tukšs

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *tuskjas, from Proto-Indo-European *tews-, *tus- (“to empty”), from *tew-, *tu- (“to swell”) (whence also Latvian tūkt (“to swell”), q.v.).

The kš sequence suggests irregular changes: *tušjas > insertion of *k and *t > *tukšjas > tukša-. Semantic development: “swollen, bloated” → “empty inside” → “empty”.

Cognate with Lithuanian tùščias (nominative plural tuštì), Old Church Slavonic тъшть (tŭštĭ, “empty”), Old East Slavic тъщь (tŭščĭ), Russian то́щий (tóščij, “weak, thin, lean”), Proto-Slavic *tъska (“emptiness”) (Russian тоска́ (toská, “anguish, tedium, longing”)), Vedic Sanskrit तुच्छ्य (tucchyá, “empty, vain”), Latin tesqua (“desert”) (< Old Latin *tuesquā), Iron Ossetian тыссӕ́г (tyssǽg, “weak, skinny, thin”).^[1]

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tukšs (definite tukšais, comparative tukšāks, superlative vistukšākais, adverb tukši)

1. (of containers, hollow objects) empty (in which nothing was put)

   tukša bļoda, pudele, soma, atvilktne ― empty bowl, bottle, bag, drawer

   tukšs grozs, maiss, spainis ― empty basket, bag, bucket

   tukša kabata ― empty pocket (colloquially, lack of money)

2. (of places, areas) empty, blank (not taken, not filled with something)

   tukšs pagrabs, plaukts ― empty cellar, shelf

   tukša malkas nojume ― empty wood shed

   tukšs sienas laukums ― empty, blank area on the wall

   tukšs galds ― empty table (esp. without food, drink)

3. (of rooms) unfurnished

   tukša istaba ― empty room

4. (of hanging supports) empty (with nothing hanging on them)

   tukšs drēbju pakaramais ― empty clothes hanger

   tukšs vadzis ― empty peg

5. (of windows, doors) empty (without panes, leaves)

   tukšas logu ailes ― empty window frames

6. (of wells, bodies of water) empty (without water)

   tukša aka ― empty well

7. (stomach) empty (without food)

   tukšs vēders ― empty stomach

8. (of paper, book) empty (without any writing or drawing on it)

   Ēvalds pagrieza baltajai lapiņai otru pusi, tā bija tukša ― Ēvalds turned the white page over to the other side, it was empty

9. (of buildings, rooms, areas, means of transportation) empty (without people, animals; vacant, uninhabited)

   tukša iela, šoseja, laiva ― empty street, highway, ship

   tukšs trolejbuss, vagons ― empty trolley, train car

   tukšs bišu strops ― empty beehiļve

   tukša lapsu ala ― empty fox hole, earth

   (of places to sit, stand, etc.) empty (vacant)

   mēs visi sēdam pie galda, tikai mātes vieta tukša ― we all sat at the table, only mother's place (was) empty

10. (of places, areas) empty (without vegetation, without plants, without crops)

    visi tīrumi ir tukši ― all fields are empty

    zeme nekur nepaliek tukša, augi ieviešas katrā piemērotā' stūrītī ― the earth is nowere empty, plants grow in every appropriate spot

11. (of fruits, nuts) empty (without pit, kernel, seed, more rarely without leaves)

    tukšs rieksts ― empty nut

    tukša zirņu pāksts ― empty pea pod

12. (of time periods) empty (with strongly felt shortage or lack of food, money, goods, etc.))

    tagard ir tukškais laiks; nav ne gaļas, ne naudas ― now is the emptier (= emptiest) time: there is neither meat nor money

13. (of time periods) empty (without harvest, produce)

    šogad manām ābelēm ir tukšais gads ― this year my apple trees are having an empty (= fruitless) year

14. (of shops, establishments, entities) empty (without merchandise, goods in stock; without money)

    tukšs pārtikas veikals ― empty grocery store (i.e., without groceries)

    Prūsijas valsts kase bija tukša ― the Prussian treasury was empty

    šīs mājas ir tukšas, viss, kas te kādreiz bija, ir jau paņemts ― these houses are empty, everything that used to be here has already been taken

15. (of peoples) empty, poor

    kur citur lai šie atstātie, tukšie, bezspēcīgie atrastu patversmi? ― where else would the abandoned, empty, powerless find shelter?

16. (of actionss) empty, in vain (without the desired effect)

    tukši pūliņi ― empty efforts

17. (of actions, words) empty, vain, idle (without serious content, without purpose, without meaning, significance)

    tukšas runas, tukša runāšana ― empty talk, empty talking

    tukšas frāzes ― empty sentences, words

    tukšas izpriecas, cerības ― empty pleasures, hopes

    tukši sapņi ― empty dreams

    tukšs apgalvojums ― empty statement

18. (of time periods) empty (without activity, uneventful)

    tukšs, bezdarbībā pavadīts laiks ― empty, idly spent time

19. (of people) empty (without depth, meaningful spiritual life; frivolous)

    nožēlojami tukša dvēsele ― a miserably empty soul

    vieglprātīgas, tukšas meitenes portrets ― portrait of a frivolous, empty girl

20. (of eyes, gaze, face) empty (colorless, lifeless)

    skumji tukšs skatiens ― sadly empty gaze

    lai cik skaista, bet tukša seja vienmēr būs vulgāra ― no matter how beautiful, an empty face will always be vulgar

• pilns

• tuksnesis