gluds

Latvian

Alternative forms

• (dialectal form) glužs

Etymology

From the same stem as the verb glaust (“to smooth, to pet”) (q.v.): Proto-Indo-European *glewd-, *glūd, *glud (“to press, to smear, to stick”). An original Proto-Baltic u-stem *gludus was replaced in Latvian by a parallel o-stem form, from which came gluds, and a parallel yo-stem form, which gave rise to dialectal glužs, from which also the standard Latvian adverb gluži (“quite; completely”) (q.v.). Cognates include Lithuanian gludùs (“smooth, flat; sleek; lovely”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

gluds (definite gludais, comparative gludāks, superlative visgludākais, adverb gludi)

1. smooth (without much friction, without surface irregularities like bumps, holes, etc.)

   gluds ledus, papīrs, dēlis ― smooth ice, paper, board

   gludi oļi ― smooth pebbles

   gluda grīda ― smooth floor

2. (of water surfaces) smooth (without waves)

   ugunskura dūmi lēni plūst pār gludo upes līmeni ― the campfire smoke slowly flows above the smooth river level

3. (of faces, skin) smooth (without wrinkles, rash; also without hair, beard)

   gluda piere, seja ― smooth forehead, face

   gluds zods ― smooth chin

4. (of hair, head) smooth, sleek (neatly, carefully combed, without curls)

   gludi mati ― smooth hair

   gluda galva ― smooth head (of hair)

   zirgam gludas krēpes ― the horse (has) a smooth mane

5. (of language) smooth (flowing well, well written, without problems, with the right style)

   Krūmam ļoti patika tādi rakstnieki, kuriem gludi teikumi, visi komati un punkti, kā pienākas ― Krūms liked writers who had smooth sentences, (with) all commas and periods, as it should be

6. (of events, actions) smooth (without problems, difficulties, failures)

   nav jau arī mana dzīve bijusi diezin cik gluda ― then again my life hasn't been hardly that smooth

Declension

Synonyms

• mīksts
• maigs

Antonyms

• ass
• negluds
• raupjš
• rupjš

Derived terms

• gludums

References