kluss

Latvian

Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *klus-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (“to sound, to hear”) (whence klausīt (“to obey”), q.v., klausīties (“to listen”), klust (“to be silent”), more frequently apklust), with an extra -s. The semantic evolution of klust, and consequently also of kluss, was probably: “to hear” > “to listen” > “to be quiet (in order to listen).” Cognates include Lithuanian klùsas (“hard of hearing, deaf”), klusùs (“hearing”), klùsti (“to obey, to be obedient”), Old Prussian poklusman (“hearing, obedient”) (neut. pl. nom.).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [klus]

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

kluss (definite klusais, comparative klusāks, superlative visklusākais, adverb klusi, klusu, klusām)

1. (of sounds) soft, quiet, silent (barely hearable, weak, not loud)

   klusa dziesma, mūzika ― quiet song, music

   runāt klusā balsī ― to talk in a soft, quiet voice

   klusi soļi ― quiet steps

   kluss sauciens ― silent cry, call

2. (of placess, moments) quiet, silent (where, when there are no loud sounds; where, when there are no sounds)

   dienā ciems bija pavisam kluss ― during the day the village was completely silent

   klusa iela ― quiet street

   vakars bija ļoti kluss ― the night was very quiet

   pekšņi visapkārt kļuva kluss ― suddenly it became quiet everywhere

3. (of places) quiet, calm (where there are no crowds, not much traffic)

   kluss pilsētas rajons ― quiet town district

   kluss apvidus ― quiet area, region

4. (of people) quiet (not talkative)

   Marta ir klusa un nopietna ― Marta is quiet and serious

   Krišs sēdēja kluss ― Krišs sat quietly, in silence

5. (of thoughts, mental states, feelings) quiet, silent (not openly expressed)

   kluss naids ― quiet, silent hatred

   klusa laime ― quiet happiness

   klusas sāpes ― quiet pain

6. (of paintings, colors) quiet, calm (without strong contrast, without many nuances, without strong tone differences)

   patīkama akvareļu klusā krāsu saskaņa ― a pleasant, calm watercolor harmony

7. (of periods of time, actions) quiet, calm (without special significance, without important events)

   lielajam uzbrukumam sekoja klusas dienas — the big attack was followed by calm, quiet days

   un tad bija bēres: klusas un trūcīgas ― and such was the funeral: quiet and poor

Declension

indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of kluss

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)		singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs)	kluss	klusi		klusa	klusas
accusative (akuzatīvs)	klusu	klusus		klusu	klusas
genitive (ģenitīvs)	klusa	klusu		klusas	klusu
dative (datīvs)	klusam	klusiem		klusai	klusām
instrumental (instrumentālis)	klusu	klusiem		klusu	klusām
locative (lokatīvs)	klusā	klusos		klusā	klusās
vocative (vokatīvs)	—	—		—	—

Antonyms

• skaļš

Derived terms

• klusēt, klust
• klusums