póniejszym

Póniejszym is an archaic Polish adjective-form used in the instrumental singular masculine to mean the present or this (in reference to a document, matter, or context). It is a historical variant of the modern forms associated with the demonstrative nis/ne prefix that eventually gave rise to niniejszy and niniejszym. In contemporary Polish, póniejszym is regarded as obsolete, and niniejszym serves as the standard equivalent.

Origin and form: The word originates from an older stylistic tradition that employed the prefix po- with a comparative-suffix form, producing póniejszy/póniejszym. This development parallels other archaic formations that were later superseded by the more common niniejszy/niniejszym in official and literary language. The diacritic in póniejszym marks historical spelling kept in older texts.

Usage and Register: Póniejszym appears primarily in historical, legal, or literary texts. It functioned as a demonstrative adjective referring to the document or matter presently under discussion, similar in function to the modern niniejszy/niniejszym but now largely confined to philological or archival contexts. The form is sometimes encountered in editions of older Polish works, translations, or discussions of historical grammar.

Modern equivalents and distinctions: The modern standard for “this present” is niniejszy (nominative) and niniejszym (instrumental). Póniejszym is distinguished by its archaic orthography and rarity; it should not be confused with poniższy, which means “below” or “the following.” In contemporary writing, póniejszym is typically replaced with niniejszym or obecnym, depending on context.

See also: niniejszy, niniejszym, poniższy, obecny.