dumjš

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Latvian

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]
  • (dialectal form) dums

Etymology

[edit]

Some researchers consider this term a simple borrowing from German dumm (stupid). Others derive it (and its parallel o-stem dialectal variant dums) from Proto-Baltic *dum-, *dūm-, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰu-, *dʰū- (to be dusty; to whirl; to blow), whence also dūmi (smoke) (q.v.). The original meaning, possibly influenced by dūmi, was apparently “gray, dark brown” (compare Sudovian dumo (dark)). There apparently is a relation between dark colors and the human spirit or mind (compare Sanskrit धूमः (dhūmáḥ, smoke), धूम्रः (dhūmráḥ, gray, smokey color; spiritually dazed, enchanted, obsessed), or Ancient Greek θυμιάω (thumiáō, to smoke, to puff smoke), θυμόομαι (thumóomai, to get angry)). At this point, Middle Low German dum (stupid) (compare German dumm) probably influenced the semantic development of dumjš. Cognates include Middle Low German dum, Old High German tumb, Gothic 𐌳𐌿𐌼𐌱𐍃 (dumbs).[1]

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ˈdumʃ/
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

[edit]

dumjš (definite dumjais, comparative dumjāks, superlative visdumjākais, adverb dumji)

  1. stupid, dim-witted, foolish, silly
    Kristiņa ir briesmīgi dumjš meitēnsKristiņa is a terribly silly girl
    mēs stāvējām abi vēsajā vakarā, jauni un dumjiwe both stood in the cool evening, young and stupid
    dumjš kā zābaksstupid as a boot (i.e., very stupid)
    dumjš kā ēzelisstupid as a donkey (i.e., very stupid)
  2. stupid, foolish, silly (expressing such qualities)
    dumjš skatiensstupid, goofy look
    dumja rīcībastupid, silly action, behavior
  3. stupid, foolish, silly (with contents that express such qualities)
    dumjš joksstupid, silly joke
    dumja dziesmasilly song

Declension

[edit]

Synonyms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “dumjš”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca[1] (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN