Latvian edit

Etymology edit

From dīvs (fantastic creature) +‎ -ains. Some authors consider it a borrowing from Slavic languages. Cognates include Lithuanian dỹvinas, Old Church Slavonic дивьнъ (divĭnŭ), дивьнъиь (divĭnyĭ), Russian ди́вный (dívnyj), Belarusian дзі́ўны (dzíŭny, strange, peculiar), Ukrainian ди́вний (dývnyj), Bulgarian ди́вен (díven), Czech divný (strange, wonderful), Polish dziwny, Latin dīvīnus (divine).[1]

Pronunciation edit

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Adjective edit

dīvains (definite dīvainais, comparative dīvaināks, superlative visdīvainākais, adverb dīvaini)

  1. strange, odd, unusual, surprising (that which causes surprise, incomprehension)
    dīvains piedzīvojumsstrange, whimsical adventure
    dīvains klusumsstrange silence
    dīvains nemiersstrange anxiety
    dīvaini paradumistrage habits
    dīvainā kārtāin a strange way, strangely, mysteriously
    Andris ieraudzīja dīvainu skatu: ērgli ar apledojušiem spārniemAndris saw a strange sight: an eagle with icy wings
    bet tu šodien esi tik dīvains, izklaidīgs, viss tev krīt laukā no rokāmbut you are so strange today, so oblivious, everything falls off your hands

Declension edit

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

References edit

  1. ^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “dīvains”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN