Baltic Online

Juozas Tumas (1869-1933), known as Vaizgantas, was a well-known activist of the Catholic wing of the Lithuanian revival; he advocated the ideas of Lithuanian unity on the basis of Catholicism. This Lithuanian prose author, historian, and critic of literature took part in the founding and publication of several newspapers of national and Catholic orientation of that epoch. Almost every new work of a Lithuanian author was the object of his attention as a critic and reviewer. Vaizgantas had very strict requirements of artistry and language. He was more lenient with younger authors, trying to discern their emerging talent; therefore he is sometimes called 'the diamond hunter.' Although Vaizgantas' native Eastern Aukshtaitish dialect differed most of all from all other Lithuanian dialects, he tried to set an example for other people and to speak and write in the standard Lithuanian language, which was beginning to take root. However, in his literary works he did not avoid borrowings if they seemed to him to be more expressive than the Lithuanian words. In addition he used many dialect words and loved to create neologisms.

Vaizgantas' most popular work is his psychological tale Uncles and Aunts (i.e., wives of uncles). In it the author describes the way of life of the Lithuanian village. He reveals the rich and poetic internal world of the simple village man. 'Uncles' is a term denoting not only relatives, but also a person of a certain social class of the end of the XIXth and beginning of the XXth century in Lithuania. Brothers and sisters, recognizing the seniority of the oldest son to run the farm, remained unmarried and worked without recompense on the brother's farm. Their position was intermediate between that of a family member and a hired hand. Such are the basic protagonists of the story, viz. Mykolas and Severija, because of their gracious demeanor and poetic soul called by the diminutives Mykoliukas and Severiute. In the story their drama of love is described with great artistic force. Love for Severiute is the only real ray of light in the life of Mykoliukas, but being passive by nature and lacking will and ambition, he loses his beloved girl and makes peace with his fate. Distinguished by a firmer character and more energetic strength, his neighbor Rapolas Geise is successful in attracting Severija to his side and he marries her. At Severija's wedding Mykoliukas for the last time plays the little violin he has made until its strings break. In this story scenes of nature, which accompany all the experiences of the protagonists, are extremely important.

Reading and Textual Analysis

The selection given below from Uncles and Aunts tells of the meeting between Mykoliukas and Severiute in a blooming meadow near a marsh. Catching sight of the approaching Severiute, Mykoliukas stops pouring out the longing of his love with his home-made violin. They don't need any words to express their feelings. They both come together with the nature that surrounds them and speaks for them. The eloquent silence of their love is interrupted by the sudden, unexpected appearance of Geise.

In the excerpt we encounter the dual number of several pronouns jíemdviem, júodu, abùdu sedinciu and one participle abùdu sedinciu. Here we also encounter some relatively rarely used future gerunds, which form complicated constructions characteristic of the older language and which in modern Lithuanian are replaced by subordinate clauses: pajùto siandie kitaip busiant; nelaúukiama ilisiant. In one subordinate clause the indirect mood is used: kad myli vienas antra. The excerpt is full of adverbs, e.g., artì, staciai, kazìn_kaip, daugiau, etc., reflexive verbs, e.g. emes, nusìjuoke, kecias, nusiraskyti, etc. Of the more rare words worthy of mention are sabasìnis (festive, unhurried'; this is a suffixed derivative from the word sãbas).

Nuõ pàt kálno, lìgi tìk jã isvýdo, Mykoliùkas jã imtè emes i savè, artino sáu Sevèrija, rýdamas erdve, ir kai priejo visái artì, nebenuléido sàvo akiu, tìk didelem didelem, pilnõm bekrãscio dziaugsmo ir pasigerejimo, ziurejo staciai jái i akelès.

• nuõ -- preposition; <nuõ> from -- from
• pàt -- particle; <pàt> very -- very
• kálno -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <kálnas> hill -- hill
• lìgi tìk -- conjunction; <lìgi tik> as soon as -- as soon as
• jã -- pronoun; accusative singular feminine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- her
• isvýdo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <isvýsti, isvýsta, isvýdo> see, witness -- he caught sight of
• Mykoliùkas -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <Mykoliùkas> Mykoliukas -- Mykoliukas
• jã -- pronoun; accusative singular feminine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- her
• imtè -- second infinitive; <imtè> taking -- ...
• emes -- verb; 3rd person preterit reflexive of <imtis, ìmasi, emesi> take -- took (her)
• i -- preposition; <i> at, for, in, to -- into
• savè -- pronoun; accusative of <saves> oneself, itself -- himself
• artino -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <artinti, artina, artino> bring near -- (he) brought near
• sáu -- pronoun; dative of <saves> oneself, itself -- to himself
• Sevèrija -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <Sevèrija> Severija -- Severija
• rýdamas -- verb; singular masculine of half participle of <rýti, ryja, rìjo> devour -- devouring
• erdve -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <erdve> space -- the space
• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• kai -- conjunction; <kai> when -- when
• priejo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <prieiti, prieina, priejo> come, get -- (she) got
• visái -- adverb; <visái> completely, totally -- very
• artì -- adverb; <artì> near -- near
• nebenuléido -- negative particle; <nebe> not any more + verb; 3rd person preterit of <nuléisti, nuléidzia, nuléido> lower -- he did not lower
• sàvo -- pronoun; genitive of <sàvo> he, she -- his
• akiu -- noun; genitive plural feminine of <akìs> eye -- eyes
• tìk -- particle; <tìk> only -- but
• didelem -- adjective; instrumental plural feminine of <dìdelis, dìdele> great, large -- with large (eyes)
• didelem -- adjective; instrumental plural feminine of <dìdelis, dìdele> great, large -- ...
• pilnõm -- adjective; instrumental plural feminine of <pìlnas, pilnà> full -- full
• bekrãscio -- adjective; genitive singular masculine of <bekrãstis, bekrãste> boundless -- limitless
• dziaugsmo -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <dziaugsmas> joy -- of joy
• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• pasigerejimo -- noun; genitive singular masculine reflexive of <pasigerejimas> enjoyment, pleasure -- of pleasure
• ziurejo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <ziureti, ziuri, ziurejo> look -- looked
• staciai -- adverb; <staciai> straight -- straight
• jái -- pronoun; dative singular feminine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- her
• i -- preposition; <i> at, for, in, to -- in
• akelès -- noun; accusative plural feminine of <akeles> eye -- the eyes

Nusìjuoke Mykoliùkas, sustódamas gríezes; nè balsù, tìk kazin kaip sàvo vìduriu.

• nusìjuoke -- verb; 3rd person preterit reflexive of <nusijuõkti, nusijuõkia, nusìjuoke> laugh -- laughed
• Mykoliùkas -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <Mykoliùkas> Mykoliukas -- Mykoliukas
• sustódamas -- verb; singular masculine of half participle of <sustóti, sustója, sustójo> stop -- stopping
• gríezes -- verb; nominative singular masculine of preterit participle active of <gríezti, gríezia, gríeze> play -- playing
• nè -- particle; <nè> no, not -- not
• balsù -- noun; instrumental singular masculine of <balsas> voice -- with voice
• tìk -- particle; <tìk> only -- but
• kazin kaip -- adverb; <kazin kaip> somehow -- somehow
• sàvo -- pronoun; genitive of <sàvo> he, she -- his
• vìduriu -- noun; instrumental singular masculine of <vidurys> inside -- with insides

Ir daugiau nebègrieze.

• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• daugiau -- adverb; comparative of <daug> many, much -- more
• nebègrieze -- negative particle; <nebe> not any more + verb; 3rd person preterit of <gríezti, gríezia, gríeze> play -- (he) did not play

Kám begries, kàd dabar jõ krutìneje, visamè jamè bùvo tokià mùzika, kuriõs jìs nègi isreiks menkù sàvo grieztuveliù...

• kám -- adverb; <kám> why -- why
• begries -- verb; 3rd person future of <begríezti, begríezia, begríeze> play -- will he play
• kàd -- conjunction; <kàd> that -- when
• dabar -- adverb; <dabar> now -- now
• jõ -- pronoun; genitive singular masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- his
• krutìneje -- noun; locative singular feminine of <krutìne> breast -- in the breast
• visamè -- pronoun; locative singular masculine of <vìsas, visà> all -- all (of)
• jamè -- pronoun; locative singular masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- in him
• bùvo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <buti, yrà, bùvo> be -- there was
• tokià -- pronoun; nominative singular feminine of <tóks, tokià> such -- such
• mùzika -- noun; nominative singular feminine of <mùzika> music -- music
• kuriõs -- pronoun; genitive singular feminine of <kurìs, kurì> which, who -- which
• jìs -- pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- he
• nègi -- particle; <nègi> never -- never
• isreiks -- verb; 3rd person future of <isréiksti, isréiskia, isréiske> express -- could express
• menkù -- adjective; instrumental singular masculine of <menkas, menkà> poor -- poor
• sàvo -- pronoun; genitive of <sàvo> he, she -- his
• grieztuveliù -- noun; instrumental singular masculine of <grieztuvelis> instrument -- with the instrument

Sedejo abùdu ir nieko daugiau nebekalbejo.

• sedejo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <sedeti, sedi, sedejo> sit -- sat
• abùdu -- pronoun; nominative dual masculine of <abùdu, abìdvi> both -- both
• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• nieko -- pronoun; genitive singular of <niekas> no one, nobody, nothing -- nothing
• daugiau -- adverb; comparative of <daug> many, much -- more
• nebekalbejo -- negative particle; <nebe> not any more + verb; 3rd person preterit of <kalbeti, kalba, kalbejo> speak -- did not speak

Jíem bùvo gera.

• jíem -- pronoun; dative plural masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- for them
• bùvo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <buti, yrà, bùvo> be -- (it) was
• gera -- adjective; neuter of <geras, gerà> good, well -- nice

Taip gera, kaip pìlnu zíedu prazýdusiems zolýnams.

• taip -- adverb; <taip> so, therefore -- just as
• gera -- adjective; neuter of <geras, gerà> good, well -- (it was) nice
• kaip -- conjunction; <kaip> as, like -- as
• pìlnu -- adjective; instrumental singular masculine of <pìlnas, pilnà> full -- full
• zíedu -- noun; instrumental singular masculine of <zíedas> blossom, flower -- in bloom
• prazýdusiems -- verb; dative plural masculine of preterit participle active of <prazýsti, prazýsta, prazýdo> blossom -- blossoming
• zolýnams -- noun; dative plural masculine of <zolýnas> greenery -- for greenery

Jie tarpsta, kvepia, lapeliai kecias i salìs, ìs sunkùmo lepsta.

• jie -- pronoun; nominative plural masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- they
• tarpsta -- verb; 3rd person present of <tarpti, tarpsta, tarpo> grow luxuriantly -- grow luxuriantly
• kvepia -- verb; 3rd person present of <kvepeti, kvepia, kvepejo> smell good -- smell good
• lapeliai -- noun; nominative plural masculine of <lapelis> leaf -- the leaves
• kecias -- verb; 3rd person present reflexive of <kestis, keciasi, ketesi> spread out -- spread out
• i -- preposition; <i> at, for, in, to -- to
• salìs -- noun; accusative plural feminine of <salìs> side -- the sides
• ìs -- preposition; <ìs> from -- from
• sunkùmo -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <sunkùmas> heaviness, weight -- heaviness
• lepsta -- verb; 3rd person present of <lepti, lepsta, lepo> droop -- droop

Jie grãzina píeva, tráukia i savè bet kuriõ gývio akìs.

• jie -- pronoun; nominative plural masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- they
• grãzina -- verb; 3rd person present of <grãzinti, grãzina, grãzino> adorn -- adorn
• píeva -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <píeva> meadow -- meadow
• tráukia -- verb; 3rd person present of <tráukti, tráukia, tráuke> attract -- attract
• i -- preposition; <i> at, for, in, to -- to
• savè -- pronoun; accusative of <saves> oneself, itself -- themselves
• bet kuriõ -- pronoun; genitive singular masculine of <bet kurìs> any -- any
• gývio -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <gývis> living being -- of living being
• akìs -- noun; accusative plural feminine of <akìs> eye -- the eyes

Ir ne víenas vabzdys neaplenkia ju nepabuciãves, ant ju nepasilsejes.

• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• ne víenas -- pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <ne víenas, ne vienà> not one -- not a single
• vabzdys -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <vabzdys> insect -- insect
• neaplenkia -- negative particle; <ne> not + verb; 3rd person present of <aplenkti, aplenkia, àplenke> pass by -- passes by
• ju -- pronoun; genitive plural masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- them
• nepabuciãves -- negative particle; <ne> not + verb; nominative singular masculine of preterit participle active of <pabuciúoti, pabuciúoja, pabuciãvo> kiss -- not kissing
• ant -- preposition; <ant> in, on -- on
• ju -- pronoun; genitive plural masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- them
• nepasilsejes -- negative particle; <ne> not + verb; nominative singular masculine of preterit participle active of <pasilseti, pasìlsi, pasilsejo> rest -- not resting

Tìk víenas nedõrelis zmogùs tuõj síekia jõ - nusiraskýti ir, pavarcius pavarcius, numèsti, kàd bè laiko nuvýstu, jau ùzmirstas.

• tìk -- particle; <tìk> only -- only
• víenas -- adjective; nominative singular masculine of <víenas, vienà> alone, each -- one
• nedõrelis -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <nedõrelis> dishonorable -- dishonorable
• zmogùs -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <zmogùs> human being, person -- human being
• tuõj -- adverb; <tuõj> immediately -- immediately
• síekia -- verb; 3rd person present of <síekti, síekia, síeke> try to get, reach -- reaches
• jõ -- pronoun; genitive singular masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- for it
• nusiraskýti -- verb; infinitive reflexive of <nusiraskýti, nusirãsko, nusirãske> tear off -- to tear (it) off
• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• pavarcius -- verb; preterit gerund(ive) of <pavartýti, pavarto, pavarte> turn over -- having turned (it) over
• pavarcius -- verb; preterit gerund(ive) of <pavartýti, pavarto, pavarte> turn over -- having turned (it) over
• numèsti -- verb; infinitive of <numèsti, nùmeta, nùmete> throw away -- to throw (it) away
• kàd -- conjunction; <kàd> that -- so that
• bè -- preposition; <bè> before, without -- before
• laiko -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <laikas> time -- (its) time
• nuvýstu -- verb; 3rd person subjunctive of <nuvýsti, nuvýsta, nuvýto> fade -- (it) would fade
• jau -- particle; <jau> already, just -- already
• ùzmirstas -- verb; nominative singular masculine of preterit participle passive of <uzmirsti, uzmirsta, uzmirso> forget -- forgotten

Kã jie galejo víenas antrám pasisakýti?

• kã -- pronoun; accusative of <kàs> which, what -- what
• jie -- pronoun; nominative plural masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- they
• galejo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <galeti, gãli, galejo> can -- could
• víenas -- pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <víenas, vienà> alone, each -- ...
• antrám -- pronoun; dative singular masculine of <antras, antrà> other -- to each other
• pasisakýti -- verb; infinitive reflexive of <pasisakýti, pasisãko, pasisãke> say, tell -- to say

Kàd mýli víenas antra, kàd jíemdviem gera draugejè?

• kàd -- conjunction; <kàd> that -- that
• mýli -- verb; 3rd person present of <myleti, mýli, mylejo> love -- (they) love
• víenas -- pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <víenas, vienà> alone, each -- ...
• antra -- pronoun; accusative singular masculine of <antras, antrà> other -- each other
• kàd -- conjunction; <kàd> that -- that
• jíemdviem -- pronoun; dative dual masculine of <juõdu, jiedvi> they both -- they both
• gera -- adjective; neuter of <geras, gerà> good, well -- (feel) good
• draugejè -- noun; locative singular feminine of <drauge> company -- together

Jùk tai ir bè zõdziu áisku.

• jùk -- particle; <jùk> but -- but
• tai -- pronoun; neuter of <tàs, tà> this, that -- that
• ir -- particle; <ir> and -- even
• bè -- preposition; <bè> before, without -- without
• zõdziu -- noun; genitive plural masculine of <zõdis> word -- words
• áisku -- adjective; neuter of <áiskus, áiski> clear -- (is) clear

Dár pilniau.

• dár -- adverb; <dár> even, still -- even
• pilniau -- adverb; comparative of <pilnai> exhaustively -- more exhaustively

Zõdziai arbà nè vìska tepasãko, arbà per daug pasãko ir atvesìna vìdu.

• zõdziai -- noun; nominative plural masculine of <zõdis> word -- words
• arbà -- conjunction; <arbà> either, or -- either...
• nè -- particle; <nè> no, not -- do not
• vìska -- pronoun; accusative of <vìskas> everything -- everything
• tepasãko -- verb; 3rd person present of <tepasakýti, tepasãko, tepasãke> say, tell -- say
• arbà -- conjunction; <arbà> either, or -- or
• per daug -- adverb; <per daug> too much -- too much
• pasãko -- verb; 3rd person present of <pasakýti, pasãko, pasãke> say, tell -- (they) say
• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• atvesìna -- verb; 3rd person present of <atvesìnti, atvesìna, atvesìno> cool off -- cool off
• vìdu -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <vidùs> inside -- the insides

Zõdziai - gãras: issisnypscia ir nebèkecia vidaus.

• zõdziai -- noun; nominative plural masculine of <zõdis> word -- words
• gãras -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <gãras> steam -- (are) steam
• issisnypscia -- verb; 3rd person present reflexive of <issisnypsti, issisnypscia, issìsnypste> hiss -- (they) are hissed out
• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• nebèkecia -- negative particle; <nebe> not any more + verb; 3rd person present of <kesti, kecia, kete> reach -- don't reach
• vidaus -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <vidùs> inside -- the insides

Abùdu sedinciu staigà pamãte ìs raisto issinerusi ju sventvakariu bendra, del kuriõ jíemdviem siaipjau bùvo nei silta, nei sálta.

• abùdu -- pronoun; nominative dual masculine of <abùdu, abìdvi> both -- they both
• sedinciu -- verb; nominative dual masculine of present participle active of <sedeti, sedi, sedejo> sit -- while were sitting
• staigà -- adverb; <staigà> suddenly -- suddenly
• pamãte -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <pamatýti, pamãto, pamãte> see -- saw
• ìs -- preposition; <ìs> from -- from
• raisto -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <raistas> marsh -- the marsh
• issinerusi -- verb; accusative singular masculine of preterit participle active of <issinérti, issìneria, issinere> come out, arise -- arising
• ju -- pronoun; genitive plural masculine <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- their
• sventvakariu -- noun; genitive plural masculine of <sventvakaris> holiday evening -- of the holiday evenings
• bendra -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <bendras> friend, participant -- a participant
• del -- preposition; <del> because, for -- because of
• kuriõ -- pronoun; genitive singular masculine of <kurìs, kurì> which, who -- whom
• jíemdviem -- pronoun; dative dual masculine of <jiedu, jiedvi> they both -- they both
• siaipjau -- adverb; <siaipjau> in general, on the whole -- on the whole
• bùvo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <buti, yrà, bùvo> be -- were
• nei -- conjunction; <nei> neither, nor -- neither
• silta -- adjective; neuter of <siltas, siltà> warm -- warm
• nei -- conjunction; <nei> neither, nor -- nor
• sálta -- adjective; neuter of <sáltas, saltà> cold -- cold

Pasérgejo ir pagreitinta jõ zingsni, nè tóki sabasìni kaip kitomìs póilsio dienomìs.

• pasérgejo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <pasérgeti, pasérgi, pasérgejo> watch, notice -- (they) watched
• ir -- particle; <ir> and -- also
• pagreitinta -- verb; accusative singular masculine of preterit participle passive of <pagreitinti, pagreitina, pagreitino> accelerate -- accelerated
• jõ -- pronoun; genitive singular masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- his
• zingsni -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <zingsnis> step, pace -- pace
• nè -- particle; <nè> no, not -- (which was) not
• tóki -- pronoun; accusative singular masculine of <tóks, tokià> such -- so
• sabasìni -- adjective; accusative singular masculine <sabasìnis, sabasìne> festive -- festive
• kaip -- conjunction; <kaip> as, like -- as
• kitomìs -- pronoun; instrumental plural feminine of <kìtas, kità> other -- on other
• póilsio -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <póilsis> rest -- of rest
• dienomìs -- noun; instrumental plural feminine of <dienà> day -- days

Pasérgeje zingsniúojant tiesiai i juõdu, pajùto siandie kitaip busiant, neláukiama ilisiant i tã óra, kuri tìk ka bùvo susidãre pãtys sáu, sáu vieníem, kuriõ pavydù bùvo, kàd kitì kvepúotu; ilis ir sudrums uzkereta ju méiles srìti.

• pasérgeje -- verb; nominative plural masculine of preterit participle active of <pasérgeti, pasérgi, pasérgejo> watch, notice -- watching
• zingsniúojant -- verb; present gerund(ive) of <zingsniúoti, zingsniúoja, zingsniãvo> walk, pace -- (him) walking
• tiesiai -- adverb; <tiesiai> directly -- directly
• i -- preposition; <i> at, for, in, to -- to
• juõdu -- pronoun; nominative dual masculine of <juõdu, jiedvi> they both -- them both
• pajùto -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <pajùsti, pajunta, pajùto> feel -- (they) felt
• siandie -- adverb; <siandie> today -- today
• kitaip -- adverb; <kitaip> differently -- differently
• busiant -- verb; future gerund(ive) of <buti, yrà, bùvo> be -- would be
• neláukiama -- negative particle; <ne> not + verb; accusative singular masculine of present participle passive of <láukti, láukia, láuke> expect, wait -- (him) unexpected
• ilisiant -- verb; future gerund(ive) of <ilisti, ilenda, ilindo> get in -- would get in
• i -- preposition; <i> at, for, in, to -- in
• tã -- pronoun; accusative singular masculine of <tàs, tà> this, that -- that
• óra -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <óras> atmosphere -- atmosphere
• kuri -- pronoun; accusative singular masculine of <kurìs, kurì> which, who -- which
• tìk ka -- adverb; <tìk ka> just, just now -- just
• bùvo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <buti, yrà, bùvo> be -- had
• susidãre -- verb; nominative plural masculine of preterit participle active reflexive of <susidarýti, susidãro, susidãre> create -- created
• pãtys -- pronoun; nominative plural masculine of <pàts, patì> themselves -- (they) themselves
• sáu -- pronoun; dative of <saves> oneself, itself -- for themselves
• sáu -- pronoun; dative of <saves> oneself, itself -- for themselves
• vieníem -- adjective; dative plural masculine of <víenas, vienà> alone, each -- alone
• kuriõ -- pronoun; genitive singular masculine of <kurìs, kurì> which, who -- of which
• pavydù -- adjective; neuter of <pavydùs, pavydì> jealous -- jealous
• bùvo -- verb; 3rd person preterit of <buti, yrà, bùvo> be -- (they) were
• kàd -- conjunction; <kàd> that -- that
• kitì -- pronoun; nominative plural masculine of <kìtas, kità> other -- other
• kvepúotu -- verb; 3rd person subjunctive of <kvepúoti, kvepúoja, kvepãvo> breathe -- would breathe (it)
• ilis -- verb; 3rd person future of <ilisti, ilenda, ilindo> get in -- (he) will get in
• ir -- conjunction; <ir> and -- and
• sudrums -- verb; 3rd person future of <sudrumsti, sudrumscia, sùdrumste> disturb -- will disturb
• uzkereta -- verb; accusative singular feminine of preterit participle passive of <uzkereti, ùzkeri, uzkerejo> charmed -- charmed
• ju -- pronoun; genitive plural masculine of <jìs, jì> he, she, it -- their
• méiles -- noun; genitive singular feminine of <méile> love -- of love
• srìti -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <sritìs> field, area -- the area

Lesson Text

Nuõ pàt kálno, lìgi tìk jã isvýdo, Mykoliùkas jã imtè emes i savè, artino sáu Sevèrija, rýdamas erdve, ir kai priejo visái artì, nebenuléido sàvo akiu, tìk didelem didelem, pilnõm bekrãscio dziaugsmo ir pasigerejimo, ziurejo staciai jái i akelès.

Nusìjuoke Mykoliùkas, sustódamas gríezes; nè balsù, tìk kazin kaip sàvo vìduriu. Ir daugiau nebègrieze. Kám begries, kàd dabar jõ krutìneje, visamè jamè bùvo tokià mùzika, kuriõs jìs nègi isreiks menkù sàvo grieztuveliù...

Sedejo abùdu ir nieko daugiau nebekalbejo. Jíem bùvo gera. Taip gera, kaip pìlnu zíedu prazýdusiems zolýnams. Jie tarpsta, kvepia, lapeliai kecias i salìs, ìs sunkùmo lepsta. Jie grãzina píeva, tráukia i savè bet kuriõ gývio akìs. Ir ne víenas vabzdys neaplenkia ju nepabuciãves, ant ju nepasilsejes. Tìk víenas nedõrelis zmogùs tuõj síekia jõ - nusiraskýti ir, pavarcius pavarcius, numèsti, kàd bè laiko nuvýstu, jau ùzmirstas.

Kã jie galejo víenas antrám pasisakýti? Kàd mýli víenas antra, kàd jíemdviem gera draugejè? Jùk tai ir bè zõdziu áisku. Dár pilniau. Zõdziai arbà nè vìska tepasãko, arbà per daug pasãko ir atvesìna vìdu. Zõdziai - gãras: issisnypscia ir nebèkecia vidaus.

Abùdu sedinciu staigà pamãte ìs raisto issinerusi ju sventvakariu bendra, del kuriõ jíemdviem siaipjau bùvo nei silta, nei sálta. Pasérgejo ir pagreitinta jõ zingsni, nè tóki sabasìni kaip kitomìs póilsio dienomìs. Pasérgeje zingsniúojant tiesiai i juõdu, pajùto siandie kitaip busiant, neláukiama ilisiant i tã óra, kuri tìk ka bùvo susidãre pãtys sáu, sáu vieníem, kuriõ pavydù bùvo, kàd kitì kvepúotu; ilis ir sudrums uzkereta ju méiles srìti.

Translation

From that very hill, as soon as he caught sight of her, he took her into himself, he brought Severija near to himself, eagerly devouring the space and when she got very near, he no longer lowered his gaze, but with great eyes full of limitless joy and pleasure looked her straight in the eyes.

Stopping his playing Mykoliukas laughed, not with his voice, but somehow or other with his insides. And played no more. Why would he play, when now in his breast, in all of him, there was such music, which he could never express with his insignificant little instrument.

They both sat and said nothing more. It was nice for both of them. It was just as nice as for blossoming greenery in full bloom. They grow luxuriantly, they smell good, the leaves spread out to the sides, grow limp from heaviness. They adorn the meadow and attract to themselves the eyes of any living thing. And not a single insect passes them by without kissing (them) and without resting on them. Only the human being (dishonorable as he is known to be) reaches for it immediately - to tear it off for himself and having turned it over, to throw it away so that it would fade before its time, already forgotten.

What could they say to each other? That they love each other, that they like being together? But that is clear without words. Or even more. Words either don't say everything or they say too much and make the insides cold. Words are steam. They make a noise, but they don't reach the insides.

While both of them were sitting there, they saw arising from the marsh a participant in the holiday evenings someone about whom both were indifferent. They watched his accelerated pace, which was not so festive and unhurried as on other days of rest. Watching him walking directly to them, they felt that today would be different, unexpectedly forcing its way into that atmosphere which they had just created for themselves only, the two of them alone, of which they were jealous, that other people might breathe it. It will force its way in and disturb the charmed dimension of their love.

Grammar

21. Numerals

21.1. The Ordinal Numerals

Ordinal numerals are mostly derived from the corresponding cardinal numerals by adding the suffix -tas,-ta. The formation of pìrmas 'first', antras 'second' and trecias 'third' differs from that of other ordinal numerals. These numerals denote place in a series. They are declined like regular adjectives (cf: pìktas, piktà 'angry') and agree with the word they modify in case, number and gender. The following ordinal numerals are used most frequently:

Ordinal numerals possess definite forms which are similar to the adjectives of the first declension (cf: naujas 'new', naujà), e.g., pirmàsis 'the first', pirmóji; antràsis 'the second', antróji; treciàsis 'the third', trecióji, etc.:

• Paulius bùvo treciàsis vaikas màno brólio seimojè
• 'Paulius was the third child in my brother's family'.
• Rytój Violetà svencia sàvo sesióliktaji gimtãdieni
• 'Tomorrow Violeta is celebrating her sixteenth birthday'.

Definite ordinal numerals are used to designate dates, e.g.:

• Tai ivyko tukstantis penkì simtai keturiasdesimt septintaisiais
• 'That happened in one thousand five hundred and forty-seven'.

In a compound ordinal number only the final element has the form of an ordinal numeral and is declined. The other elements remain in the nominative case, e.g.:

They also have a neuter form, e.g., pìrmas 'first': pìrma; antras 'second': antra; penktas 'fifth': penkta, etc.:

Pìrma, butina atsikélti astunta vãlanda rýto; antra, paskambinti i aeroúosta; trecia, susikráuti lagamìna... 'First, it is necessary to get up at eight in the morning; second, to call the airport; third, to pack the suitcase...'

21.2. Fractions

In mathematics such forms as vienà antróji 'one-half', dvì treciosios 'two-thirds', trys penktosios 'three fifths' are used. The numerator is a feminine cardinal number and the denominator is a feminine ordinal number in the definite form. The denominator always agrees with dalìs 'part' in gender, although the word dalìs does not appear in any fraction. When the numerator is a numeral from 1 to 9 the denominator agrees with the numerator in gender, number and case, e.g., Padalìnk ìs dvieju treciuju 'Divide by two-thirds'. When the numerator is any other numeral (except from 1 to 9), the denominator is always in the genitive plural, e.g., Vienúolikos dvidesimtuju neimãnoma suprãstinti 'It is impossible to simplify eleven-twentieths'.

Parts of things are most often indicated by compound numerals. Their first component is the root of an ordinal numeral, and the second component is the noun dalìs 'part'. They are listed below:

trecdalis 'one third': trecdalis pasáulio 'one-third of the world'; ketvirtãdalis 'one fourth': ketvirtãdalis valandõs 'one-fourth of an hour'; penktãdalis 'one fifth': penktãdalis studentu 'one-fifth of the students'; sestãdalis 'one sixth': sestãdalis augalu 'one-sixth of the plants'; septintãdalis 'one seventh': septintãdalis ligóniu 'one-seventh of the patients'; astuntãdalis 'one eighth': astuntãdalis gãtviu 'one-eighth of the streets'; devintãdalis 'one ninth': devintãdalis Euròpos 'one-ninth of Europe'; desimtãdalis 'one tenth': desimtãdalis paskolõs 'one-tenth of a loan'.

All these numerals are declined like the nouns of the first declension (cf: brólis). Fractions vienà antróji 'one-half' and vienà ketvirtóji are often replaced by the feminine noun pùse 'half' and the masculine noun ketvirtis 'quarter' respectively, e.g.:

• Láukiau taves pùse valandõs 'I was waiting for you a half an hour'.
• Mes prarãdome ketvirti milijõno 'We have lost a quarter of a million'.

There is a group of numerals the first component of which is the root of the noun pùse 'half' and the second component of which is an ordinal numeral in the genitive, e.g.:

• Zadù nusipirkti pustreciõs tònos kvieciu 'I intend to buy two and a half tons of wheat'.
• Kur tù buvai pusantrõs saváites? 'Where were you for a week and a half?'

22. Reflexive Verbs and Verbal Prefixes

22.1. The Reflexive Verbs

The reflexive verbs in Lithuanian can be divided into two groups: simple reflexive verbs where the reflexive particle -si or -s is added at the end and compound reflexive verbs where the reflexive particle -si is inserted between the prefix and the verb proper. To this group also belong all reflexive verbs in their negative forms. The negative particle ne is treated in such cases as a prefix, e.g., jis kartójasi 'he repeats himself', jìs nesikartója 'he does not repeat himself'. In the latter group, the conjugation of the basic verb does not change at all, only the -si- is inserted.

It is a little more difficult to learn the simple reflexive verbs. Certain changes occur both in the endings of these verbs and the reflexive particle -si:

In present and future the first person singular endings -u and -iu are replaced by -uo- and -iuo- respectively and the second person singular ending -i is replaced by -ie-. In the first and second plural, instead of -si, only -s is added, and the short final -e of these forms is replaced by -e. The third person future has the shortened variant of the reflexive particle. Also there is an -i- inserted after the consonant s. In the imperative the longer suffix -ki is retained.

The stress pattern is the same as in the non-reflexive verbs.

The reflexive particle may change the verbal meaning in a variety of ways, cf:

• Vakarè ismáudziau vaikùs, po to issimaudziau pats 'In the evening I bathed the children, later I took a bath myself'.
• Vìskas pasìkeite jíems cia apsigyvenus. Butè jie pàkeite visùs senùs baldùs 'Everything changed when they moved here. They changed all the old furniture in the apartment'.
• Jám visadà sunkù valdýti sàvo emòcijas, taciau vãkar jìs vis delto pàjege susivalýti 'It is always difficult for him to control his emotions, but yesterday he was nevertheless able to control himself'.
• Cià jìs saukia gýdytoja, cià saukiasi Dievo malónes Sometimes he calls for a doctor, sometimes he cries for the grace of God'.

A number of reflexive verbs are unrelated to any underlying verb (reflexiva tantum), e.g., elgtis 'to behave', juõktis 'to laugh', didziúotis 'to be proud of', pasiìlgti 'to miss', drovetis 'to be shy', teiráutis 'to inquire', etc.

22.2. Verbal Prefixes

The system of word formation with verbal prefixes is highly developed in Lithuanian. Prefixes may change or modify the meaning of the verb. The addition of a prefix usually renders the verb perfective.

The most common prefixes in Lithuanian are the following: ap- (api-), at-, (ati-), i-, is-, nu-, pa-, par-, per-, pra-, pri-, su-, uz-. Several examples of common prefixes with a few of the ordinary meanings are given below.

at- (ati-) may denote:

• arrival, coming to a certain place, e.g., atvaziúoti 'to come', atnèsti 'to bring';
• separation or division or removal, e.g., atkirsti 'to cut off', atskìrti 'to separate', 'to detach';
• return to an original position, e.g., atáugti 'to grow back', 'to grow again', atgìmti 'to be reborn', 'to be revived';
• the completion of an action, e.g., atpìgti 'to become cheap', to fall in price', atbùkti 'to become blunt'.

i- may denote:

• motion into a place or an object, e.g., iskrìsti 'fly in'; inèsti 'bring in, carry in';
• the beginning of an action which is carried out only to a slight degree, e.g., ikirpti 'to cut a little bit', 'to cut into something', itrukti 'get slightly broken';
• completion of an action, e.g., itìkinti 'to persuade', ivýkdyti 'to carry out, to complete';
• it also may be used with verbs formed from nouns or adjectives, e.g., iámzinti 'to immortalize' (cf: ámzinas 'eternal'), ipareigóti 'to oblige', 'to bind' (cf: pareigà 'duty', 'obligation').

is- may denote:

• motion out of something, e.g., isskrìsti 'to fly out', isnèsti 'to carry out', 'to take out';
• the action covering the entire area or whole series of objects, e.g., isbarstýti 'spill', 'to scatter', iszudýti 'to exterminate';
• an action lasting for a certain length of time, e.g., isláukti 'to wait for a certain length of time', isbuti 'to stay', 'to remain for a certain length of time';
• completion or fulfilment of an action, e.g., islõsti 'to win', isskalbti 'to wash', 'to launder'.

nu- may denote:

• motion away from something or some place, e.g., nuvaziúoti 'to go to (away)', 'to depart to', nubegti 'to run away';
• motion downwards, e.g., nukrìsti 'fall down', 'fall off', nusókti 'to jump down';
• severance from the main part of an object, e.g., nulíeti 'to pour off', nupjáuti 'to cut off';
• completion of an action to the very end, e.g., nuskandìnti 'to drown', 'to sink'.

pa- may denote:

• the complection of an action, e.g., pasakýti 'to say', 'to tell', pastatýti 'to build', 'to construct';
• a short duration of an action, e.g., paskalbti 'to wash for a little while', panèsti 'to carry for a little bit';
• that something is put under something else, e.g., padeti 'to put under', 'to lay under', palisti 'to creep under';
• the ability or capacity to perform a certain action, e.g., pastùmti 'to be able to push' panèsti 'to be able to carry'.

per- may denote:

• motion across or through something, e.g., pérnesti 'to carry across', pérlisti 'creep through', 'to get through';
• separation or division, e.g., pérpjauti 'to cut into two', pérlauzti 'to break into two';
• the repetition or the renewal of an action, e.g., pérskaiciuoti 'to count again' pérskalbti 'to wash again';
• exceeding of the norm or going beyond a certain limit, e.g., pérmoketi 'to overpay' pérsidirbti 'to overwork'.

pra- may denote:

• movement by or past some place, e.g., praskrìsti 'to fly by', 'to fly past', pravaziúoti 'to drive past', 'to ride past';
• movement through something or some place, e.g., praláuzti 'to break through', prapjáuti 'to cut through';
• disappearance, loss or lack of something, e.g., pradingti 'to disappear', praválgyti 'to eat away (one's money);
• the passage of a certain length of time in some activity, e.g., praláukti 'to spend a certain time waiting for', pragalvóti 'to think for a certain length of time'.

su- may denote:

• gathering together or a coming-together, e.g., sunèsti 'to bring together', suvaziúoti 'to come together';
• dissection or division into parts, e.g., suláuzyti 'to break into parts', sutrùpinti 'to crumble';
• the attainment of the goal or the aim, e.g., suràsti 'to find' (what one has lost)', susèkti 'to trace down, to find out'.

uz- may denote:

• the direction up, e.g., uznèsti 'to carry up', to bring up', uzlìpti 'to climb up', 'to mount', 'to ascend';
• that something is put on something else, e.g., uzdengti 'to cover', uzpìlti 'to strew on', 'to fill up', 'to cover with';
• putting something behind something else or going behind something, e.g., uzstatýti 'to place behind', uztámsinti 'to shade';
• the completion of an action, e.g., uzmoketi 'to pay', uzkùrti 'to light up', 'to set fire to'.

Many verbal prefixes modify the meaning of the verb or show a distinct direction, e.g., mèsti 'to throw', 'to hurl', ' to chuck', apmesti 'to throw with', 'to cover with', atmèsti 'to throw off', 'to cast away', imèsti 'to throw in', 'to cast in' ismèsti 'to throw out', numèsti 'to throw down', 'to fling down', 'to drop', , 'to throw off', 'to cast off', 'to throw far away', 'to cast far away', pamèsti 'to throw under', ' to throw a little', 'to toss a little', parmèsti 'to throw down', 'to bring down', pérmesti 'to throw over', 'to throw across', pramèsti 'to throw past', 'to miss in throwing' primesti 'to throw (full, a quantity of)', 'to heap up', 'to cast (full, a quantity of)', 'to heap up', 'to fill', 'to throw about', sumèsti 'to throw into', 'to throw together' 'to pile', 'to heap', uzmèsti 'to throw on', 'to throw over', 'to fling on', 'to throw behind'.

But in some few cases the prefix can change the real verbal meaning or give to the verb an opposite meaning dúoti 'to give', pardúoti 'to sell', laimeti 'to win', pralaimeti 'to lose', prìmesti 'to press on', 'to thrust on', 'to impute to', sumèsti 'to understand', count up', etc.

Some verbs may have practically the same meaning with either of two prefixes, e.g., isnykti, pranykti 'to disappear', isgýti, pagýti 'to recover', 'to get better', etc. The prefix does not give a new meaning to some verbs and therefore the verb means practically the same thing with or without the prefix, e.g., baigti, pabaigti, uzbaigti 'to finish' grizti, sugrizti 'to return', etc.

The correct usage of prefixes may cause a major problem for foreign learners.

In the clause prefixes correlate with corresponding prepositions: ap- and apie 'about','off'; i- and i 'in', 'into', 'to'; is- and ìs 'from', 'out of'; nu- and nuõ 'from', 'off', 'down'; pa- and põ 'in', 'about', etc.; per- and per 'through', 'across', etc.; pra- and prõ 'through', 'by'; pri- and prie 'at', 'by', etc.; su- and sù 'with'; uz- and ùz 'behind', 'beyond', e.g.:

• Jie isvaziãvo ìs namu ankstì rýta 'They left their home early in the morning'.
• Vidùrdieni mes pérsikelem per ùpe 'At midday we crossed the river'.
• Automobìlis nuslydo nuõ kelio 'The car slid off the road'.

23. The Passive and Reflexive Participles

23.1. The Passive Participles

In Lithuanian the present passive participle and the past passive participle are more common than the future passive participle which is relatively rare. The forms of the so-called 'participles of necessity' are also passive. The present and past passive participles may be used either to form the passive voice of various tenses or they may be used attributively like adjectives.

The Present Passive Participle.

The present passive participle is formed by adding the endings -mas, -ma to the third person present of the finite verbs, e.g.:

The declension of the present passive participle is given below (cf: the adjectives pìktas, piktà 'angry'):

The definite forms of the present passive participles can frequently be used as nouns, e.g.:

• Válgomasis bùvo pìlnas zmoniu 'The dining-room was full of people'.
• Nepazistamóji pasisiule padeti 'The stranger offered her help'.

Other definite participles (active and passive) may also be used in nominal positions, e.g.:

• Láukiantieji prie dùru ìma nerimáuti 'The people waiting at the door start to worry'.
• Kalbejusieji staigà nutìlo ir suklùso 'The people who were speaking suddenly hushed and pricked up their ears'.
• Kviestíeji neatvyko 'The invitees did not come'.

The Past Passive Participle.

The past passive participle is formed by removing the infinitive ending -ti and adding the -tas, -ta, e.g.:

• masc.nom.sg.: myle-ti 'to love' + -tas = myletas 'loved, having been loved';
• fem.nom.sg.: myle-ti 'to love' + -ta = myleta 'loved, having been loved'.

The paradigm is as follows:

The Future Passive Participle.

The future passive participle is formed by adding the endings -mas, -ma to the second person singular of the future tense, e.g.:

Except for the participle busimas, busimà, future passive participles are rarely used. Future passive participles are declined like present passive participles:

• Às vìs atideliójau tã sàvo busima susitikìma
• 'I kept putting off my forthcoming meeting'.

The Participle of Necessity.

The participle of necessity is formed by adding the endings -nas, -na to the verbal infinitive, e.g.:

The participle of necessity denotes an action which should be performed or is worthy of being performed, e.g.:

• Sìs atmintinas susitikìmas ivyko pries penkerius metùs 'This memorable meeting took