lēns

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *lēnas, Proto-Indo-European *leh₁-en-os, from *leh₁- (“to let, to allow”) (whence also Latvian laist (“to let, to allow”), q.v.). The semantic evolution was probably: “which is allowed (to do something)” > “not dangerous, gentle, calm” > “slow.” Cognates include Lithuanian lė́nas (“slow, peaceful”), Proto-Slavic *lěnъ (“lazy, slow”), Latin lēnis (“gentle, slow”).

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lēns (definite lēnais, comparative lēnāks, superlative vislēnākais, adverb lēni, lēnām, lēnu)

1. slow (which moves so as to cover relatively small distances in every time interval)

   lēns gājējs, braucējs ― slow walker, rider

   lēns vilciens ― slow train

   lēna upe ― slow river

   lēns vējš ― slow wind

2. (of events, actions) slow (which does not happen quickly, swiftly)

   lēns brauciens ― slow ride

   lēna iešana ― slow walk

   lēns darba ritms ― slow work rhythm

   lēna domāšana ― slow thinking

   lēna uguns ― slow fire (i.e., with low flames)

3. (of time periods) slow (without much action, without much happening)

   lēns vakars ― slow evening

4. (of people) calm, meek, peaceful (who usually does not become angry, worried, who does not react quickly; (of animals) who is not wild, angry)

   lēns cilvēks ― peaceful person

   lēna meitene ― peaceful girl

   lēns raksturs ― calm, peaceful character

   lēns ka jērs ― peaceful as a lamb

   lēns suns ― nice, calm (not wild) dog

5. (of people, animals) slow (who does not move, work, or act quickly)

   lēns strādnieks ― slow worker

   lēns zirgs ― slow horse

• (antonym(s) of “speed”): ātrs, straujš, ašs
• (antonym(s) of “peaceful, nice (of animals)”): nikns

• lēnība
• lēnums
• lēnīgs, lēnīgums