# mīksts
## Latvian
### Alternative forms

* (dialectal forms) miksts, mīksns

### Etymology

From the past participle of an old (still dialectally attested) verb mīkt, mīkst (“to become soft”), from Proto-Baltic *mink-, Proto-Balto-Slavic *minˀkas, from Proto-Indo-European *menk-, *mn̥k- (“to knead, to crush”).
The original meaning referred to the final state of things that one kneads or crushes (compare English verb to squash and adjective squashy). Cognates include Lithuanian mìnkštas, Old Church Slavonic мѧкъкъ (mękŭkŭ), Russian мя́гкий (mjáxkij), Belarusian мя́кки (mjákki), Ukrainian м'яки́й (mʺjakýj), Bulgarian мек (mek), Czech měkký, Polish miękki.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [mîːksts]
* Audio:(file)

### Adjective

mīksts (definite mīkstais, comparative mīkstāks, superlative vismīkstākais, adverb mīksti)
* (of objects, substances) soft (relatively easy to bend, split, crush, etc.; made of such materials, substances)
    mīksta mīkla, masa ― soft dough, mass
    mīksta koksne ― softwood
    mīksts metāls ― soft metal
    grāmata mīkstos vākos ― paperback (lit. book in soft cover)
    mīksts zīmulis ― soft pencil (with lead that wears out quickly)
    gumija sasilstot kļūst mīksta ― rubber becomes soft when heated
    mīksta augsne ― soft soil
    mīksts māls, sniegs ― soft clay, snow
    mīksts ceļš ― soft path
    mīkstais arums ― soft plowing
* (of fabric, leather) soft (flexible, not resistant, not strong, not twisted)
    mīksts audums, paklājs, kažoks ― soft fabric, carpet, coat
    mīksta vate, aitāda ― soft sheepskin
    mīksti cimdi ― soft gloves
    mīkstas kurpes ― soft shoes
    mīksts pavediens ― soft (not twisted) thread
* (of furniture, cushions, etc.) soft (not resistant to pressure; pleasant, comfortable)
    mīksts dīvāns, spilvens ― soft sofa, pillow
    mīksts krēsls, matracis ― soft chair, matras
    mīkstas mēbeles ― soft furniture
* (of means of transportation) provided with soft seats or beds
    mīkstais vagons ― soft train car
    mēs braucām naktī ar mīksto autobusu no Debinas ― we traveled at night with the soft bus from Debina
* (of folds in clothes) soft, not sharp
    mīkstas krokas, mīksti krokojumi ― soft folds
* (of events, processes, actions) soft (happening without much resistance)
    gājēju kājas mīksti grimst sniegā ― the feet of the passers-by sink softly in the snow
* (of living tissues, body parts, plants) soft (relatively easy to bend, squeeze)
    mīkstie audi ― soft tissues
    mīksts kauls ― soft bone
    mīkstās aukslējas ― soft palate
    mīksts stublājs, grauds ― soft stem, grain
    mīkstie kvieši ― soft wheat
    mīksta sūna ― soft moss
* (of skin) soft (not hard, not harsh)
    mīksta sejas āda ― soft facial skin
    rokas tev ir gluži mīkstas ― your hands are really soft
* (of hair or feathers, of animals having hair or feathers) soft (really delicate, fine)
    mīksti mati ― soft hair
    mīksts cālēns ― soft chick, poussin
    kucēna mīkstā spalva ― a puppy's soft fur
* (colloquial, of people, body parts) plump, slightly overweight
    konditorejā aiz letes sēdēja un adīja apaļa, mīksta dāma ― in the patisserie behind the counter (there) was a round, soft (= overweight) lady sitting and knitting
* (of food) soft (easy to bite and chew)
    mīksta gaļa, maize ― soft meat, bread
    mīksts siers, ābols ― soft cheese, apple
    mīksta ola ― soft egg (only slightly boiled)
* (of people, their character, will) soft, weak
    mans raksturs vēl nav norūdījies, tas vēl mīksts kā vasks ― my character is not yet seasoned, it is still soft as wax
    priekšsēdētāja vietnieks tomēr izrādījās par mīkstu un neuzņēmīgu radikāliem pasākumiem ― the vice-president, however, turned out to be soft and resistant to radical measures
* (of behavior, actions) soft (relatively moderate, not harsh, forgiving, gentle)
    mīksts sods ― soft penalty, punishment
    atrast mīkstākus vārdus ― to find softer words
* (of sounds) soft, low
    mīksti soļi ― soft steps
    mīksts, sievišķīgs tenors ― soft, feminine tenor
* (of lights) soft, dim, not bright
    plaša un spilgta bija šī aina rietošās saules mīkstajā gaismā ― spacious and bright was this picture in the soft light of the setting sun
* (of weather) mild, soft, pleasant (especially if unusual)
    mīksta ziema ― mild winter
    mīksts vējš ― soft wind
* (of lines, forms, lights) soft, not sharp, not clear, dim
    Anitas ēnas mīkstas līnijas ― the soft lines of Anita's shadow
    mīksta tumsa, krēsla ― soft darkness, twilight
    māksliniekam raksturīgas arī mīkstas, smalkām niansēm bagatās pārejas no tumšā uz gaišo ― typical of (this) artist are also soft transitions from dark to light, full of subtle nuances
* (of water) soft (containing little or no salts, usually of calcium and magnesium)
    vislabāk mazgāt matus mīksta ūdeņi ― it is best to wash one's hair in soft water
* (rare, of sleep) soft, calm (syn. ciešs)
    mīksts miegs nāca šonakt Silmežam ― a soft sleep came tonight to Silmežs

#### Synonyms

* (of sleep): ciešs

#### Antonyms

* (antonym(s) of “of "soft", including "soft water"”): ciets

#### Derived terms

* mīkstums

### References

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