lepns

Latvian

Etymology

From lept, now usually izlept (“to become spoiled, pampered”), with an extra -n, from Proto-Baltic *lep-, from Proto-Indo-European *lep- (“to bark, to slice, to strip, to split”). The semantic development probably was: “to bark, to strip, to slice” > “(thin) strip, piece (of bark)” > “thin, weak, fragile” > “spoiled, pampered” > “choosy, picky” > “proud, conceited.” Cognates include Lithuanian lepnùs (“fastidious, choosy; weak, fragile; arrogant, proud”), Ancient Greek λεπτός (leptós, “peeled, pared, thin, delicate; weak, sick”) (from Ancient Greek λέπειν (lépein, “to bark, to peel”)), Latin lepidus (“charming, witty; effeminate, pampered”).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [læpns]
(file)

Adjective

lepns (definite lepnais, comparative lepnāks, superlative vislepnākais, adverb lepni)

  1. proud, haughty (showing self-awareness in one's behavior, actions, talk; showing feelings of high self-esteem, of superiority to others)
    lepna meitene ― proud girl
    citu kuģu vīri sprieda, ka jaunais kapteinis esot pārlieku lepns ― the men from the other boats thought that the new captain was too proud, haughty
    Mārtiņš bija tik laimīgs un lepns, it kā vai zirgu dabūjis uzdāvinātu ― Mārtiņš was so happy and proud, as if he had gotten a gift horse
  2. proud, haughty (expressing such feelings)
    lepna gaita ― proud walk, gait
    lepns skatiens ― proud look, glance
    svinīgs un lepns izskats ― solemn and proud look, appearance
  3. proud (satisfied, happy about something, someone)
    būt lepnam par saviem dēliem ― to be proud of one's sons
  4. haughty, conceited, arrogant; expressing such feelings
    lepns kā pāvs ― proud as a peacock
    lepns, uzpūtīgs un lielīgs pret saviem apakšniekiem, barons atzina savus kārtas biedru pārākumu ― haughty, arrogant and boastful to his underlings, the baron recognized the superiority of the members of his social class
    es skatos, ka esi bagāts kļuvis; tā vien, ka nekļūsti vēl arī lepns ― I see that you have become rich; just don't become also proud
  5. proud, elegant, splendid (well, luxuriously dressed; outstanding among others in society)
    zem egles sēž Žoržs, Einis, Kārlis un vēl viens lepns pilsonis ― under the spruce tree sat Žoržs, Einis, Kārlis and another proud, elegant citizen
  6. rich, wealthy, luxurious, expensive (showing, characterized by, wealth, prosperity)
    lepna dzīve ― wealthy, luxurious life
    lepnas kāzas ― luxurious wedding
    lepna istabas iekārta ― luxurious room furniture
    lepna vāze ― luxurious, expensive vase
    “māja tev, Līze, tagad ir lepna”, mana māte sacīja Grāvītienei, kad mēs gājām cauri tai bagātībai ― “your house, Līze, is now luxurious, rich,” my mother said, while we went through those riches
  7. (of animals) proud, stately, powerful
    lepns kumeļš ― proud colt
    lepni zirgi ― proud, stately horses

Declension

Synonyms

  • (of "haughty", "arrogant"): iedomīgs, uzpūtīgs, augstprātīgs
  • (of "proud", "stately"): stalts

Derived terms

  • lepoties

References

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