Lithuanian

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Etymology

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Probably from an unattested *kvaiklas (with dissimilation of the -kl- to -l-), itself from *kvaitla, a nominal formation from the same root as kvaĩsti (to become stunned, dazed), of unknown origin.[1] The closest phonetic match, Proto-Indo-European *kʷey- (in either the "perceive, revere" or "to gather, layer" senses), is semantically distant.

According to Fraenkel, in addition to kvaĩsti, related to kvaĩkti (to become stunned, dazed), kváikė (stupid woman, stupid thing), kvaitulỹs (dizziness), kvaĩšas, kvaišà (stupid person), kvaĩšti (to become stupid, stunned, dazed), kváišinti (to fool, tease, make dizzy), kvaitýtis (to behave foolishly).[2]

According to Būga (cited by Fraenkel), in ablaut with kuitė́ti (to perish, faint).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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kvaĩlas m (feminine kvailà) stress pattern 4[3]

  1. stupid
  2. foolish, silly

Declension

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References

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  1. ^ Smoczyński, Wojciech (2007) “kvaĩlas”, in Słownik etymologiczny je̜zyka litewskiego[1] (in Polish), Vilnius: Uniwersytet Wileński, page 330
  2. ^ Fraenkel, Ernst (1955, 1962–1965) “kvaĩkti”, in Litauisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, volume I, Heidelberg-Göttingen: Carl Winter and Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, page 324
  3. ^ kvailas”, in Lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Lithuanian language], lkz.lt, 1941–2024