kluss

Latvian

Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *klus-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (to sound, to hear) (whence klausīt (to obey), q.v., klausīties (to listen), klust (to be silent), more frequently apklust), with an extra -s. The semantic evolution of klust, and consequently also of kluss, was probably: “to hear” > “to listen” > “to be quiet (in order to listen).” Cognates include Lithuanian klùsas (hard of hearing, deaf), klusùs (hearing), klùsti (to obey, to be obedient), Old Prussian poklusman (hearing, obedient) (neut. pl. nom.).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [klus]
(file)

Adjective

kluss (klusais comparative, klusāks superlative, visklusākais adverb, klusi, klusu, klusām)

  1. (of sounds) soft, quiet, silent (barely hearable, weak, not loud)
    klusa dziesma, mūzikaquiet song, music
    runāt klusā balsīto talk in a soft, quiet voice
    klusi soļiquiet steps
    kluss saucienssilent cry, call
  2. (of placess, moments) quiet, silent (where, when there are no loud sounds; where, when there are no sounds)
    dienā ciems bija pavisam klussduring the day the village was completely silent
    klusa ielaquiet street
    vakars bija ļoti klussthe night was very quiet
    pekšņi visapkārt kļuva klusssuddenly it became quiet everywhere
  3. (of places) quiet, calm (where there are no crowds, not much traffic)
    kluss pilsētas rajonsquiet town district
    kluss apvidusquiet area, region
  4. (of people) quiet (not talkative)
    Marta ir klusa un nopietnaMarta is quiet and serious
    Krišs sēdēja klussKrišs sat quietly, in silence
  5. (of thoughts, mental states, feelings) quiet, silent (not openly expressed)
    kluss naidsquiet, silent hatred
    klusa laimequiet happiness
    klusas sāpesquiet pain
  6. (of paintings, colors) quiet, calm (without strong contrast, without many nuances, without strong tone differences)
    patīkama akvareļu klusā krāsu saskaņaa pleasant, calm watercolor harmony
  7. (of periods of time, actions) quiet, calm (without special significance, without important events)
    lielajam uzbrukumam sekoja klusas dienas — the big attack was followed by calm, quiet days
    un tad bija bēres: klusas un trūcīgasand such was the funeral: quiet and poor

Declension

Antonyms

Derived terms

References

  1. Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), kluss”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN
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