spēks

From Proto-Baltic *spēkas, from *spē- with a suffix -ko, from Proto-Indo-European *speh₁- (“to develop, to evolve, to increase”). The meaning changed from “(well) developed, big, fat” to “stout, strong”, i.e., for the nominal form, “strength,” “force.” Cognates include Lithuanian spė̃kas, spėkà,^[1] Albanian fuqi.

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spēks m (1st declension)

1. (physics) force (physical quantity describing the interaction of bodies whereby they undergo acceleration or deformation)

   Zemes pievilkšanas spēks ― the Earth's attraction force, gravity

   gravitācijas, berzes spēks ― gravitational, attrition force

   centrbēdzes, centrtieces spēks ― centrifugal, centripetal force

   spēka lauks ― force field

   spēka pielikšanas punkts ― force application point

   pielikt spēku ― to apply a force

2. (of people, animals) force, strength, power (capacity to carry out (especially physical) actions or motion)

   fiziskais spēks ― physical strength

   taupīt spēku ― to spare, to save strength, power

   uzkrāt spēku ― to accumulate strength, power

   nav spēka piecelties ― (s/he) doesn't have the strength to get up

   izsmelt (visus) spēkus ― to exhaust (all) (one's) forces, strength

   pēdējiem spēkiem sasniegt krastu ― to reach the coast with (one's) last strength

3. (of people's behavior) (physical) force, coercion, violence

   viņa ar spēku izrāva Mārim no rokām meitas fotogrāfiju ― she snatched the girl's photograph from Māris' hands by force

   jūs uzvaru redzat tikai spēkā; bet saprāta uzvara, kur tad paliek tā? ― you see only victory in violence; but the victory of reason, where is it then?

4. strength, power (of mental processes: mental features that support or strengthen their expression)

   garīgais, morālais spēks ― spiritual, moral strength

   gribas spēks, gribasspēks ― willpower

   iekšējs, dvēseles spēks ― inner, soul strength

   negaidīti aktrise atrada sevī lielu speku, tuvojoties varonības robežai ― unexpectedly, the actress found in herself intense strength, verging on heroism

5. (of laws) force (legal validity, power)

   likuma spēks ― force of law, legal force

   būr, palikt, uzturēt spēkā ― to be, to remain, to keep in force

   stāties spēkā ― to come into force

6. force, power, strength (capacity or power to influence, to persuade, to make something happen)

   personības spēks ― strength of personality

   ieraduma spēks ― force of habit

   vārda spēks ― the power of the word

   mākslas spēks ― the power of art

   dažādu ar valdībām nesaistīto organizāciju pretkara kustība ieguvusi milzīgu spēku ― various non-governmental organizations' anti-war movement has gained enormous power, strength

7. (chiefly in the plural) forces (a group within society, united by a common feature)

   demokrātiskie, revolucinārie spēki ― democratic, revolutionary forces

8. (chiefly plural; of professionals, soldier, etc.) forces (people united by a goal, ideal, task)

   teātra jaunie spēki ― new young forces of theater

   mākslinieciskie spēki ― artistic forces

   bruņotie spēki ― armed forces

   karaspēks' ― armed forces, (national) army, troops

   starptautisko spēku samērs ― international balance of forces, power

• karaspēks
• spēcīgs, spēcīgums
• spēkonis, spēkone