Etymology
From the past participle of an old (still dialectally attested) verb mīkt, mīkst (“to become soft”), from Proto-Baltic *mink-, Proto-Balto-Slavic *minˀkas, from Proto-Indo-European *menk-, *mn̥k- (“to knead, to crush”).
The original meaning referred to the final state of things that one kneads or crushes (compare English verb to squash and adjective squashy). Cognates include Lithuanian mìnkštas, Old Church Slavonic мѧкъкъ (mękŭkŭ), Russian мя́гкий (mjáxkij), Belarusian мя́кки (mjákki), Ukrainian м'яки́й (mʺjakýj), Bulgarian мек (mek), Czech měkký, Polish miękki.[1]
Adjective
mīksts (definite mīkstais, comparative mīkstāks, superlative vismīkstākais, adverb mīksti)
- (of objects, substances) soft (relatively easy to bend, split, crush, etc.; made of such materials, substances)
- mīksta mīkla, masa ― soft dough, mass
- mīksta koksne ― softwood
- mīksts metāls ― soft metal
- grāmata mīkstos vākos ― paperback (lit. book in soft cover)
- mīksts zīmulis ― soft pencil (with lead that wears out quickly)
- gumija sasilstot kļūst mīksta ― rubber becomes soft when heated
- mīksta augsne ― soft soil
- mīksts māls, sniegs ― soft clay, snow
- mīksts ceļš ― soft path
- mīkstais arums ― soft plowing
- (of fabric, leather) soft (flexible, not resistant, not strong, not twisted)
- mīksts audums, paklājs, kažoks ― soft fabric, carpet, coat
- mīksta vate, aitāda ― soft sheepskin
- mīksti cimdi ― soft gloves
- mīkstas kurpes ― soft shoes
- mīksts pavediens ― soft (not twisted) thread
- (of furniture, cushions, etc.) soft (not resistant to pressure; pleasant, comfortable)
- mīksts dīvāns, spilvens ― soft sofa, pillow
- mīksts krēsls, matracis ― soft chair, matras
- mīkstas mēbeles ― soft furniture
- (of means of transportation) provided with soft seats or beds
- mīkstais vagons ― soft train car
- mēs braucām naktī ar mīksto autobusu no Debinas ― we traveled at night with the soft bus from Debina
- (of folds in clothes) soft, not sharp
- mīkstas krokas, mīksti krokojumi ― soft folds
- (of events, processes, actions) soft (happening without much resistance)
- gājēju kājas mīksti grimst sniegā ― the feet of the passers-by sink softly in the snow
- (of living tissues, body parts, plants) soft (relatively easy to bend, squeeze)
- mīkstie audi ― soft tissues
- mīksts kauls ― soft bone
- mīkstās aukslējas ― soft palate
- mīksts stublājs, grauds ― soft stem, grain
- mīkstie kvieši ― soft wheat
- mīksta sūna ― soft moss
- (of skin) soft (not hard, not harsh)
- mīksta sejas āda ― soft facial skin
- rokas tev ir gluži mīkstas ― your hands are really soft
- (of hair or feathers, of animals having hair or feathers) soft (really delicate, fine)
- mīksti mati ― soft hair
- mīksts cālēns ― soft chick, poussin
- kucēna mīkstā spalva ― a puppy's soft fur
- (colloquial, of people, body parts) plump, slightly overweight
- konditorejā aiz letes sēdēja un adīja apaļa, mīksta dāma ― in the patisserie behind the counter (there) was a round, soft (= overweight) lady sitting and knitting
- (of food) soft (easy to bite and chew)
- mīksta gaļa, maize ― soft meat, bread
- mīksts siers, ābols ― soft cheese, apple
- mīksta ola ― soft egg (only slightly boiled)
- (of people, their character, will) soft, weak
- mans raksturs vēl nav norūdījies, tas vēl mīksts kā vasks ― my character is not yet seasoned, it is still soft as wax
- priekšsēdētāja vietnieks tomēr izrādījās par mīkstu un neuzņēmīgu radikāliem pasākumiem ― the vice-president, however, turned out to be soft and resistant to radical measures
- (of behavior, actions) soft (relatively moderate, not harsh, forgiving, gentle)
- mīksts sods ― soft penalty, punishment
- atrast mīkstākus vārdus ― to find softer words
- (of sounds) soft, low
- mīksti soļi ― soft steps
- mīksts, sievišķīgs tenors ― soft, feminine tenor
- (of lights) soft, dim, not bright
- plaša un spilgta bija šī aina rietošās saules mīkstajā gaismā ― spacious and bright was this picture in the soft light of the setting sun
- (of weather) mild, soft, pleasant (especially if unusual)
- mīksta ziema ― mild winter
- mīksts vējš ― soft wind
- (of lines, forms, lights) soft, not sharp, not clear, dim
- Anitas ēnas mīkstas līnijas ― the soft lines of Anita's shadow
- mīksta tumsa, krēsla ― soft darkness, twilight
- māksliniekam raksturīgas arī mīkstas, smalkām niansēm bagatās pārejas no tumšā uz gaišo ― typical of (this) artist are also soft transitions from dark to light, full of subtle nuances
- (of water) soft (containing little or no salts, usually of calcium and magnesium)
- vislabāk mazgāt matus mīksta ūdeņi ― it is best to wash one's hair in soft water
- (rare, of sleep) soft, calm (syn. ciešs)
- mīksts miegs nāca šonakt Silmežam ― a soft sleep came tonight to Silmežs
Declension
More information masculine (vīriešu dzimte), feminine (sieviešu dzimte) ...
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Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of “of "soft", including "soft water"”): ciets