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 meiteneproud girl
    citu kuģu vīri sprieda, ka jaunais kapteinis esot pārlieku lepnsthe 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 uzdāvinātuMārtiņš was so happy and proud, as if he had gotten a gift horse
  2. proud, haughty (expressing such feelings)
    lepna gaitaproud walk, gait
    lepns skatiensproud look, glance
    svinīgs un lepns izskatssolemn and proud look, appearance
  3. proud (satisfied, happy about something, someone)
    būt lepnam par saviem dēliemto be proud of one's sons
  4. haughty, conceited, arrogant; expressing such feelings
    lepns kā pāvsproud as a peacock
    lepns, uzpūtīgs un lielīgs pret saviem apakšniekiem, barons atzina savus kārtas biedru pārākumuhaughty, 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 lepnsI 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 pilsonisunder the spruce tree sat Žoržs, Einis, Kārlis and another proud, elegant citizen
  6. rich, wealthy, luxurious, expensive (showing, characterized by, wealth, prosperity)
    lepna dzīvewealthy, luxurious life
    lepnas kāzasluxurious wedding
    lepna istabas iekārtaluxurious room furniture
    lepna vāzeluxurious, 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 kumeļšproud colt
    lepni zirgiproud, 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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