- (colloquial form) censība
From censt(ies) (“to try”) + -ība. The standard present stem for this verb has š (es cenšos, “I try”), but dialectally also t (es centos), which explains why there are derived forms with t, like centīgs, centība (“zeal”), and with s, like censonis (“striver, fighter, assiduous person”) or sacensība (“competition”) (and also, coloquially, censīgs, censība).
centība f (4th declension)
- industriousness, diligence, dedication, zeal (quality of one who is industrious, hard-working, diligent)
- simpātiska ir jūsu centība, neatlaidīga griba papildināt savu izgītību — pleasant is your diligence, (your) fierce desire to complete your education'