krajních

Krajní is a Czech adjective meaning outer, boundary-bound, or extreme. It is used to describe things that lie at or beyond a limit, such as the edge of something, a border, or an extreme condition. The form krajních is one of its inflected forms, most commonly appearing in phrases that require a plural denomination in genitive or locative contexts.

Etymology and meaning

The word derives from kraj, meaning edge, border, region, or margin. Krajní has a broad semantic range, covering both physical borders (krajní část segmentu) and figurative limits (krajní řešení, krajní možnosti). In everyday Czech, it frequently characterizes the degree or severity of a situation, position, or measurement.

Usage and examples

Krajní is used in a variety of fixed expressions. In phrases like v krajních případech (in extreme cases) or za krajních okolností (under extreme circumstances), krajní serves to emphasize the extremity of the described situation. Other common collocations include krajní část (outer part), krajní hranice (outer boundary), and krajní řešení (extreme or last-resort solution). The form krajních appears with nouns in plural in genitive or locative cases, for example v krajních okolnostech or krajních časových rozpětích, depending on the grammatical construction.

Grammar and style

As an attributive adjective, krajní agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. The form krajních represents plural agreements in certain cases, guiding how it combines with nouns in phrases describing extremes, boundaries, or outer positions. In formal writing, krajní often conveys a precise sense of limit, while in everyday language it can carry a more emphatic or figurative nuance.

See also

Kraj (edge, border), okolnost (circumstance), hranice (boundary)