gaist

The origin of this word is unclear. If, as has been proposed, gaist is connected to dialectal Latvian atgaiša, atgaišis (“wind blow; windy place”), then its original meaning could have been “to blow, to breathe,” perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷes- (“to extinguish, to quench”) (whence also Latvian dzēst “to extinguish, to quench”; q.v.): its length grade *gʷēs- would become *gʷeys-, with o grade *gʷoys-, from which Proto-Balto-Slavic *gais- “to blow” → “to disappear with the wind,” “to vanish.” Another suggestion links gaist to ģībt (“to faint”); yet another, to Latin haereō (“to cling, to adhere”). Cognates include Lithuanian gaĩšti (“to linger, to hesitate; to perish, to die; to vanish, to disappear”).^[1]

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gaist

1. third-person singular/plural present indicative of gaist
2. (with the particle lai) third-person singular imperative of gaist
3. (with the particle lai) third-person plural imperative of gaist

gaist (intransitive, 1st conjugation, present gaistu, gaisti, gaist, past gaisu)

1. (in the 3rd person; of smoke, gases, etc.) to dissipate (to disappear into the surrounding environment)

   migla gaist ― the fog is dissipating

   smaržas gaist ― the odor is dissipating

   melni dūmu kamoli, veldamies no augstiem dūmeņiem, risinās un gaistot izsēj sīkas kvēpu pārsliņas Daugavas ūdeņos ― black balls of smoke, forming from high chimneys, rose and (while) dissipating sowed tiny flakes of soot on the waters of the Daugava (river)

   (iz)gaist kā dūmi, kā migla ― it dissipates like smoke, like fog (i.e., it doesn't last long)

   vecie parādi jāmaksā, nodokļus piedzen, bet vieglā peļņa izgaisusi kā dūmi ― old debts must be paid, taxes are collected, and easy profits dissipate (= vanish) like smoke

2. to disappear in the distance, to become gradually undistinguishable from one's surroundings as one moves away, or because of darkness, fog, etc.

   gaist skatienam ― to disappear from sight

   dzērves gaist debesu tālē ― the cranes (birds) disappear in the distant sky

   atvados un lēnām gaistu ― I take leave and slowly disappear

   ārā snieg; krīt lielas un smagas pārslas... sniega ņirboņā gaist tumšās egles ― it is snowing outside; big, heavy flakes are falling... the dark fir trees disappear in the abundant snow

3. (chemistry, in the 3rd person; of volatile substances) to evaporate (to become vapor and disappear in the surrounding environment)

   ēteris viegli gaist ― ether evaporates easily (= is volatile)

   gaistošas vielas ― volatile substances

   ir divas fitoncīdu grupas: gaistošā frakcija, tas ir, vielas, kuras augs izdala atmosfērā...; un negaistošā frakcija: vielas, kas atrodas šūnsulā ― there are two groups of phytoncides: the volatile group, which the plant releases into the atmosphere...; and the non-volatile group: substances present in the vegetable sap

4. (in the 3rd person; of mental or physiological states) to wear off, to fade, to recede, to disappear, to end

   nemiers, dusmas gaist ― the anxiety, the anger is disappearing

   nogurums gaist ― the fatigue is disappearing

   mīlestība ir gaisusi ― love has dissipated, disappeared

   bēdas gaist ― the grief is disappearing

   atmiņas gaist ― the memories are fading

   nodomi gaist ― the intention is weakening

   ilūzijas gaist ― the illusions are wearing off

   daiļums gaist ― beauty fades, disappears

   sejā gaist smaids ― the smile is fading on (his) face

   kā viļņi krastmalā pret klinšu pleciem sadrūp, tā mani sapņi gaist; bet pašam nav, kur bēgt ― like waves crumbling against the rocks on the coast, so my dreams fade; and I don't have anywhere to flee

   tik labi un viegli bija viņas tuvumā, ka viss bijušais gaisa kā nebijis ― so good and comfortable it was (to be) near her that everything that was (= existed) disappeared as if it had not been (= existed)

5. (in the 3rd person; of light or darkness) to fade, to disappear (to stop shining)

   ēnas gaist ― the shadows disappear

   krēsla gaist ― the dawn is fading

   var nodzēst liesmu; un kvēle gaist ― one can extinguish the flame; and then the glow fades, disappears

6. (in the 3rd person; of sounds) to fade, to fall gradually silent

   dziesma gaist tālumā ― the song fades in the distance

   gaistoša melodija ― fading melody

7. (in th 3rd person; of time, time periods) to go by, to disappear

   dienas ātri gaist ― the days go quickly by

   pagātne gaist ― the past goes by, fades, disappears

   vai tādi mirkļi aizmirstībā gaist? — do such (beautiful) moments fade into oblivion?

   ai gadi, kādēļ jūs gaistat, kādēļ tik ātri jums skriet? ― oh, years, why do you go by, why do you have to run so fast?

• izgaist
• pagaist

gaist (plural gaists)

1. ghost