Latvian

Noun

virsū m

1. locative singular form of virsus

Adverb

virsū

1. on, onto, above the surface (of an object, often in the dative; the sequence "noun-Dative virsū" often works as if virsū were a postposition governing the dative)

   uzlikt, uzkāpt, uzlēkt, uzkrist kam virsū‎ ― to put, climb, jump, fall on top of something

   sēdēt akmenim virsū‎ ― to sit on top of the stone

   uzlikt jakai virsū mēteli‎ ― to put on a coat on top of the jacket

   burtnīcām virsū bija uzliktas grāmatas‎ ― books were placed on top of notebooks

2. used with various verbs, with meaning similar to that of the prefix uz-, but with imperfective, rather than perfective, aspect

   ģērbt mēteli virsū, uzģērbt mēteli‎ ― to put a coat on

   brukt virsū, uzbrukt‎ ― to attack (someone)

   bāzties virsū, uzbāzties; mākties virsū, uzmākties; plīties virsū, uzplīties‎ ― to thrust, to impose oneself (on someone)

3. used together with the prefix uz-, to reinforce its meaning

   uzdzert ūdeni virsū‎ ― to drink up the water

4. (with verbs of looking) indicates that the subject's gaze is directed straight at the object

   skatīties kādam virsū, skatīties uz kādu, uzskatīties kādu‎ ― to examine someone

   mācītājs cieti skatījās pagasta vecākajam virsū‎ ― the priest looked attentively at the old parishioner

5. (with nākt ‎(“to come”)) to approach gradually, to happen more intensively

   lietus, negaiss, vētra nāk virsū‎ ― rain, heavy rain, a storm is coming

   pavasaris nāk virsū‎ ― spring is coming

   nāk virsū traka nervozitate‎ ― a crazy nervousness is coming, increasing

   reizēm sāpes mocīja tā, ka ģībonis nāca virsū‎ ― sometimes the pain was so torturing that fainting came close (= that he came close to fainting)

Synonyms

• (reinforcing uz- verbs): augšā

Related terms

• virs
• virsma
• virsus