pierwotna

Pierwotna is a Polish adjective in its feminine singular form, meaning original, primary, or initial. It is the feminine counterpart of pierwotny and agrees with feminine nouns, as in pierwotna przyczyna (primary cause), pierwotna forma (original form), or pierwotna wersja (original version). The term is used across various domains to denote first or original status.

Usage and meanings

- Primary or initial: pierwotna przyczyna, pierwotny etap.

- Original form or version: pierwotna forma, pierwotna wersja.

- Medical or scientific context: choroba pierwotna (primary disease) or similar phrases indicating a condition that is not secondary to another.

In scholarly writing, phrases such as źródło pierwotne (primary source) are common, typically used to distinguish original material from secondary sources (źródła wtórne). The choice between pierwotna and related phrases often depends on stylistic conventions and the gender of the noun being described.

Etymology

Pierwotna derives from pierwotny, itself from the root pierwot-, which conveys primacy or originality. The word is linked to the adverb pierwotnie (originally) and to related nouns expressing primacy, such as pierwotność (primacy or originality).

See also

pierwotny, pierwotnie, pierwotność, źródło pierwotne, źródła wtórne.