ātrs

From Proto-Baltic *ātro-, *ātra-, from Proto-Indo-European *ētro- (“quick, fast”). Another possible etymological source is Proto-Indo-European *āter-, *ātr- (“fire”) (compare Avestan 𐬁𐬙𐬀𐬭 (ātar, “fire”), in which case the semantic evolution would be “hot” > “fiery, passionate” > “fast, quick.” It is also possible that *ētro- and *āter- have the same origin, or are ultimately the same stem.

Cognates include dialectal Lithuanian otrùs (“sensitive, delicate; passionate, diligent, laborious”), Old High German ātar (“sharp; subtle; quick, fast”) (< *ētró-); some researchers include also the old Thracian river name Ἄθρυς (Áthrus) (now Jantra, in Bulgaria).^[1]

• IPA^(key): [āːtɾs]

ātrs (definite ātrais, comparative ātrāks, superlative visātrākais, adverb ātri)

1. fast, quick, rapid (capable of moving long distances in a short time; in rapid tempo)

   ātra mašīna ― fast car

   visātrakais skrējējs ― the fastest runner

   ātra runa ― fast talk

   ātra izaugsme ― rapid growth

   pulkstenis ir ātrāks ― the clock is fast (= shows the wrong time, later than it really is)

   visātrākais ir gaismas stars; tā atrums ir 300 000 kilometru sekundē ― the fastest (entity) is a light ray; its speed is 300 000 kilometers per second

2. fast, quick (which takes place or is made in a short time)

   ātrs skrējiens ― quick race

   ātra elpošana ― quick breathing

   ātra uzvara ― quick victory

   ātra nāve ― quick death

   ātrs lēmums ― quick decision

   ātrā (medicīniskā) palīdzība ― first aid (lit. quick medical help)

3. (of people) quick to become angry, short-tempered, temperamental

   ātras dabas cilvkēs ― short-tempered person (lit. a person with a quick nature)

   lepna un ātra tā pārtrauca īso sarunu, paturēdama pēdējo vārdu ― proud and quick (= short-tempered), she interrupted the short conversation, keeping the last word (for herself)

4. (of looks, smiles) quick (lasting a short time)

   tad viņš uzmeta ātru skatu Ilzei ― then he cast a quick glance at Ilze

• ašs
• knašs
• nasks
• straujš
• žigls

• ātrums