vēls

Latvian

Etymology

Most authors derive vēls from Proto-Baltic *wēlus, an u-stem noun derived from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“to turn, to roll”) (whence also the verb velt “to trundle”, q.v.). The semantic evolution of the verb stem would go from “turning, rolling” to “delaying” (cf. vilcināt), so that the derived form vēls would originally mean “delayed”, and then “overdue,” “late.” Cognates include Latvian dialectal vēļš (< *vēlis) and Lithuanian vėlùs.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

vēls (definite vēlais, comparative vēlāks, superlative visvēlākais, adverb vēlu)

1. late (approaching the end of a certain time period)

   vēla pēcpusdiena ― late afternoon

   vēls vakars ― late evening

   strādāt līdz vēlai naktij ― to work till late at night

   vēlais dzelzs laikmets ― the late Iron Age

   vēlā paleolīta beigās ― at the end of the late Paleolithic

   ir jau klāt rudens, pats vēlais rudens, kad dārzā vairs nav nevienas lapas un visi lauku darbi apdarīti ― it is already autumn, even late autumn, when there no longer are any leaves in the garden and all farm work is done

   pie profesionālas mūziķa darbības P. Jurjāns nonāca vēlu ― P. Jurjāns came late (in life) to professional music activity

2. late (approaching nighttime)

   ir jau vēls ― it is late

   iet gulēt vēlu ― to go to bed late

   man nu jāiet, ir jau vēls un tumšs ― I have to go, it is already late and dark

3. late, delayed, belated (after the normal, expected or natural time; after the others)

   šogad vēls rudens ― this year (has) a late, belated autumn

   atnākt pār vēlu ― to come too late

   vēls viesis ― a late guest

   viņa vēlākie piedzīvojumi ― his later adventures

   aizbraukt ar vēlo vilcienu ― to go with a late, delayed train

4. late, tardy (which blooms later than others) (of plants)

   vēlie kartupeļi ― late potatoes

   ievēroju, ka liepas, vēlie jasmīni un rudzi jau noziedējuši ― I noticed that the limes, the late jasmins and the rye are already blooming

5. late (slow; wrongly showing an earlier time because of some defect) (of clocks)

   vēls, vēlāks pulkstenis ― a late clock

Declension

Antonyms

• agrs

Derived terms

• agri vai vēlu
• vēlīns

Related terms

• vēl

References