starími

Starými is the instrumental plural form of the adjective starý in Czech and Slovak. It describes something as old and is used with plural nouns in the instrumental case, typically after prepositions such as s (with) or mezi (among). For example, in Czech you would say s starými lidmi (with old people) or mezi starými přáteli (among old friends). In Slovak you can encounter so starými ľuďmi (with old people) or medzi starými kamarátmi (among old friends). The form signals age, longevity, or longstanding characteristics of the nouns it modifies.

Morphology and usage: starými is applied to masculine or mixed-gender plural nouns in the instrumental case. It is not used independently; it functions as a modifying form of the adjective starý. The corresponding singular forms are starý (masculine), stará (feminine), and staré (neuter), with various other case endings in plural and other cases.

Etymology: starý originates from Proto-Slavic *starъъ meaning old. It has cognates in many Slavic languages, such as Slovak starý and Czech starý, with instrumental plural form starými in both languages.

Notes: The instrumental plural form starými is primarily a grammatical tool for constructing phrases that describe age or oldness in plural nouns. It contrasts with other forms like staří (nominative plural) in Czech or starí (nominative plural) in Slovak, which serve different syntactic roles. See also Czech grammar, Slovak grammar, and the broader topic of adjective declension and the instrumental case.