Psaný

Psané is a Czech term meaning written, and it also functions as the neuter singular past passive participle of the verb psát (to write). In Czech grammar, past passive participles behave like adjectives and agree with the noun in gender and number; psané modifies neuter nouns, such as slovo (the written word).

In practice, psané is used to describe text, documents, or language in its written form, as opposed to spoken language. Common expressions include psané slovo (the written word), psané znění textu (the written wording of a text), and more generally the written form of laws, contracts, or records. The term frequently appears in linguistic, philological, archival, and legal contexts to distinguish material preserved in writing from oral traditions or transcripts.

Historically, the distinction between psané and ústní (spoken) texts has been central to the study of manuscripts, textual criticism, and traditional law codes. Psané sources are those preserved in writing, often valued for their permanence and reproducibility, whereas ústní sources reflect oral transmission.

Etymology and cognates: psané derives from the verb psát (to write). Across Slavic languages, related forms express the same meaning of “written.” In Slovak, the cognate písané is used similarly as the neuter form meaning written, illustrating a shared step in the development of the Slavic verbal adjectives.

Term usage today remains largely literary, academic, and formal. It is not typically used as a standalone noun, but as an attributive or predicative adjective to describe textual material.