gaišs

Originally the yo-stem variant of an earlier u-stem form *gaisus (a parallel o-stem variant yielded Latvian dialectal adjective gaiss), from Proto-Baltic *gais- (some researchers suggest *gaid-, i.e. *gaid-sus), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰēy-, *gʷʰəy- (“bright, shining”) with an extra -s. Cognates include Lithuanian gaidrùs (“light, bright, clear”), Old Prussian gaylis (“white”), Ancient Greek φαιός (phaiós, “gray, dark”) (< *gʷʰəywos or *gʷʰəysos).^[1]

• IPA^(key):

gaišs (definite gaišais, comparative gaišāks, superlative visgaišākais, adverb gaiši)

1. (of lights, light sources) bright (strong; such that it produces strong light)

   gaiša spuldze ― bright (light) bulb

   gaiša liesma, uguns ― bright flame, fire

   gaišs zibens uzliesmojums ― bright flash of lightning

   gaišs ugunskurs ― bright (camp)fire

   aiz vecām, līkām ābelēm spīdēja gaiša mēnesnīca ― behind the old, hooked apple trees shone the bright moonlight

2. (of places, time periods) light, bright, well lit

   gaiša istaba ― bright, well lit room

   gaiša iela ― bright, well lit street

   šodien ir gaišs ― today is bright (= well lit)

   no rīta jau kļūst gaišs ― in the morning it already becomes bright

   diena bija gaiša un zeltaina kā dzintara grauds ― the day was bright and golden like a grain of amber

   debesis kļuva aizvien gaišākas un gaišākas; nakts bija pagājusi ― the sky became brighter and brighter; the night was over

3. (of objects, their colors) light, bright (white or with a large white admixture; without dark tones)

   gaišs tērps ― bright dress

   gaiša drāna ― light (not dark) fabric

   gaiša apkaklīte ― light collar

   gaiši ziedi ― light, bright flowers

   gaiši mati ― light, fair hair

   gaišas ūsas ― light mustache (i.e., fair-haired)

   gaiši zils ― light blue

   viņam ir atklāta seja un gaišas, it kā izbalējušs uzacis ― he has an open face and light, almost faded, eyebrows

   vienmēr atceries, ka gaišie toņi telpu it kā palielina, tumšie pamazina ― always remember that light tones make the room look bigger, (while) dark ones (= tones, colors) make it small

4. (of liquids, drinks) light (relatively clear, transparent; not saturated, concentrated)

   gaišais alus ― light beer

   tēja ir vēl gan tāda gaiša ― the tea is still so light

5. clear, obvious, unambiguous

   skaidri un gaiši ― loud and clear (lit. clear and bright)

   visa latviešu tautas daiļrade, it sevišķi dziesmas un pasakas, dod gaišu liecību par darbaļaužu optimistisko dzīves skatījumi ― the entire Latvian folk art, especially the songs and tales, give clear testimony of the working people's optimistic view of life

6. bright (smart, intelligent, advanced; educated; morally, ethically evolved)

   gaišs prāts ― bright mind

   gaiša, gudra galva ― bright, smart head (= intelligent person)

   Verns nešaubīgi tic cilvēka gaišā gara uzvarai, zinātnes spēkam ― Verns firmly believes in the victory of man's bright spirit, in the power of science

   Ieva diendienā redz šo zēnu, tas ir gudrs un attīstīts, un gaišā prāta dēļ tam droši varētu piedot kaut pusi viņa nedarbu ― Ieva sees this boy every day, he is intelligent and developed, and because of (his) bright mind one could perhaps forgive half of his misdeeds

7. bright, light (mentally balanced; good-natured, well-disposed; also, happy)

   viņa ir tāds gaišs, allaž priecīgs bērns ― she is such a bright, always happy child

   viņa acu priekšā stāvēja Zentas tēls, jauns, gaišs, priecīgs ― before his eyes (there) stood an image of Zenta, young, bright, happy

   Mariju sāpes padarījušas gaišāku un mierīgāku ― the pain made Mary lighter and calmer

8. (of people, their behavior) bright (good, optimistic, happy; expressing such feelings)

   gaišas cerības ― bright hopes, expectations

   gaiši sapņi ― bright dreams

   gaiša laime ― bright, light happiness

   gaišas atmiņas ― bright, happy memories

   gaišs skatiens ― bright look

   gaišs smaids ― bright smile

   gaiša runa ― bright, happy talk

   mans tēvs bija gaiša rakstura, nekad nerājās, nesūdzējās ― my father had a bright disposition, he never quarreled or complained

   māte guļ un domā... nakts ir tumša, bet domas gaišas: domas par dēlu ― the mother lay down and thought... the night is dark, but (her) thoughts are light: thoughts about (her) son

   tiem gaišas un priecīgas sejas; un cik bezbēdīgi tie smejas! ― they (have) bright, happy faces; and how freely they laugh!

   sarunas bija gaišas, dzīves priecīgas, un tajās varēja manīt stipru ticību uzvarai ― the talks were bright (= optimistic, promising), life (was) happy, and one could notice in them a strong belief in victory

9. (of social phenomena, time periods) bright, noble, free (with good perspectives; causing happiness)

   gaišas nākotnes valsts ― a country with a bright future

   ticība gaišai rītdienai ― belief in a bright tomorrow

   gaiša bērnība ― a bright (= happy) childhood

   gaiši brīži ― bright (= happy) moments

   gaišas vecumdienas ir arī maniem agrākiem darba biedriem ― many of my former colleagues have a bright (= happy) old age

10. (of sounds, musical instruments) high, high-pitched; sonorous, pure

    gaišas vijoļu skaņas ― bright (= high-pitched) violin sounds

    gaišs zvans ― bright (= sonorous) bell

    viens cirtiens bija smagāks un dobjāks, otrs bija viegls, gaišs ― one stroke was heavy and hollow, the second was light, bright

• (of "light, bright"): spīdīgs, spilgts, spodrs, spožs, spulgs
• (of "clear"): dzidrs, skaidrs

• tumšs

• gaišmatains, gaišmatis, gaišmate
• gaišums

• gaisma
• gaiss