From vaina (“guilt”) +‎ -īgs.

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vainīgs (definite vainīgais, comparative vainīgāks, superlative visvainīgākais, adverb vainīgi)

1. guilty (who has committed an offense punishable by law; who has done something reprehensible, from which bad consequences resulted)

   atzīt kādu par vainīgu ― to declare someone guilty

   nevar taču cilvēku turēt cietumā tikai tāpēc, ka viņš nespēj pierādīt, ka nav vainīgs ― one can't hold a person in prison only because he wasn't able to show that he not guilty

   viņš ir vainīgs, ka darbu nevarēja laikā pabeigt ― he was guilty that (they) couldn't finish the work in time

   viņš ir vainīgs sava drauga nelaimē ― he is guilty of (lit. in) his friend's misfortune

   viņš, vienīgi viņš vainīgs, ka viņu dzīve neizplauka pilnā priekā ― he, he alone (is) guilty that their life didn't blossom in full joy

   Viktorija ir lasījusi, ka laulības strīdos vainīgs nekad nevar būt viens ― Victoria has read that in marriage conflicts the guilty is never (only) one

2. guilty (such that it expresses guilt)

   vainīgs smaids ― guilty smile

   skatiens kļuva vainīgs ― (his) gaze became guilty

3. (of objects, events, etc.) guilty (such that it is the cause of unpleasant or embarrassing consequences)

   jā, šie ikpavasara eksāmeni! tagad man liekas, tie laikam vainīgi, ka man nav saglabājušās skaistas atmiņas par pavasari un dabas atmodu ― jes, those spring exams! now it seems to me that they were maybe guilty of the fact that I have not conserved beautiful memories of spring and the awakening of nature

   sajutu plūstam pretī tādu kā spēcīgu petrolejas smaržu; tobrīd nospriedu, ka vainīgs ir etilētais benzīns ― I felt, flowing off opposite, something like a strong smell of kerosene; at the time I thought the leaded gasoline was guilty (= was the cause of the smell)

4. (definite form) culprit, perpetrator (person guilty of something)

   saukt vainīgos pie atbildības ― to bring the perpetrator to justice

   iesūdzēt vainīgo tiesā ― to sue the perpetrators in court

   vainīgie saņēma sodu ― the culprit received a fine

   bez vainas vainīgais ― culprit without guilt (i.e., an innocent man who was considered guilty)

• atbildīgs

• nevainīgs

• vainīgums, nevainīgums

• vaina
• vainība, nevainība
• vaininieks, vaininiece
• vainot