celis

• IPA^(key): /ˈtselis/

• Audio:

  (file)

celis

1. past of celi

From Proto-Baltic *kelH-, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷel(H)- (“to turn, to rotate, to move”) (whence also kult, q.v.). The original meaning of this word was therefore “moving place,” “movable member, organ.” Cognates include Lithuanian kelỹs, kẽlis, dialectal kialis, Old Church Slavonic колѣно (kolěno), Russian колено (koleno), and less likely Ancient Greek κῶλον (kôlon, “organ”), κωλῆ (kōlê, “femoral bone”).^[1]

• IPA^(key): [tsɛlis]

• Audio:

  (file)

celis m (2nd declension)

1. knee (the joint between thigh and shin and the area around it)

   stīvs celis ― stiff knee

   ceļa lūzums ― knee fracture

   sēdēt tēvam uz ceļiem ― to sit on father's knees (= lap)

   sniegs mežā bija dziļš, vai līdz ceļiem ― the snow in the forest was deep, up to the knees

   sieviete pastiepa zilās kleitas malu tālāk pāri ceļiem ― the woman stretched the hem of the blue dress beyond the knees

   meitene pieliec celi, kā skolā mācīts ― the girl bent (her) knee, as taught at school