nasks

Latvian

Etymology

Derived from the verb nest (to carry) with vowel change, like nasta (burden), also from nest; the k follows the model of laisks (indolent, lazy), from laist (to allow). For the semantic change, consider terms like the (colloquial) derived verb nesties (to run quickly) (< “to carry oneself”). Cognates include Lithuanian našiaĩ (swiftly, nimbly).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [nasks]
(file)

Adjective

nasks (definite naskais, comparative naskāks, superlative visnaskākais, adverb naski)

  1. active, diligent; fast, quick, agile, nimble
    nasks zēnsactive, agile, quick boy
    māte pusjokodama, pusnopietni stāstīja par tirgotājiem, kuri taujājot pēc saimnieciskas un naskas dzīvesbiedresmother, half joking, half seriously, talked about merchants who were inquiring about economical and diligent wives
    izdarīgā un naskā meitene ātri vien apguva profesijuthe diligent and agile girl quickly learned the profession
    straume Gaujā ir nesalīdzināmi veiklāka un braukšana veicas ievērojami naskāk nekā Ventāthe stream at Gauja is incomparably more agile and traveling (on it) happens significantly faster than at Venta
    tikai pa retam klusumu pāršķēla steidzīga gājēja naskais solisonly occasionally did the quick step (= walk) of a hurried passerby interrupt the silence
    zemes bite ir naska, / jau pilni kambarīši tai vaskathe earth bee is quick, hard-working / it already (has) little chambers (= combs) full of wax

Declension

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

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