zīst

The traditional approach derives this word from an earlier *žinsti, from Proto-Baltic *žind-ti, from *žind-, from the reduced form *ǵendʰ, *ǵ(e)ndʰ- of Proto-Indo-European *ǵenədʰ- (“jaw, chin”), whence also Latvian zods (“chin”), Lithuanian žándas (“chin, jaw, cheek”). In this case, the original meaning would have been related to “cheek, jaw,” from which “to suckle.” A more recent theory suggests a connection between zīst and Ancient Greek νεογιλλός (neogillós, “newborn; young, new”) (< *neo-gid-los), both presumably from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeid- (“to suckle”). In either case, cognates include Lithuanian žįsti.^[1]

• IPA^(key):

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

zīst (transitive or intransitive, 1st conjugation, present zīžu, zīd, zīž, past zīdu)

1. to suck, to suckle (to press a female nipple with one's lips and tongue, so that it produces milk; to drink the milk so produced)

   zīst māti ― to suckle (one's) mother (i.e., to suckle milk from one's mother's breast)

   bērns zīž krūti ― the child suckles the breast

   kaķēns vēl nezīž ― the kitten doesn't suckle yet

   jēri metas zīst ― the lambs rushed to suckle

   trīs mazi ezēni zīda māti, sagulušies rindā kā sivēni ― three little hedgehogs suckled (their) mother, lying in a row like piglets

2. to suck, to suckle (to take something into one's mouth and make sucking movements)

   zīst ķepu, pirkstu ― to suck(le) (one's) paw, finger

   bērni visbiežāk zīž pirkstus pirms iemigšanas un pēc pamošanās ― children most often suck (their) fingers before sleep or after waking up

3. (colloquial) to smoke (a pipe, a cigarette, etc.) slowly

   pēdējo smēķa galiņu zīzdams, Klucis noskatīja daudz neveiklāko Modri ― sucking the last tip of (his) cigarette, Klucis looked at the much clumsier Modris

• (of sucking in general): sūkt, sūkāt

prefixed verbs:

• zīdainis, zīdaine
• zīdīt, zīdītājs, zīdītāja
• (rare term) zīdināt

zīst

1. third-person singular/plural present indicative of zīt
2. (with the particle lai) third-person singular imperative of zīt
3. (with the particle lai) third-person plural imperative of zīt