ciešs

Latvian

Etymology

From the same stem as Latvian ciets (“hard, solid”), from which it was a variant yo-stem: Proto-Indo-European *key- (“to set in motion, to move”) with a variant -tyo-s of an (adjectivizing) suffix -to-s > Proto-Baltic *keityas > *kietyas > ciešs. It is also possible that the adverbial form cieti of ciets first gave rise to a variant *cieši via palatalization, from which came the adjective ciešs. In some dialects, ciešs still means the same as ciets, but in the standard literary language they are semantically distinct.^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [tsiɛ̂ʃ]

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

ciešs (definite ciešais, comparative ciešāks, superlative visciešākais, adverb cieši)

1. dense, tight (with component parts that are linked or very close to each other)

   ciešs audums ― tight fabric, cloth

   cieša ziedkopa ― tight, dense inflorescence

   ciešs krāvums, tinums ― tight stacking, winding

2. tight, close (with people standing close to each other)

   sastāties ciešā lokā ― to stand in a tight, close circle

   cieša kolonna ― tight, close column

3. (figuratively) close, united

   ciešā saimē izcīnīsim cīņu ― as (lit. in) a close family we will win the fight

4. (of clothes, ties, etc.) tight, close (strongly bound, tied)

   ciešs līmējums, mezgls ― tight bond, knot

   cieša apkaklīte ― tight collar

5. (of movements) tight, strong, determined

   ciešs rokas spiediens ― tight handshake

   cieši sakost zobus ― to clech one's teeth tight

6. (of relations) tight, close, strong

   cieša sadarbība ― close cooperation

   ciešas saites ar kolektīvu ― close ties with the team

   uzturēt ciešus sakarus ar draudzīgām zemēm ― to maintain close contact, relations with friendly countries

7. (of thoughts, ideas, promises) tight, strong, rigid, unalterable

   cieša parliecība, ticība, noruna ― strong belief, faith, agreement

   ciešs solījums ― solemn promise

8. (of sleep) tight, deep

   viņš gan naktī neesot nekā dzirdējis, gulējis ciešu miegu ― he had heard nothing during the night, (he) slept a tight sleep

9. (of looks) tight, hard, attentive, concentrated

   Frickalna pelēkajām acīm arvien bija ciešs skatiens, it kā viņš pētītu to, ko sarunu biedrs nepasaka ― Frickalns' gray eyes had a tight, concentrated look, as if he were studying what his conversation partner did not say

10. (adverbial form; of people, objects) tightly close, very near (syn. ciets)

    pienākt cieši klāt ― to come very close

    sēdēt cieši kopā ― to sit close together

Declension

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)		singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs)	ciešs	cieši		cieša	ciešas
accusative (akuzatīvs)	ciešu	ciešus		ciešu	ciešas
genitive (ģenitīvs)	cieša	ciešu		ciešas	ciešu
dative (datīvs)	ciešam	ciešiem		ciešai	ciešām
instrumental (instrumentālis)	ciešu	ciešiem		ciešu	ciešām
locative (lokatīvs)	ciešā	ciešos		ciešā	ciešās
vocative (vokatīvs)	—	—		—	—

indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of ciešs

Synonyms

• (of "with parts very close to each other"): blīvs
• (of "sleep"; "close by"; "strong (movement)"; "concentrated (look)"): ciets

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “of clothes, ties”): brīvs

References

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