone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
5	often	often	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	vestigial	vestigial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	part	part	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

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

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The kiwi has tiny vestigial wings hidden under its feathers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vestigial:x4:1
# text = The kiwi has tiny vestigial wings hidden under its feathers.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	kiwi	kiwi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	tiny	tiny	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
5	vestigial	vestigial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	wings	wing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
7	hidden	hide	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	acl	_	_
8	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	feathers	feather	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the kiwi | tiny vestigial wings |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent wing=Patient |
| 2 | **hide** | participle |  | tiny vestigial wings *not said here* |  | kiwi's feathers |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent under feather=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists study vestigial organs to learn how animals changed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vestigial:x5:1
# text = Scientists study vestigial organs to learn how animals changed.
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	vestigial	vestigial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	organs	organ	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	changed	change	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **study** | present | Scientists | vestigial organs |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent organ=Topic |
| 2 | **learn** | to-infinitive | Scientists *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V what S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **change** | past | animals |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only a vestigial bit of the old castle wall is left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:vestigial:x6:1
# text = Only a vestigial bit of the old castle wall is left.
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	vestigial	vestigial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	wall	wall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux:pass	_	_
11	left	leave	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **leave** | present · passive |  | a vestigial bit of the old castle wall |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

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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.

<!-- /div -->

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