Latvian

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Etymology

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From Proto-Baltic *plikas, from Proto-Indo-European *plēy-, *plī- (with an extra suffix *-ko), from *pel-, *pʰel, *spʰel- (to cleave, to split off, to cast off) (whence also plēst (to rend, to tear)). Originally, pliks meant “that from which hair, feathers, skin etc. have been removed” (compare plika vista with vista (hen)), then “without fur, without hair” (compare plika galva “bald head”), then finally “naked, nude.” Cognates include Lithuanian plìkas.[1]

Adjective

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pliks (definite plikais, comparative plikāks, superlative visplikākais, adverb pliki)

  1. naked, nude (not having clothes, or shoes)
    pliks bērnsnaked child
    plikām kājām(with) bare feet, barefoot
  2. bald (not having hair)
    pliks galvvidusbald crown (of head)
    pliks pakausisbald head
  3. (about trees, bushes, plants) without leaves, without further growth (branches, twigs, bark)
    plika rīkstenaked rod, stick
    pliki zarinaked branches
    pliks stumbrsnaked trunk
  4. without plants, without plant life, vegetation; without trees or plants nearby
    lopus pārdzina saimnieka plikajās ganībāshe drove the cattle to the farmer's naked pastures
  5. (about winter) without, or with little, snow
    plika ziemanaked (i.e., snowless) winter
  6. (about rooms, spaces) naked (without or with little furniture; without comfort)
    plika, kaila grīdanaked floor (with no cover)
  7. (about places, areas) undeveloped
    pliks laukumsnaked ground
    plika vietanaked place
  8. (about people) poor
    pliks mazsaimnieksnaked (= poor) peasant
    pliks kā baznīcas žurkanaked (= poor) as a church rat
  9. bare (by itself, without anything in addition)
    kur lai pliku dzīvību liekot, ja neesot darba un maizes?where should we put our bare life, if there is no work and bread?
    bet kas liek sēdēt uz plikas algas?but what makes us sit (= live on) bare wages?
  10. (food, beverages) without side dishess, without sauce, bare
    plikas putrasbare porridge
    kam es tās pankūkas cepu? rīt pat likšu galdā pliku maizes kukuli un sviestuwho am I baking these pancakes for? tomorrow I will put (only) bare bread and butter on the table
  11. bare (without justification or evidence; inconclusive)
    bieži vien es nezinu nenieka, bet izlāpos ar pliku nojautuoften I know nothing, I only play with bare presentiment
  12. bare, naked (without explanation, without illustrative material, without artistic style)
    plikas frāzesbare sentences

Declension

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Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Interjection

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pliks

  1. used to represent the sound of liquid drops hitting an object or surface

References

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