resns

Latvian

Etymology

From the same stem as rets (“thin, rare, scarce”) (q.v.), with adjectival derivation: *ret-snas > resns. Maybe originally used of trees: rare, sparse trees, separate from others, tend to be thick; this sense could then be generalized to other tree-like objects. A different opinion is that resns is related to Old High German risi (“giant”), Old Church Slavonic редъ (redŭ, “food”), and perhaps, via metathesis, with Latvian vērsis (“ox”); but the Lithuanian cognate suggests that the original meaning of this word was “stout,” “strongly built,” not “well fed.” Cognates include Lithuanian rẽsnas (“squat, strong, stout”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Adjective

resns (definite resnais, comparative resnāks, superlative visresnākais, adverb resni)

1. (of cylindrical objects) thick (having a relatively large cross-section)

   resni baļķi ― thick logs

   resns zīmulis ― thick, stubby pencil

   resns stumbrs ― thick, stout trunk

   resna virtuve, stieple, caurule ― thick rope, wire, tube

   resni diegi ― thick thread

   resnas adatas ― thick needles

   resnā zarna ― colon (lit. thick intestine)

2. (of people, animals, body parts) fat, overweight

   resns vīrs ― fat man

   resns vēders ― fat belly

   resna tirgus sieva ― fat market woman, lady

   resns sivēns ― fat piglet

3. (colloquial, of sounds) having a low timbre

   Jaņuka resnā balss ― Jaņuks' thick voice

Declension

Synonyms

• (of leaf- or wall-like objects): biezs
• (of people): tukls

Antonyms

• tievs
• slaids, slaiks

Derived terms

• resnums

References