bikls

Latvian

Etymology

From an older verb bīt “to push” (of which only the reflexive form bīties “to be afraid” remains), with an extra l: *bītls > dialectal bīkls and standard bikls, meaning initially “which pushes (away)” and then “shy, timid.” For a parallel case, cf. mīt, mikls.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [bikls]
(file)

Adjective

bikls (definite biklais, comparative biklāks, superlative visbiklākais, adverb bikli)

  1. shy, timid, insecure; such that it expresses shyness, timidity, insecurity
    bikls bērns ― a shy child
    biklas kustības ― timid movements
    bikls smaids, skatiens, žests ― a timid smile, look, gesture
    vīrietis bija tik bikls, ka pat bērnus neuzdrošinājās uzrunāt ― the man was so timid that he didn't dare talk even to children
  2. (of animals) shy, wild (not wanting contact or proximity)
    bikla stirna ― shy, wild doe
    biklo skaistuli melno meža strazdu arī var pielabināt ar pīlādžu ogām ― the shy beauty, the black forest thrush, can be calmed down with rowan berries

Declension
indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of bikls
masculine (vīriešu dzimte) feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
singular
(vienskaitlis)		 plural
(daudzskaitlis)		 singular
(vienskaitlis)		 plural
(daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs) bikls bikli bikla biklas
accusative (akuzatīvs) biklu biklus biklu biklas
genitive (ģenitīvs) bikla biklu biklas biklu
dative (datīvs) biklam bikliem biklai biklām
instrumental (instrumentālis) biklu bikliem biklu biklām
locative (lokatīvs) biklā biklos biklā biklās
vocative (vokatīvs) — — — —

Synonyms
  • kautrs, kautrīgs

Antonyms

Derived terms

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