Latvian edit

Etymology edit

From ērkšķis (thorn) +‎ -ains.

Pronunciation edit

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Adjective edit

ērkšķains (definite ērkšķainais, comparative ērkšķaināks, superlative visērkšķainākais, adverb ērkšķaini)

  1. thorny, having thorns
    kails, ērkšķains krūmsa naked, thorny bush
    ērkšķains augs, zariņšthorny plant, twig
  2. (figuratively) painful; very difficult; involving painful losses
    ērkšķaini vārdithorny, painful words
    tepat viņš bija, nodzīvojis sūru, ērkšķainu mūžuthere he was, having lived a difficult, thorny life
    grūts un ērkšķains revolucionārā cīnītāja ceļšthe difficult and thorny path of the revolutionary fighter

Declension edit

Derived terms edit