# brīvs
## Latvian
### Etymology

A borrowing from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German vri, vrie (compare German frei, Dutch vrij), from Proto-Germanic *frija- (“free, not a slave”). The sequence fr was changed to Latvian br. First mentioned in 17th-century dictionaries, brīvs was originally used in the context of German political and administrative power, and referred to more specific German legal concepts (a certain privilege or right, etc.). All other senses were rendered, still in the 18th century, with other words, like svabads (“free”), svabadība (“freedom”), vaļa (“free(dom)”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [brīːws]
* Audio:(file)

### Adjective

brīvs (definite brīvais, comparative brīvāks, superlative visbrīvākais, adverb brīvi)
* free (politically, socially, economically or juridically independent)
    brīvs cilvēks, pilsonis ― free person, citizen
    brīva valsts, tauta ― free country, people
    dzīvot brīvā zemē ― to live in a free land
    brīva dzīve ― free life
* free (not in prison or captivity)
    bet vai es biju cietumā? ne, es biju brīvs! ― but was I in prison? no, I was free!
* free (of, from) (having no obligations or duties, no worries)
    brīvs kā putns kokā ― free as a bird on a tree (i.e., carefree)
    brīvs no aizspriedumiem ― free of prejudice, bias
    viņa vēlējās būt brīva no jebkādām raizēm ― she wanted to be free of all worries
    viņa beidzot patiesi bija jutusies brīva no daudzām drūmām domām ― she finally felt truly free from many gloomy thoughts
* free (not restrained, not regulated, without hindrance, without constraints)
    brīva prese, māksla, izvēle ― free press, art, choice
    brīvas vēlēšanas ― free elections
    brīva tirdzniecība ― free trade
    brīvā tirgus saimniecība ― free market economy
    brīvā konkurence ― free competition
    brīva fantāzija ― free fantasy, imagination
    brīvs kritiens ― free fall
    brīvs tulkojums ― free (i.e., not literal) translation
    brīva dzeja ― free verse (i.e., without metric and rhyme)
* loose, comfortable
    pilnīgiem cilvēkiem apģērbs jāgatavo brīvs ― clothes for full (i.e., overweight) people must be made loose (lit. free)
* free (loose, untied)
    brīvais virves gals ― the free, loose end of the rope
    šīs rokas bija brīvas, nu važās kaltas ― these hands were free, now they are in chains
* free, unconstrained, natural
    brīvas kustības ― free movements
    mākslinieces dejojuma rotaļīgums un grācija, viņas brīvā, nepiespiestā izturēšanās ― the dance artist's playfulness and grace, her free, relaxed demeanor
* free (which does not need to be paid for)
    brīvs uzturs ― free food, eating
    par brīvu ― for free (without pay)
    slidotavā ieeja būs brīva ― in the skating rink entrance will be free
* (of time or space) free, vacant, empty, unoccupied, not in use
    brīva vieta vagonā ― free place in the train car
    brīvs laukums ― free space
    brīvs krēsls ― free chair
    vai šī vieta ir brīva? ― is this place free?
    brīva pēcpusdiena ― free afternoon
    brīvs laiks ― free time
    būšu brīvs pēc pusstundas ― I will be free in half an hour
    nav neviena brīva brīža ― there is no free moment
* (of work positions) free, vacant
    rūpnīcā bija brīva inženiera vieta ― in the factory there is a free position for an engineer
* free (currently not in use, not busy, available)
    brīvi līdzekļi ― free resources, means
    brīva nauda ― free money
* (chemistry) free (not chemically combined with other substances)
    brīvs ūdeņradis, skābeklis ― free hydrogen, oxygen
    brīva forforskābe ― free phosphoric acid

#### Synonyms

* neatkarīgs
* patstāvīgs
* (dated term) svabads

#### Antonyms

* (antonym(s) of “of "loose"”): ciešs

#### Derived terms

* brīvība
* (dated term) brīve
* (dated term) brīvestība

### References

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