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  What it means

  Literally “what was to be proven.” The Polish equivalent of the Latin Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum) — used at the end of a proof or argument to signal that the point has been conclusively established.

  Vocabulary

  • należało — it was necessary / it was to be (impersonal past)
  • dowieść — to prove / to demonstrate (perfective)

  Grammar note

  'Czego' is the genitive of 'co' — the object of 'dowieść' takes the genitive. 'Należało' is the impersonal past of 'należeć'.

  Cultural context

  Used in mathematics, logic, and rhetoric. Also used ironically in everyday speech when someone's prediction turns out to be correct.

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