Latvian edit

 
Skūpstīt

Etymology edit

From sūkstīt (to suck repeatedly), the iterative form of sūkt (to suck) (q.v.), via metathesis of k and ū and epenthesis of p, perhaps dissimilated from a previous k (sūkstīt > *skūstīt > *skūkstīt > skūpstīt). A verb skūstīties (to flirt with a woman) is attested in 19th-century texts. Note, however, that alongside sūkstīties, skūstīties there is also a dialectal variant sūpstīties; the standard form skūpstīt might therefore result from the merging or contamination of both stems sūkstīt and sūpstīt. In some dialects, the original meaning “to suck repeatedly” can still be found (skūpstīt sukura graudu “to suck a sugar cube”). (Lithuanian dialectal skupstýti (to kiss) is probably a borrowing from Latvian.)[1]

Pronunciation edit

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Verb edit

skūpstīt (transitive, 3rd conjugation, present skūpstu, skūpsti, skūpsta, past skūpstīju)

  1. to kiss (to touch with one's lips, in order to show love, friendship, or respect, devotion)
    skūpstīt bērnuto kiss a child
    skūpstīt mātei rokuto kiss mother's hand
    skūpstīt (kādu) uz pieres, uz vaigiem, uz lūpāmto kiss (someone) on the forehead, on the cheeks, on the lips
    Es tevi skūpstīt drīkstu vien uz vaigaI may kiss you only on the cheek
    zvērēt padevību, skūpstot kunga roku, kājas, piedurknito swear devotion (by) kissing the lord's hand, feet, sleeve

Conjugation edit

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

References edit

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