Latvian

Adjective

nikns (def. niknais, comp. niknāks, sup. visniknākais; adv. nikni)

1. (of animals) wild, furious, raging (having a propensity to attack)

   nikns gailis‎ ― wild, angry rooster

   nikns bullis‎ ― wild, raging bull

   nikni suņi klūp man virsū‎ ― wild dogs pounced on me

2. angry, furious, harsh

   ko tu šodien tik nikns? — why are you so angry today?

   nikns sargs‎ ― angry guard, watch

   “tā!” Janko kļuva arvien niknāks‎ ― “that one!” Janko got angrier and angrier

   Rudmetu Vilis ir tik karsts un nikns... lai kur kāds runā, viņš tūdaļ pretī ar savu‎ ― Rudmetu Vilis is so hot and wild... whenever someone talks, he immediately (goes) against him with his (ideas)

3. angry, furious, ferocious

   nikns lauvas rēciens‎ ― ferocious lion's roar

   niknas suņa rejas‎ ― angry dog barks

   nikna atbilde‎ ― angry answer

   nikns protests‎ ― angry, furious protest

   katrs vārds ir pilns niknas spītības‎ ― every word is full of angry spite

4. (figuratively) angry, wild, raging (strong in its effects, dangerous, intense)

   nikna kauja‎ ― wild, raging battle

   nikna apšaude‎ ― furious gunfire

   nikna slimība‎ ― unrelenting disease

   nikns sals‎ ― raging, intense frost

   ārā plosās nikna novembra vētra‎ ― outside a furious november storm was raging

Declension

Antonyms

• lēns

Derived terms

• niknums

References

1. ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “nikns”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7