bailīgs

Latvian

Etymology

From bail(es) (“fear”) +‎ -īgs.

Pronunciation

(file)

Adjective

bailīgs (definite bailīgais, comparative bailīgāks, superlative visbailīgākais, adverb bailīgi)

  1. fearful, timid, afraid (habitually or constantly feeling fear, shame; easy to frighten, to scare, to startle)
    bailīgs cilvēks ― a timid person
    viņš bija bailīgs un nedrošs ― he was timid and insecure
    “bet tev jau patiešām bail”, pārcēlājs negaidot pasmaida... Ilga piesarkst... “visas meitenes ir bailīgas”, Valdis piezīmē ― “but you are really scared”, the ferryman smiled unexpectedly... Ilga blushed... “all girls are (always) afraid, easy to scare”
  2. (of animals) timid, shy, skittish (easily scared or startled)
    bailīgs zirgs ― a timid, skittish horse
    bailīgs kā zaķis ― afraid as a hare (= intensely afraid)
    ar bailīgu zirgu nedroši braukt ― it is not safe to travel with a skittish horse
    sākumā ezītis bija ļoti bailīgs... tiklīdz dirdzēja kaut vai vismazāko troksni, tā tūlīt ievilkās savā adatu cietoksnī ― at first the hedgehog was very timid... as soon as he heard even the weakest noise, he immediately pulled (back) in his prickly fortress
  3. (of gestures, behavior, etc.) fearful, timid, skittish (such that it expresses feelings of fear)
    bailīgs skatiens ― a timid look
    bailīga izturēšanās ― timid, fearful behavior
    bailīga valoda ― timid language
    tik irbe vai zaķītis pārtecēja no viena purva uz otru, atstādami sniegā retas, bailīgas pēdiņas ― only (the occasional) partridge or hare (ever) went from one swamp to the other, leaving in the snow rare, timid footprints
  4. (colloquial) frightening, scary, dangerous (which causes fear)
    bailīgs ceļš ― dangerous road
    bailīga vieta, apkārtne ― scary place, neighborhood
    bailīgs pasākums ― dangerous undertaking
    vai traks! tad ir gan bailīga lieta! ― (are you) crazy! indeed it is a scary thing!

Declension

Synonyms

  • (of animals): tramīgs
  • (of "dangerous"): bīstams

Derived terms

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.