[…] referring again to the sample Phrase-marker […] [sincerity may frighten the boy] and the formative "frighten", we have a complex symbol consisting of the features [+V, +—NP, +[+Abstract]...—...[+Animate]], and others. The rules of the grammar impose the dominance order [+V], [+—NP], [+[+Abstract]...—...[+Animate]]. In terms of this order, we can define the 'degree of deviation' of a string that results from substituting a lexical item in the position of "frighten" in this Phrase-marker. The deviation is greater the higher in the dominance hierarchy is the feature corresponding to the rule that is relaxed. In the example given, then, deviance would be greatest if the item substituted for "frighten" is a non-Verb, less great if it is a Verb but a non-Transitive Verb, and still less great if it is a Transitive Verb that does not take an Abstract Subject.
- Chomsky (1969), a pag.152