Latvian

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Etymology

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From Proto-Baltic *agras, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eg-ro-s, from *h₂eg- with -ro “spike, top, beginning.” This stem is apparently a variant of *h₂eḱ- (sharp), whence Ancient Greek ἄκρος (ákros, sharp, pointed), Latin ācer (sharp) (< *h₂ḱrós). If this is true, Latvian agrs would originally have meant “sharp,” from which “fast, quick” and finally “early.” Cognates include Hittite [script needed] (ḫegur, peak, cliff), Sanskrit अग्र (ágra, spike, peak, beginning), Avestan 𐬀𐬔𐬭𐬋 (agrō, first), 𐬀𐬔𐬭𐬆𐬨 (agrəm, beginning).[1]

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [aɡɾs]
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

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agrs (definite agrais, comparative agrāks, superlative visagrākais, adverb agri)

  1. early (relating to the beginning phase of some period of time)
    agrs rītsearly morning
    no agra rīta līdz vēlam vakaramfrom early morning until late night
    agrais feodālismsearly feudalism
    agrā renesanseearly Renaissance
    bija vēl agrs pavasaris, naktī pieturējās sals, un sniegs vēl nebija nokusisit was still early spring, the night was still frosty, and the snow had not yet melted
  2. early (relating to the first morning hours)
    celties agrito get up early
    vēl agrs... saule nav lēkusi, bet debess rīta pamalē sāk jau sārtotstill early... the sun has not risen, but in the morning sky horizon it is already becoming red (= light)
  3. early (relating to the initial periods of a person's life)
    agrā jaunībā uzsākt darba gaitasto start work at an early age (lit. in early youth)
  4. early (which happens before its usual time)
    šogad agrs pavasaristhis year (there is) an early spring
    atnākt par agruto come too early
    jau vakars... no slapjajiem laukiem kāpj gaisā bieza migla... aizklāj debesis un atveļ agru tumsualready evening... from the wet fields a light, thick smog rose... it shielded the sky and allowed an early darkness
  5. early (which happens, appears before others of the same type)
    braukt ar agro vilcienuto travel on an early train
    agri braucējiearly riders, travelers
    agrie dārzeņiearly vegetables
    Priekuļu agrie kartupeļi aizceļojuši arī uz tādiem tāliem rajoniem kā Piejūras novads, Kamčatka...early potatoes from Priekuļi have traveled to such far-away regions as Primorsky Krai or Kamchatka (Peninsula)

Declension

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Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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References

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