imbë (1) prep "between" (Nam, RGEO:67, VT47:11, PE17:92). This is "between" referring to a gap, space, barrier, or anything intervening between two other things, like or unlike one another (compare enel). The pluralized form imbi implies "among" of several things (ancalima imbi eleni "brightest among stars"); "in the sense 'among' before plurals [imbë] is usually pluralized > imbi even when a plural noun follows". As pointed out by Patrick Wynne, imbi may also be used in the sense of "between" before two singular nouns connected by "and" (as in the example imbi Menel Cemenyë "between heaven and earth"), whereas imbë is used before dual forms, as in the examples imbë siryat "between two rivers", imbë met "between us". Elided imb' in the phrase imb' illi "among all" (VT47:11, 30). A dual form imbit is also mentioned, used to express "in absolute form the sense 'between two things' when these are not named" (apparently meaning that imbit expresses *"between them" referring to two entities, with no noun following) (VT47:30, PE17:92)
Quenya
ancalima imbi eleni
brightest among stars
Variations
- ankalima imbi eleni ✧ PE17/091; VT47/30
ancalima
most bright, brightest
imbë
between
enel
between
enel prep. "between" = "at the central position in a row, list, series, etc. but also applied to the case of three persons" (VT47:11). This preposition refers to the position of a thing between others of the same kind; compare imbë.
mitta
preposition/adverb. between, [ᴹQ.] inwards, into, [ᴱQ.] in; [Q.] between
Derivations
- √MI/IMI “in, within, [ᴹ√] inside” ✧ VT43/30
Element in
- Q. aistana elyë imíca nísi “blessed art thou amongst women” ✧ VT43/30
- Q. Mittalmar “Inlands”
- Q. mittanya- “*to lead (into)”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √mi > mitta- [mitta] ✧ VT43/30 Variations
- mitta- ✧ VT43/30
mitta-
between
mitta- (2) prep. "between" (VT43:30; the final hyphen may suggest that suffixes would normally follow)
ancalima adj. "most bright, brightest", sc. calima "bright" with a superlative or intensive prefix (LotR2:IV ch. 9; see Letters:385 for translation). Ancalima imbi eleni "brightest among stars", also [ancalima] imb' illi "brightest among all" (VT47:30). Fem. name Ancalimë, *"Most Bright One", also masc. Ancalimon (Appendix A). Tar-Ancalimë, a Númenorean Queen (UT:210)