smags

From Proto-Baltic *smag-, from Proto-Indo-European *smog- (“such that it presses heavily; to work hard, to carry a heavy load”). The much broader range of meanings in the Lithuanian cognate was apparently also once present in its Latvian counterpart: remnants are still found in uses like smags gaiss “heavy air” = “stifling,” and, dialectally, also “fast, quick” or “intensely, a lot.” It would seem that the meaning of this word first broadened (“heavy, hard(working)” > “(to hit) heavily, hard” > “strong” > “capable, competent” > “good, nice”) and then was restricted again to “heavy.” (Alternatively, the other uses might result from Lithuanian influence.) Cognates include Lithuanian smagùs (“good, nice, pleasant; joyful, cheerful; fast, quick; strong, agile, skillful; big, intensive; sonorous; rich, well-off; severe, angry, harsh; useful, handy; heavy; stifling”), smōgti (“to hit heavily, strongly; to throw”), Ancient Greek μογέω (mogéō, “I try, strive”), σμογερόν (smogerón, “difficult, painful”).^[1]

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smags (definite smagais, comparative smagāks, superlative vissmagākais, adverb smagi)

1. heavy (such that it has great weight, a large mass)

   smags akmens ― heavy stone

   smags spainis ― heavy bucket

   smaga krava ― heavy load

   smaga viela ― heavy substance

   smaga augsne ― heavy (= thick, muddy) soil

   pacelt smagu nastu ― to lift a heavy burden

   lielais āmurs bija tik smags, ka Juris to tikko ar vienu roku cēla ― the big hammer was so heavy that Juris could barely lift it with one hand

2. (with numeric measurement in the accusative) heavy

   vienu kilogramu smags atsvars ― a one-kilo (heavy) weight

   divas tonnas smaga krava ― a two-ton (heavy) load

3. heavy (larger, more important, more powerful than others of its kind)

   smagie tanki ― heavy tanks

   smagie ieroči ― heavy weapons

   smagā artilērija ― heavy artillery

   smagā rūpniecība ― heavy industry

   smagie ķīmiskie elementi ― heavy chemical elements

   smagie metāli ― heavy metals

   smagi, smagie joni ― heavy ions

   smagais ūdens ― heavy water (with deuterium instead of common hydrogen)

4. (of the sky, clouds) heavy (giving the appearance of greater weight, larger mass)

   debesis sedza smagi mākoņi ― heavy clouds covered the sky

   debesis bija zemas, pelēkas un smagas ka piens ar svinu ― the sky was low, gray and heavy like milk with lead

5. (of gases, fog, smoke, smells) heavy (concentrated, thick, dense, strong)

   migla bija smaga un bieza un apēda daudz gaismas ― the fog was heavy and thick and ate (= absorbed) a lot of light

   gaiss kļuva smags un spiedīgs, un drīz vien pārņēm nogurums ― the air became heavy and muggy, and soon the fatigue took over

   skurbināja smagā sveķu smarža ― the heavy resinous odor was intoxicating

6. (of darkness, night) heavy, dark

   smaga tumsa ― heavy darkness

   tumši, smagi toņi ― dark, heavy hues, shades (of color)

   violetā ir smaga, nomācoša krāsa ― violet is a heavy, depressing color

7. (of food) heavy (difficult to digest)

   paēdis smagas vakariņas, Vītols atstāja ēdienu izgarojumiem, piesātinātās viesnīcas koptelpas ― having eaten a heavy dinner, Vītols left the hotel commons saturated (with) meal fumes

8. heavy, hard, tough, difficult (such that it needs great physical effort to be carried out)

   smags darbs ― heavy, hard, difficult work

   smags nobrauciens no kalna ― a difficult descent from the mountain

   smaga cīņa ― hard, difficult struggle

   dežūra bija pagadījusies smaga, pa visu nakti viņa netika aizvērusi ne acu ― her shift had been hard, she didn't close her eyes even once during the whole night

   ceļš būs smags; jātiek pāri kalnu pārejai ― the road will be heavy (= difficult); (we) will have to go over the mountain pass

9. heavy, hard, tough, difficult (such that it needs great mental or emotional effort for its realization, understanding)

   smaga mācību viela ― hard, difficult learning material

   smaga izvēle ― hard, difficult choice

   smags jautājums ― hard, difficult question

   smaga izskaidrošanās ― difficult explanation

   māte ir atnākusi atrunāt dēlu no brīvdomības: tas patiesībā ir vissmagākais pārbaudījums ― the mother came to dissuade her son from free thinking: this really is the hardest, toughest challenge

   smago klusumu primais pārtrauca mehāniķis Glūda; viņš ierunājās savā vecīgi mierīgajā balsī ― the mechanic Glūas was the first to break the heavy silence; he began to speak in (his) old, calm voice

10. heavy, tough, hard, severe (relating to difficulty, hardships, misery, or embarrassment, concern with some situation or event)

    smagi dzīves apstākļi ― difficult, tough living conditions

    smaga nelaime ― severe unhappiness, misery

    smaga jaunība ― difficult youth

    sevišķi smags bija pilsētnieku saimnieciskais stāvoklis... produktus nebija iespējams nopirkt ― the economic situation of the townspeople was particularly difficult: (they) could not (even) buy groceries

    šajā smagajā brīdī viņam šķita, ka vienīgais dzīves atrisinājums ir pašnāvība ― in this difficult moment it seemed to him that the only solution to life was suicide

11. (of feelings, mental states) heavy, difficult, severe, gloomy (very unpleasant; implying, expressing suffering)

    smagas bēdas ― severe grief, sadness

    smags noskaņojums ― heavy, gloomy mood

    smaga nopūta ― heavy sigh

    smagas atmiņas ― heavy memories

    cilvēki var pēkšņi nosirmot smagu pārdzīvojumu ietekmē ― people can suddenly become gray(-haired) under the inluence of (= because of) heavy, difficult experiences

    Līzbete atvēra durvis plaši vaļa un teica smagā čukstā: “noliec to glāzi vienu brītiņu nost un iznāc laukā... tēvs ir nomiris” ― Līzbete opened the door wide and said in a heavy whipster: “leave this glass for a moment and come outside... father is dead”

    Vērdiņš iet un domā smagu domu... jau otro reizi savā mužā viņš nes mīļu biedru, kas kritis no vācieša lodes ― Vērdiņš walks and thinks heavy thoughts... for the second time in his life he is carrying a dear comrade who fell to the German bullets

12. heavy, serious, severe, dangerous (especially dangerous or harmful to others)

    smags likuma pārkāpējs ― a dangerous criminal (lit. heavy law breaker)

    tīša slepkavība ir viens no smagākajiem noziegumiem ― deliberate homicide is one of the most serious crimes

13. (of judgments, penalties) heavy, serious, strict, severe, merciless

    smags tiesas spriedums ― severe, strict judgment

    smags nosodījums ― heavy punishment, penalty

    smagi pārmetumi ― serious accusations

    vaigos sadzina asinis rupji, smagi vārdi ― the harsh, severe words made blood come to (his) cheeks

    sods nebija smags, bet pietiekams, lai atskurbtu Kristaps ― the punishment was not severe, (it was) enough to sober up Kristaps

14. (of people) difficult (with whom it is difficult to communicate successfully; quarrelsome)

    biedri to uzskatīja par smagu un nebiedrisku cilvēku, jo viņš bija skarbs un mazrunīgs ― his colleagues considered him a difficult, non-social person, because he was gruff and uncommunicative

    Viktorijas raksturā ir kaut kas neizprotams un smags; Centim šķiet, ka viņai nevar uzticēties ― in Viktorija's character there is something incomprehensible and hard (= difficult to get by); it seemed to Centis that she couldn't be trusted

15. heavy, serious (implying strong physical, mental or emotional pain, suffering; life-threatening)

    smags ievainojums ― heavy, serious injury

    smaga slimība ― serious illness, disease

    smaga saindēšanas ― heavy poisoning

    smaga operācija ― heavy, painful operation

    smaga depresija ― heavy, serious depression

    smags slimnieks ― severly sick person (lit. heavy patient)

    pirmdienas vakarā mūsu slimnīcā smagās dzemdībās kādai jaunai sievietei piedzima bērns ― on Monday evening in our hospital some woman gave birth to a child in a heavy, difficult delivery

16. (of breath) heavy, difficult

    Ziemelis pēkšņi pieceļas, elpa viņam, nule pamanu, kļuvusi satraukta, smaga ― Ziemelis suddenly stood up, (and) his breath, I notice, has become troubled, heavy

17. (of sleep) heavy, difficult

    kad uzlēca saule, viņš gāja uz mājām un, nokritis dažas stundas smagā, murgu pilnā miegā, devās atkal uz skolu ― when the sun rose, he went home and, after falling into heavy, nightmare-filled sleep for a few hours, went back to school

18. (of bodies, their parts) heavy, tired, weak

    smagi plakstiņi ― heavy eyelids

    ak, cik smagas, nogurušas kājas! vai gan brīnums? ir jau tālu iets ― oh, what heavy, tired legs! is that a wonder? it has been, after all, a long way

19. (of motion, actions) heavy (characterized by lack of agility or grace; slow, difficult)

    māte turpināja iet vienmuļā, smagā gaitā ― mother continued to walk in a monotonous, heavy gait

    Gundega dzirdēja, cik žēli čīkstēja kāpnes zem Ilmas smagajiem soļiem; parasti Ilma skrēja lejup pa trepēm viegli un ātri ― Gundega heard how sadly the stars crackd under Ilma's heavy steps; usually Ilma ran upstairs easily and quickly

20. (of texts, words, style) heavy (difficult to follow or understand)

    smags stils ― heavy, difficult style

    smaga teikuma konstrukcija ― heavy, complex sentence construction

    viņa valoda ritēja smaga un gausa ― his language flowed heavy and sluggish

21. (of sounds) low, low-pitched, hollow

    smags pērkoa dārdiens ― low thunder rumblings

    smagas egļu šalkas ― low, hollow rustling of spruce trees

    iedunējās baznīcas zvans; dobjas, smagas skaņas aizplūda pāri kalnam ― the church bell began tolling; the hollow, heavy sounds flowed over the hills

22. (of weather) heavy (very unpleasant; unpleasantly strong)

    smags negaiss ― heavy storm

    smags, mitrs vējš skrien pār sniega laukiem ― a heavy, humid wind ran over the snowy countryside

    klimats Melvilas salā smags: musoni, vasaras lietus gāzes un karstums ― the climate on Melville island (is) heavy: monsoons, summer rainstorms and heat

• (of "heavy"): svarīgs (rare)
• (of "hard, difficult"): grūts, sarežģīts
• (of "heavy, difficult (breathing)"): smacīgs, spiedīgs
• (of sounds, "low", "hollow"): dobjš, zems

• viegls

• smagums