rakstīt

Originally the iterative form of rakt (“to dig”), in parallel to other forms such as rakāt, rakņāt (cf. lēkt “to jump,” lēkāt, lakstīt “to jump repeatedly”). Karulis derives rakt from Proto-Baltic *rak-, from Proto-Indo-European *rek-, *erk- (“to rip up, to rip open, to skin, to flay”), from the stem *er- (“loose, rare, sparse”) (whence also Latvian irt “to disintegrate”).

The verb rakt had earlier meanings such as “to pierce,” “to rasp,” “to scrape;” its iterative counterpart has then changed from “to scrape, rasp repeatedly” → “to make marks (on a surface), to carve” → “to write (inscriptions)” → “to write (in general).” The noun raksts is a nominalized form of the same stem; some consider it a back-formation from rakstīt, whereas others think that it is older (with the original meaning of “mark, sign”) and perhaps the original source of rakstīt, which would then be derived from it.

Cognates include Lithuanian rašýti, Sanskrit ऋक्ण (ṛkṇa, “Alternative form of वृक्ण (vṛkṇa, “cut off or down, torn; a cut”)”) and its root व्रश्च् (vraśc, “to cut down”), Hittite (ark-, “break, crumble”).^[1]

• IPA^(key):

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rakstīt (transitive, 3rd conjugation, present rakstu, raksti, raksta, past rakstīju)

1. to write (to fix (a word, a sentence, a text by means of writing; to make, form letters with a writing instrument)

   prast labi rakstīt ― to know how to write well

   mācīties rakstīt ar rakstāmmašīnu ― to learn to type (lit. write) with a typewriter

   rakstīt diktātu ― to write a dictation

   mācīties rakstīt burtus ― to learn to write the letters, the alphabet

   tu vari rakstīt arī šos vārdus par devīzi ― you can also write these words as (your) motto

   lekcijā visus valodu piemērus profesors nekļūdīgi rakstījis no galvas ― during the class, the professor (had) written all language examples from memory without mistakes

   mēs rakstām... katru līniju, katru burta līkumu Jānis izvelk ar nopietnību ― we are writing... every line, every stroke of (every) letter Jānis drew with (full) seriousness

2. to write (to send a letter, a written message, to someone)

   tu raksti tam, kas tevi sapratīs ― you (should) write to someone who understands you

3. to write (to be usable for writing)

   pildspalva raksta viegli, it kā pati no sevis ― the pen writes easily, as if by itself

4. to write (to compose, to create an original text, expressing one's ideas, feelings, etc.)

   rakstīt dzejoļus, lugu ― to write poems, a play

   rakstīt referāta tezes ― to write an abstract

   rakstīt ievadrakstu ― to write an introduction

   rakstīt interviju ― to write an interview

   rakstīt par dabas aizsardzību ― to write about nature conservation

   rakstīt par zinātnes sasniegumiem ― to write about the achievements of science

   franču prese daudz raksta par izglītības problēmām ― the French press writes a lot about education problems

5. (of music, used only in songs, etc.) to write, to compose

   rakstīt simfoniju ― to write a symphony

   rakstīt operu ― to write opera

   bija jau sen zināms, ka Ravels ir smagi slims, ka viņš vairs nespēj mūziku rakstīt ― it had been known for a while that Ravel was very sick, that he no longer could write music

6. to sew, to knit, to weave, to forge in such a way that the resulting object contains symbols, letters, patterns (of clothes, fabric, metal etc.)

   sieva auda un rakstīja cauru nakti skaistu, skaistu lakatu ― (his) wife knitted and inscribed through the night a beautiful, beautiful scarf

   rakstītos gredzenos Saule un Mēness atstarosies ― in the inscribed rings, the Sun and the Moon were reflected (= their light was reflected on the rings)

• lasīt

prefixed verbs:

other derived terms:

• rakstība
• rakstīties

• rakstisks
• rakstnieks, rakstniece, rakstniecība
• raksts