smiekls

Apparently a parallel form to an older *smietl(a)s (“laugh, laughter”), derived from the verb smiet (“to laugh”) with an additional l.^[1]

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smiekls m (1st declension)

1. (usually plural) laugh, laughter (rhythmic, relatively short vocal sound produced by humans to express mirth, joy, well-being, but also contempt, rejection)

   priecīgi smiekli ― happy laugh, laughter

   labsirdīgi smiekli ― good-natured laugh

   skaļi smiekli ― loud laughter

   klusi smiekli ― quiet laughter

   ļauni smiekli ― evil laughter

   valdīt smeklus ― to control one's laugh (= to refrain from laughing)

   izspiest smieklu ― to squeeze out a laugh (= to make oneself laugh)

   plīst no, aiz smiekliem ― to burst into laughter

   izplūst smieklos ― to start laughing (lit. to exude in laughter)

   viņas smiekli skanēja dzidri un gaiši ― her laughter sounded clear and bright

   apkārt Andrim skan tik sirsnīgi smiekli, ka pilnīgi pret paša gribu arī Andris sāk smaidīt, un tad jau viņš skaļi smejas ― around Andris there was such sincere, warm laughter, that wholly against his will Andris began to smile, and soon he was laughing loudly

2. (in art) laugh (humor, satire)

   mākslā vajadzīgi šie kontrasti: smiekli un nopietnība, bezbēdība un traģika ― art needs these contrasts: laughter and seriousness, light-heartedness and tragedy

3. (colloquial) trifle (something insignificant, unimportant)

   kā atnācu, tā arī aiziešu, nav jau nemaz tik tālu; vasarā tīrais smiekls... ar divriteni pusstundā ― as I came, I will also leave, it is not that far; in the summer just a laugh (= trifle, piece of cake)... half an hour by bike

4. (colloquial, in the genitive, used adjectivally) ridiculous, insignificant, unimportant

   smiekla lieta ― ridiculous, insignificant thing

   pirkt par smiekla cenu ― to buy (something) for a ridiculous, insignificant price

   par smiekla naudu te varēja iebaudīt cīsiņus ar kartupeļu biezeni ― for a ridiculous, insignificant (amount of) money one could here enjoy sausages with mashed potatoes

In the basic sense of "laugh", "laughter", the plural forms are almost always used instead of the singular forms.

• smieklīgs, smieklīgums

• smiet, smieties

• smaids