wywod

Wywód is a Polish noun that normally appears as wywód, though the form wywod (without the diacritic) can occur in older texts or in contexts where diacritics are omitted. The word has two main meanings in contemporary usage.

First, wywód means a line of reasoning, a proof, or a detailed argument aimed at establishing a conclusion. In philosophy, law, and academic writing, a wywód is a structured sequence of statements and justifications intended to demonstrate a proposition or reasoning process. It can also refer to a formal exposition or demonstration in general.

Second, wywód can denote a record of descent or lineage—the ancestry of a person or family. In genealogical or legal contexts, a wywód describes one’s genealogical background, sometimes used to verify rights, status, or succession. Phrases such as wywód przodków or wywód rodu emphasize the tracing of ancestral lines.

Etymology and usage notes: the term derives from the Polish verb wywodzić, meaning to derive, trace back, or deduce, with the prefix wy- indicating outward movement or completion. In modern Polish, the appropriate spelling is wywód in most contexts; the non-diacritic variant wywod appears mainly in historical or typographically constrained sources.

In translation, wywód may be rendered as either “derivation” or “deduction” in the sense of argumentation, or as “lineage,” “ancestry,” or “descent” in genealogical contexts. Related terms include dowód (proof), wywód logiczny (logical demonstration), and genealogical terms such as genealogia or drzewo genealogiczne.

See also: dowód, wywodzić, wywód genealogiczny, genealogia, drzewo genealogiczne.