# spēks
## Latvian
### Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *spēkas, from *spē- with a suffix -ko, from Proto-Indo-European *speh₁- (“to develop, to evolve, to increase”). The meaning changed from “(well) developed, big, fat” to “stout, strong”, i.e., for the nominal form, “strength,” “force.” Cognates include Lithuanian spė̃kas, spėkà, Albanian fuqi.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [spæ̀ːks]
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### Noun

spēks m (1st declension)
* (physics) force (physical quantity describing the interaction of bodies whereby they undergo acceleration or deformation)
    Zemes pievilkšanas spēks ― the Earth's attraction force, gravity
    gravitācijas, berzes spēks ― gravitational, attrition force
    centrbēdzes, centrtieces spēks ― centrifugal, centripetal force
    spēka lauks ― force field
    spēka pielikšanas punkts ― force application point
    pielikt spēku ― to apply a force
* (of people, animals) force, strength, power (capacity to carry out (especially physical) actions or motion)
    fiziskais spēks ― physical strength
    taupīt spēku ― to spare, to save strength, power
    uzkrāt spēku ― to accumulate strength, power
    nav spēka piecelties ― (s/he) doesn't have the strength to get up
    izsmelt (visus) spēkus ― to exhaust (all) (one's) forces, strength
    pēdējiem spēkiem sasniegt krastu ― to reach the coast with (one's) last strength
* (of people's behavior) (physical) force, coercion, violence
    viņa ar spēku izrāva Mārim no rokām meitas fotogrāfiju ― she snatched the girl's photograph from Māris' hands by force
    jūs uzvaru redzat tikai spēkā; bet saprāta uzvara, kur tad paliek tā? ― you see only victory in violence; but the victory of reason, where is it then?
* strength, power (of mental processes: mental features that support or strengthen their expression)
    garīgais, morālais spēks ― spiritual, moral strength
    gribas spēks, gribasspēks ― willpower
    iekšējs, dvēseles spēks ― inner, soul strength
    negaidīti aktrise atrada sevī lielu speku, tuvojoties varonības robežai ― unexpectedly, the actress found in herself intense strength, verging on heroism
* (of laws) force (legal validity, power)
    likuma spēks ― force of law, legal force
    būr, palikt, uzturēt spēkā ― to be, to remain, to keep in force
    stāties spēkā ― to come into force
* force, power, strength (capacity or power to influence, to persuade, to make something happen)
    personības spēks ― strength of personality
    ieraduma spēks ― force of habit
    vārda spēks ― the power of the word
    mākslas spēks ― the power of art
    dažādu ar valdībām nesaistīto organizāciju pretkara kustība ieguvusi milzīgu spēku ― various non-governmental organizations' anti-war movement has gained enormous power, strength
* (chiefly in the plural) forces (a group within society, united by a common feature)
    demokrātiskie, revolucinārie spēki ― democratic, revolutionary forces
* (chiefly plural; of professionals, soldier, etc.) forces (people united by a goal, ideal, task)
    teātra jaunie spēki ― new young forces of theater
    mākslinieciskie spēki ― artistic forces
    bruņotie spēki ― armed forces
    karaspēks' ― armed forces, (national) army, troops
    starptautisko spēku samērs ― international balance of forces, power

#### Derived terms

* karaspēks
* spēcīgs, spēcīgums
* spēkonis, spēkone

### References

* ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “spēks”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca‎ (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN