osnovan

Osnovan is an adjective used in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian to indicate that something was founded or established. It functions as the past participle of the verb osnovati, meaning to establish or found, and it modifies a noun in gender and number. Common forms appear as osnovan (masculine singular), osnovana (feminine singular), and osnovano (neuter singular); in sentences it agrees with the subject, for example, Grad je osnovan 1880 (the city was founded in 1880) and Škola je osnovana 1950 (the school was established in 1950).

Etymology and related terms: osnovan derives from osnovati, which means to establish or found. The root osnova, meaning foundation or basis, is closely related and reflects the sense of establishing a starting point or origin. Related forms include the noun osnova and the verb osnovati, as well as phrases built around the concept of founding or establishment.

Usage notes: Osnovan is commonly used in encyclopedic, historical, and formal writing to summarize the origin of institutions, organizations, settlements, or projects. In headlines or concise entries, the word may appear without a finite verb (for example, Osnovan 1990) as a compact descriptor of origin. The term is neutral and does not imply success or quality beyond the act of establishment.

See also: osnovati, osnova, foundation, establishment.