pulkstenis

Latvian

 pulkstenis on Latvian Wikipedia

Alternative forms

• (dialectal form) pulkstens

Etymology

There are various theories about the origin of this word, originally meaning “church bell.” The most likely to be true derives it from an unattested verb *pulsēt (“to produce sound”) (compare archaic pulstens, dialectal pulstenis (“bell”), pulkstiens (“bell sound, toll”)) > *pulksēt with an epenthetic k and the nominalizing suffix -enis. Other suggestions include deriving pulkstenis from pulks (“regiment, military unit”) and stenēt (“to groan, to make noise”) (i.e., the regiment's noisy one); from borrowed terms, Middle Low German puls (“hit, blow, touch”) and stēn (“stone”); from an old verb pult meaning “to fall” (since that which strikes a bell “falls” on it); from a compound of puls- and sitiens, sitenis “blow”, with an intrusive k. The word was already mentioned in a 1585 catechism (as stundu pulksten(is), “hour bell,” i.e., “clock”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

Noun

pulkstenis m (2nd declension)

1. clock, watch (instrument to measure time)

   mehāniskais, elektroniskais pulkstenis ― mechanical, electronic clock

   sudraba, zelta pulkstenis ― silver, golden watch

   pulkstenis tikšķ ― the clock is ticking

   pulksteņa rādītāji ― the hands of a clock

   pulksteņa svārsts ― clock pendulum

   labot pulksteni ― to fix the clock

   rokas pulkstenis ― wrist (lit. arm) watch

   kabatas pulkstenis ― pocket watch

   galda, sienas, torņa pulkstenis ― table, wall, tower clock

   modinātāja pulkstenis, modinātājpulkstenis ― alarm clock

   saules pulkstenis ― sun clock

   smilšu pulkstenis ― hourglass (lit. sand clock)

   biloģiskais pulkstenis ― biological clock

   pulkstenis ir ātrs, iet par ātru ― the clock is fast

   pulkstenis iet priekšā, ir priekšā ― the clock is fast

   pulkstenis ir vēls, iet par lēnu ― the clock is late

2. the time

   pulkstenis ir četri ― it is four o'clock

   pulkstenis vēl nebija pusseptiņi ― it wasn't half past six yet

   cik ir pulkstenis? ― what time is it?

Declension

Synonyms

• (obsolete terms) stundenis, stundenieks

Derived terms

• modinātājpulkstenis, modinātāja pulkstenis

Related terms

• pulksten

References