norėti

Lithuanian

Etymology

Of unclear origin, with various theories proposed:

• Perhaps related to Ancient Greek νωρεῖ (nōreî, “is active”) and thus ἐνεργέω (energéō, “to operate”); if so, then ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én (“in”) + *wérǵom (“work”). When weighing both formal and semantic aspects, this is considered most appealing by Derksen.
• According to Smoczynski, from a Proto-Indo-European *neh₂r- (“to fear”), and connected to Hittite (naḫḫ-, “to fear, become afraid”). This is semantically unconvincing.
• According to Fraenkel, related to nir̃šti (“rage”) and nar̃tas (“anger”), and thus probably from Proto-Indo-European *h₂nḗr (“vital energy”). This is semantically feasible, but does not account for the Lithuanian acute tone.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Verb

norė́ti (third-person present tense nóri, third-person past tense norė́jo)

1. (transitive, with genitive) to want

   Àš norė́čiau píeno.

   I would like milk.

   Àš nóriu ką̃ nórs veĩkti sù tavimì.

   I want to do something with you.

Conjugation

Synonyms

• geisti

Related terms

• (noun) noras m

(adverbs):

• noriai
• norom, noromis

References

• “norėti” in Martsinkyavitshute, Victoria (1993), Hippocrene Concise Dictionary: Lithuanian-English/English-Lithuanian. New York: Hippocrene Books. →ISBN