Sijausti

Sijausti is a verb attested mainly in Baltic-language dialects, where it is used to express the act of perceiving or feeling. In standard Lithuanian the common verb for this meaning is jausti, and in Latvian the equivalent is sajust. As a result, sijausti is typically described as a dialectal or historical variant rather than a part of modern standard vocabulary.

Meaning and usage: The core semantic field of sijausti overlaps with feel or sense, covering physical sensations (such as pain or warmth), emotional states (such as happiness or fear), and more subtle perceptual experiences (a sense of weather, atmosphere, or intuition). In dialectal contexts, the verb may carry connotations of immediacy or bodily perception, distinguishing it slightly from the more general sense of jausti in the standard language.

Etymology and forms: The exact origin of sijausti is uncertain. It is generally regarded as a regional variant within the same verbal family as jausti, potentially reflecting phonological or morphological processes typical of dialectal Baltic speech. Due to limited attestation, there is no single, widely accepted conjugation or paradigm for sijausti, and references to the form often appear in isolated texts rather than in comprehensive grammars.

Usage notes: Because sijausti is not part of standard Baltic languages, it is rarely used in contemporary writing or speech except when authors wish to evoke a traditional or regional flavor. For learners and speakers seeking standard expression, jausti (Lithuanian) or sajust (Latvian) are recommended.

See also: jausti; sajust; sajūta.