nasks

Derived from the verb nest (“to carry”) with vowel change, like nasta (“burden”), also from nest; the k follows the model of laisks (“indolent, lazy”), from laist (“to allow”). For the semantic change, consider terms like the (colloquial) derived verb nesties (“to run quickly”) (< “to carry oneself”). Cognates include Lithuanian našiaĩ (“swiftly, nimbly”).^[1]

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nasks (definite naskais, comparative naskāks, superlative visnaskākais, adverb naski)

1. active, diligent; fast, quick, agile, nimble

   nasks zēns ― active, agile, quick boy

   māte pusjokodama, pusnopietni stāstīja par tirgotājiem, kuri taujājot pēc saimnieciskas un naskas dzīvesbiedres ― mother, half joking, half seriously, talked about merchants who were inquiring about economical and diligent wives

   izdarīgā un naskā meitene ātri vien apguva profesiju ― the diligent and agile girl quickly learned the profession

   straume Gaujā ir nesalīdzināmi veiklāka un braukšana veicas ievērojami naskāk nekā Ventā ― the stream at Gauja is incomparably more agile and traveling (on it) happens significantly faster than at Venta

   tikai pa retam klusumu pāršķēla steidzīga gājēja naskais solis ― only occasionally did the quick step (= walk) of a hurried passerby interrupt the silence

   zemes bite ir naska, / jau pilni kambarīši tai vaska ― the earth bee is quick, hard-working / it already (has) little chambers (= combs) full of wax

• (of "diligent", "active"): aktīvs, centīgs,cītīgs, uzcītīgs, čakls, darbīgs, izdarīgs, strādīgs
• (of "quick", "fast", "agile"): ātrs, ašs, knašs, straujš, žigls, veikls

• naskums