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Definition 2024


ciet

ciet

Latin

Verb

ciet

  1. third-person singular present active indicative of cieō

Latvian

Etymology

A reduced form of cieti, the adveribal form of ciets (hard).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [tsiɛ̂t]

Adverb

ciet

  1. (usually with the copula būt; similar to German zu) closed, shut, sometimes also metaphorically
    acis ciet ― eyes closed
    muti ciet! ― mouth closed! (= shut up!)
    logi un durvis ir ciet ― the doors and windows are closed
    skapis ir ciet ― the cabinet is closed
    pasts jau ir ciet ― the post office is already closed
    labā auss ir ciet ― the right ear is closed (= full of wax/plugged (as from a change in altitude during a flight, etc.))
    elpa ciet ― the breath(ing) is closed (= difficult, heavy)
    “jau ciet!” viņa brīnījās, redzēdama aizlipināto aploksni ― “already closed!” she marveled, seeing the sealed envelope
    tagad tikai mutītes ciet, mani mazie ― now just (keep) your little mouths shut, my little ones
    līdz vilcienam divdesmit minūtes laika, bet kase vēl ciet ― only twenty minutes till the train (departs), and the counter (is) still closed
    pēc lielā sala upe būs ciet ― after a big frost the river will be closed (= frozen)
    skolas dedzinātājs ciet! ― the school arsonist is closed (= has been arrested)
  2. imperfective counterpart of the prefix aiz-, indicating that the object of the verb was closed, shut, or filled
    taisīt durvis ciet ― to shut the door
    vērt vārtus ciet ― to close the gates
    bāzt caurumu ciet ― to close, fill up the hole
    Jānis nesaprata, ko darīt: iet prom savā istabā, slēgt ciet kancelejas durvis? ― Jānis didn't know what to do: go away to his room, lock the office door shut?
    pirksti nervozi taustījās ap mēteļa sprādzi, bet ciet to dabūt viņam tomēr neizdevās ― his fingers fumbled nervously around the coat buckle, but he was unable to get it shut (= to buckle it up)
  3. imperfective counterpart of the prefix sa-, indicating that the object of the verb was caught, captured, or bound
    Artūrs skaļi noprasīja: “stāvi, grāb tikai kādu meiteni ciet ― Artūrs asked loud: “stop, just grab some girl”
    “ķer tik medūzas ciet!” kapteinis pamācīja ― “just catch the jellyfish!” the captain admonished
    tikai tagad paspējis izrauties sievai, kas to visu laiku turēja ciet ― only now did he manage to escape his wife, who kept him under control (lit. captured) all the time
  4. used together with the prefixes aiz- or sa-, to reinforce their meanings
    aizsist grāmatu ciet ― to slam the book shut
    aizvērt acis ciet ― to close one's eyes shut
    saņemt ciet ― to arrest (lit. to take shut, captured)
    sniegi aizvelk ceļu ciet, kā lai tālāk iet? ― the snow had filled, covered the road (lit. pulled the road shut), how are we to proceed now?
    Ozols man zvilnēja blakām, ceļgalus rokām satvēris ciet ― Ozols was sprawling near me, clutching his knees with his hands