nikns

Latvian

Etymology

From an unattested verb *nikt, similar in meaning to the Lithuanian cognate (see below; compare also Latvian dialectal verb nikties (“to annoy, to disturb”)), formed with an extra -n (compare verb īgt, adjective īgns); *nikt is derived from Proto-Indo-European *nēyk-, *nik- (“to attack, to start quickly”), from Proto-Indo-European *ney- (“to be in motion, to be excited; to shine”). Cognates include Lithuanian ni̇̀kti (“to tackle, to get quickly (to work)”), Russian прони́кнуть (proníknutʹ, “to penetrate”).

Adjective

nikns (definite niknais, comparative niknāks, superlative visniknākais, adverb nikni)

1. (of animals) wild, furious, raging (having a propensity to attack)

   nikns gailis ― wild, angry rooster

   nikns bullis ― wild, raging bull

   nikni suņi klūp man virsū ― wild dogs pounced on me

2. angry, furious, harsh

   ko tu šodien tik nikns? ― why are you so angry today?

   nikns sargs ― angry guard, watch

   “tā!” Janko kļuva arvien niknāks ― “that one!” Janko got angrier and angrier

   Rudmetu Vilis ir tik karsts un nikns... lai kur kāds runā, viņš tūdaļ pretī ar savu ― Rudmetu Vilis is so hot and wild... whenever someone talks, he immediately (goes) against him with his (ideas)

3. angry, furious, ferocious

   nikns lauvas rēciens ― ferocious lion's roar

   niknas suņa rejas ― angry dog barks

   nikna atbilde ― angry answer

   nikns protests ― angry, furious protest

   katrs vārds ir pilns niknas spītības ― every word is full of angry spite

4. (figuratively) angry, wild, raging (strong in its effects, dangerous, intense)

   nikna kauja ― wild, raging battle

   nikna apšaude ― furious gunfire

   nikna slimība ― unrelenting disease

   nikns sals ― raging, intense frost

   ārā plosās nikna novembra vētra ― outside a furious november storm was raging

Declension

Indefinite declension nenoteiktā galotne) of nikns

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular	plural		singular	plural
nominative	nikns	nikni		nikna	niknas
genitive	nikna	niknu		niknas	niknu
dative	niknam	nikniem		niknai	niknām
accusative	niknu	niknus		niknu	niknas
instrumental	niknu	nikniem		niknu	niknām
locative	niknā	niknos		niknā	niknās
vocative	—	—		—	—

Definite declension (noteiktā galotne) of nikns

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular	plural		singular	plural
nominative	niknais	niknie		niknā	niknās
genitive	niknā	nikno		niknās	nikno
dative	niknajam	niknajiem		niknajai	niknajām
accusative	nikno	niknos		nikno	niknās
instrumental	nikno	niknajiem		nikno	niknajām
locative	niknajā	niknajos		niknajā	niknajās
vocative	nikno, niknais	niknie		nikno, niknā	niknās

Antonyms

• lēns

Derived terms

• niknums