této

Této is a term used in a fictional setting to refer to a polysemous lexeme that appears across culture, language, and geography within that world. In the sources that employ it, této can denote a ceremonial gathering and social contract, a place name, and a constructed language.

Etymology and phonology. In-universe etymology traces této to the Tetoan language family, with early glosses associating it with binding and communion. Pronunciation is commonly given as /ˈte.to/ in the standard dialect, with variations in remote regions.

Cultural and linguistic usage. As a noun, této describes an annual community gathering featuring negotiation, feasting, and dispute mediation. As a verb, této means to bind or weave social ties through collaborative work. Této also names a coastal city in the fictional continent of Lyria, known for its temple precinct and archives. The city is sometimes depicted as a political hub. Separately, této is the name of a constructed language used by speakers in Této's region; it is described as having a compact phonology, vowel harmony, and a relatively analytic grammar.

In reception, writers and fans discuss této as an example of polysemy in worldbuilding, illustrating how a single term can connect ritual practice, geography, and language within a fictional culture.