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

  1. (of sounds) soft, quiet, silent (barely hearable, weak, not loud)
    klusa dziesma, mūzika ― quiet song, music
    runāt klusā balsī ― to talk in a soft, quiet voice
    klusi soļi ― quiet steps
    kluss sauciens ― silent 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 kluss ― during the day the village was completely silent
    klusa iela ― quiet street
    vakars bija ļoti kluss ― the night was very quiet
    pekšņi visapkārt kļuva kluss ― suddenly it became quiet everywhere
  3. (of places) quiet, calm (where there are no crowds, not much traffic)
    kluss pilsētas rajons ― quiet town district
    kluss apvidus ― quiet area, region
  4. (of people) quiet (not talkative)
    Marta ir klusa un nopietna ― Marta is quiet and serious
    Krišs sēdēja kluss ― Krišs sat quietly, in silence
  5. (of thoughts, mental states, feelings) quiet, silent (not openly expressed)
    kluss naids ― quiet, silent hatred
    klusa laime ― quiet happiness
    klusas sāpes ― quiet pain
  6. (of paintings, colors) quiet, calm (without strong contrast, without many nuances, without strong tone differences)
    patīkama akvareļu klusā krāsu saskaņa ― a 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 trūcīgas ― and 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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