Latvian

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Pertaining to Latvia, its people, language, or culture; a member of the Baltic ethnic group native to Latvia; the Indo-European language spoken primarily in Latvia
2. Relating to the Baltic nation of Latvia and its inhabitants; describing the ethnic group originating from this region; the language primarily used in that geographic area
3. Associated with Latvia as a country, its population, and their traditions; denoting the Baltic ethnic identity; the official language spoken by a majority in Latvia

Etymology: The word is a simple formation: "Latvia" with the suffix "-n" added, giving "Latvian" as an adjective for things belonging to Latvia and, as a noun, for its people and language. The suffix is an old English one, found in older words such as "Roman" and "Parisian," and it marks a person or thing connected with a place. The name "Latvia" itself comes from the Latvian "Latvija," which is the form the country uses for itself. English took the place name in its modern shape and then attached the suffix, so "Latvian" follows the same pattern as other national adjectives built on place names.

Synonyms: lettish