lepns

From lept, now usually izlept (“to become spoiled, pampered”), with an extra -n, from Proto-Baltic *lep-, from Proto-Indo-European *lep- (“to bark, to slice, to strip, to split”). The semantic development probably was: “to bark, to strip, to slice” > “(thin) strip, piece (of bark)” > “thin, weak, fragile” > “spoiled, pampered” > “choosy, picky” > “proud, conceited.” Cognates include Lithuanian lepnùs (“fastidious, choosy; weak, fragile; arrogant, proud”), Ancient Greek λεπτός (leptós, “peeled, pared, thin, delicate; weak, sick”) (from Ancient Greek λέπειν (lépein, “to bark, to peel”)), Latin lepidus (“charming, witty; effeminate, pampered”).^[1]

• IPA^(key): [læpns]

• Audio:

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lepns (definite lepnais, comparative lepnāks, superlative vislepnākais, adverb lepni)

1. proud, haughty (showing self-awareness in one's behavior, actions, talk; showing feelings of high self-esteem, of superiority to others)

   lepna meitene ― proud girl

   citu kuģu vīri sprieda, ka jaunais kapteinis esot pārlieku lepns ― the men from the other boats thought that the new captain was too proud, haughty

   Mārtiņš bija tik laimīgs un lepns, it kā vai zirgu dabūjis uzdāvinātu ― Mārtiņš was so happy and proud, as if he had gotten a gift horse

2. proud, haughty (expressing such feelings)

   lepna gaita ― proud walk, gait

   lepns skatiens ― proud look, glance

   svinīgs un lepns izskats ― solemn and proud look, appearance

3. proud (satisfied, happy about something, someone)

   būt lepnam par saviem dēliem ― to be proud of one's sons

4. haughty, conceited, arrogant; expressing such feelings

   lepns kā pāvs ― proud as a peacock

   lepns, uzpūtīgs un lielīgs pret saviem apakšniekiem, barons atzina savus kārtas biedru pārākumu ― haughty, arrogant and boastful to his underlings, the baron recognized the superiority of the members of his social class

   es skatos, ka esi bagāts kļuvis; tā vien, ka nekļūsti vēl arī lepns ― I see that you have become rich; just don't become also proud

5. proud, elegant, splendid (well, luxuriously dressed; outstanding among others in society)

   zem egles sēž Žoržs, Einis, Kārlis un vēl viens lepns pilsonis ― under the spruce tree sat Žoržs, Einis, Kārlis and another proud, elegant citizen

6. rich, wealthy, luxurious, expensive (showing, characterized by, wealth, prosperity)

   lepna dzīve ― wealthy, luxurious life

   lepnas kāzas ― luxurious wedding

   lepna istabas iekārta ― luxurious room furniture

   lepna vāze ― luxurious, expensive vase

   “māja tev, Līze, tagad ir lepna”, mana māte sacīja Grāvītienei, kad mēs gājām cauri tai bagātībai ― “your house, Līze, is now luxurious, rich,” my mother said, while we went through those riches

7. (of animals) proud, stately, powerful

   lepns kumeļš ― proud colt

   lepni zirgi ― proud, stately horses

• (of "haughty", "arrogant"): iedomīgs, uzpūtīgs, augstprātīgs
• (of "proud", "stately"): stalts

• lepnība
• lepnums

• lepoties