am- (1) prefix "up" (AM2)
Quenya
am-
prefix. up, up, [ᴱQ.] upwards
am-
up
am-
signifying addition, increase
am- (2) prefix used in comparison, "signifying addition, increase" (PE17:90), or with genitive superlative: elenion ancalima "brightest of stars" (PE17:91). Originally identical with #1 above. The form am- as such is in late Quenya only used before p and (presumably) before vowels; the longer form ama- came to be preferred before r and l; before other consonants, the prefix assumes the form an- (pronounced, but not in Romanized Quenya orthography written, añ- before c) (PE17:90-92). Phonologically we would expect am- before y- (since my is an acceptable Quenya combination); however, Tolkien used an- in the word anyára (q.v.) See an- #2 and compare ar- #2.
amba
adverb. up(wards)
An adverb for “up(wards)” derived from the root √AM “up” (PE17/157; Ety/AM²). In one place Tolkien said it “is generally limited to the qualification of words signifying or implying motion: especially ‘rise, ascend, climb, grow etc.’ (PE17/91)”, but that was not the case in (for example) Ambarussa “Top-russet” (PM/354), so this rule was not universal.
Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. amu “up(wards)” reflecting the earliest form of the root ᴱ√AM(U) (QL/30), but by the 1920s it was amba “up” (PE13/137; PE16/62), a form that was retained thereafter. In one place in The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gave it an alternate form ama beside amba (Ety/UNU), but since this was as an element in ᴹQ. amatikse “above dot” (Ety/TIK; EtyAC/UNU) I think it is more likely a variant of prefixal am- “up”.
amba
more
An adjective or (pro)noun for “more” along with an adverbial form ambë derived from √AMA “addition, increase, plus” (PE17/91). These words were part of a (brief?) conceptual framework around 1967 in which the intensive prefix am- was derived from this root. Elsewhere the root √AM generally meant “up”, and Tolkien seems to have reverted to an-intensives by 1969 as evidenced by anírime “most beautiful” (PE23/133).
Neo-Quenya: Despite these conceptual changes, I think it is worth retaining amba and ambe “more”, perhaps based on ✱an-bā and ✱an-bē. The first of these would clash with amba “up”, but I think it could usually be distinguished by context: á anta amba nin “give more to me” vs. mennes amba i oron “he went up the mountain”. See √AMA for more discussion.
amil(lë)
noun. mother
Tolkien used a number of similar forms for “mother” for most of his life. The earliest of these are ᴱQ. amis (amits-) “mother” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s along with variants ᴱQ. ambi, âmi, amaimi under the root ᴱ√AMA (QL/30). An additional variant ammi appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/30). In Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had ᴱQ. ambe or mambe “mother” (PE16/135). This became ᴹQ. amil “mother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√AM “mother” (Ety/AM¹).
This 1930s form amil appears to have survived for some time. It appeared in a longer form Amille in Quenya Prayers of the 1950s (VT43/26; VT44/12, 18), and as an element in the term amilessi “mother-names” in a late essay on Elvish naming (MR/217). In the initial drafts of Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s Tolkien used the form amilye or amye as an affectionate word for “mother”, and amaltil as the finger name for the second finger (VT47/26-27 note #34 and #35).
However, in those documents Tolkien seems to have revised the root for “mother” from √AM to √EM and the affectionate forms from amye to emya or emme (VT47/10; VT48/6, 19). The revised word for “mother” appears to be emil based on the 1st person possessive form emil(inya) (VT47/26).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I prefer to retain the root √AM for “mother”, since that is what Tolkien used for 50 years, and ignore the very late change to √EM. As such, I would recommend amil(le) for “mother” and affectionate forms amme “mommy” and amya. However, if you prefer to use Tolkien’s “final” forms, then emil(le), emme and emya seem to be what Tolkien adopted in the late 1960s.
ambë
adverb. more
-nyë
i am come
-n (2), also -nyë, pronominal ending, 1st person sg. "I" (VT49:51), as in utúlien "I am come" (EO), cainen "I lay" (VT48:12-13), carin or carinyë "I do" (VT49:16), veryanen *"I married" (VT49:45). See also VT49:48. Long form -nye- with object ending -s "it" following in utúvienyes (see tuv-). A possible attestation of -n in object position ("me") is provided by the untranslated verbal form tankassen (PE17:76), where -n may be preceded by -sse- as a longer form of the 3rd person sg. ending -s (see -s #1).
Umbarto
fated
Umbarto masc. name, "Fated", mother-name (never used in narrative) of Telufinwë = Amras. The ominous name was altered to Ambarto by Fëanor. (PM:353-354)
am(a)- Archaic
prefix. intensive prefix
am(be)na
adverb. nearer to
A word appearing as amna or ambena “nearer to” in notes from around 1967, an allative form of ambë “more” and more precisely meaning “to a further point in the motion towards an object” (PE17/91). It might be contrasted with ambela “further still beyond” or (hypothetical) ✱ambelo “further away from”.
am(il)ye
noun. *mummy
ama
up
ama adv.? element not glossed, evidently meaning "up" like the prefix am-, or an alternative form of amba (UNU)
amal
mother
amal noun "mother"; also emel (VT48:22, 49:22); the form amil (emil) seems more usual.
amaurëa
dawn, early day
†amaurëa noun "dawn, early day" (Markirya)
amba
up, upwards
amba 1) adv. "up, upwards" (AM2, PE17:157). Apparently also ama (UNU).
amba
more
amba 2) adj. and noun "more", "used of any kind of measurement spatial, temporal, or quantitative" (PE:17:91). Cf. adverb ambë.
amba
adverb. up
ambapenda
uphill
ambapenda adj. "uphill". Also ampenda. (AM2)
ambar
breast
ambar (3) noun ""breast" (chest), with stem in -s- or -r- (QL:30). The form ambar, translated "in bosom", occurs in MC:213 (this is "Qenya"). Note: if this word were to be adapted to LotR-style Quenya, we should probably have to read *ambas with stem ambar-; compare olos, olor- "dream" from a late source. However, the form ambos (q.v.) is less ambiguous and may be preferred.
ambarónë
noun. dawn, dawn; [ᴹQ.] uprising, sunrise, Orient
ambos
breast
ambos (ambost-) noun "breast" (chest). PE16:82
ambë
more
ambë adv. "more", "used of any kind of measurement spatial, temporal, or quantitative" (PE17:91). As noun or adjective, amba.
amil
mother
amil noun "mother" (AM1), also emil (q.v.) Longer variant amillë (VT44:18-19), compounded Eruamillë "Mother of God" in Tolkien's translation of the Hail Mary (VT43:32). If amil is a shortened form of amillë, it should probably have the stem-form amill-. Also compare amilyë, amya, emya. Compounded amil- in amilessë noun "mothername" (cf. essë "name"), name given to a child by its mother, sometimes with prophetic implications (amilessi tercenyë "mother-names of insight"). (MR:217).
ammë
mother
ammë noun "mother" (AM1)
amna
adverb. nearer to
ampenda
uphill
ampenda adj. "uphill". Also ambapenda. (AM2)
amu
up, upwards
amu adv. "up, upwards" (LT2:335; in Tolkien's later Quenya amba)
an-
prefix. intensive prefix
ango
snake
ango noun "snake"; stem angu- as in angulócë (q.v.); pl. angwi (ANGWA/ANGU)
car(am)aite
adjective. able to make,handy,craftsmanlike,skilled
emel
mother
emel noun "mother"; also amal (VT48:22, 49:22); the form amil (emil) seems more usual.
emil
mother
emil noun "mother", emilinya "my mother" (also reduced to emya) the terms a child would use in addressing his or her mother (VT47:26). Emil would seem to be a variant of amil. Also compare emel.
emil
noun. mother
et eärello endorenna utúlien
Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come
First phrase @@@
hlócë
snake, serpent
hlócë ("k")noun "snake, serpent", later lócë ("k")(SA:lok-)
lertan quetë
I can speak, I am free to speak
leuca
snake
leuca (1) noun "snake" (Appendix E)
leuca
noun. snake
The best known Quenya word for “snake”, appearing in Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings (LotR/1115). In 1964 notes on Dalath Dirnen (DD), Tolkien said it was derived from the root √LEWEK “worm” (PE17/160).
lil
more
lil adverbial particle "more" (PE14:80)
lir-
verb. to sing, to sing, [ᴹQ.] chant
mamil
mother, mummy
mamil noun *"mother, mummy" (UT:191)
mamil
noun. *mummy
An affectionate address from 4-year old Ancalimë to her mother Erendis (UT/191). It appears nowhere else, and I recommend using Q. amya instead for as an affectionate word for “mother”.
nányë
i am
nányë vb. "I am"; see ná #1
ontari
mother
ontari noun "mother" or etymologically "begetter, parent" (fem.); clashing with the plural ontari "parents", this was apparently an emphemeral form (see ontarë, ontaril, ontarië for other feminine forms of "begetter, parent") (VT44:7)
ontaril
mother
ontaril noun "mother", female *"begetter" (cf. onta-). Variant of ontarë. (VT43:32)
paranye parmanen
I am learning by means of a book
polin quetë
I can speak, I am able to speak
pícë
upon
pícë ("k") prep.? "upon" (???) (MC:214; this is "Qenya")
ric-
verb. to try, put forth effort, strive, endeavour
A verb for “to try” based on the root √RIK “put forth effort, strive, endeavour” in notes from around 1967 where Tolkien explored the Quenya equivalent of “try harder” = á rike amríkie (PE17/93-94). In those notes he said:
> ... this apparently simple phrase is in fact very idiomatic, and requires a context. Try retains many divergent meanings owing to its derivation from a word originally meaning “sift” > examine, judge, test, whence later in one branch > make tentative motions, trial efforts > attempt > endeavour, make efforts to a given end. Here the last: “put forth effort”, is usually the meaning (PE17/93).
The verb form rike appeared in what seems to be in a draft to these 1967 notes along with a variant rihta, both derivatives of √RIK “strive” (PE17/167).
Neo-Quenya: Based on the above, I would use ric- “try” mainly in the sense “strive, put for effort”. For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use nev- for the sense “try” = “✱seek opportunity, experiment”, a verb that appeared in the draft notes mentioned above (PE17/167); see that entry for discussion. More precisely, I would use ric- “try” when uncertain of whether I was capable of performing the action and it needed concerted effort, where I would use nev- “try” when I believed I was capable, but was uncertain what the result of the action will be.
This verb also conflicts with ric- “to twist”, but I believe the two can coexist since ric- “try” would usually be followed by a verb (rincen mate “I tried to eat”) as opposed to ric- “twist” either used intransitively or followed by a noun (rincen i sicil “I twisted the dagger”).
uan caruva
I am not going to make
uan cára
I am not making
umbarto
masculine name. Fated
vá ménanyë
I am not coming (I say)
á lirë amlírië
sing harder / better / with more vigour or with more vocalic art
ára
dawn
ára noun "dawn" (AR1). According to VT45:6, ára is also the name of the long vowel carrier of the Tengwar system; it would be the first letter of the word ára if spelt in Tengwar.
á ricë amrícië
try harder
sitta-
verb. I am used to, I do habitually
A prefix for “up”, very well attested and derived from √AM of the same meaning (Ety/AM²).
Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. am(u)- “up(wards)” reflecting the earliest form of the root ᴱ√AM(U) (QL/30), but by the 1920s the u was dropped (PE16/75), and it was only am- thereafter. In Tolkien’s later conception, it probably became ama- when seperation from a following consonant or cluster was needed (PE17/92), as in ᴹQ. amatikse “above dot” (Ety/TIK).