ātrs

Latvian

Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *ātro-, *ātra-, from Proto-Indo-European *ētro- (“quick, fast”). Another possible etymological source is Proto-Indo-European *āter-, *ātr- (“fire”) (compare Avestan 𐬁𐬙𐬀𐬭 (ātar, “fire”), in which case the semantic evolution would be “hot” > “fiery, passionate” > “fast, quick.” It is also possible that *ētro- and *āter- have the same origin, or are ultimately the same stem.

Cognates include dialectal Lithuanian otrùs (“sensitive, delicate; passionate, diligent, laborious”), Old High German ātar (“sharp; subtle; quick, fast”) (< *ētró-); some researchers include also the old Thracian river name Ἄθρυς (Áthrus) (now Jantra, in Bulgaria).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [āːtɾs]

Adjective

ātrs (definite ātrais, comparative ātrāks, superlative visātrākais, adverb ātri)

1. fast, quick, rapid (capable of moving long distances in a short time; in rapid tempo)

   ātra mašīna ― fast car

   visātrakais skrējējs ― the fastest runner

   ātra runa ― fast talk

   ātra izaugsme ― rapid growth

   pulkstenis ir ātrāks ― the clock is fast (= shows the wrong time, later than it really is)

   visātrākais ir gaismas stars; tā atrums ir 300 000 kilometru sekundē ― the fastest (entity) is a light ray; its speed is 300 000 kilometers per second

2. fast, quick (which takes place or is made in a short time)

   ātrs skrējiens ― quick race

   ātra elpošana ― quick breathing

   ātra uzvara ― quick victory

   ātra nāve ― quick death

   ātrs lēmums ― quick decision

   ātrā (medicīniskā) palīdzība ― first aid (lit. quick medical help)

3. (of people) quick to become angry, short-tempered, temperamental

   ātras dabas cilvkēs ― short-tempered person (lit. a person with a quick nature)

   lepna un ātra tā pārtrauca īso sarunu, paturēdama pēdējo vārdu ― proud and quick (= short-tempered), she interrupted the short conversation, keeping the last word (for herself)

4. (of looks, smiles) quick (lasting a short time)

   tad viņš uzmeta ātru skatu Ilzei ― then he cast a quick glance at Ilze

Declension

indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of ātrs

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)		singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs)	ātrs	ātri		ātra	ātras
accusative (akuzatīvs)	ātru	ātrus		ātru	ātras
genitive (ģenitīvs)	ātra	ātru		ātras	ātru
dative (datīvs)	ātram	ātriem		ātrai	ātrām
instrumental (instrumentālis)	ātru	ātriem		ātru	ātrām
locative (lokatīvs)	ātrā	ātros		ātrā	ātrās
vocative (vokatīvs)	—	—		—	—

Synonyms

• ašs
• knašs
• nasks
• straujš
• žigls

Derived terms

• ātrums