Ciemny

Ciemny is a Polish adjective meaning dark, dim, or obscure. It is used to describe colors with low light or high darkness, as well as lighting conditions, atmospheres, or ideas and situations perceived as secretive or foreboding. Examples include ciemny kolor (a dark color), ciemne światło (dim light), and ciemny humor (a dark sense of humor). The term forms the basis for the noun ciemność, meaning darkness or obscurity.

Morphology and usage: ciemny agrees with gender and number. The basic forms are: masculine singular ciemny, feminine singular ciemna, neuter singular ciemne. In plural, forms vary by grammatical context, with ciemni used in masculine personal contexts and ciemne in non-masculine contexts. The comparative and superlative degrees are ciemniejszy (darker) and najciemniejszy (darkest).

Etymology and cognates: ciemny is derived from a Proto-Slavic root related to darkness, cognate with Russian temnyj, Czech temný, Ukrainian temnyy, and linked to the Polish noun ciemność (darkness). The word belongs to a family of terms that express lack of light and related figurative meanings such as mystery or obscurity.

See also: ciemność, the corresponding noun for darkness; jasny, the opposite meaning bright or light; mroczny, another Polish term conveying gloom or foreboding.