Temeljen

Temeljen is an adjective used in Serbo-Croatian languages (Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin) derived from the verb temeljiti, meaning to base or found. It describes something that has a basis in another thing, such as evidence, data, or a principle. The term is commonly employed to characterize statements, theories, arguments, methods, or conclusions as being supported by a specific source.

Etymology and morphology: Temeljen comes from temelj (foundation, base) with the adjectival suffix -en. It agrees with the gender and number of the noun it modifies: temeljен (masculine), temeljena (feminine), temeljeno (neuter). In practice, one often encounters temeljena na, temeljen na, or similar constructions to express “based on.”

Usage and examples: The expression temeljiti na is widely used, and the passive participle forms temeljен/temeljena/temeljeno function as predicates. Examples include: Ova teorija je temeljena na dokazima. (This theory is based on the evidence.) Pristup je temeljen na iskustvu. (The approach is based on experience.) The term temeljena/temeljenka is also used in more formal or academic writing to emphasize foundational support.

Related terms: Temelj (foundation, base) is the noun from which temeljen is derived. The phrase zasnovan na nebo utemeljen na sličnim izrazima is used synonymously in many contexts, though utemeljen may carry a slightly more formal tone in some varieties.

Notes: While synonymous, temeljjen/temeljena are most natural when describing something that has a clear basis or foundation. The choice of form depends on the gender of the noun it modifies and the syntactic construction of the sentence.