istého

Istého is a historical orthographic variant encountered in Czech, not a standalone modern lexical item. It represents the genitive singular masculine/neuter form of the adjective jistý, meaning certain, sure, or definite. In contemporary Czech, the corresponding form is jistého, while istého appears mainly in older texts and in discussions of historical spelling.

Etymology and orthography: jistý derives from the Proto-Slavic root associated with certainty and assurance. In older Czech orthography, spellings often used an initial i where later reformers standardized the initial j, yielding istého as the genitive form. The shift from istého to jistého reflects broader changes in Czech spelling reforms that clarified the use of the letter j and regularized adjective endings.

Usage and examples: Istého occurs in historical writings, manuscripts, and poetry, where authors wrote palabras such as toho istého člověka or toho istého muže to indicate “that same/that certain man.” In modern Czech, writers would typically use toho jistého člověka or toho jistého muže. The form is mainly of linguistic or paleographic interest today, illustrating how Czech orthography evolved.

Relation to other terms: Istý is the base adjective meaning certain; jistý is the standard contemporary form, with its genitive is jistého. The archaic istého is studied in philological contexts to understand older orthographic practices and historical texts.

See also: jistý, jistého, archaic spellings in Czech, orthographic reform.