blāvs

Latvian

Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *blāwas, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlew-, *bʰlēw-, *bʰlāw-, from the zero grade of *bʰel- (“shiny, white”) (whence also Latvian balts (“white”)) with an extra -w. Some researchers consider blāvs a borrowing from Middle Low German blā, blāw (and likewise Lithuanian blãvas a borrowing from Latvian). Cognates include Lithuanian blãvas (“pale”), blausùs (“cloudy; unclear, dim; gloomy; sleepy”), Old High German blāo (“blue; yellow”), German blau (“blue”), Latin flāvus (“golden, yellow; flaxen; blonde”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [blāːws]

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

blāvs (definite blāvais, comparative blāvāks, superlative visblāvākais, adverb blāvi)

1. (of light, light sources) dim, faint, wan (weak; proudicing only dim, faint light)

   blāva spuldze ― dim (light) bulb

   blāvs mēness ― dim moon

   blāva gaisma ― dim light

   blāvajā mēness gaismā no durvīm uz manu pusi kūņojās kaut kas garš un balts ― in the dim moonlight something long and white was dragging itself from the door to my side

2. dull (not transparent, not clear)

   blāva stikla vāze ― dull, translucid glass vase

   aiz blāvās, putekļu klātās rūts pazibēja smaidīga meitenes seja ― behind the dull, dust-covered (window) pane flashed a smiling girl's face

3. dull, lackluster (not shiny, not emitting or reflecting (much) light; pale, whitish)

   blāvās krāsas ― pale colors

   Es ieskatos Harijam acīs; bet šodien tās ir blāvas ― I look into Harijs' eyes; but today they are dull

Declension

indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of blāvs

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)		singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs)	blāvs	blāvi		blāva	blāvas
accusative (akuzatīvs)	blāvu	blāvus		blāvu	blāvas
genitive (ģenitīvs)	blāva	blāvu		blāvas	blāvu
dative (datīvs)	blāvam	blāviem		blāvai	blāvām
instrumental (instrumentālis)	blāvu	blāviem		blāvu	blāvām
locative (lokatīvs)	blāvā	blāvos		blāvā	blāvās
vocative (vokatīvs)	—	—		—	—

Synonyms

• (of "dim, faint"): bāls, krēslains
• (of "dull, not clear, not shiny"): nespodrs, necaurredzams, necaurspīdīgs

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “of "dim, faint"”): gaišs, spīdīgs, spilgts, spožs, spulgs
• (antonym(s) of “of "dull, not clear"”): dzidrs, skaidrs, caurredzams, caurspīdīgs
• (antonym(s) of “of "dull, not shiny"”): spodrs

Derived terms

• blāvums

Related terms

• blāvot