temeljni

Temeljni is an adjective used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian. It means fundamental, basic, essential, or underlying, and is applied to concepts, objects, or attributes that form the core or basis of something. The term appears across disciplines and everyday language, for example in expressions such as temeljni princip (fundamental principle) or temeljni cilj (primary objective).

Etymology and form: Temeljni derives from temelj, meaning foundation or basis. This in turn comes from older Slavic roots related to founding or establishing. In grammar, temeljni agrees with the noun in gender and number: temeljni (masculine singular), temeljna (feminine singular), temeljno (neuter singular), with corresponding plural forms.

Usage and examples: In law, architecture, science, and policy discussions, temeljni often marks core elements of a system or framework. Examples include temeljni kamen (foundation stone), temeljni princip (fundamental principle), temeljni dokument (foundational document), and temeljni okvir (basic framework).

Linguistic note: In lexicography and grammar, the term temeljni oblik refers to the base or lemma of a word—the canonical form used for dictionary entries and for canonical analysis. This base form is contrasted with various inflected forms that appear in actual language use.

Overall, temeljni conveys the sense of what is essential or foundational within a given domain, serving as a key descriptor for core concepts, elements, and structures.