{Iście} raz jeszcze
The particle {iście} revisited

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the paper is to reconstruct the meaning of the phrase {iście} (truly). The author includes this word in the class of semantically similar metapredicative adverbs such as: {dosłownie} (literally), {typowo} (typically), czysto (clearly) and {prawdziwie} (truly). In contemporary Polish the phrase {iście} combines with comparative adjectives and adverbs which usually express a high degree of intensity of a given characteristic. The metapredicative nature of {iście} lies in the fact that the speaker characrerizes the features conveyed by the expressions that follow the word. The speaker states that the indicated adjective or adverb is more adequate than some other phrases. Despite being quite strong, it will not convey untruth. Thus, {iście} can be regarded as a special truth certificate of what is being expressed.

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