Būti ar nebūti „žingeidžiam“

Bendrinė kalba / Standard Language 2025, Nr. 98, p. 1–16 Turinio nuoroda / Contents link ISSN 2351-7204 (elektroninis / online) TO BE OR NOT TO BE CURIOUS Žingeidus – To Be Or Not To Be DAIVA MURMULAITYTĖ Institute of the Lithuanian Language Email: [email protected] ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3826-7272 Research areas: word formation, lexicography, lexicology. https://doi.org/10.35321/bkalba.2025.98.07 ABSTRACT The article discusses whether the adjective žingeidus, -i and its derivatives conform to the norms of Standard Lithuanian. This word, which appeared in the 19th century, has been corrected for more than 120 years on grounds of origin, morphology, and semantics, and is considered a calque from German, Polish, or Russian that does not conform to Lithuanian word-formation rules. Nevertheless, žingeidus, -i remains in use and has a considerable family of related words. Its nonstandard status is often disputed, chiefly on the grounds that the proposed substitute smalsus, -i does not have the same meaning. Įvertinus būdvardžio žingeidus, -i morfologiją, darybą ir semantiką, sinoniminius santykius, apžvelgus norminimo istoriją ir taisymo motyvus, patyrinėjus dabartinę ne tik paties būdvardžio, bet ir su juo darybiškai susijusių žodžių vartoseną, aiškėja, kad priežasčių įsileisti jį į norminę kalbą pakaktų. Tada žingeidus, -i bei dažniausiai vartojami jo vediniai žingeidžiai, žingeidumas turėtų atsirasti ir norminamajame Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyne. Šių žodžių žodyniniuose straipsniuose turėtų atsispindėti jų semantinis santykis su būdvardžiu smalsus, -i ir pastarojo vediniais, jų reikšmės ir vartosenos skirtumai. KEYWORDS: žingeidus, standard language norms, calque, loan translation, word formation, semantics. ABSTRACT The article discusses the adjective žingeidus and its derivatives in relation to the norms of standard Lithuanian. This word, which appeared in the 19th century, has been corrected for more than 120 years due to its origin, morphology, and semantics. It is considered a non-standard calque from German, Polish, or Russian that does not comply with Lithuanian word formation rules. Nevertheless, žingeidus is still in use and has a considerable number of cognates. Its non-standard nature is often disputed because the proposed replacement, smalsus, does not have the same meaning. After evaluating the morphology, derivation, semantics, and synonymic relationships of the adjective žingeidus, reviewing the history of its codification and the reasons for its correction, and examining the current usage of not only the adjective itself but also its derivatives, it becomes clear that there are sufficient reasons to include it in the standard language. Then, žingeidus and its most commonly used derivatives žingeidžiai and žingeidumas should also appear in the Dictionary of the Standard Lithuanian Language. The dictionary entries for these words should reflect their semantic relationship with the adjective smalsus and its derivatives, as well as the differences in their meanings and usage. KEYWORDS: žingeidus ‘inquisitive, curious’, standard language norms, calque, word formation, semantics. Copyright © 2025 Daiva Murmulaitytė. Published by the Institute of the Lithuanian Language. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. // Published by the Institute of the Lithuanian Language. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction of the content in any medium, provided that the author and source are credited. Received: / Received: 2025-09-09. Accepted: / Accepted: 2025-10-03. 1 INTRODUCTION In the Consultations Bank of the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language (VLKK), the response to the question of whether the word žingeidus may be used reads: “The word žingeidus, -i is not included in the Dictionary of Standard Lithuanian and the Dictionary of Contemporary Lithuanian (in the 6th edition of the Dictionary of Contemporary Lithuanian, the word žingeidus, -i was assessed as inadmissible, formed on the model of other languages, cf. German neugierig, Russian любопытный). When one wishes to describe a person who takes an interest in everything and wants to know everything, standard Lithuanian may use smalsus, -i or the phrase siekiantis (-i) žinių (‘seeking knowledge’). The adjective domus, -i may be used in the sense ‘inclined to take an interest’; mąslus, -i in the sense ‘inclined to think, to reflect’.”1 Thus, the adjective žingeidus, -i is absent from the principal prescriptive lexicographic sources2. This indicates that the adjective is not recommended for standard language, since contemporary prescriptive dictionaries (BLKŽ, DLKŽ₇, DLKŽ₈) do not include words deemed inadmissible or to be avoided (cf. earlier editions of DLKŽ, which included such words marked ntk. (= inadmissible))3. They are not included among headwords, defined, or illustrated with usage examples, irrespective of whether they meet the criterion of frequency of use. Frequent usage cannot be a reason for a word to become standard if it fails to meet the requirements for standard vocabulary—for example, if it is incorrectly formed, improperly translated, or the like.4 “Nevertheless, some calques that have become established in usage for various reasons, although considered or formerly considered nonstandard, continue to provoke debate about their status. It is argued that their formation <...> can be explained by Lithuanian word-formation rules, or their semantics by the system of meanings of Lithuanian words (for example, <...> the adjective žingeidus, -i)” (Miliūnaitė 2022: 160). Indeed, the public periodically stirs with incomprehension or indignation about why this word is not accepted into standard language. Writer Kristina Sabaliauskaitė misses it on almost every occasion, writing in 2019: “I have never considered many of the ‘major language errors’ and ‘inadmissible words’ to be errors, but simply living language—writers and people decide for themselves when and where to use it. That is why I will use the word ‘žingeidus’ as much as I like, because it is very beautiful to me and opens Vytautas Mačernis’s excellent poem ‘Distancijos” 1 https://vlkk.lt/konsultacijos/3948-zingeidus; accessed 2025-08-04. 2 At the time of writing this article, the Dictionary of Standard Lithuanian is not yet complete, so for now it does not contain all the vocabulary intended for inclusion. However, words beginning with the letter ž have already been published, and žingeidus, -i is not among them. 3 Pirmajame DLKŽ leidime (1954) būdvardžio žingeidus, -i straipsnio apskritai nėra. Antrajame leidime (1972) šis žodis pateikiamas nurodytas į smalsus (atkreiptinas dėmesys, kad pastarasis DLKŽ₂ turi dvi reikšmes, antrąja leksema apibūdinamas smaguris). Trečiajame leidime žingeidus, -i turi pažymą ntk. ir nuorodą tik į pirmąją būdvardžio smalsus reikšmę. Nuo septintojo leidimo žingeidus, -i į DLKŽ vėl neįtraukiamas. 4 Cf. “Many people use the word žingeidus instead of smalsus. But we do not know this word either from people’s spoken language or from our older writings; it appears only later, for example in Valančius’s writings. The formation of this adjective is very atypical of our language. It would mean a person who ‘desires knowledge’. It was most likely formed on the model of German neugierig or Russian любозна-тельный. There are very few such words. We are not inclined to form compound adjectives ending in -us.” (1970-05; https://www.laiskailietuviams.lt/index.php/vol-21-1970m/1970m-5-geguzis/3200-gimtasis-zodis, accessed 2025-08-07). Here and throughout, the language of quotations and examples of authentic usage has not been edited. 2 feeling”.”5 Others simply do not understand why it is “stubbornly not recommended for use”6, or reflect ironically: “<...> one bad word is so resilient that perhaps linguists should give up? <...> Are they still fighting over that žingeidus? For more than 100 years now; and it is still everywhere <...>.”7 The aim of this article is to review the history and rationale for correcting the adjective žingeidus, -i and to reassess whether, and how strictly, it really should be corrected. To achieve this aim, the word’s origin, semantic and morphological features, derivation, derivational and semantic relations, and current usage were examined. The tasks were addressed using analytical-descriptive, computational, semantic, and word-formation analysis methods. Būdvardis žingeidus, -i yra Motiejaus Valančiaus (1801–1875) naujadaras, rašytojas vartojo ir abstraktą žingeida ‘mokslo, žinių troškimas’8 (Skardžius 1996 [1943]: 596; Sabaliauskas 1990: 289). LKŽe žodis pažymėtas kaip naujai atsiradęs tarmėse9, pateikiama pirmosios leksemos (‘smalsus’) vartosenos pavyzdžių iš Plungės, Tilžės, Kairių (Šiaulių r.), Utenos, fiksuota šio žodžio vartosenos ir Ylakiuose (Skuodo r.), Žagarėje (Joniškio r.), vedinių – ir kitur Lietuvoje. Vartotas rašytojų – Vinco Kudirkos, Žemaitės, Ievos Simonai-tytės. Iš LKŽe ir įvairių taisymų matyti, kad jo darybos lizdo žodžius vartojo ir Vaižgantas, Krėvė, Vincas Pietaris, Lazdynų Pelėda, o ką jau kalbėti apie dabartinius rašytojus, kurių vartosenos LKŽe, baigtinis XVI–XX a. lietuvių leksikos šaltinis, baigtas leisti 2002 m. ir naujais kalbos faktais nepildomas bei neatnaujinamas, užfiksuoti nespėjo10. Neretai vartotas ir vis dar vartojamas šnekamojoje kalboje, nors nuosekliai (tiek aptariamasis būdvardis, tiek jo vediniai), pradedant J. Jablonskiu (Jablonskis 1959: 56, 154, 284, 306, 333 ir kt.), taisomas11. 5 https://www.bernardinai.lt/2019-02-18-rasytoja-k-sabaliauskaite-neturiu-karjeros/; accessed 2024-08-05. The writer later expressed herself even more angrily: “<...> use the beautiful Mačernisian word ‘žingeidus’ and you’ll be persecuted, because some idiot decided on behalf of both you and Vytautas Mačernis that the word is ‘not recommended and not to be used’ (2020-05-07; https://www.15min.lt/kultura/naujiena/literatura/kristina-sabaliauskaite-priesinkimes-cenzurai-kasdien-ir-visada-286-1314558; accessed 2024-08-05). ‘<...> Mačernis’s ‘žingeidus’ becomes a ‘non-recommended bookish neologism’ <...> I once myself had to fend off a language editor’s ad hominem insults while defending my right to use the beautiful Lithuanian word ‘žingeidus’—I had to send her Vytautas Mačernis’s poem ‘Distancijos jausmas...’ with the opening line ‘Kai kas be galo būna žingeidus...’. But according to linguists and the VLKK, V. Mačernis is no authority, and the word ‘žingeidus’ is not recommended because, I quote, it ‘is an avoidable bookish neologism’. Instead, the VLKK insistently recommends ‘smalsus’ (unfortunately, not the same as žingeidus), ‘seeking knowledge’ (clumsy and bureaucratic), and... their unnatural neologism ‘domus’. (2023-11-12; https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/nuomones/3/2121491/kristina-sabaliauskaite-kulturos-karai-ir-paliaubos-lietuviu-kalbos-gresmes; accessed 2024-08-05). 6 Arune, to you (https://www.facebook.com/kalbosredaktore.lt/posts/ar-vartotinas-%C5%BEodis-%C5%BEingeidus-pagal-el-dabartin%C4%97s-lietuvi%C5%B3-kalbos-%C5%BEodyn%C4%85-vilnius/469783089855396/?locale=lt_LT; accessed 2024-05-05). 7 https://virginijusg.blogspot.com/2016/12/925-uzparaste-cxxvi-sis-tas-is-1907-ais.html; accessed 2024-08-05. 8 The latter abstract noun is defined somewhat differently in LKŽe: 1 מingeida feminine noun (1) Ndž; M, L, Rtr curiosity: In reading sacred writings our curiosity often gets in our way, or our eagerness to know M. Valanč. (https://ekalba.lt/paieska/de-talioji/?paieska=%C5%BEingeid*&p=1&d=50&i=a73a6910-d11b-4cd3-ab1c-084688b76c32; accessed 2025-08-05). 9 In ŠŽ it is marked bookish, i.e. a literary, not a spoken-language word (https://ekalba.lt/sinonimu-zodynas/do-mus?paieska=domus&i=5ac97e12-cb7f-4992-9ec0-db574c8eeed; accessed 2025-08-10). 10 DLKT shows that words in the žingeidus, -i derivational family appear in the works of writers including Romas Gudaitis, Eugenijus Ignatavičius, Vytenis Rožukas, Viktoras Katilius, Herkus Kunčius, Jonas Mikelinskas, Algirdas Pocius, Aistė Pटkauskaitė, and others. Jurga Ivanauskaitė not only used the adjective žingeidus, -i, but also coined the neologism žin-geidėjas: The curious ones began travelling to his monastery—the “Rainbow Moon Abode”—from the farthest corners of the Himalayas (Jurga Ivanauskaitė, Swept Away by Dreams. Tyto alba, 2000; http://tekstynas.vdu.lt/tekstynas/nuo… 11 Tarp daugelio kitų žr. Pupkis (1980: 109), Buivydienė (1984: 16–17), Piročkinas (1990: 82), Mataitytė (1994: 22; 1995: 11; 1997: 14), Keinys (1995: 2), Klimavičius (1995: 12), Pribušauskaitė (1998: 14), Būda (1999). Vienu kitu atveju žingeidus, -i netinkamumas norminei kalbai ginčijamas, pavyzdžiui, Prano Kniūkštos (1994: 13), Algirdo Malakausko (1997: 12) ir kt. 3 The renowned language standardizer first criticized and rejected words based on the stem žingeid- in 1904; for a more detailed account of the history of the corrections, see Būda 1999: 5–6. Until now, žingeidus, –i has been considered unsuitable for standard Lithuanian for three reasons: its origin (it is a calque), its morphology and word formation (endings atypical of compound adjectives), and its semantics. 1. ORIGIN 1.1. Žingeidus, –i seems not to have arisen in Lithuanian simply through the spontaneous compounding of an equivalent compound word from the phrase¹² žinių geisti (geidė) ‘to desire knowledge (desired)’ or the like, as a means of naming someone who wants to know, who desires knowledge; rather, it seems to have emerged by looking at words of similar semantics in other languages—above all, compounds—or perhaps even with the primary aim of translating those words¹³. Attention should also be drawn to its second meaning, ‘interesting’, recorded in LKŽe not as a feature of living (dialectal) usage, but on the basis of printed sources (the 1885 “Aušra,” the 1895 “Varpas,” etc.) and an entry in Aleksandras Kuršaitis’s “Lithuanian–German Dictionary” (I–IV, 1968–1973)¹⁴. In practice, the lexeme žingeidus, –i meaning ‘interesting’ is not used today, although the adjective įdomus, –i is sometimes proposed as a replacement for the adjective žingeidus, –i being corrected (Jablonskis 1959: 154, Piročkinas 1990: 82, etc.)¹⁵. This lexeme has no such clear word-formation motivation or connection with žinių geidimu ‘desiring knowledge’; it does not seem to follow naturally or develop semantically from the first, direct meaning, but is characteristic of the aforementioned equivalents in other languages—Polish and Russian (cf. любопытный человек ‘curious person’ and любопытный случай ‘interesting incident’, любопытная история ‘interesting story’; ciekawe dziecko ‘curious child’ and ciekawy film dla dzieci ‘interesting film for children’). This, too, could indicate that foreign adjectives helped bring the adjective žingeidus, –i into being—not just one lexeme or its primary meaning, but its entire semantic structure¹⁶. Nevertheless, drawing on word-formation patterns from other languages is not in itself a bad thing; what matters is that the new formation conform to the word-formation models and regularities of the language itself. On this basis, a distinction is made between calques that are new formations which fit systematically into native formations, and loan translations that— 12 “Compound adjectives, like compound nouns, are based on a phrase of two words” (Paulauskienė 1994: 196). 13 Cf. the formulation “žingeidus is an ineptly formed adjective, translated from German neugierig, Russian любопытный or Polish ciekawy <...>” (KP 1939: 141), as if reflecting a need to name in Lithuanian a concept for which other languages already have the aforementioned words. 14 In this sense, žingeidus, –i was also used in later publications, both in Lithuania and in the diaspora, for example: You will hear lovely songs and music of our folk, and also hear what is happening in the Makalu household, where there are always interesting moments; These interesting Naujienos reports are heard on the radio throughout Chicago, as well as in these Lithuanian communities: Argo, Aurora, Batavia <...> (1935–03–09, Naujienos / The Lithuanian Daily News 58, 5; https://www.spauda.org/naujienos/archive/1935/1935-03-09-NAUJIENOS.pdf; accessed 2025–09–01); Still, this is a very interesting confession (1957–09–04, Laisvė / The Lithuanian Daily 171, 1; https://www.spauda.org/laisve/archive/1957/1957-09-04-LAISVE.pdf; accessed 2025–09–01). 15 Only the so-called neuter forms of these adjectives, žingeidu and įdomu, can sometimes replace one another synonymously; in their semantics, the distinction between the object and subject of a property seems to be leveled. Cf. the sentence “Žingeidu, delko niekam nieko nesakė” [“It is žingeidu why he told no one anything”]. In 1914, J. Jablonskis corrected it to “Įdomu (malonu būtų žinoti), delko niekam nieko nesako” [“It is interesting (it would be pleasant to know) why he tells no one anything”] (Jablonskis 1959: 154). However, the masculine and feminine forms of the adjective, žingeidus, žingeidi, can hardly be replaced by the corresponding forms of įdomus, įdomi when the intended referent is a subject interested in something. In Lithuanian, Įdomus can describe only that which arouses interest (an object), not someone who is interested in something (a subject)—unless that person is precisely what arouses interest, in which case they are the object of interest. Cf. the definition of this adjective: ‘arousing interest, attractive, striking; worthy of interest’ (LKŽe). The same applies to the adverb žingeidžiai and its semantic synonymic relationship with įdomiai. Nor does the abstract noun žingeidumas mean ‘interestingness’; LKŽe records this noun only as a derivative of žingeidus, –i ‘curious’. In general, the word-formation type for names of qualities formed with the suffix –umas is quite regular, and such abstract nouns are potentially possible from almost every gradable qualitative adjective (DLKG 2006: 100). 16 Although J. Jablonskis wrote differently about the relationship between these meanings—it is nothing strange (and is also known from dialects) that there is įdomus daiktas ir įdomus žmogus ‘an interesting thing and an interesting person’ (Jablonskis 1959: 58)—in the case of the adjective under discussion, žingeidus, –i, its word-formation opposition and connection with its derivational base should also be kept in view. 4 words translated uncreatively, morpheme by morpheme, that do not conform to the word-formation regularities of the language into which they are transferred and to the language system as a whole (Miliūnaitė 2022: 158–159)17. Žingeidus, -i was corrected as a calque (Pupkis 1980: 108–109)18. If it were established that this is a loan translation, that is, that its formation (morphology) does not conflict with the Lithuanian language system, the fact that it is a translation would not be particularly weighty or decisive from the perspective of the norm. See also section 2.2. 2. WORD FORMATION (MORPHOLOGY) 2.1. In correcting the adjective žingeidus, -i, it is argued that “we do not usually tend to form compound adjectives with the ending -us” (KP 1939: 141). Nevertheless, such formation is not entirely impossible. Compound adjectives are formed from two syntactically and semantically related words and usually have the ending -is, -ė (cf. LKG 1965: 595; DLKG 2006: 228; PBLKG 2024: 439). However, both grammars and other descriptions of adjective formation, for example those by Aldona Paulauskienė (1983: 150, 2007: 50), Stasys Keinys (1999: 81), and others, note that compound adjectives also occur with the endings -as and -us (keturpeščias, keliaklupsčias, pusiausviras, trišakas; akivaizdus, akilandus, lygiagretus), although these are rare exceptions. Typically, the endings of compound adjectives are discussed in general, rather than separately for a particular word-formation type19. There are a dozen or so such types. Compound adjectives, like nouns, are divided into these types according to the parts of speech of their base words, with primary reference to the second component of the compound, that is, whether it is a nominal or a verb (LKG 1965: 595–603; DLKG 2006: 238; PBLKG 2024: 440–441). In the case of the adjective žingeidus, -i, the relevant type is that formed from a noun (žinios) and a verb (geisti). According to research data from the mid-20th century, this was a fairly productive type (LKG 1965: 601)20. Žingeidus, -i would even fit one of the word-formation meanings characteristic of this type: ‘engages in, does, and likes what the first component denotes’21, as exemplified by druskamėgis (a man), saulėvengiai (plants), and so on. It is true that grammars illustrate this type with compounds ending in -is, -ė only. However, attention should be drawn to the adjective akilandus, -i (and akivaizdus, -i, formed by analogy with it). LKG (1965: 600) “undisputedly” treats these as compounds with an adjectival second component (i.e., akilandus < ‘eyes’, landus, -i). DLKG (2006: 234) states instead that the semantic relationship between the components forming these compound adjectives has changed and is no longer clear. But if the adjective akilandus, -i, ‘one that gets into people’s eyes, obtrusive’, is motivated by the phrase į akis lįsti (lenda, lindo) (‘to get into people’s eyes’), a verbal second component can also be discerned here. If so, žingeidus, -i fits perfectly well alongside it. The LKŽ lists several dozen (about 55) compound adjectives ending in -us, -i. Only a few of them can be motivated by noun–verb phrases: the aforementioned akilandus, -i, akivaizdus, -i, as well as kraugerus, -i ‘bloodthirsty (?)’, kraulàkus, -i ‘one who thirsts for blood, bloodthirsty’, and vaišnorus, -i ‘fond of entertaining, hospitable, hospitable’22. Formally speaking, one might ask whether žingeidus, -i, as well as akilandus, -i, savimylus, -i, mesėdrus, -i, nevalus, -i, and the like, could be derived from the names of subjects possessing these characteristics—akilanda, savimyla, žingeida, mesėdra, nevala, and so on. However, 17 Cf. the calque neužilgo (Russian незадолго) and the normative loan translation įtaka (cf. Russian влияние, Polish influentia, German Einfluss, English influence, Latin influentia, etc.). 18 J. Jablonskis called this word, along with sauvalia, sauvalia, lygsvara, words that were “made up” or had come into our language somehow or other (cf. Jablonskis 1959: 332–333). 19 Cf. “<...> Lithuanian compound adjectives do not belong to the u-stem (second declension), so these words (žingeidus, savistovus, savimylus, savivaldus – author’s note) are not only translations but also violate the morphological system” (Piročkinas 1986: 105). 20 A study of neologisms collected up to 2019 in the Database of New Words of the Lithuanian Language shows that this is the most frequent type of compound adjective with a verbal second component, although neologisms of this type are not numerous overall (cf. Aleksaitė 2022: 154). PBLKG states that compounds with a verbal second component are far fewer than those with a nominal one (2024: 235). 21 The wording ‘engages in, does, and likes what the second component denotes’ (DLKG 2006: 235) evidently contains an error, since in this case the object of the action is denoted not by the second but by the first component. 22 Taip pat daiktavardinį ir veiksmažodinį sandus turintis veidmainus, -i ‘būdingas veidmainiui, apsimestinis’ galbūt nėra sudurtinis, o remiasi būdvardžiu ar daiktavardžiu veidmainis, -ė. 5 Considering the word-formation meaning of these words, it is obvious that the direction of derivation is the reverse: the names of the bearers of the qualities denoted by them are formed from the adjectives (akilandus, -i > akilanda), or they are formations at the same derivational level, based on the same derivational base; that is, both žingeidus, -i and žingeida, or akilandus, -i and akilanda, are based on the same word combinations—respectively, žinių geisti (geidė) or į akis lišti (lenda, lindo). The same applies to the abstract nouns žingeida ‘curiosity’, savimyla ‘self-love’, and so on (cf. compounds of a noun and a verb such as akistata, širdgėla, etc. (DLKG 2006: 162, 164)). 2.2. Thus, returning to the question of the origin of žingeidus, -i, it may be said that, since its formation is not entirely impossible, žingeidus, -i should probably be regarded as a calque rather than a loan translation. Alongside the German wissbegierig, neugierig, attention should also be drawn to the Latvian adjectives ziņkārīgs, -a, ziņkārs, -a (and related words ziņķare, ziņkārība, ziņkārīgums, ziņkārot), especially the second adjective, formed from the noun ziņas ‘news, information’²³ and the verb kārot ‘to desire (want) greatly, to yearn for (something)’ (LLV), and entirely consistent with the formation of the Lithuanian adjective. These equivalents are also geographically closest to M. Valančius. In claiming that žingeidus, -i was formed on the model of Russian любознательный (Piročkinas 1986: 105 (on J. Jablonskis’s corrections)), it is overlooked that the components of the compound are arranged in the reverse order in Lithuanian compared with Russian: the component associated with knowledge comes first (as in the German and Latvian equivalents). Russian любопытный or Polish ciekawy (cf. Belarusian цікаўны) are more distant counterparts because of the semantics of the compound’s components (Russian) or its word-formation pattern (the Polish word is not a compound). The related words for the adjective under discussion given in LKŽ, žingeidis, -ė, žingeidys, -ė ‘curious person’, are regularly formed, well-formed noun–verb compounds (cf. puodlaižis, -ė, tvarkdarys, -ė, which belong to the same derivational type, and others (DLKG 2006: 163)); nevertheless, they too are marked with a cross, like other “words not used in contemporary language.” Thus, the problem here is not word formation, but something else. 3. SEMANTICS 3.1. Semantics of the derivational base In the history of corrections to the adjective žingeidus, -i, both components—or, more precisely, both base words—have been objected to on semantic grounds: both the noun žinios and the verb geisti (Būda 1999: 5–8). 3.1.1. It has been argued that žinios should not be used in the sense of ‘knowledge, learning’ or the like. In Kalbos praktikos patarimai (1985), the following correction was proposed: “žinios—in some contexts, mokslas, išsilavinimas, išmanymas, mokėjimas, mokymasis [science, education, expertise, skill, learning] are preferable...”²⁴. In Vytautas Pranciškus Būda’s view, “the fact that this word occurs in one or another dictionary by no means proves that it is good or standard” (1999: 7). However, žinios is presented with this or a similar meaning in every edition of DLKŽ, defined and illustrated with usage examples as follows (here and below, passages highlighted in the quotations are underlined—author’s note): ‘knowledge, learning, science’: Politinių ir Mokslinių Žinių Skleidimo Draugija (DLKŽ¹); ‘knowledge, science’: Istorinės, teorinės ~ios. Skleisti ~ias. ~ių troškimas. Tikrinti mokinių ~ias. Gilinti savo ~ias 23 Cf. ziņas ‘That (for example, data, facts, figures, a body of knowledge) which is known or learned (about something); also information’; zināšanas ‘A body of information that a person has acquired through experience or as a result of learning; also a systematized body of information (for example, in a particular field)’ (https://tezaurs.lv/zi%C5%86a:1, https://tezaurs.lv/zin%C4%81%C5%A1ana:1; accessed 2025-08-10). 24 https://ekalba.lt/kalbos-patarimai/%C5%BEinios?paieska=%C5%BEinios&i=2e04dd98-dd7e-4462-b901-00fda8c14ff5; accessed 2025-08-29. 6 (DLKŽ₂); ‘content of knowledge, education; information’: Much information is provided in reference books and encyclopedias. History is his strong suit. He has a lot of knowledge, but thinks poorly (DLKŽ₃ – DLKŽ₈). In LKŽₑ this lexeme is marked kng. (i.e. a bookish word) and defined as ‘scientific data accumulated or gathered’: <...> Someone with less specialized linguistic knowledge will find it particularly difficult to grasp the stress patterns of Samogitian dialects LKV19325. <...> His (A. Baranauskas’s) practical aim was to become a clergyman respected by the people, but alongside this he was driven there by a desire for knowledge and learning LKKIX425. Also cf. the entry in MLKŽ 2010: ‘knowledge’: Students’ knowledge is assessed with grades. And VLEₑ explains the concept of “science” using the noun žinios precisely in the sense that provides the semantic basis for the adjective under discussion, žingeidus, -i, cf.: science (Latin scientia – knowledge, learning), the intellectual activity of human beings aimed at understanding and explaining phenomena of reality and applying them to society’s needs; the knowledge of reality accumulated through this activity is one of the principal components of culture; <...> In its modern sense, the word science began to be used only in the nineteenth century. Until then, the system of knowledge in the natural sciences was called natural philosophy. <...> The philosophy of science proposes criteria for distinguishing scientific knowledge from non-scientific knowledge. <...> To obtain objective knowledge about phenomena of reality, scientific research is based on rational reasoning, observation, and experiments. The main feature of the methodology of science is the continual critical evaluation of knowledge already acquired. In light of all new circumstances and arguments, the knowledge accumulated by science is incomplete and changing. <...> The knowledge accumulated by science is continually classified according to changing principles. <...>26 Apparently, however, Pranas Kniūkšta was right when he wrote in 1994 that both the adjective žingeidus, -i, meaning not simple curiosity but a desire to know, and žinios used in the sense of science or facts have won the right to exist (Kniūkšta 1994: 13). Also cf. the aforementioned VLKK consultation (see Introduction), where, instead of žingeidus, -i, the phrase seeking knowledge is proposed alongside the adjective smalsus, -i. 3.1.2. Regarding the second component—it was thought that žingeidus, -i was based on the second meaning of geisti (Būda 1999: 7), cf.: geĩ|sti, ~džia, ~dė 1. to want very much, crave, seek, demand: He eats whatever his heart desires. A necessary thing. The ram was given, yet he wants a rooster (proverb). 2. to be consumed by passion: Female gender. Δ ~džia/moji mood (ling., expressing a wish or desire). ~dìmas (2) (DLKŽ₈) geisti, gẽidžia, geĩdė verb. 1. (of something) to want very much; syn. crave: He desires fame [recognition, wealth]. The children very much want a puppy [to have a puppy, for their parents to buy them one]. | neg. (of something): I never coveted another’s wealth. 2. (of something) to feel physical attraction or lust for someone: He lusts after this man. They desire one another. | neg. (of something): Do not desire another man [another woman]. (BLKŽ) But it is clear that in the phrase žinių geisti the first meaning of the verb is relevant. Also cf. the usage examples given in LKŽₑ (where geisti has only one meaning, ‘to want very much, crave; wish, seek, demand’), which have nothing to do with passion, lust, or the like: The child longs for learning so much, desires it Sl. Marvtė wants to go to Kėdainiai Pc. You wanted so much, yet ate so little Trgn. What does your heart desire? B. Mother will let me go..., wherever my heart desires RD116. She gave a hen, she gave a rooster—what more do you want, son-in-law? Pnd. My girl, my young one, do not long for sweet sleep RD57. <...> 25Literature and Language, vols. I–XXII. Published in Vilnius, 1956–1995. 26 https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/mokslas/; accessed 2025-08-29. 7 3.2. The semantics of the derivative Siūlomas pakaitas smalsus, -i nėra absoliutus būdvardžio žingeidus, -i sinonimas, taigi, negali jo pakeisti absoliučiai visuose kontekstuose27. LKŽ apibrėžtis ‘kuris labai viskuo domisi, viską nori žinoti’, regis, tinka būtent žingeidžiam. Iš esmės domėjimosi sąvoka čia skiriasi viena sema – vienu atveju tai yra paprastas, tegu ir didelis, bet niekur toliau nevedantis susidomėjimas (tokiu pasižymi iš tautosakos žinoma ciekava Zosė, paskalų nešiotojai, landi katė ir pan.), kitu – domėjimasis siekiant įgyti daugiau žinių, kad plėstųsi akiratis, būtų augama, tobulėjama, o ne kad čia pat būtų pamiršta, nes nebeįdomu (nuolat klausinėjantis mažas vaikas, gabus motyvuotas studentas, mokslininkas ir pan.).28. Analysis of 217 usage examples in DLKT (36 occurrences in fiction, 33 in nonfiction, and 148 in journalism; no usage was recorded in administrative literature or spoken language) revealed three semantic cases. All words related to the adjective žingeidus, -i were examined—that is, its entire word-formation family; for more on this, see section 4. 3.2.1. Žingeidus, -i means the same as smalsus, -i (‘interested, wanting to find out’). Examples from DLKT29: A man is walking a dog with a very menacing appearance. An inquisitive passerby, wanting to pet the dog, asks: “Does your dog let strangers approach?” That, of course, would be interesting and inquisitive to find out for a wider circle of readers as well <...> Cf. more recent usage in online texts: Naya (a female Amur tiger—author’s note) arrived at the Lithuanian Zoo a few days ago; the 14-year-old female is still timid. After walking around the enclosure for a while, she returns to a safe place from which she watches everything. “She is feeling quite well, curious, exploring the territory, <...>” (2024-10-09; https://lnk.lt/straipsniai/lietuvoje/zoologijos-sode--itin-nykstantis-gyvunas-/277183; accessed 2025-08-07). An interesting usage occurs when the semantic difference between smalsus and žingeidus is felt, yet when referring to curiosity (“blind,” i.e., unrelated to the subsequent use of knowledge for purposes such as self-improvement or extending research), the neuter form of the adjective žingeidus, -i is used: Some unknown inner imperative prompts people to preserve the creative work of their predecessors. It is not blind curiosity, when one is very curious, that is, about how much they had, what they wore, what they ate, what they worshipped. Rather, it is a matter of checking whether those who came before us really existed and, if so, what their surviving artifacts tell us. (2024-05-26, https://www.nemunas.press/straipsniai/paveldas-ir-atsisakymas/; accessed 2025-08-10). 3.2.2. Žingeidus, -i means more than simply smalsus, -i; it does not mean quite the same as smalsus (and the same applies to words sharing their roots). Such cases are more numerous. P. Kniūkšta stated that žingeidus means not ordinary curiosity but a desire to know (1994: 13); V. P. Būda responded 27 Although it is corrected, žingeidus, -i is very widespread because its meaning differs from that of the word smalsus, -i (Būtenas 1975: 185, cited in Sabaliauskas 1990: 289). “The adjective žingeidus is also marked as nonstandard in DŽ³ (= smalsus). But are žingeidus and smalsus synonyms? After all, even the pedagogical terms smalsumas and žingeidumas are not identical; they are designated by different words in English, Russian, and German as well <...>” (Malakauskas 1997: 12). 28 “In Lithuanian, the word žingeidumas is often used in various contexts, for example, to describe children’s curiosity at school, scientists’ pursuit of new discoveries, or ordinary people’s desire to learn more about the world around them. This term can be used in either a positive or a negative sense, depending on the context.” (https://zingeidumas.lietuviskai.lt/; accessed 2025-08-30. The source is questionable from both lexicographic and scholarly perspectives, and its information seems AI-generated; however, in the present case, attention should be drawn to the seme of the desire to discover mentioned in it.) 29 Here and throughout this section, the usage examples presented were examined in DLKT in 2024-09. 8 klausdamas „[B]et argi smalsus, smalsumas nereiškia noro žinoti?“ (Būda 1999: 7). Išties, matyt, smalsumo ir žingeidumo semantinį skirtumą lemia tai, kad žingeidus, -i turi papildomą semą – tai ne tik tiesiog smalsus, bet siekiantis įgyti daugiau žinių tam, kad tobulėtų. Pavyzdžiai iš DLKT: <...> we have quite a few farmers who are educated, eager to learn more and eager to learn, knowledgeable, and understanding that without scientific knowledge one cannot get far <...> She met extremely eager to learn, educated teachers who worked out of a sense of vocation, and found that the teachers she met were devoted to their profession and their students. It is reasonable to assume that more eager to learn students were then encouraged to take an interest in scientific work, to seek out and experience the joy of discovery. “What drives a person to do scientific work? It seems to me there is only one thing—eagerness to learn. Not curiosity, as linguists say, but eagerness to learn. In the past, people satisfied their eagerness to learn individually, as best they could, whereas today society satisfies this spiritual thirst through a certain organized system. <...>” A career springboard. A strong desire to get ahead and eagerness to learn. "I was not satisfied with my job as an accountant, so I was constantly taking an interest in other bank matters as well, trying to find out and learn as much as possible <...>.“ What prompted you to write? Where did such great eagerness to learn, such broad horizons, such a wealth of accumulated material come from? <...> I was always keeping company with a notebook. Cf. more recent usage online: He had knowledge throughout his career, and was always eager to learn <...> It was simply his character: eagerness to learn, a desire to improve, reliability. (2025-08-04; https://www.krepsinis.net/naujiena/2-metus-be-darbo-praleides-d-kairys-apie-klaidas-utenoje-didziausia-indeli-rytui-ir-sunkumus-sugrizti/343987?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=txt&utm_campaign=copy-txt; accessed 2025-08-07) The professor recommends that young people be responsible, patriotic, and eager to learn, emphasizing: “Taking an interest in the world can change both the present and the future, physical and mental health, as well as the motives for serving in the military.” (2025-07-25; https://www.snaigienos.lt/sveikatos-kodas/49328-lsu-profesorius-tarnyba-kariuomeneje-gerina-sirdies-kvepavimo-sistemos-ir-raumenu-istverme; accessed 2025-08-07) V. S. (1904–1992) – tarpukario dramos aktorius ir drauge baleto šokėjas (labiau balerinų asistentas), režisierius. Smetoniškų laikų scenų bei salonų žvaigždė ir drauge reričiškos, uždyniškos dvasinės struktūros asmenybė, žingeidi, tobulinanti save, be to, raštinga. (2022-05-30; https://literaturairmenas.lt/teatras?page=14; žiūrėta 2025-08-16) A brave, curious young generation! Their interest, desire to learn and understand, pursue their dreams, and become leaders is heartening! (2024-04-19; https://www.facebook.com/100076194364015/videos/-dr%C4%85sus-%C5%BEingeidus-jaunimas-dom%C4%97jimasis-noras-su%C5%BEinoti-suprasti-siekti-savo-svaj%C5%B3/440662875036377/; accessed 2025-08-17) Curious and responsible doctoral student, who values science and strives for the best possible results—a dream for every supervisor (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/k%C4%99stutis-baltakys-05154184_%C5%BEingeidus-ir-atsakingas-doktorantas-kuris-activity-7209149838549012482-PpgU; accessed 2025-08-17) A. S., an alumnus of Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) and head of the Border Control Division of the Coast Guard Border District of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), who also serves as deputy commander of the district, likewise confirms that the service is especially keen to recruit curious young people. “Curiosity is very important. People should be interested in what they intend to do or the environment in which they plan to work. They should be open to communication and have analytical thinking skills. The knowledge we acquire during our studies certainly helps us in our daily work,” says A. S. (2025-05-13; https://www.kurstoti.lt/s/15276/reikalingi-zhgeidus-technologijoms-imlus-sienu-sergetojai; accessed 2025-08-17) 9 3.2.3. Žingeidus, -i ir smalsus, -i (ar jų darybos lizdo žodžiai) vartojami kaip sinonimai, greta viename sakinyje, vienas kitą papildo, galbūt patikslina. Pavyzdžiui (iš DLKT): Pastor Tamara Šmidt "All Lithuanians are inquisitive and curious" – said the only woman in Lithuania who, since the end of May, has led the Vilnius Evangelical Lutheran parish <...> Not Vartiklis, we should clarify, makes the allusion—the author, through the image of a curious, inquisitive, restless, resourceful child who perhaps could not even recognize letters until the age of nine <...>, prompted reflection <...> A child is curious and interested in the surrounding world until their curiosity is extinguished by a misguided education system. First, it is worth mentioning positive traits: inquisitiveness, curiosity, and other similar innate qualities. Also compare broader and more recent internet usage: It is always nice to welcome guests, especially when they are so curious and inquisitive... (2024-01-24; https://www.paneveziomc.lt/naujienos/visada-smagu-sulaukti-sveciu-o-dar-kai-jie-tokie-smalsus-ir-zingeidus/; accessed 2025-08-07) Children of the 21st century: curious, inquisitive, seeking meaning in their work and lessons, courageous, open to new ideas and experiences (2019-03-28; https://www.lituanistika.emokykla.lt/uzsienio-lietuviams/veiklos-atspindziai/xxi-amziaus-vaikai-smalsus-zingeidus-ieskantys-prasmes-savo-darbe-pamokoje-drasus-atviri-naujoms-idejoms-ir-patirciai/; accessed 2025-08-16) 3.2.4. VLKK konsultacijoje nurodyta žingeidus, -i reikšmė ‘linkęs galvoti, mąstyti’, regis, nėra būdinga šiam būdvardžiui kaip atskira, su domėjimusi nesusijusi ar nuo jo atitolusi, leksema (kaip tokios jos nepateikia ir LKŽ). Tyrinėtuose kontekstuose nerasta atvejo, kai žingeidus, -i galėtų būti pakeistas siūlomu pakaitu maslus, -i, pirmiausia neminint labiau tinkančių smalsus, -i, domus, -i (pastarojo vartosena, beje, irgi reta). Sinoniminio ryšio tarp žingeidaus ir maslaus nematyti ir Sinonimų žodyne30. 4. DERIVATIONAL FAMILY As noted, žingeidus, -i has its own derivational family, or, more precisely, a group of related words, not necessarily derived directly from it but derivationally connected to it. The table shows related words that originated in the phrase to desire knowledge (desired) or, in other words, in the junction of the noun knowledge and the verb to desire. This junction should be regarded as the starting point of the shared derivational family. Not only žingeidus, -i is based on this junction, but also other first-stage derivatives: žingeida2 ‘curious person’, žingeidis (-ys), -ė ‘curious person’, and the previously mentioned authorial, atypical compound žingeidėjas. 30 https://ekalba.lt/sinonimu-zodynas/%C5%BEingeidus?paieska=%C5%BEingeidus&i=9a9006ab-495b-483e-acee-d81ae1f87fc9, https://ekalba.lt/sinonimu-zodynas/m%C4%85slus?paieska=m%C4%85slus&i=e0b37e17-f69c-4462-955e-e100d7210f88; accessed 2025-08-16. 10 Table. Words related to the adjective žingeidus, -i Derivational stages Derivational base 1 2 3 4 to desire knowledge (desired) knowledge noun + to desire verb žingeidus, -i žingeidžiai žingeidumas žingeida1 ‘curiosity’ žingeidingas, -a inquisitively inquisitiveness inquisitive, -a[I] inquisitively[I] inquisitiveness[I] inquisitiveness curious person, -a curious person, -a to be inquisitive to indulge one’s curiosity indulging one’s curiosity to become inquisitive to become overly curious inquisitive behavior incurious, -i[DLKT] incuriously[I] lack of curiosity[I] curiosity2 ‘curious person’ curious person, -woman (curiosity-seeker, -woman) one who arouses curiosity[DLKT] In turn, curious gave rise to at least 21 derivatives (there would likely be more potential derivatives not yet recorded), including words from the main parts of speech: nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. They are derived using various word-formation devices (suffixes, endings, prefixes). Derivatives based on the stem žingeid- are recorded in LKŽₑ, DLKT, and online usage (the latter are marked in the table with the indices [DLKT] and [I], respectively). LKŽₑ contains most of the words in this word-formation family (curiosity1 ‘curiosity’, curiosity2 ‘curious person’, to be curious (and to be curious), curiosity-seeking, curiosity, curious-minded, -a (and curiously), inquisitiveness, curious person (-seeker), -woman, curiosity, curiosity, the curious one, -woman, curious person, -woman, curious (and curiously), to become curious, to become curious). DLKT records usage examples only for curious (this word has a variety of forms—different genders and cases, comparative and superlative forms, and the pronominal form), incurious, -a, curiously, curiosity, and the author’s coinage (a neologism by Jurga Ivanauskaitė) one who arouses curiosity. Online texts were searched separately only for the most likely derivatives—regularly formed adverbs (with the suffix -ai) and abstract nouns (with the suffix -umas), as well as words bearing one of the most characteristic suffixes, -iškas, -a. Although only a few examples, instances of usage from various periods, beginning with the press of the 1920s, were found: 11 Since readers unconditionally curiously demand Latvian lessons, I will continue my teaching program. (2008-01-13; https://samirua.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/latviu-kalbos-pamokeles-vol3/; accessed 2025-08-30) <...> curiously we take part in excursions around our beautiful Lithuania and celebrate each colleague’s birthday! (2017; https://plus.lrytas.lt/biuro-komanda-2017/; accessed 2025-08-30) And yet, where does this mad curiosity come from? Why is it never enough for me? Why do I want to learn more and more new and interesting things? (https://nemoku.lt/nejaugi-as-tik-mais as/; accessed 2025-08-30) A sudden decline in the academic performance of a capable student, failure to do homework, lack of curiosity, an active child who plays sports refusing to exercise, and a lack of effort during lessons may be manifestations of psychological abuse or bullying. (2016; https://epublications.vu.lt/object/e-laba:18849382/18849382.pdf; accessed 2025-08-30) VANDA (returning). Listen. (Reads.) “So, if he agreed to paint my portrait, his circumstances would improve considerably and his future would be more secure....” DAIL. (without curiosity). Who is writing? (Antanas Tulys, “Our Path”—Sandara, 2028, No. 6, p. 3; https://www.spauda2.org/sandara/archive/1928/1928-02-09-SANDARA.pdf; accessed 2025-08-30). Google searches in July 2025 found approximately 228,000 occurrences of the adjective curious, about 6,000 of the adverb curiously (although some of the results are dative singular feminine forms of the adjective, which are identical in form to this adverb), and 117,000 of the noun curiosity (cf. approximately 37,500 results for the latter on 2024-06-14 and approximately 57,900 on 2024-06-27). The adjective and noun were searched in all paradigm forms, i.e. all case forms. Of course, many of the examples found are repeated instances of usage, and in many cases this usage is corrected, so the context does not reflect living speech. Nevertheless, the statistics are telling, demonstrating the currency of the words under discussion (frequent correction in various sources is also an indicator of this). Considering also the substantial number of related words and the extensive, multi-level word-formation family, it is hardly tenable to claim that curious “remained on the periphery of public speech, while in written language it appears only as a recurrence” (Būda 1999: 7). SUMMARY The adjective žingeidus, -i, coined by M. Valančius, has been corrected since the time of J. Jablonskis on grounds of origin, morphology, and semantics. As regards its origin, it is a calque, a neologism formed on the model of words from other languages (cf. German wissbegierig, neugierig, Russian любознательный, or others). Having assessed the morphology, formation, and semantics of the adjective žingeidus, -i and its synonymic relations, reviewed the history of its standardization and the reasons for correcting it, and examined the current usage not only of the adjective itself but also of words derived from it, it becomes clear that there would be sufficient grounds for admitting it into the standard language. V. P. Būda expressed concern about the public’s trust in linguists and their recommendations, “if they themselves undermine a codification rule for žingeidumas that has been in force for a hundred years” (1999: 8). In the more than one hundred years since the word was coined, both the language has changed and attention has shifted to matters other than those emphasized previously. Being stubborn and failing to see changes is just as harmful as blindly yielding to pressure from the general public to admit foreign elements at any cost simply because “everyone says so.” 12 If it is determined that žingeidus, -i and its most commonly used related words conform to the norms of contemporary Standard Lithuanian, it should also be included in the normative Dictionary of Standard Lithuanian. The dictionary entries for žingeidus, -i, žingeidžiai, žingeidumas should reflect the semantic relationship of these words to the adjective smalsus, -i and its derivatives, bringing out their synonymy and differences in meaning and usage. ŠALTINIAI BLKŽ: Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas (rengiamas) [Dictionary of the Standard Lithuanian Language], vyr. red. D. Liutkevičienė, Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, 2013–2025. Prieiga internete: https://ekalba.lt/bendrines-lietuviu-kalbos-zodynas/ [žiūrėta 2025-03-10]. DLKŽ1: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language], atsak. red. J. Kruopas, 1-as leid., Vilnius: Valstybinė politinės ir mokslinės literatūros leidykla, 1954. DLKŽ2: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language], atsak. red. J. Kruopas, 2-as leid., Vilnius: Mintis, 1972. DLKŽ3: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language], vyr. red. S. Keinys, 3-ias leid., Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidykla, 1993. DLKŽ4: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language], vyr. red. S. Keinys, 4-as leid., Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas, 2000. DLKŽ6: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language], vyr. red. S. Keinys, 6-as leid. (elektroninis), Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, 2006. DLKŽ7: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language], vyr. red. S. Keinys, 7-as patais. ir papild. leid., Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, 2015. DLKŽ8: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language], vyr. red. S. Keinys, 8-as patais. ir papild. leid., Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, 2021. Prieiga internete: https://ekalba.lt/dabartines-lietuviu-kalbos-zodynas/ [žiūrėta 2024-10-05]. DLKT: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos tekstynas [Corpus of the Contemporary Lithuanian Language], Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas. Prieiga internete: http://tekstynas.vdu.lt/tekstynas/ [žiūrėta 2024-06–2025-07]. KPP 1985: Kalbos praktikos patarimai [Language Practice Tips], A. Paulauskienė, V. Labutis, A. Pupkis, J. Šukys, A. Vanagas, J. Žemaitis, sud. A. Pupkis, 2-as patais. ir papild. leid., Vilnius: Mokslas. LKŽe: Lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language] 1–20 (1941–2002), el. variantas, red. kolegija G. Naktinienė (vyr. redaktorė), J. Paulauskas, R. Petrokienė, V. Vitkauskas, J. Zabarskaitė; programuotojai: E. Ožeraitis, V. Zinkevičius, Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, atnaujinta versija, 2018. Prieiga internete: https://ekalba.lt/lietuviu-kalbos-zodynas. LLV: Latviešu–lietuviešu vārdnīca [Latvian-Lithuanian Dictionary], A. Butkus, Kaunas: Aesti, 2003; elektroninis variantas, Tilde, 2009. Prieiga internete: https://www.letonika.lv/groups/default.aspx?g=2&r=10621063 [žiūrėta 2025-09-01]. MLKŽ 2010: Mokomasis lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Lithuanian Learner's Dictionary], M. Norkaitienė, R. Šepetytė, Z. Šimėnaitė. 2-as patais. leid., Vilnius: Baltos lankos. 13 SŽ: Sinonimų žodynas [Dictionary of Synonyms], A. Lyberis. 2-as patais. leid., Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas, 2002; elektroninis variantas, 2015. Prieiga internete: https://ekalba.lt/sinonimu-zodynas/ [žiūrėta 2025-08-10]. VLE: Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija [Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia], Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras. Prieiga internete: https://www.vle.lt/ [žiūrėta 2025-07-04]. LITERATŪRA Aleksaitė Agnė 2022: Lietuvių kalbos naujažodžių darýba (2011–2019 m. Naujažodžių duomenyno pagrindu) [Formation of Neologisms in the Lithuanian Language (on the Basis of the 2011–2019 Database of Neologisms)]: daktaro disertacija, Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas. Būda Vytautas Pranciškus 1999: Nevartokime žodžio „žingeidus“ [Let's Not Use the Word ‘žingeidus’]. – Filologija 7, 5–8. Buivydienė Rūta 1984: Leksikos klaidos [Lexical Errors]. – Mūsų kalba 4, 15–20. Būtėnas Julius 1975: Literato duona [The Bread of a Man of Letters], Vilnius: Vaga. DLKG 2006: Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos gramatika [Grammar of Modern Lithuanian], red. V. Ambrazas, 4-as patais. leid., Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. Jablonskis Jonas 1959: Rinktiniai raštai 2 [Selected Writings], Vilnius: Valstybinė politinės ir mokslinės literatūros leidykla. Keinys Stasys 1995: Svarbiausias žodyno plėtros būdas [The Most Significant Method of Vocabulary Expansion]. – Gimtoji kalba 6, 2. Keinys Stasys 1999: Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodžių darýba [Word Formations in the Standard Lithuanian Language], Šiauliai: Šiaulių universiteto leidykla. Klimavičius Jonas 1995: Julius Būtėnas. Vinco Kudirkos bendražygiai [recenzija] [Julius Būtėnas. Associates of Vincas Kudirka [review]]. – Gimtoji kalba 7, 12. Kniūkšta Pranas 1994: Apie nukrypimus nuo kalbos normų [About Deviations from Language Norms]. – Kalbos kultūra 66, 5–18. KP 1939: Kalbos patarėjas [Language Advisor], sud. L. Dambrauskas, Kaunas: Lietuvių kalbos draugija. LKG 1965: Lietuvių kalbos gramatika 1: Fonetika ir morfologija (daiktavardis, būdvardis, skaitvardis, įvardis) [Grammar of the Lithuanian Language 1: Phonetics and morphology (nouns, adjectives, numerals, pronouns)], vyr. red. K. Ulvydas, Vilnius: Mintis. Mataitytė Inga 1994: 7 meno dienos, 1993, liepa–gruodis [recenzija] [7 Arts Days, 1993, July – December [review]]. – Gimtoji kalba 4–5, 22. Mataitytė Inga 1995: Laimonas Tapinas. Septynios vienatvės Paryžiuje [recenzija] [Laimonas Tapinas. Seven Solitudes in Paris [review]]. – Gimtoji kalba 5, 11. Mataitytė Inga 1997: Jurga Ivanauskaitė. Ištremtas Tibetas [recenzija] [Jurga Ivanauskaitė. Tibet in Exile [review]]. – Gimtoji kalba 11, 14. Malakauskas Algirdas 1997: Neteiktini žodžiai ir reikšmės „Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos žodyne“ [Unacceptable Words and Meanings in the 'Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language']. – Kalbos kultūra 70, 10–13. Miliūnaitė Rita 2022: Įvairuojantys ir nauji lietuvių kalbos reiškiniai XXI a. pradžioje: sistematika ir pokyčių kryptys [Variable and New Phenomena of Contemporary 14 Lithuanian at the Start of the 21st Century: Systemization and Trends of Change]: monografija, el. išteklius, Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas. Prieiga internete: http://lki.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Miliunaite_Ivairuojantys_ir_nauji_kalbos-reiskiniai.pdf. P a u l a u s k i e n ė A l d o n a 1983: Lietuvių kalbos morfologijos apybraiža [Outline of Lithuanian Morphology], Kaunas: Šviesa. P a u l a u s k i e n ė A l d o n a 1994: Lietuvių kalbos morfologija. Paskaitos lituanistams [Morphology of the Lithuanian Language. Lectures for Lithuanian Studies Students], Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidykla. P a u l a u s k i e n ė A l d o n a 2007: Lietuvių kalbos morfologijos pagrindai [Fundamentals of Lithuanian Morphology], Kaunas: Technologija. P i r o č k i n a s A r n o l d a s 1986: Jono Jablonskio kalbos taisymai [Jonas Jablonskis's Rules of Language], Kaunas: Šviesa. P i r o č k i n a s A r n o l d a s 1990: Administracinės kalbos kultūra [Administrative Language Culture], Vilnius: Mintis. PBLKG 2024: Praktinė bendrinės lietuvių kalbos gramatika [Practical Grammar of the Standard Lithuanian Language], A. Balčiūnienė, A. Drukteinis, R. Kazlauskaitė, J. Vaskelienė, Vilnius: Vilniaus universiteto leidykla. P r i b u š a u s k a i t ė A l b i n a 1998: Briliūtė B. Amžiais keliaujanti Dievo tauta [recenzija] [Briliūtė B. God's People Traveling Through the Ages [review]]. – Gimtoji kalba 11, 13–16. P u p k i s A l d o n a s 1980: Kalbos kultūros pagrindai [Fundamentals of Language Culture], Vilnius: Mokslas. S a b a l i a u s k a s A l g i r d a s 1990: Lietuvių kalbos leksika [Vocabulary of the Lithuanian Language], Vilnius: Mokslas. S k a r d ž i u s P r a n a s 1996 [1943]: Lietuvių kalbos žodžių daryba [Word Formation in the Lithuanian Language], fotografuotinis leidinys [Rinktiniai raštai 1], Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidykla. DAIVA MURMULAITYTĖ ŽINGEIDUS – TO BE OR NOT TO BE S u m m a r y The adjective žingeidus ‘inquisitive’, coined by Motiejus Valančius (1801–1875), has been corrected for more than 120 years as not conforming to the norms of standard Lithuanian. In terms of its origin, it is considered a non-standard calque, modelled on words from other languages (cf. German wissbegierig, neugierig, Russian любознательный, etc.). Its morphology and formation are also problematic, as the ending –us is not characteristic of compound adjectives in Lithuanian. Finally, the semantics of its components – the noun žinios and the verb geisti (geidė) – also seem inappropriate. It is argued that the noun žinios is foreign to the semantics of science, education, knowledge, skill, etc., and the meaning of the verb geisti ‘to feel physical attraction, desire, to be overcome by passion’ also cannot semantically measure the meaning of the compound žingeidus. Instead of žingeidus, the adjective smalsus ‘curious’ is most often suggested. After evaluating the morphology, word formation, semantics, and synonymic relationships, reviewing the history of codification and the reasons for correction, and 15 examining the current usage of not only the adjective itself but also its derivatives, it becomes clear that there are sufficient reasons to include it in the standard language. First of all, žingeidus should apparently be considered a standard calque, i.e., a word that systematically fits in with indigenous derivatives, even though it was created based on examples from other languages. There are adjectives composed of nouns and verbs (e.g., sauleivengis, druskamegis, etc.) in the Lithuanian language. The derivational meaning of žingeidus would even correspond to one of the derivational meanings characteristic of this type of compounds – ‘engages in, does and likes what the first part of the word means’. Secondly, although rare, there are compound adjectives in the Lithuanian language with other endings, not just -is, for example: akilandus, keturpėščias. In terms of semantics, it should be noted that the noun žinios with the aforementioned ill-fitting meaning is found in all editions of the Dictionary of the Modern Lithuanian Language, the academic Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language, and the Educational Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language. This lexeme is used not only in spoken language, but also in edited texts (for example, in the Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia). As for geisti, it should be noted that žingeidus is based not on the second meaning mentioned above, but on the first meaning of the base verb, ‘to want very much, to desire’. Thus, there seems to be no semantic obstacles to the adjective žingeidus originating from the phrase žinių geisti (geidė). It is also important to note the considerable number of words derived from žingeidus, or, more precisely, words related to this adjective, not necessarily directly derived from it (žingeidžiai, žingeidumas, žingeidauti, žingeidavimas, pažingeidauti, žingeiduolis, žingeida1 ‘curiosity’, žingeida2 ‘curious person’, etc.). Some of them, although corrected, are used not only occasionally. This shows that words derived from žingeid- are relevant and remain in use. This is most likely because the proposed replacement smalsus is not a completely accurate equivalent (perhaps this is the most important reason to change the evaluation of the adjective žingeidus). These adjectives differ in one significant seme: žingeidus is not just curious, but seeking, even desiring, to learn more for self-education. Having decided that žingeidus and its most commonly used cognates correspond to the current norms of the standard Lithuanian language, they should also appear in the normative Dictionary of the Standard Lithuanian Language. The dictionary entries for žingeidus, žingeidžiai, and žingeidumas should reflect the semantic relationship of these words to the adjective smalsus and its derivatives, revealing their synonymy, differences in meaning, and differences in usage. 16