kluss

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.).^[1]

• IPA^(key): [klus]

• Audio:

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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

• skaļš

• klusēt, klust
• klusums