gudrs

From the same stem as the verb gūt (“to gain, to obtain”) (q.v.). From a parallel form gust (< *gud-ti; compare Lithuanian gùsti (“to get accustomed; to teach oneself”), present tense gundù) came *gudras, from which gudrs (the u-stem form of the Lithuanian cognate is apparently secondary). The semantic evolution of this word was probably: “(something) caught, grabbed” > “one who by catching got used to, taught himself something” (at first applied to dogs and other animals) > “intelligent,” or then maybe: “one who catches, grabs” > “resourceful” > “smart, intelligent.” (Note that a 17th-cendury dictionary mentions modrs (“alert, vigilant”) as a synonym of gudrs.) Cognates include Lithuanian gudrùs (“intelligent, resourceful”), dialectal gùdras.^[1]

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gudrs (definite gudrais, comparative gudrāks, superlative visgudrākais, adverb gudri)

1. intelligent, wise (having extensive knowledge, well-developed thinking, rich experience)

   gudrs cilvēks, ārsts ― intelligent person, doctor

   bataljona komandieris - lielisks vīrs, un gudrs: lai kādu jautājumu viņam uzprasi, visu atbildēs, izlasījis veselu bibliotēku ― the battalion commander: a great man, and intelligent: whatever question you asked him, he answered it, he has read a whole library

   vienkāršais cilvēks, visu darbu darītājs, pazīst dabas norises un parādības, darba procesus, pazīst cilvēkus, viņu dzīves daudzveidīgos sakarus un attiecības; tāds cilvēks ir gudrs ― a simple person, who does all the work, knows natural processes and phenomena, (knows) work, knows people, their lives' multifaceted connections and relations; such a person is wise

2. intelligent, wise (expressing such qualities)

   gudrs skatiens ― wise, intelligent look

   gudras acis ― wise eyes

   gudra seja ― intelligent face

   kad viņš noņem cepuri, tad var redzēt, ka piere viņam augsta un gudra ― when he took his hat off, then we could see that his forehead is high and wise

3. smart, clever (one who quickly understands, notices, remembers; astute)

   gudrs skolēns, māceklis ― clever student, apprentice

   māmiņa bija lepna par mums, stāstīja, cik mēs nopietni, gudri un saprātīgi bērni ― mom was proud of us, he told (everybody) how we were serious, clever, intelligent children

4. (of animals) smart, clever (well trained; perceptive)

   gudrs suns, zirgs ― clever dog, horse

   gudri dzīvnieki instinktīvi jūt negaisus cilvēku attiecībās ― clever animals instinctively feel a thunderstorm in human relations (when one is happening)

   gudrais pelēcis laipoja uzmanīgi, it kā zinādams, kas viņam šodien vedams ― the smart gray (horse) maneuvered carefully, as if knowing who he would be taking today

5. (figuratively, of objects) smart, intelligent

   gudrās mašīnas palīdz radīt celtnes, jūras un Visuma kuģus ― the intelligent machines help creat buildings, ships, and spaceships

6. (of mental activities) intelligent, clever, wise (which exemplifies the use of intelligence, wisdom)

   gudra doma ― intelligent, wise thought

   gudrs lēmums ― wise decision

   guddra mīlestība ― wise love

   humānismam jābūt gudram ― humanism must be wise

7. (of activities and their products) intelligent, wise (rich in thoughts, ideas, insights)

   gudra grāmata, runa, lekcija ― intelligent book, talk, lecture

   gudra tautas paruna: “darbs dara meistaru” ― a wise folk saying: “work makes the master”

8. smart, resourceful, cunning (who quickly orients himself in many different circumstances, who can use the circumstances to his favor)

   Pēteris - tas bija gudrs: izmācījās par drēbnieku un apprecēja bagātu sievu ― Pēteris, that was a smart one: he studied to be a tailor and then married a rich wife

9. wise, prudent

   tu biji gudra, mīļā dvēsele, tu gribēji sevi taupīt un sargāt ― you were wise, dear soul, you wanted to save and protect yourself

   bet arī līdzi ņemt zēnu nebija necik gudri, jo mēs varbūt jau pēc dažām stundām dosimies kaujā ― but also to take the boy along was not at all wise, because we may have already been a few hours in the battle (zone)

• (of "wise, rational"): prātīgs, saprātīgs
• (of "understanding quickly"): vērīgs, apdāvināts
• (of "smart, cunning"): viltīgs
• (of "prudent"): apdomīgs

• dumjš
• idiotisks
• muļķīgs
• neprātīgs
• stulbs

• gudrinieks, gudriniece
• gudrība
• gudrot