brīve

See also brīvē

Latvian

Etymology

From brīvs (free) +‎ -e. First attested in the late 18th, early 19th century with the meaning (legally, juridically given) “permission,” “privilege.”[1]

Noun

brīve f, 4th declension

  1. (dated, poetic) freedom, liberty (situation in which there is no subordination, dependence)
    kāds dzejai spēks! / tā sirdī kaislu brīves mīlu dedz, / cauri rīta gaismu redz — what poetic power! / in this heart burns the passionate love of freedom / as through the night one sees the light of morning
    cīnītājs vēlējas iespējami pilnīgāk izmantot savas brīves dienas — the fighter wanted to use as fully as possible his days of freedom (from service)

Declension

Usage notes

The word brīvība is the most frequent term used in the sense “freedom,” “liberty.” Its synonyms brīve, brīvestība, and svabadība, though attested, are clearly dated or old-fashioned.

Synonyms

References

  1. ^ Karulis, Konstantīns. 1992, 2001. Latviešu etimoloģijas vārdnīca. Rīga: AVOTS. ISBN 9984700127.
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Last modified on 10 February 2013, at 21:02