potomnych

Potomnych is a Polish term used primarily in historical, genealogical, and literary contexts to refer to descendants or posterity. It appears as a genitive plural form of the adjective or noun related to the concept of later generations, and it is most commonly encountered in phrases that describe those who come after a given generation, lineage, or individual.

Etymology and usage

The word derives from the same Slavic root that yields words meaning subsequent or later. In Polish, related forms include potomny (posterior, later) and potomstwo (offspring, descendants). The specific form potomnych is typically the genitive plural, used to modify another noun or to stand as a substantive in phrases such as pamięć potomnych (memory of the descendants) or los potomnych (the fate of the descendants). While potent in older or formal texts, the term is less common in everyday speech today.

Context

Potomnych occurs mainly in genealogical records, legal documents, chronicles, and literature dealing with family lineages, inheritance, or historical memory. It carries a neutral, descriptive connotation, without implying moral judgment about the descendants.

Related terms

Commonly encountered related words include potomstwo (offspring, descendants) and pokolenia (generations). Polish equivalents in other Slavic languages include Russian potomstvo and Ukrainian potomstvo, which share the broader sense of posterity.

Example

Pamięć potomnych była starannie zachowywana w rodzinnej kronice.

Translation: The memory of the descendants was carefully preserved in the family chronicle.