Symbolickou

Symbolickou is the feminine singular form of the Czech and Slovak adjective symbolický, meaning symbolic, pertaining to a symbol, or conveying symbolism. It appears in accusative or instrumental cases (for feminine nouns) and is used to describe things that are not literal but represent or signify something else. The corresponding adverb is symbolicky.

Etymology of the term traces to the root symbol-, which comes from the Greek symbolon, meaning a sign or token, and was transmitted to many European languages through Latin symbolum and later modern languages. The Slavic adjective ending -ický is a productive suffix that forms adjectives indicating relation or characteristic, producing symbolický in Latin-script languages and its inflected forms such as symbolickou.

Usage of symbolickou spans a range of contexts, including literature, philosophy, art, and theology. It commonly appears in phrases like symbolickou řečí (with symbolic language) or symbolickou mocí (with symbolic power). In academic writing, it is used to discuss phenomena where signs, icons, or rituals stand for broader meanings rather than conveying direct literal content. The term also appears in critical commentary on symbolism, iconography, or interpretive frameworks that emphasize signs and their interpretive significance rather than empirical detail.

In contrast to symbolickou, the related noun symbol, the adverb form symbolicky is used to describe actions done in a symbolic rather than literal manner. The word is used in both Czech and Slovak with closely aligned meanings, and it often aligns with discussions of semiotics, cultural symbolism, and interpretive analysis. See also symbol, symbolism, symbolic language.