brīvs

A borrowing from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German vri, vrie (compare German frei, Dutch vrij), from Proto-Germanic *frija- (“free, not a slave”). The sequence fr was changed to Latvian br. First mentioned in 17th-century dictionaries, brīvs was originally used in the context of German political and administrative power, and referred to more specific German legal concepts (a certain privilege or right, etc.). All other senses were rendered, still in the 18th century, with other words, like svabads (“free”), svabadība (“freedom”), vaļa (“free(dom)”).^[1]

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brīvs (definite brīvais, comparative brīvāks, superlative visbrīvākais, adverb brīvi)

1. free (politically, socially, economically or juridically independent)

   brīvs cilvēks, pilsonis ― free person, citizen

   brīva valsts, tauta ― free country, people

   dzīvot brīvā zemē ― to live in a free land

   brīva dzīve ― free life

2. free (not in prison or captivity)

   bet vai es biju cietumā? ne, es biju brīvs! ― but was I in prison? no, I was free!

3. free (of, from) (having no obligations or duties, no worries)

   brīvs kā putns kokā ― free as a bird on a tree (i.e., carefree)

   brīvs no aizspriedumiem ― free of prejudice, bias

   viņa vēlējās būt brīva no jebkādām raizēm ― she wanted to be free of all worries

   viņa beidzot patiesi bija jutusies brīva no daudzām drūmām domām ― she finally felt truly free from many gloomy thoughts

4. free (not restrained, not regulated, without hindrance, without constraints)

   brīva prese, māksla, izvēle ― free press, art, choice

   brīvas vēlēšanas ― free elections

   brīva tirdzniecība ― free trade

   brīvā tirgus saimniecība ― free market economy

   brīvā konkurence ― free competition

   brīva fantāzija ― free fantasy, imagination

   brīvs kritiens ― free fall

   brīvs tulkojums ― free (i.e., not literal) translation

   brīva dzeja ― free verse (i.e., without metric and rhyme)

5. loose, comfortable

   pilnīgiem cilvēkiem apģērbs jāgatavo brīvs ― clothes for full (i.e., overweight) people must be made loose (lit. free)

6. free (loose, untied)

   brīvais virves gals ― the free, loose end of the rope

   šīs rokas bija brīvas, nu važās kaltas ― these hands were free, now they are in chains

7. free, unconstrained, natural

   brīvas kustības ― free movements

   mākslinieces dejojuma rotaļīgums un grācija, viņas brīvā, nepiespiestā izturēšanās ― the dance artist's playfulness and grace, her free, relaxed demeanor

8. free (which does not need to be paid for)

   brīvs uzturs ― free food, eating

   par brīvu ― for free (without pay)

   slidotavā ieeja būs brīva ― in the skating rink entrance will be free

9. (of time or space) free, vacant, empty, unoccupied, not in use

   brīva vieta vagonā ― free place in the train car

   brīvs laukums ― free space

   brīvs krēsls ― free chair

   vai šī vieta ir brīva? ― is this place free?

   brīva pēcpusdiena ― free afternoon

   brīvs laiks ― free time

   būšu brīvs pēc pusstundas ― I will be free in half an hour

   nav neviena brīva brīža ― there is no free moment

10. (of work positions) free, vacant

    rūpnīcā bija brīva inženiera vieta ― in the factory there is a free position for an engineer

11. free (currently not in use, not busy, available)

    brīvi līdzekļi ― free resources, means

    brīva nauda ― free money

12. (chemistry) free (not chemically combined with other substances)

    brīvs ūdeņradis, skābeklis ― free hydrogen, oxygen

    brīva forforskābe ― free phosphoric acid

• neatkarīgs
• patstāvīgs
• (dated term) svabads

• (antonym(s) of “of "loose"”): ciešs

• brīvība
• (dated term) brīve
• (dated term) brīvestība