ciešs

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]

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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

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

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