o (2) prep. "with" (MC:216; this is "Qenya"; WJ:367 states that no independent preposition o was used in Quenya. Writers may rather use as.) See ó- below.
Quenya
as
with
as
with
as
preposition. with
asëa aranion
noun. kingsfoil, asëa of the Kings
The Quenya name of S. athelas “kingsfoil” (LotR/864), a combination of asëa and aranion, the genitive plural of aran “king”, hence = “asëa of the kings” (PE17/49, 100). The exact meaning of asea itself isn’t entirely clear. Tolkien sometimes implied asea was another name of athelas (PE17/148; PE22/166), but the translation “asëa of the kings” seems to imply it was a more general term (?healing herb) and that “kingfoil” was more specifically asëa aranion. For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I prefer to use asea for healing herbs of any kind, and use asëa aranion for the species “kingsfoil”.
Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s, Tolkien had ᴹQ. asea aranaite, using a distinct adjective ᴹQ. aranaite “✱kingly, royal” instead of later aranion.
asanye
verb. I will (do so) -- as you ask/order
asa
asa
asa (þ) prefix denoting easiness in doing, cf. asalastë. The prefix often appears in reduced form as- before p, t, c, q, s (PE17:148), cf. ascenë.
as(a)-
prefix. easily
A prefix meaning “easy” appearing in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 and based on the root √ATHA (PE17/148). Tolkien specified that the normal form of the prefix was asa-, but that it became as- before p, t, c, q, s. Tolkien gave two examples of its use: asalaste “easily heard” and ascénima (or ascene) “easily seen”.
Conceptual Development: In a rejected page from the same set of notes, Tolkien had hra, hrai and hraia “easy” derived from the root √SRA(YA) of the same meaning (PE17/172), of which the first two were probably prefixes and the last an adjective. But Tolkien seems to have altered the root to √SRAG “difficult” and √RAY “smile”. Further down on the page Tolkien had asanóte next to the root AÞA, unglossed but probably meaning “easily counted” and representing his new idea for the prefix as(a)- “easy”, given above.
asëa
noun. healing herb, athelas
An element in the Quenya name for “kingsfoil”: asëa aranion (LotR/864), which was itself sometimes translated as “asea of the Kings” (PE17/49, 100). In Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 Tolkien derived asea from √ATHA “as name of plant athelas” (PE17/148), and in notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings around the same period it was derived from √ATH “ease, comfort, heal” (PE17/49). In notes from 1969 Tolkien describe it thus:
> Q asea (< aþāya) name (as = “beneficial”?) of a herb - not now known or at least identifiable, useful in healing both (as an infusion of its leaves) in easing the pain and hastening the healing of heavy blows or shocks, and as an invigorating odour in reviving the sick from depression, or even unconsciousness, after wounds or shock (PE22/165).
In these notes Tolkien first derived healing words from √AÞA, but he then introduced a new root √HATHA “treat kindly/make easy, (help to) cure” (PE22/166 note #109). In rough notes following this he gave {asea >>} aþea with the hard-to-read gloss “treating[?]. medically [?use], caring[?]” (PE22/166 note #110). This line of reasoning was left unfinished.
Neo-Quenya: Some of the above implies that asea was itself another name of the plant S. athelas, but for purposes of Neo-Quenya I think it is more useful to assume asea can refer to any kind of healing herb, and that “kingsfoil” is more specifically asëa aranion.
asalastë
easily heard
asalastë (*aþa-) adj. "easily heard" (PE17:148)
asanótë
easily counted
[asanótë] (þ) ?adj. (not glossed, perhaps *"easily counted" (PE17:172)
ascat-
break asunder
#ascat- vb. "break asunder", only attested in the past tense: ascantë (SD:310)
ascenë
visible, easily seen
ascenë, ascénima (þ) adj. "visible, easily seen" (PE17:148)
asië
ease, comfort
asië (þ)noun "ease, comfort" (PE17:148)
asya-
to ease, assist, comfort
asya- (þ) vb. "to ease, assist, comfort" (PE17:148)
asalastë
adjective. easily heard
asanótë
adjective. *easily counted
ascénima
adjective. visible, easily seen
asië
noun. ease, comfort
asya-
verb. to ease, assist, comfort
ascenë
adjective. visible, easily seen
astaldo
masculine name. Valiant
The sobriquet of Tulkas (S/28), a masculinized form of the adjective astalda “strong” (PE17/115).
Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, the sobriquet of Tulkas was ᴱQ. Poldórea (LT1/79), which was the adjective ᴱQ. poldórea “muscular” used as a name (QL/75). The name ᴹQ. Poldórea still appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, variously glossed “Strong One” or “Valiant” (SM/79, LR/206). It appeared in The Etymologies as an adjectival form of ᴹQ. poldore “physical strength; might” from the root ᴹ√POL(OD) “physically strong” (Ety/POL).
In later writings, the name Q. Poldórëa appeared in Tolkien’s Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings from the 1950s, along with variants Poldor and Poldorno, where he considered a new meaning for this name as “breaker up of the hard/tough” with its second element coming from the root √DOR “hard” (PE17/181). Ultimately, though the name was changed to Astaldo in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (MR/149).
asarta
noun. leech, doctor, doctor, leech
A word for “leech, doctor” in rough notes from 1969 given as aþarta, asartar, where the second word is hard to read and might be a plural form (PE22/166 notes #110). Slightly above this Tolkien had {aþumo >>} Q. aþar(o) “doctor, leech”. These words appear in the context of a discussion of the root √HATHA > Q. haþa- “to treat (medically)”, but given the lack of initial h these “doctor” words may instead be derived from the associated root √ATHA “be willing, agree; assist”, which appeared in the same set of pages (PE22/166 notes #109). Alternately, they may reflect vacillations on Tolkien’s part for the primitive developments for these words.
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would assume these “doctor” words result from a blending of √HATH and √ATH, aided by words like the healing herb asëa. After the change of þ > s, they would be pronounced asarta and asar(o).
astalda
adjective. strong, *valiant
An adjective glossed “strong” and derived from the root √STAL in a page of notes having to do with “large & small” words, probably from the late 1960s (PE17/115). This page was rejected, but Tolkien used Astaldo “Valiant” as a sobriquet of Tulkas in later versions of The Silmarillion. As such, I would assume [ᴺQ.] astalda is valid for purposes of Neo-Quenya, but I would use it with the meaning “✱valiant” rather than “strong”.
asambar
neighbour
asambar, asambaro noun "neighbour"; also armaro (VT48:20). Since the ending -o is associated with the masculine gender, the form asambar may be gender-neutral whereas the other forms are gender-marked as masculine.
asta
month
asta (1) noun "month", a division of the year (VT42:20). Pl. astar is attested (Appendix D). According to VT48:11, the basic meaning of asta is "division, a part", especially one of other equal parts: "of the year, a month or period". According to VT48:19, asta is also used in Quenya as a group suffix (see quentasta).
astarindo
bystander
astarindo noun "bystander" (one standing beside another as a supporter) (PE17:71). Also artarindo.
asëa
beneficial, helpful, kindly
asëa (þ) 1) adj. "beneficial, helpful, kindly" _(so according to a late note where the word is derived from *ATHAYA)_; hence also: 2) asëa (þ) noun,name of the healing plant called in Sindarin athelas(PE17:148), in English (representing Westron) called "kingsfoil", cf. longer Quenya name asëa aranion (þ) "asëa of kings" (LotR3:V ch. 8). Cf. aran.
Astaldo
the valiant
Astaldo noun "the Valiant", a title of Tulkas (Silm, MR:438); replaced Poldórëa.
asar
fixed time, festival
asar (þ) (Vanyarin athar) noun "fixed time, festival". Adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399) Pl. asari is attested (VT39:31)
assa
hole, perforation, opening, mouth
assa "hole, perforation, opening, mouth" (GAS)
assari
bones
assari noun "bones" (?) (MC:214; this is "Qenya")
asta-
to heat, bake (by exposure to sun)
asta- (2) vb. "to heat, bake (by exposure to sun)" (PE17:148)
astar
faith, loyalty (not belief)
astar noun "faith, loyalty (not belief)" (PE17:183). Not to be confused with the pl. form of asta #1.
astarmo
bystander
astarmo noun "bystander", mainly used in the sense of "witness" (PE17:71)
asto
dust
asto noun "dust" (ÁS-AT). According to VT45:6, asto was the name of tengwa #13 in the pre-classical system presupposed in the Etymologies, but Tolkien would later change the name of this letter to anto (its Quenya value changing from st to nt).
astyë
beside you
astyë prep. with pron. suffix *"beside you" (informal) (VT49:25); see ara
astë
beside you
astë prep. with pron. suffix (1) "beside you", in this sense changed to ardë; (2) "beside them", in this sense changed to artë (VT49:25). See ara.
asta-
verb. to heat, bake (by exposure to sun)
astar
noun. faith, loyalty
asa-
verb. to be willing, agree
asar
noun. fixed time, festival
asar(o)
noun. doctor, leech
asta
noun. month; division, part (esp. one of other equal parts)
astarindo
noun. bystander; supporter
astarmo
noun. bystander; witness
asumo
noun. friend at need, friend with shared interests, colleague
asa-
verb. be willing, agree (to do so)
asambar(o)
noun. *neighbor
asar(o)
noun. doctor, leech
asarta
verb. treat medically
asumo
noun. good companion,friend at need,colleague
lasi
on the contrary
lasi or lasir, -sír adv. "on the contrary", possibly an ephemeral form Tolkien replaced by úsië (VT49:17-18)
lasta-
listen
lasta- vb. "listen", also lasta adj. "listening, hearing" (LAS2, PE17:56); cf. adj. asalastë (*aþa-) adj. "easily heard" (PE17:148)
otornassë
brotherhood
otornassë noun "brotherhood" (TOR)
ránasta
lunar month
ránasta noun "lunar month" (Rána + asta, q.v.) (VT48:11)
hendas
?. [unglossed]
ránasta
noun. lunar month
ier
as
ier prep. "as" (VT43:16, probably rejected in favour of sívë, q.v.). In an abandoned version of the Quenya Lord's Prayer, Tolkien used ier...ter for "as...so" (VT43:17).
sívë
as
sívë (1) prep. "as", apparently ve of similar meaning with the prefix sí- "this, here, now"; sívë therefore makes a comparison with something close, whereas tambë (q.v.) refers to something remote. Sívë...tambë "as...so" (VT43:17). Elided sív' in VT43:12, since the next word begins in the vowel e-.
ya
as
ya (2) or yan, prep. "as" (VT43:16, probably abandoned in favour of sívë)
ye
as
[ye (3), also yé, prep. "as" (VT43:16, struck out; in the text in question Tolkien finally settled on sívë, q.v.)]
asyar
noun. assistant
asiya
noun. Asia
asahanyë
adverb. understandably, of course, (lit.) easily understood
asamahte
adjective. simple, (lit.) easily handled
ascarë
adjective. easily done
In his NQNT (NQNT), Helge Fauskanger used the neologisms ascarë and ascárima for “easily done” and “easy [to do]”, both combinations of the prefix as(a)- “easy” and forms of the verb car- “do”. Tolkien himself had ancárima “easy, very doable” in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969 (PE22/155) using the intensive prefix an-. However, I think Fauskanger’s neologisms are still useful, with ascárima emphasizing something requiring little effort to accomplish, while ancárima emphasizes the likelihood of success.
ascénië
adverb. obviously, *(lit.) easily seen
asquétima
adjective. easy to say
astai
conjunction. whereas, (lit.) beside-that-which
ier
preposition. *as
sívë
preposition. *as
yan
adverb/conjunction. *as
@@@ possibly modal adverb
ascárima
adjective. easy [to do]
sív’ emmë apsenet tien i úcarir emmen
as we forgive those who trespass against us
The eighth line of Átaremma, Tolkien’s Quenya translation of the Lord’s Prayer. The first word sív’ is an elided form of sívë “as”. It is followed by the emphatic second person plural subject pronoun emmë “us” and apsenet “forgive [them]”, the aorist form of the verb apsen- “forgive” with a plural direct object suffix -t. The fourth word tien “those” is a dative (indirect object) form of tie, apparently a variant of the third person plural pronoun te.
The second half of this phrase is the subordinate clause i úcarir emmen “who trespass against us”, composed of i “who”, úcarir “trespass” (aorist plural of úcar- “to do wrong, to sin”) and emmen “against us” (dative of emmë). The last of these is unusual in that it has an emphatic pronoun used as an object rather than the subject.
Decomposition: Broken into its constituent elements, this phrase would be:
> sív(e) emmë apsene-t tie-n i úcari-r emme-n = “✱as we forgive-them those-for who trespass-(plural) us-against”
Taken together, the first half of the phrase has a subject (emmë), verb (apsene), a direct object suffix (-t) and an indirect object (tien). The sense of the phrase is probably something like “✱as we forgive them [the trespasses] for those [the trespassers] who trespass against us”.
Conceptual Development: Earlier versions of the prayer (I-IV) used a different verb avatyar- for “forgive”, as well as different prepositions for “so”: ier (I-IIa) and yan (III-IV). They also lacked any Quenya equivalent of “those who” (tien i in versions V-VI). The literal meaning of this phrase in versions I-IV of the prayer seems to be “✱as we forgive our trespassers”.
Tolkien considered a variety of ways to express “trespassers”. In version I-III, he used a (?verbal) element meaning “trespass” with the agental suffix -ndo: lucando (I), lucindo (IIa-IIb) and rocindë (III), all meaning “trespasser” and all in the plural. In version IV, he used rohtalië “trespass-people”, a compound of the noun rohta “trespass” and lië “people”.
These he combined with either the independent pronoun menya “our” (I-IIb, IV) or the possessive suffix -mma “our” (I deletion, III). Finally, he used an ablative element meaning “from”, either the preposition va (I-IIb) or the ablative suffix -llo (I deletion, III-IV). There was a similar construction for the verb avatyar- in line 6.
In version V of the prayer, Tolkien corrected úcarer to úcarir. This second form is more consistent with the rules Tolkien followed elsewhere in forming the aorist tense of a (basic) verb: it ends in an -e if unsuffixed but has an -i- between it and any suffix (-r in this case). However, Tolkien still used the form úcarer in version IV of the prayer, for reasons unknown.
| | I |IIa|IIb|III|IV|V|VI| |ier|yan|sív’| |emme| |{avatyarirat >>}|avatyarir ta|avatyarilta|apsenet| | |tien i| |{lucandollommar >>}|va menya lucandor|va menya lucindor|rocindillomman|menya rohtaliello|úcarer emmen|
For better consistency with Tolkien’s other writings, I have used the more typical aorist form úcarir for the entry of this phrase. As Helge Fauskanger points out (LP-AM), there is a similar issue with apsenet, which might be expected to be ✱✱apsenit, though in this case the variation may be due to the fact that object suffixes are appended directly to the verb instead of to a subject suffix.
yallë
conjunction. as, like, [lit.] in the same way as
A word for “as, like” or more literally “in the same way as”, a combination of the relative pronoun ya and the suffix -llë related to lé “way, method, manner” (PE17/74).
Conceptual Development: Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948 instead had ᴹQ. íl or ilde of similar meaning, but using the earlier suffix -l(de) (PE23/111).
tambë engë i et...
as it was [in] the [beginning]...
The second line of Alcar i Ataren, Tolkien’s translation of the Gloria Patri prayer. The first word is tambë “as”, also seen in the Átaremma prayer. The second word is enge “[it] was”, the past tense of ëa- “to be, to exist”. This is followed by i “the” and an incomplete word beginning with et (“out?”). At this point Tolkien stopped work on the prayer.
vanima
adjective. beautiful, fair, beautiful, fair, *handsome; [ᴱQ.] proper, right, as it should be, fair
A word for “beautiful, fair” derived from the root √BAN of similar meaning (PE17/55, 143, 150, 165). Tolkien specified that this word was used “only of living things, especially Elves or Men” (PE17/150). Tolkien further stated that this would did not mean only “fair (blond)”, because it was applicable to Arwen who had dark hair (PE17/165). Thus it applied to any physically beautiful living creature.
Conceptual Development: The first appearance of this word was in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where ᴱQ. {vana >>} vanĭma was glossed “proper, right, as it should be, fair” under the early root ᴱ√VANA (QL/99). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was ᴹQ. vanima “fair” under the root ᴹ√BAN (Ety/BAN). In this document it was the basis for ᴹQ. Vanimo “the Beautiful”, indicating that by the 1930s its base meaning had shifted from “proper” to “beautiful”.
Neo-Sindarin: In the “Neologism of the Day” (NotD) series on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server as posted 2023-05-30, Delle pointed out that this word was not specifically feminine, so could also mean “✱handsome” when applied to males.
-vë
as, like
-vë, (3) apparently an ending used to derive adverbs from adjectives (see andavë under anda and oiavë under oia). May be related to the preposition ve "as, like".
rondo
vaulted or arched roof, as seen from below
rondo noun "a vaulted or arched roof, as seen from below" (and usually not visible from outside); "a (large) hall or chamber so roofed", "vaulted hall" _(WJ:414; VT39:9; in the Etymologies, stem ROD, the gloss is simply "cave" or "roof"; see VT46:12 for the latter gloss)_. Cf. *Elerondo.
tenna
until, up to, as far as
tenna prep. "until, up to, as far as" (CO), "unto" (VT44:35-36), "to the point", "right up to a point" (of time/place), "until", "to the object, up to, to (reach), as far as" (VT49:22, 23, 24, PE17:187), elided tenn' in the phrase tenn' Ambar-metta "unto the ending of the world" in EO, because the next word begins in a similar vowel; cf. tennoio "for ever" (tenna + oio, q.v.) The unelided form appears in PE17:105: Tenna Ambar-metta.
ve
as, like
ve (1) prep. "as, like" (Nam, RGEO:66, Markirya, MC:213, 214, VT27:20, 27, VT49:22); in Narqelion ve may mean either "in" or "as". Ve fírimor quetir *"as mortals say" (VT49:10), ve senwa (or senya) "as usual" (VT49:10). Followed by genitive, ve apparently expresses "after the manner of": ve quenderinwë coaron ("k") "after the manner of bodies of Elven-kind" (PE17:174). Tolkien variously derived Quenya ve from older wē, bē or vai(VT49:10, 32, PE17:189)
ó-
used in words describing the meeting, junction, or union of two things or persons, or of two groups thought of as units
ó- (usually reduced to o- when unstressed) a prefix "used in words describing the meeting, junction, or union of two things or persons, or of two groups thought of as units". In omentië, onóna, ónoni, q.v. _(WJ:367, PE17:191; in the Etymologies, stem WŌ, the prefix _o-, ó- is simply defined as "together".) In VT43:29 is found a table showing how pronominal endings can be added to the preposition ó-; the resulting forms are onyë or óni "with me", ómë "with us" [also in VT43:36, where "us" is said to be exclusive], ólyë or ólë "with you" (olyë only sg. "you", whereas ólë can be either sg. or pl.), ósë "with him/her", ótë *"with them" (of animates where "them" refers to non-persons, óta [or shortened ót] is used, though the conceptual validity of ta as a pl. pronoun is questionable), ósa (or shortened ós) "with it". (Two additional forms, ótar and ótari, presumably mean "with them" of inanimate things; see VT49:56 for a possible second attestation of tar as the word for plural inanimate "they".) However, Tolkien's later decision to the effect that ó- refers to two parties only may throw doubt upon the conceptual validity of some of these forms, where at least three persons would be implied (like ótë "with them", where one person is "with" two or more others though Tolkien indicates that two groups may also be involved where the preposition ó- is used). The explicit statement in WJ:367 that the prepostion o (variant of ó) did not exist independently in Quenya is however difficult to get around, so instead using the preposition ó/o (with or without endings) for "with", writers may rather use as, the form appearing in the last version of Tolkien's Quenya Hail Mary (also attested with a pronominal suffix: aselyë "with you").
astallos
noun. azalea, rhododendron
asa
noun. guest
asalsambë
noun. guest-room
ascara
adjective. violent, rushing, impetuous
astaincë
noun. particle
astal
noun. valour
astamo
noun. member
asanta-
verb. to decide
astalda
adjective. *valiant; strong
úsië, an cé mo quernë cendelë númenna, ve senya
on the contrary, for if one turned the face westward, as was usual
Third phrase @@@
| | I | II |III|IV| V |VI|VII| |{lasi >> la >>}|lasir|>>|ūsir|úsir| |úsir|>> úsie| |{pan >> an >>}|an ké mo| |{nanquerne >> númequerna >>}|querne|{quernesse >>} quernes|querne|quere|querne| |immo|kanwarya|kendele| |númenna|(ve senya)|númenna| |(ve ...)| |(ve senwa)|(ve senya)|{i hyarma} númenna|ve senya|
tambë
preposition. *as, so
tenna
preposition. until, up to, as far as, to the point, to reach
ve
preposition. as, like, similar, after the manner [of], as, like, similar, after the manner [of]; [ᴹQ.] with
pá
preposition. touching, against, on (above but touching); as regards, concerning, touching, against, on (above but touching); as regards, concerning, [ᴹQ.] about
farnë
noun. ash, rowan, ash, rowan; [ᴹQ.] foliage
A Quenya noun for the rowan-tree, appearing in an explanation of the name Orofarnë “Mountain Ash” in notes from the 1950s, though Tolkien marked it with a “?” as uncertain (PE17/83). Its older form was either fărnĭ or primitive ✶pharne; if the former, its stem form would be farni-.
Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies from the 1930s, a similar word ᴹQ. feren/ferne appears as the Quenya word for “beech-tree” under the root ᴹ√PHER(EN) (Ety/PHER). Conversely, ᴹQ. farne appeared with the gloss “foliage” as a derivative of {ᴹ√PHARAN >>} ᴹ√PHAS (EtyAC/PHARAN, PHAS). As names of trees, it is possible that Tolkien intended to replace ferne < ᴹ√PHER(EN) with farnë < √PHAR(AN).
Neo-Quenya: For the purpose of Neo-Quenya writing, I think it is worth retaining both ᴹQ. feren “beech” and Q. farnë “ash, rowan” (along with its Sindarin cognate S. faran) as etymological variants referring to two distinct species of trees. For the sense “foliage”, it is probably better to use the later word olass(i)ë.
meneldil
noun. astronomer, *(lit.) lover of the heavens
A term for “astronomer” appearing in a 1967 letter to Mr. Rang, a combination of the word Q. menel “the heavens” with the suffix -(n)dil “-lover”, so more literally “✱lover of the heavens” (though specifically “love” as in “deep interest in”). It also appeared as the proper name Q. Meneldil, the third king of Gondor (LotR/1038).
ahosta
verb. assemble, gather
A verb occurring in the Markirya poem, consists of prefix a- and verb hosta- (gather).
Tolkien noted: "When the bare stem of the verb is used (as after 'see' and 'hear') as infinitive na- [changed to a-] is prefixed if the noun is the object not the subject". In man cenuva lumbor ahosta (changed from na-hosta), "who shall see the clouds gather"
lorna
asleep
lorna adj. "asleep" (LOS)
lóralya
asleep
#lóralya adj. "asleep" (VT14:5; this is "Qenya"; in Tolkien's later Quenya rather lorna)
maquet-
ask
#maquet- vb. *"ask", only attested in the past tense: maquentë (PM:403)
na-súrimar
noun. aspirate
aspirate [stops]
orosta
ascension
orosta noun "ascension" (LT1:256)
rosta
ascent
rosta noun "ascent" (LT1:267)
cesta-
verb. ask
nasal
noun. guest
hosta-
verb. to gather (hastily together), collect, assemble, pile up
This was the Quenya verb for “gather” for most of Tolkien’s life. It appeared in notes associated with the Markirya poem from the 1960s with the glosses “gather, collect, assemble” (MC/223). It also appeared in Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s with the glosses “gather hastily together, pile up” and derived from √KHOT “gather, together in confusion, jumble” (PE17/39). ᴹQ. hosta- “to collect” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√KHOTH “gather” (Ety/KHOTH). ᴱQ. hosta- appeared in the Qenya Verb Forms of the 1910s as the basis for ᴱQ. hostalka “able to gather” (PE14/33-34).
ócom-
verb. to gather, assemble
An intransitive verb appearing as ókome “gathers, assembles” in notes from around 1959-60 based on √KOM “gather, collect” (PE17/158). A rejected section of the same notes has okom- “assemble (intransitive)” along with some past and perfect forms (PE17/157).
combë
gathering, assembly, assemblage, collection
combë ("k") noun "gathering, assembly, assemblage, collection". Also ocombë (PE17:158)
comya-
gather, assemble
comya- ("k")vb. "gather, assemble" (transitive)(PE17:158)
hat-
break asunder
hat- (2) vb. "break asunder", pa.t. hantë (SKAT). Compare ascat-, terhat-. It may be that Tolkien eventually restored the verb hat- "fling" occurring in early material (see above), leaving the conceptual status of hat- "break asunder" uncertain (for "break", late material has rac-).
hosta-
gather, collect, assemble
hosta- vb. "gather, collect, assemble" (Markirya), "gather hastily together, pile up" (PE17:39), hostainiéva "will be gathered", future tense of the stative verb *hostainië*, derived from hostaina "gathered", past participle of hosta- "gather". Such stative verbs are probably not conceptually valid in Tolkien's later Quenya; see -ië**. (FS)
ocombë
gathering, assembly, assemblage, collection
ocombë ("k") noun "gathering, assembly, assemblage, collection". Also combë (PE17:158)
osellë
sister, [female] associate
osellë (þ) noun "sister, [female] associate" (THEL/THELES, WŌ). Cf. otorno.
sinwa
known, certain, ascertained
sinwa passive participle "known, certain, ascertained" (PE17:68), connecting with ista- and sintë. Also sína.
sína
known, certain, ascertained
sína passive participle "known, certain, ascertained" (PE17:68), connecting with ista- and sintë. Also sinwa.
ócom-
gather, assemble
#ócom- vb. "gather, assemble" (intransitive)(PE17:157, 158). Cited in the form ócomë "gathers, assembles", evidently an endingless aorist. Perfect ócómië given.
yando
also
yando adv. "also" (QL:104)
(o)combë
noun. gathering, assembly, assemblage, collection, gathering, assembly, assemblage, collection, *congregation
@@@ gloss “congregation” in NQNT
cesta-
verb. to ask
combë
noun. gathering, assembly, assemblage, collection
heren
noun. order, order, *association
maquet-
verb. *to question, ask
náquet-
verb. to assent, agree (on fact); (lit.) to say ‘it is’
sinwa
adjective. known, certain, ascertained
istalima
adjective. knowable, ascertainable
maquente elendil
*asked Elendil
ortea
adjective. rising, ascendant
aryë
adverb. as well, besides, in addition; also known as; also, too
A neologism for “also, as well, besides, too” coined by Elaran on 2023-06-22 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) derived from primitive ASjē based on the root √AS “beside” which is also the basis for ar “and”. I would use this neologism primarily in the sense “as well, in addition, besides” as a replacement for ᴱQ. aru, while for the sense “also” = “too” I would use attested: [ᴹQ.] yú (PE22/121-2). The neologism arye was originally proposed to mean “also known as”, such as: Artanis Nerwen, arye Altáriel. I would use arye for this sense as well.
sunca
noun. cone (of a tree, as in pine cone)
A neologism coined by Arael posted on 2024-05-28 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), based on the Neo-Root ᴺ√THUK “resin”.
ar
conjunction. and, and; [ᴱQ., ᴹQ.] but
The word ar was the Quenya word for “and” for much of Tolkien’s life. It was related to (and originally identical with) Q. ar(a) “beside” (PE17/70). The word ar was always used between sentences, but in sets of items sometimes yo and ta were used instead.
Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s ᴱQ. ar(a) was glossed “but” under the early root ᴱ√ƷARA “spread, extend sideways” (QL/32). In this earliest period the word for “and” was ᴱQ. ya(n) (QL/104). By the end of the 1920s when Tolkien composed the Nieninqe and Earendil poems, he consistently translated ar as “and” (MC/216; PE16/100). The translation “but” reappeared in a few phrases from the 1940s (PE22/124; PE23/74), but it is not clear if these were genuine shifts in meaning or loose translations.
By the time Tolkien wrote The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹQ. ar “and” was derived from the root ᴹ√AR “beside, outside” (Ety/AR²). This seems to have remained the case up through most of the 1950s, with the possible exception of a couple phrases in the 1930s where Tolkien used a “and” instead (LR/61, 72). In this period the usual Noldorin/Sindarin word for “and” was also ar.
At some point while writing drafts of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien decided that the Sindarin word for “and” should a in the famous phrase pedo mellon a minno “speak, friend, and enter”. His motivations for this change are unclear, but he noticed the problem in notes written between the first and second edition of The Lord of the Rings, saying “a·Berhael. ‘And’ cannot therefore be [derived from] arĭ!” (PE17/102). From this point forward, Tolkien considered two possible roots serving as the basis for “and”: √AD(A) and √AS, both meaning “beside” (PE17/145; VT48/25). Of the two, Tolkien appears to have settled on √AS, which appeared in a few different notes from 1968 (VT47/31; VT48/25).
Assimilations: In the notes written between both the 1st and 2nd edition of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien consider what kind of assimilations ar might have before consonants if it were derived from √AS or √AD (PE17/41). For √AS it became a before the consonants f, h, hw, hy, became as before t, k, p, q, s, and became al before l. For √AD it became a before the consonants n, m, became as before s, and became al before l. In notes from around 1964 Tolkien said:
> It is not necessary here to specify all the assimilations that could have occurred at these different stages, since in fact few have left traces in the forms of “and” ... Later after development to ar, only as survived as an occasional form before t, and as the usual form before s (of any origin); while al appeared before l. But in written Quenya ar was usually written in all cases, though the pronunciation of ar-s, ar-l as as-s, al-l remained usual (PE17/71).
In this particular discussion, ar as derived from √AD. However, the system Tolkien described was that all the older assimilations were abandoned, and the only ones that survived were based on later assimilations involved r of any origin: rs > ss and rl > ll. These sound shifts only affected pronunciation, not spelling. Thus the same arguments would be apply if ar was derived from √AS.
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would write ar “and” in all cases, and would assume it was derived from derived from √AS, but would further assume that the Tarquesta pronunciations before s and l were as-s, al-l.
men
noun. way, way, *direction; [ᴹQ.] place, spot [only in compounds]
A noun or word element, most notably appearing in the four cardinal directions formen, hyarmen, númen, and rómen, which Christopher Tolkien translated as “way” in The Silmarillion appendix (SA/men). This is consistent with the later meaning of its root: √MEN “go, move, proceed”, and in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 Tolkien had a primitive form ✶mēn- “a way, a going, a mov[ement]” (PE17/165) which might be the source of Christopher Tolkien’s translation of Q. men.
Conceptual Development: The situation in Tolkien’s earlier writings was different. In The Etymologies of the 1930s ᴹQ. men was translated “place, spot” under the root ᴹ√MEN (Ety/MEN). In this document, it seems the literally meaning of direction words were “✱north-place”, “✱south-place”, etc., as opposed to later “✱north-direction, ✱south-direction”. This can be seen in other words Tolkien used in this period, such as ᴹQ. Ilmen “Place of Light” (SM/241).
This ambiguity continued into Tolkien’s later writings, as can be seen in a 1965 letter to Dick Plotz, where Tolkien translated númen “the direction or region of the sunset” (Let/361). Another example is menel “firmament, high heaven, the region of the stars”, which Tolkien said was “a Q. invention from men (direction, region) + el (the basis of many stars)” in The Road Goes Ever On as published in 1967 (RGEO/65). There are other Quenya words where men refers to a location rather than a direction: ruimen “fireplace, hearth” (PE17/183) and turmen “realm” = “✱mastered-region” (PE17/28), both from the mid-1960s.
However, some words are hard to explain as locations, such as alamen “a good omen on departure”, also from DLN of 1959 (PE17/162). Tolkien used men as an element in the terms coimen “life-year” and olmen “growth-year” in notes from around 1959, which are probably best explained as a “way” or “process” of life or growth (NM/84-85). However the stems of these words ended in mend-, so their element men may be different from what is seen in formen, etc. As another wrinkle, Tolkien regularly used nómë to mean “place” in his later writings, as in sinomë “in this place [= here]” (LotR/967) and tanomë “in that place [= there]” (VT49/11).
It is hard to determine how much of this variation is due to conceptual vacillation on Tolkien’s part. My best guess of the timelime is that:
In the 1930s men meant “place, spot”, and the root ᴹ√MEN was not verbal (Ety/MEN).
In the 1940s Tolkien decided that √MEN was verbal, meaning {“intend” >>} “go” (PE22/103).
By the 1950s Tolkien reformulated men to mean “way, a going” in keeping with the new meaning of the root (PE17/165). In this period Tolkien also introduced nómë “place”.
By the 1960s Tolkien partially reversed himself, deciding men could mean either “way, direction” and “place, region”, but without abandoning nómë.
Neo-Quenya: The word men is somewhat contentious in Neo-Quenya. The word men is a very popular element for “place” in many neologisms (especially older ones), such as ᴺQ. natsemen “website = ✱web-spot”, ᴺQ. tirmen “theater = ✱watch-place” and ᴺQ. mótamen “office = ✱work-place”. However, others feel that this sense has been entirely replaced by nómë, so that men in such compounds should be replaced by a suffix ᴺQ. -non (-nom-).
Given this ambiguity, I would use men only for “way, ✱direction” as a standalone word, and would instead use nómë = “place”. However, given Tolkien’s vacillations as described above, I would allow the use of men as “place, spot, region” in compounds [perhaps originally conceived of as a destination], though I think ᴺQ. -non “-place” is also fine.
vilvarin
noun. butterfly
A word for “butterfly” appearing as wilwarin in the Markirya poem of the 1960s based on the adjective wilwa “fluttering to and fro” (MC/222, 223). It has a stem form of wilwarind- as implied by the adjective wilwarindëa “like a butterfly” from the version of the Nieninquë poem from the 1960s (PE16/96). The appearance of an initial w- in this word is somewhat unusual: see the entry on the sound [w] for further discussion. Its modern Quenya pronunciation would be vilwarin or vilvarin. Tolkien himself occasionally used vilvarin instead (PE16/72; MR/166).
Conceptual Development: The word ᴱQ. wilwarin (wilwarind-) “butterfly” appeared all the way back in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√GWILI (QL/104). That document also had an adjective form ᴱQ. wilwarinda, descriptive of the sycamore tree (QL/57). This word appeared in the versions of the Oilima Markirya poem written around 1930, and the adjective wilwarindea appeared in the version of the Nieninqe poem from this period. ᴹQ. wilwarin “butterfly” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√WIL “fly” with a plural form wilwarindi (Ety/WIL). Thus this word was quite stable in Tolkien’s mind, and usually appeared with an initial w.
vequi
conjunction. as if, as though
@@@ Discord 2022-03-20
yalca
as much as, as great as
yallini
as many as
yanaurëa
adjective. as old as, (lit.) of the same days as
yanicca
adverb. as little as, as small as
axo
noun. bone
A word for “bone” appearing in the Markirya poem from the 1960s in its plural form axor (MC/222-223). It might be related (conceptually if not etymologically) to the root √AKAS “neck, ridge” (PE17/92).
Conceptual Development: A similar word ᴱQ. as (ass-) bone dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/33). The locative plural of this noun assari “of bones” appeared in the Oilima Markirya poem written around 1930. The form ᴹQ. astŭ- “bone” appeared in the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s (PE21/27).
Neo-Quenya: While this word could be derived from ✱aksō, I prefer to assume it is derived from ✱ᴺ✶askō with metathesis sk > ks in Quenya. This makes it more etymologically distinct from axë “neck” and also allows a (Neo) Sindarin form ᴺS. asg “bone”, since a Sindarin derivative of ✱aksō would collide with S. ach “neck”.
lé
preposition. with
The preposition lé “with” was mentioned in a (rejected) etymology of S. di “with” in Tolkien’s notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/94), from the phrase le nallon sí di’nguruthos (LotR/729), usually translated “here overwhelmed in dread of Death, I cry”. In this note, Tolkien eventually decided that S. (n)di actually meant “beneath”, and its Quenya equivalent was Q. nî.
Conceptual Development: Prepositional ᴹQ. le also appeared in the Lament of Atalante from the 1940s, in the phrase ᴹQ. Númeheruvi arda sakkante lenéme Ilúvatáren “the Lords of the West broke the world by [or with] leave of Ilúvatar” (SD/246, 310). Here “with” seems to be used in the instrumental sense “by means of”. The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. le “with (accompaniment)” under the early root ᴱ√LĒ (QL/52). Le was also mentioned in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon as the equivalent of G. li “with (of accompaniment only)”, but also used to mean “and” between nouns GL/54().
Neo-Quenya: I would retain ᴺQ. lé for purposes of Neo-Quenya as a rarely-used instrumental preposition meaning “with, by (means of)”, reconceived as a derivative of √LEÑ “✱way, method, manner” (PE17/74).
nén
noun. water, water, [ᴱQ.] river
The word for “water”, a derivative of the root √NEN of the same meaning (PE17/52; Ety/NEN). Its stem form was nen- (Ety/NEN) and its primitive form was given as ✶nē̆n, the vowel length variation due to distinct subjective nēn versus objective/inflected nĕn- in ancient monosyllables (PE21/64).
Conceptual Development: This word first appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with two senses: “river” and (archaic) “†water”. Tolkien indicated the two senses were based on distinct roots: ᴱ√NEŘE [NEÐE] and ᴱ√NENE respectively, with two distinct stem forms nend- and nēn (QL/64-65). The Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa also mentions the forms nen (nēn-) “water” versus nen(d-) “river” (PME/64-65). In the English-Qenya Dictionary of the mid-1920s Tolkien had both nēn “river” (PE15/76) and nēn “water” (PE15/78), but in the Early Qenya Grammar he had only nēn “water” (PE14/43, 72), also appearing as nen “water” in documents on The Valmaric Script from this period (PE14/110).
In the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s, Tolkien had ᴹQ. nēn “water”, but in this document it had nēn- with long ē in its inflected forms as well (PE21/23). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, however, uninflected nén “water” had a stem form of nen- with short e (Ety/NEN), and the reasons for this variation was discussed in Primitive Quendian Structure: Final Consonants from 1936, the nominative/objective distinction noted above (PE21/64). This seems to be the paradigm Tolkien stuck with thereafter, as evidenced by S. nen “water” rather than ✱✱nîn.
nésa
noun. sister
A word for “sister” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √NETH of similar meaning (VT47/12, 14). It had a diminutive/affectionate variant nettë used as a play name for the fourth finger in several places in these notes (VT47/12; VT48/6), but I prefer to mainly use nettë for “(little) girl” in Neo-Quenya (VT47/10, 15, 33).
Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. seler “sister” from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES (Ety/THEL), and the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. heresse “sister” from the early root ᴱ√HESE (QL/40). See those entries for discussion.
orta-
verb. to rise
Tolkien defined an intransitive verb orta- “to rise” based on the root √OR “rise”, first mentioned in The Etymologies of the 1930s where Tolkien had ᴹQ. orta- glossed both transitive “raise” and intransitive “rise” (Ety/ORO). This intransitive verb reappeared in the Quenya Verbal System of 1948 as ta-formative ort(a), contrasted with ta-causative ᴹQ. ortā́ “raise, lift” = “✱make rise” (PE22/114). In this paradigm, intransitive “rise” was distinguished from transitive “raise” mainly in its half-strong past tense oronte “rose” (or archaic †ronte), as opposed weak past ortane “raised, lifted” (PE22/115).
In QVS, Tolkien gave another intransitive verb ᴹQ. orya-, and said “to avoid the confusion with the causatives -ya was preferred for intransitives: so oryane, rose, ortane, raised” (PE22/115). This seems to indicate orya- “rise” was preferred. Despite this, intransitive orta- “rise” continued to appear in Tolkien later writings (PE17/52, 64; PE21/77; PE22/164) as an alternate to orya- “rise”, which appeared regularly as well (see that entry for details).
Conceptual Development: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I prefer the more distinctive verb orya- for “rise”, and I use orta- only for transitive “raise”. However, some Neo-Quenya writers like the idea of a transitive/intransitive verb distinguished by different past forms. For example Helge Fauskanger used orta- for both “rise” and “raise” in his NQNT (NQNT).
orya-
verb. to rise
An intransitive verb for “to rise” mentioned in various places in Tolkien’s later writings of the 1940s, 50s and 60s, based on the root √OR “rise” (PE17/64; PE22/114, 156). Tolkien usually described it as a ya-formative verb with a half-strong past oronye (PE17/64, 77; PE22/164), though Tolkien occasionally gave it a weak past oryane (PE22/115, 157).
Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. oro- “rise” based on the early root ᴱ√ORO (QL/70). In a rejected page of verbs and roots from the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) written in 1948, Tolkien had [verb?] ᴹQ. oro, orro “up, rise (from ground)” derived from the root ᴹ√SRŌ (PE22/127), but in the main document he used ya-formative ᴹQ. orya- for “rise” (PE22/114-115), possibly the first appearance of this version of the verb. Tolkien sometimes gave the intransitive Quenya verb for “to rise” as ta-formative orta- with half-strong past oronte; see that entry for discussion.
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I prefer orya- “rise” with half-strong past oronye, and because Tolkien said “-ya was preferred for intransitives” (PE22/115).
wilwarin
proper name. Butterfly
Name of a constellation (S/48) which is simply the word wilwarin “butterfly” used as a name (MC/223). It is unusual in that it begins with the letter [w], which in Quenya usually became [v], indicating it is probably of ancient origin. In one place (MR/166), Tolkien wrote this name as Vilvarin before changing it to Wilwarin. See the entry for vilvarin for further discussion.
úrë
noun. heat
A word for “heat” and name of tengwa #36 [.] in The Lord of the Rings Appendix E (LotR/1123), a derivative of √UR “heat” (PE22/160). On the basis of Úrimë “August, ✱Hot-one”, its stem form might be ✱úri-. Its function as a tengwar name probably reflects its use for u-diphthongs in Tengwar spelling.
Conceptual Development: In the 1st edition of The Lord of the Rings the name of tengwa #36 was úr “heat” (RC/736), and in earlier documents on The Feanorian Alphabet this word was glossed “fire, heat” (PE22/51) or just “fire” (PE22/23); see the discussion under ᴹQ. úr for further details.
-lyë
you, thou
-l or -lyë (VT49:48, 51), pronominal endings for 2nd person sg. polite/formal "you, thou": caril or carilyë *"you do" (VT49:16), hamil "you judge" (VT42:33), anel "you were" (see ná #1); see -lyë for further examples. These endings may also be added to pronouns (etel/etelyë or mil, milyë; see et, mi). In one source, -l is rather used as a reduced affix denoting plural "you"; see heca! (WJ:364)
-ndur
friend
-ndur (also -dur), ending in some names, like Eärendur; as noted by Christopher Tolkien in the Silmarillion Appendix it has much the same meaning as -ndil "friend"; yet -ndur properly means "servant of" (SA:(noun)dil), "as one serves a legitimate master: cf. Q. arandil king's friend, royalist, beside arandur 'king's servant, minister'. But these often coincide: e.g. Sam's relation to Frodo can be viewed either as in status -ndur, in spirit -ndil." (Letters:286)
-ndë
you
[#-ndë (2) pronominal suffix for dual "you", as in carindë *"you (two) do". Tolkien changed the ending to -stë (VT49:33)]
-nna
to
-n (1) dative ending, originating as a reduced form of -nă "to", related to the allative ending -nna (VT49:14). Attested in nin, men, ten, enyalien, Erun, airefëan, tárin, yondon (q.v.) and also added to the English name Elaine (Elainen) in a book dedication to Elaine Griffiths (VT49:40). The longer dative ending -na is also attested in connection with some pronouns, such as sena, téna, véna (q.v.), also in the noun mariéna from márië "goodness" (PE17:59). Pl. -in (as in hínin, see hína), partitive pl. -lin, dual -nt (Plotz). The preposition ana (#1) is said to be used "when purely dative formula is required" (PE17:147), perhaps meaning that it can replace the dative ending, e.g. *ana Eru instead of Erun for "to God". In some of Tolkiens earlier material, the ending -n (or -en) expressed genitive rather than dative, but he later decided that the genitive ending was to be -o (cf. such a revision as Yénië Valinóren becoming Yénië Valinórëo, MR:200).
-nna
to, at, upon
-nna "to, at, upon", allative ending, originating from -na "to" with fortified n, VT49:14. Attested in cilyanna, coraryanna, Endorenna, Elendilenna, númenórenna, parma-restalyanna, rénna, senna, tielyanna, q.v. If a noun ends in -n already, the ending -nna merges with it, as in Amanna, formenna, Elenna, númenna, rómenna as the allative forms of Aman, formen, elen, númen, rómen (q.v.). Plural -nnar in mannar, valannar, q.v.
-va
from
-va possessive ending, presumably related to the preposition va "from". In Eldaliéva, Ingoldova, miruvóreva, Oroméva, rómeva, Valinóreva (q.v. for references), Follondiéva, Hyallondiéva (see under turmen for references). Following a consonant, the ending instead appears as -wa (andamacilwa "of the long sword", PE17:147, rómenwa *"of the East", PE17:59). Pl. -vë when governing a plural word (from archaic -vai) (WJ:407), but it seems that -va was used throughout in late Exilic Quenya (cf. miruvóreva governing the plural word yuldar in Namárië). Pl. -iva (-ivë*), dual -twa, partitive pl. -líva**.
-yë
conjunction. and
-yë (4) conj. "and" as a suffix added to the second of a pair, as Menel Cemenyë "Heaven and Earth" (VT47:30, 31, VT49:25). Other "pairs" are mentioned as examples but not actually translated into Quenya by Tolkien: Sun and Moon (*Anar Isilyë), Land and Sea (*Nór Eäryë), fire and water (*nárë nenyë, or *úr nenyë).
-úmë
large
-úmë (3) suffix "large" (of quantity)", as in liyúmë "host" (VT48:32)
Poldórëa
valiant
Poldórëa adj. "Valiant"; as title of Tulkas replaced by Astaldo (POL/POLOD, MR:146, 149. In GL:64, poldórëa is glossed "mighty", in QL:75, "muscular".)
Uinen
water
Uinen (Uinend-, as in dative Uinenden) fem. name, used of a Maia, spouse of Ossë (UY, NEN). Adopted and adapted from Valarin (WJ:404), though it is also said that it contains -nen "water" (SA:nen); the latter explanation may be folk etymology. In the Etymologies, the name is derived from the same stem (UY) as uilë "long trailing plant, especially seaweed".
Valinor
the land (or people) of the valar
Valinor place-name "the land (or people) of the Valar", *"Vali-land" (Vali = Valar), land of the Gods in the West (BAL, NDOR); cf. Valandor. Full form Valinórë (BAL; Vali-nórëunder NDOR).Said to be "the true Eldarin name of Aman", the latter name being explained as a borrowing from Valarin in some versions of the linguistic scenario (VT49:26). In the early "Qenya Lexicon", Valinor, Valinórë is glossed "Asgard", the name of the city of the gods in Norse mythology (LT1:272). It seems that in such more restricted use, Valinor is not the entire Blessed Realm but rather the specific region beyond the Pelóri where (most of) the Valar dwelt, with Val(i)mar as the chief city. Thus it is said of Eärendil that he "went into Valinor and to the halls of Valimar" only after he had already left his ship and ventured as far as Tirion (Silmarillion, chapter 24). Possessive Valinóreva in Nurtalë Valinóreva, the "Hiding of Valinor", the possessive case here assuming the function of object genitive (Silm); genitive Valinórëo in Yénië Valinórëo "Annals of Valinor" (MR:200; the last word was changed from Valinóren, Tolkien revising the genitive ending from -n to -o)
an-
very
an- (2) intensive or superlative prefix carrying the idea of "very" or "most", seen in ancalima "most bright" (cf. calima "bright"), antara "very high, very lofty" and #anyára "very old" or "oldest" (the latter form occurring in the so-called Elaine inscription [VT49:40], there with the dative ending -n). Assimilated to am- before p-, as in amparca ("k") "very dry", and to al-, ar-, as- before words in l-, r-, s- (though Tolkien seems to indicate that before words in l- derived from earlier d, the original quality of the consonant would be preserved so that forms in and- rather than all- would result). See also un-. (Letters:279, VT45:5, 36) Regarding the form of the superlative prefix before certain consonants, another, partially discrepant system was also set down in the Etymologies and first published in VT45:36. The prefix was to appear as um- or un- before labialized consonants like p-, qu-, v- (the consonant v preserving its ancient pronunciation b- following the prefix, thus producing a word in umb-), as in- (technically iñ-) before c- and g- (the latter presumably referring to words that originally had initial g-, later lost in Quenya but evidently preserved following this prefix), and as an- otherwise. However, this system would contradict the canonical example ancalima, which would have been *incalima if Tolkien had maintained this idea. In a post-LotR source, the basic form of the prefix is given as am- instead (see am- #2). In this late conception, the prefix still appears as an- before most consonants, but as ama- before r, l, and the form an- is used even before s- (whether original or from þ), not the assimilated variant as- described above. General principles would suggest that the form am- should also appear before y- (so the form #anyára probably presupposes an- rather than am- as the basic form of the prefix, Tolkien revisiting the earlier concept in the _Elaine inscription). (PE17:92)_
ana
to
ana (1) prep. "to" (VT49:35), "as preposition _ana _is used when purely _dative formula is required" (PE17:147), perhaps meaning that the preposition ana can be used instead of the dative ending -n (#1, q.v.) Also as prefix: ana- "to, towards" (NĀ1); an (q.v.) is used with this meaning in one source (PE17:127)_
and
and
a (2) conj. "and", a variant of ar occurring in Fíriel's Song (that also has ar; a seems to be used before words in f-, but contrast ar formenna "and northwards" in a late text, VT49:26). According to PE17:41, "Old Quenya" could have the conjunction a (as a variant of ar) before n, ñ, m, h, hy, hw (f is not mentioned), PE17:71 adding ty, ny, hr, hl, ñ, l, r, þ, s. See ar #1. It may be that the a or the sentence nornë a lintieryanen "he ran with his speed" (i.e. as quickly as he could) is to be understood as this conjunction, if the literal meaning is "he ran and [did so] with his speed" (PE17:58).
ar
and
ar (1) conj. "and" (AR2, SA, FS, Nam, RGEO:67, CO, LR:47, 56, MC:216, VT43:31, VT44:10, 34; see VT47:31 for etymology, cf. also VT49:25, 40). The older form of the conjunction was az (PE17:41). Ar is often assimilated to al, as before l, s (PE17:41, 71), but "in written Quenya ar was usually written in all cases" (PE17:71). In one case, Tolkien altered the phrase ar larmar "and raiments" to al larmar; the former may then be seen as representing the spelling, whereas the latter represents the pronunciation(PE17:175). More complex schemes of assimilation are suggested to have existed in "Old Quenya", the conjunction varying between ar, a and as depending on the following consonant (PE17:41, 71). An alternative longer form of the conjunction, arë, is said to occur "occasionally in Tolkien's later writings" (VT43:31, cf. VT48:14). In the Etymologies, the word for "and" was first written as ar(a) (VT45:6). In one source, Tolkien notes that Quenya used ar "as preposition beside, next, or as adverb = and" (PE17:145); compare ara.
ara
outside, beside, besides
ara prep.(and adv.?) "outside, beside, besides" (AR2, VT49:57). According to VT45:6, the original glosses were "without, outside, beside", but Tolkien emended this. Arsë "he is out", VT49:23, 35, 36. As for ar(a), see ar #1. VT49:25 lists what seems to be ar(a) combined with various pronominal suffixes: Singular anni > arni "beside me", astyë "beside you" (informal), allë "besides you" (formal), arsë "beside him/her", plural anwë > armë "beside us" (exclusive), arwë "beside us" (inclusive), astë > ardë "beside you" (plural), astë > artë "beside them"; dual anwet > armet "beside us (two)". (Here Tolkien presupposes that ara represents original ada-.) The same source lists the unglossed forms ari, arin that may combine the preposition with the article, hence "beside the" (VT49:24-25)
artarindo
bystander
artarindo noun "bystander" (one standing beside another as a supporter) (PE17:71). Also astarindo.
axan
law, rule, commandment
axan noun "law, rule, commandment". Adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399) Pl. axani is attested (VT39:23, defined as "laws, rules, as primarily proceeding from Eru" in VT39:30). Apparently compounded in the name Axantur *"Commandment-lord" (= lord who respects and/or rules in accordance with God-given commandments?) (UT:210)
cal-
shine
#cal- vb. "shine", future tense caluva ("k") "shall shine" _(UT:22 cf. 51). Compare also early "Qenya" cala- ("k")"shine" (LT1:254)_. It is possible that the verbal stem should have a final -a in later Quenya as well, since this vowel would not appear in the future tense caluva (compare valuvar as the pl. future tense of vala-, WJ:404).
incë
you
incë ("k") *"you", emphatic pronoun for 2nd person pl. familiar, apparently a form abandoned by Tolkien. It is listed as an alternative to ilcë in the source, a query appearing between the forms (VT49:48, 49). The word could also be read as intë (VT49:49)
ista-
know
ista- (2) vb. "know", pa.t. sintë (IS, LT2:339, VT48:25). This past tense Tolkien called "certainly irregular" (VT48:25, where an alternative pa.t. isintë is also mentioned, but sintë is said to be the older form; compare editorial notes in VT48:32. Ista- is also used for "can" in the sense of "know how to", as in istan quetë "I can speak (because I have learned (a) language)" (VT41:6) Passive participle sinwa "known, certain, ascertained" (VT49:68)
ita
very, extremely
ita, íta adv. 2) "very, extremely" (PE17:112). Like #1 above, this element emerged as part of Tolkiens efforts to explain the initial element of the name Idril (Q Itaril), so it is questionable if #1 and #2 were ever meant to coexist in the "same" version of Quenya.
lanca
sharp edge (not of tools); sudden end
lanca ("k")noun "sharp edge (not of tools); sudden end" _("as e.g. a cliff-edge, or the clean edge of things made by hand or built, also used in transferred senses, as in kuivie-lankasse, literally 'on the brink of life', of a perilous situation in which one is likely to fall into death" VT42:8)_
le
you
le, pronominal element "you", (originally) the "reverential 2nd person sing" (RGEO:73, VT49:56). However, singular le was apparently altered to lye (q.v.), and le took on a plural significance (le for pl. "you" is apparently derived from de, the ancient 2nd person pl. stem, VT49:50-51). Stressed lé (VT49:51), dual let "the two of you" (ibid.). At certain points in Tolkiens conception, le was still sg. "thou" rather than pl. "you". It is attested as an ending in the imperative form antalë "give thou" (VT43:17); see anta-. The form ólë in VT43:29 apparently means *"with thee"; according to Tolkiens later system, it would rather mean "with you" (pl.) Compare aselyë "with thee" (sg.) in a later source (see as).
lé
way
lé (1) noun "way" = "method, manner" ("as in that is not As way"). Not to be confused with lé as a stressed form of le = plural "you"; Tolkien was himself dissatisfied with this clash (PE17:74).
ló
from
ló, lo (2) prep. "from", also used = "by" introducing the agent after a passive construction: nahtana ló Turin *"slain by Túrin" (VT49:24). A similar and possibly identical form is mentioned in the Etymologies as being somehow related to the ablative ending -llo, but is not there clearly defined (VT45:28). At one point, Tolkien suggested that lo rather than the ending -llo was used with proper names (lo Manwë rather than Manwello for "from Manwë"), but this seems to have been a short-lived idea (VT49:24).
lómë
dusk, twilight
lómë noun "dusk, twilight", also "night"; according to SD:415, the stem is lómi- (contrast the "Qenya" genitive lómen rather than **lómin in VT45:28). According to PE17:152, lómë refers to night "when viewed favourably, as a rule, but it became the general rule" (cf. SD:414-415 regarding lōmi as an Adûnaic loan-word based on lómë, meaning "fair night, a night of stars" with "no connotations of gloom or fear"). In the battle-cry auta i lómë "the night is passing" (Silm. ch. 20), the "night" would however seem to refer metaphorically to the reign of Morgoth. As for the gloss, cf. Lómion masc. name "Child of Twilight [dusk]", the Quenya name Aredhel secretly gave to Maeglin _(SA). Otherwise lómë is usually defined as "night" (Letters:308, LR:41, SD:302 cf.414-15, SA:dú)_; the _Etymologies defines lómë as "Night [as phenomenon], night-time, shades of night, Dark" (DO3/DŌ, LUM, DOMO, VT45:28), or "night-light" (VT45:28, reading of _lómë uncertain). In early "Qenya" the gloss was "dusk, gloom, darkness" (LT1:255). Cf. lómelindëpl. lómelindi "nightingale" _(SA:dú, LR:41; SD:302, MR:172, DO3/DŌ, LIN2, TIN). _Derived adjective #lómëa "gloomy" in Lómëanor "Gloomyland"; see Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna...
mi
in, within
mi prep. "in, within" (MI, VT27:20, VT44:18, 34, VT43:30; the latter source also mentions the variant imi); mí "in the" (Nam, RGEO:66; CO gives mi; the correct forms should evidently be mi = "in" and mí = mi i "in the"; VT49:35 also has mí with a long vowel, though the gloss is simply "in"). Used in PE17:71 (cf. 70) of people clad "in" various colours, e.g. mi mísë "in grey". Allative minna "to the inside, into" (MI), also mina (VT43:30). The forms mimmë and mingwë seem to incorporate pronominal suffixes for "us", hence ?"in us", inclusive and exclusive respectively. The pronoun -mmë denoted plural inclusive "we" when this was written, though Tolkien would later make it dual instead (see -mmë). Second person forms are also given: mil or milyë *"in you" (sg.), millë "in you" (pl.) (VT43:36). A special use of mi appears in the phrase Wendë mi Wenderon "Virgin of Virgins" (VT44:18); here mi appears superfluous to achieve the desired meaning, but this combination of singular noun + mi + plural genitive noun may be seen as a fixed idiom expressing that the initial noun represents the most prominent member of a class.
na
to, towards
na (2) prep. "to, towards", possibly obsoleted by #1 above; for clarity writers may use the synonym ana instead (NĀ1). Originally, Tolkien glossed na as "at, by, near"; the new meaning entered together with the synonyms an, ana (VT45:36).
nalda
valley
nalda adj. "valley" (used as an adjective), also "lowly" (LT1:261, QL:66)$
nandë
valley
nandë (1) noun "valley" in Laurenandë (UT:253), elided nand in the name Nand Ondoluncava (k") "Stonewain Valley" (PE17:28). Possibly the complete word is here meant to be the variant nando (PE17:80), as suggested by the alternative form Ondoluncanan(do) ("k") "Stonewain Valley". Also nan, nand- noun "valley" (Letters:308); Nan-Tasarion "Vale of Willows" (LotR2:III ch. 4) (Note that this and the next nandë would be spelt differently in Tengwar writing, and originally they were also pronounced differently, since nandë "harp" was ñandë in First Age Quenya.)
onórë
sister
onórë noun "sister" (of blood-kin) (THEL/THELES, NŌ; both of these entries in the Etymologies as reproduced in LR have the reading "onóne", but the "Old Noldorin" cognate wanúre listed in the entry THEL/THELES seems to indicate that the Quenya word should be onórë; the letters n and r are easily confused in Tolkien's handwriting. There is no clear evidence for a feminine ending -në in Quenya, but -rë is relatively well attested; cf. for instance ontarë.) A later source gives the word for "sister" as nésa instead.
poldorë
strong, burly
poldorë noun? (not glossed, derived from polda "strong, burly": possibly "strength" as an abstract) (POL/POLOD)
pá
on
pá, pa (1) prep. "on" with reference to contact of surfaces, especially vertical surface (in the sense in which a picture hangs on a wall); also used = "touching, as regards, concerning" (VT44:26). Another variant gives pá (and apa) with the meaning "on (above but touching)". (2) Variants of apa "after" (VT44:36), which preposition is in one source also ascribed the first meaning here discussed. For Neo-Quenya purposes, pá and pa may be used for "on" or "concerning", whereas apa is used for "after" (see entries for apa #1 and #2), or pa may also be seen as a shorter form of apa "after", as in the phrase yéni pa yéni *"years upon years" (VT44:36)
quén
one, (some)body, person, individual, man or woman
quén (quen-, as in pl. queni; as final element in compounds -quen) noun "one, (some)body, person, individual, man or woman", pl. queni = "persons", "(some) people", "they" with the most general meaning (as in "they [= people in general] say that..."). The element is combined with noun and adjective stems in old compounds to denote habitual occupations or functions, or to describe those having some notable (permanent) quality; examples include roquen, ciryaquen, arquen, q.v. Also in aiquen "whoever", ilquen "everybody" (WJ:361 cf. 360, 372).
san
so
san (2) adv. ephemeral word for "so" (ya(n)...san "as...so"; san na "thus be" = let it be so, "amen"); this form was apparently quickly abandoned by Tolkien (VT43:16, 24, VT49.18)
sanga
crowd, press, throng
sanga (þ) noun "crowd, press, throng" (STAG, SA:thang, LT2:342; pl. sangar (?) twice in Narqelion). In Sangahyando (þ) masc. name "Throng-cleaver", name of a man in Gondor _(SA:thang; a footnote in Letters:425 explains that "throng" here means a closely formed body of enemy soldiers. In the Etymologies, stems STAG, SYAD, _sangahyando is said to be a swordname, and LT2:342 likewise defines the word as a name of Turambar's sword: "cleaver of throngs, Throng-cleaver".)
seler
sister
seler (þ) (sell-, as in pl. selli) noun "sister" (THEL/THELES). In a later source, the word nésa (q.v.) appears instead, leaving the conceptual status of seler uncertain.
sámo
helper
#sámo (þ) noun "helper", tentatively isolated from Rómestámo "East-helper", q.v. When initial, st- would normally simplify as s-, for archaic þ-.
tambë
so
tambë prep. (1) "so" or "as" (referring to something remote; contrast sívë). Sívë...tambë "as...so" (VT43:17).
tye
you, thou, thee
tye pron. "you, thou, thee", 2nd person intimate/familar (LR:61, 70, Arct, VT49:36, 55), corresponding to formal/polite lye. According to VT49:51, tye was used as an endearment especially between lovers, and (grand)parents and children also used it to address one another ("to use the adult lye was more stern"). Tyenya "my tye", used = "dear kinsman" (VT49:51). The pronoun tye is derived from kie, sc. an original stem ki with an added -e(VT49:50). Stressed tyé; dual tyet "the two of you" (VT49:51 another note reproduced on the same page however states that tye has no dual form, and VT49:52 likewise states that the 2nd person familiar "never deleloped" dual or plural forms). Compare the reflexive pronoun intyë "yourself". Possibly related to the pronominal stem KE (2nd person sg.), if tye represents earlier *kye.
va
from
va prep. "from" (VT43:20; prefixed in the form var- in var-úra "from evil", VT43:24). In VT49:24, va, au and o are quoted as variants of the stem awa "away from".
wilwarin
butterfly
wilwarin (wilwarind-, as in pl. wilwarindi) noun "butterfly" (Markirya, WIL, LT1:273); Wilwarin name of a constellation, tentatively identified as Cassiopeia (Silm). "Qenya" adjective wilwarindeën "like butterflies" (MC:216); see wilwarindëa for Quenya form. "Qenya" similative form wilwarindon "as a butterfly" (MC:213, 220); Tolkien later abandoned the ending -ndon (PE17:58)
yan
for/to which
yan relative pronoun in dative "for/to which" or "for/to whom" (PE16:90, 92, 96). Used for "to whom" in the poem Nieninque; according to the system described elsewhere, which distinguishes personal ye "who" from impersonal ya "which", "to whom" would be *yen instead. A wholly distinct ya(n) seems to appear as an ephemeral word for "as" in one version of the Quenya Lord's Prayer; see ya #2 (VT43:16, VT49:18)
cemellet
noun. asparagus, (lit.) earth-finger
elengolmë
noun. astronomy
elentirmen
noun. astronomical observatory, (lit.) star-watch-place
littë
noun. ash
A neologism for “ash” coined by Helge Fauskanger in his NQNT (NQNT), the Quenya equivalent of S. lith “ash”. In The Etymologies of the 1930s the Quenya cognate of N. lith was ᴹQ. litse (Ety/LIT), but in that document these words were glossed “sand”. Introducing a separate neologism ᴺQ. littë “ash” helps keep these two senses distinct.
orosta
noun. ascension
(o)combëa
adjective. collective, assembled, cooperative, concerted, corporate, consolidated
A neologism by Röandil posted in the “Neologism of the Day” (NotD) series on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server post at 2023-05-15, an adjective form of (o)combë “collection, assembly”.
aita-
verb. to astound, surprise, shock, (orig.) make aghast
@@@ Discord 2022-08-22, is a homonym of aita- “worship”, but is a causative (-tā) rather than a formative (-tă); given these associations, this verb in modern Quenya is probably used more for positive surprise than negative shock
pellopë
noun. donkey, ass
yocar-
verb. to assemble, compose, construct
apacíta-
verb. to assume, make premature judgements
eccan-
verb. to proclaim, assert, (lit.) forth-call out
@@@ Discord 2022-06-22
iquirya-
verb. to ask for, request
naityana
adjective. shamed, ashamed
nóquista-
verb. to assume, make premature judgements
otornië
noun. company, association, alliance
toc-
verb. to appraise, tax, assess, assay; to try, test, essay, endeavour; to feel with the hand, handle
yul-
verb. to drink
A verb for “to drink” from the 1950s and 60s (PE17/63) based on the root √YUL of the same meaning (PE22/155; WJ/416).
felehta-
verb. [unglossed], *to excavate, tunnel, mine
An untranslated form appearing in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 derived from the root √PHELEG/PHELEK (PE17/118), possibly a verb derived from ✱phelektā- or ✱phelegtā-. The derivatives of this root had to do with mines and tunnels, so perhaps this verb meant “✱to excavate, tunnel, mine”.
-ndil
friend
-ndil (also -dil) ending occurring in many names, like Amandil, Eärendil; it implies devotion or disinterested love and may be translated "friend" (SA:(noun)dil); this ending is "describing the attitude of one to a person, thing, course or occupation to which one is devoted for its own sake" (Letters:386). Compare -ndur. It is unclear whether the names derived with the ending -ndil are necessarily masculine, though we have no certain example of a woman's name in -ndil; the name Vardilmë (q.v.) may suggest that the corresponding feminine ending is -(n)dilmë.
-tyë
you
-t (3) reduced pronominal affix of the 2. person, "you" (sg.), the long form being -tyë (both endings are listed in VT49:48). See heca regarding the example hecat (WJ:364). However, in a later source, Tolkien denies that -tyë has any short form (VT49:51, 57). The status of the ending -t is therefore doubtful.
-tyë
you, thou
-tyë pronominal ending "you, thou" (VT49:48, 51), 2nd person familiar/intimate: carityë *"you do" (VT49:16; the corresponding formal/polite ending is -l, -lyë, cf. PE17:135 where Tolkien states that hiruvalyë "thou shalt find" from Namárië would be hiruvatyë if the polite pronoun were replaced by the familiar one). Compare the independent pronoun tye. In VT49:51, Tolkien denies that the ending -tyë has any short form (see, however, -t # 3). Cf. natyë "you are"; see ná #1. Compare tye, -tya.
Endien
autumn
Endien noun, alternative term for "autumn" (PM:135). In the Etymologies, the word Endien was assigned a quite different meaning: "Midyear, Midyear week", in the calendar of Valinor a week outside the months, between the sixth and seventh months, dedicated to the Trees; also called Aldalemnar (YEN, LEP/LEPEN/LEPEK)
Turcafinwë
strong, powerful (in body) finwë
Turcafinwë masc. name, "strong, powerful (in body) Finwë", masc. name; he was called Celegorm in Sindarin. Short Quenya name Turco. (PM:352), compare #turco "chief" (q.v.)
apa
on
apa (2) prep. denoting "on" with reference to contact of surfaces, especially vertical surface (in the sense in which a picture hangs on a wall). Apa is said to have this meaning in various Tolkien manuscripts (VT44:26), but apa is also used for "after" (see apa #1 above), and the two were probably never meant to coexist in a single variant of Quenya. The clash may be avoided by consistently using the variants pá, pa (q.v.) mentioned by Tolkien in the sense of apa #2. Another variant gives apa, pá "on (above but touching)" (VT49:18).
ardë
beside you
ardë prep. with pron. suffix *"beside you" (pl), changed from astë (VT49:25). See ara.
armaro
neighbour
armaro noun "neighbour"; also asambar, asambaro (VT48:20, VT49:25)
artë
beside them
artë prep. with pron. suffix *"beside them", changed from astë (VT49:25). See ara.
ecca
hole
ecca ("k")noun "hole", apparently associated with Sindarin torech "secret hole, lair" (PE17:188)
er
one, alone
er cardinal "one, alone" (ERE, VT48:6, VT49:54), in an early source also adv. "only, but, still" (LT1:269); Eru er "one God" (VT44:17; er was here emended by Tolkien from erëa, which seems to be an adjectival form *"one, single".)
ilcë
you
ilcë ("k") (2) *"you", emphatic pronoun of the 2nd person pl. familiar, apparently a form abandoned by Tolkien. An alternative form incë was also listed; a query appears between the forms (VT49:48).
meldo
friend, lover
meldo noun "friend, lover". _(VT45:34, quoting a deleted entry in the Etymologies, but cf. the pl. #_meldor in Eldameldor "Elf-lovers", WJ:412) **Meldonya *"my friend" (VT49:38, 40). It may be that meldo is the distinctly masculine form, corresponding to feminine #meldë** (q.v.)
nildo
friend
nildo noun "friend" (apparently masc.; contrast nildë) (NIL/NDIL)
nilmo
friend
nilmo noun "friend" (apparently masc.) (NIL/NDIL)
palta-
feel with the hand, stroke
palta- (2) vb. "feel with the hand, stroke" etc. (basic meaning: "pass the sensitive palm [palta] over a surface") (VT47:9)
sermo
friend
sermo noun "friend" (evidently masc., since sermë is stated to be fem.) (SER)
unquë
hole, hollow
unquë noun "hole, hollow" (VT46:20, UNUK), also name of tengwa #16 _(Appendix E; there spelt unque, while the Etymologies has unqe)_
ya
which, what
ya (1) relative pronoun "which, what" (attested in VT43:28, 34 and in the Arctic sentence), with locative suffix in Namárië: see #yassë. According to VT47:21, ya is impersonal, "which" rather than "who(m)" (compare the personal form ye). The dative form yan (q.v.) is however used for "to whom" (rather than "to which") in one text, indicating that Tolkien did not always distinguish between personal and impersonal forms. In the phrase lúmessë ya [variant: yá**] firuvammë, "in [the] hour that we shall die", the relative pronoun is not explicitly marked for case and is evidently understood to share the case of the preceding noun (hence not lúmessë yassë**... "in [the] hour in which"...) (VT43:27-28) Presumably, ya has the plural form *yar* (e.g. i nati yar hirnen** "the things that/which I found").
yo
and
yo conj. "and", "often used between _two _items (of any part of speech) that were by nature or custom clearly associated, like the names of spouses (Manwë yo Varda), or "sword and sheath" (*macil yo vainë*), "bow and arrows" (quinga yo pilindi), or groups like "Elves and Men" (Eldar yo Fírimor but contrast eldain a fírimoin [dative forms] in FS, where Tolkien joins the words with a, seemingly simply a variant of the common conjunction ar). In one source, yo is apparently a preposition "with" (yo hildinyar* = "with my heirs", SD:56).
órë
rising
órë (2) noun "rising", anarórë "sunrise" (ORO). Cf. early "Qenya" órë "the dawn, Sunrise, East" (LT1:264). See under Melkor concerning the final element of Melkórë.
úsië
on the contrary
úsië adv. "on the contrary" (VT49:8, 35). Cf. lasi.
melya-
verb. [unglossed], *to be in love
o
preposition. from
sal-
verb. [unglossed]
úsir
conjunction. on the contrary
úsië
conjunction. on the contrary
axosta
noun. skeleton
ertië
noun. union
A neologism from the NQW based on ᴺQ. erta- “unite”.
rondova
adjective. cavernous
A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2018 specifically for Eldamo, an adjectival form of Q. rondo “✱cavern”.
amya-
verb. [unglossed]
ar(a)
preposition. beside, next [to]; out, beside, next [to], *by; out, [ᴹQ.] outside
armaro
noun. *neighbor
arra
adjective. [unglossed]
cairë
?. [unglossed]
canta-
verb. ?
conta-
verb. [unglossed]
cénima
adjective. visible, visible, [ᴹQ.] able to be seen
cúma
noun. [unglossed]
felca
adjective. [unglossed]
fenta-
verb. to begin
finca
noun. [unglossed]
hindo
noun. [unglossed]
hindë
noun. [unglossed]
holdë
noun. [unglossed]
háro
?. [unglossed]
ista-
verb. to know, to know, [ᴹQ.] learn
malsa
?. [unglossed]
mi
preposition. in, in, [ᴹQ.] within
min
cardinal. one, one, [ᴱQ.] one (in a series), the first
naue
?. [unglossed]
sélo
?. [unglossed]
sóla
?. [unglossed]
thar-
verb. [unglossed]
tomba
noun. [unglossed]
tompë
noun. [unglossed], *pulse, beat
@@@ Neo-meaning “✱pulse, beat” suggested by Röandil on 2023-04-20
um(ba)-
prefix. [unglossed]
áya
noun. awe
éna
?. [unglossed]
þúna
?. [unglossed]
arcólima
adjective. equivalent, (lit.) beside-bear-able
axula
adjective. bony
lai
adverb. very
santa-
verb. to decide
sámo Reconstructed
noun. helper
@@@ sámo suggested by Helge Fauskanger (QQ/sámo).
vélamë
noun. similarity
vétaima
adjective. comparable
yesta-
verb. to begin, to begin, *start
@@@ gloss “start” suggested by Robert Reynolds
-ldë
you
-ldë (1) pronominal suffix "you", 2nd person pl. (VT49:51; carildë *"you do", VT49:16). This ending Tolkien revised from -llë in earlier sources (VT49:48, cf. PE17:69).
-llo
you
[-llo (2) "you", dual; abandoned pronominal ending. Also written -illo. (VT49:49)]
-llë
you
-llë (2) abandoned pronominal ending "you", 2nd person pl. (VT49:48); Tolkien later revised this ending to -ldë.
-ntyë
you
[-ntyë "you", abandonded pronominal ending for 2nd person pl. familiar (VT49:49)]
-ser
friend
-ser noun "friend" (SER)
-stë
you
-stë "you", 2nd person dual pronominal ending (VT49:51, 53), e.g. caristë "the two of you do" (VT49:16). Tolkien first wrote carindë, but changed the ending (VT49:33). The ending -stë is derived from earlier -dde (VT49:46, 51). An archaic ending of similar form could also be the third person dual, "the two of them" (but see -ttë #1).
Nando
valley, wide valley
nando (2) "valley, wide valley", variant of nandë #1, q.v. (PE17:80)
Nénar
water
Nénar noun name of a star (or planet), evidently derived from nén "water" (Silm), tentatively identified with Uranus (MR:435)
a
cardinal. one
accal(a)-
verb. shine
shine (suddenly and) brilliantly, blaze
alat-
large, great in size
alat- prefix "large, great in size". (ÁLAT, cf. VT45:5). In Alatairë.
allë
beside you
allë prep. with pron. suffix *"beside you" (formal) (VT49:25); see ara
alta
large, great in size
alta (1) adj. *"large, great in size" (root meaning)(ÁLAT). Alat- in Alatairë, q.v.
alyë
you
alyë imperative particle with ending -lyë "you"; see a #3.
ambalë
yellow bird, 'yellow hammer'
ambalë noun "yellow bird, 'yellow hammer' " (SMAL)
ammalë
yellow bird, 'yellow hammer'
ammalë noun "yellow bird, 'yellow hammer' " (SMAL)
apa
preposition. touching, against, on (above but touching)
apsa
cooked food, meat
apsa noun "cooked food, meat" (AP)
ar
and
o (1) conj. "and", occurring solely in SD:246; all other sources give ar.
ar-
outside
ar- (1) prefix "outside" (AR2), element meaning "beside" (VT42:17), "by" (PE17:169; in the same source the glosses "near, by, beside" were rejected). Cf. ara.
artarindo
noun. bystander; supporter
arë
and
arë conj. "and", longer form of ar, q.v. (VT43:31)
ava
outside, beyond
ava (1) adv.? noun? prep.? "outside, beyond" (AWA, VT45:6)
axo
bone
axo noun "bone"; pl. axor in Markirya
az
and
az, archaic form of the conjunction ar "and"; see ar #1.
aþa
adverb. I agree of course, of course I do
aþa-
verb. to be willing, agree
aþumo
noun. friend at need, friend with shared interests, colleague
calta-
shine
calta- ("k")vb. "shine" (KAL)
calwa
beautiful
calwa ("k") adj. "beautiful" (LT1:254)
car-
with
#car- (2) prep. "with" (carelyë "with thee"), prepositional element (evidently an ephemeral form abandoned by Tolkien) (VT43:29)
cenima
visible
cenima ("k") adj. "visible" (PE17:175); cf. cen- "see". Read possibly *cénima; see -ima and cf. hraicénima "scarcely visible" (PE17:154).
cánë
valour
cánë ("k")noun "valour" (KAN)
cénima
adjective. visible
erëa
cardinal. one
erëa adj.? "one" or *"single", apparently an adjectival form (see er) (VT44:17)
etsë
outside, exterior
etsë noun "outside, exterior", glosses changed from ?"issuing" and ?"spring" (VT45:13)
ettë
outside
ettë noun(and/or adv.?) "outside" (ET)
heldo
friend
[heldo, also helmo, fem. heldë, noun "friend" (VT46:3)]
heren
order
heren (1) noun "order"; Heren Istarion "Order of Wizards" (UT:388)
histë
dusk
histë noun "dusk" (LT1:255)
ho
from
ho prep. "from" (3O); cf. hó-
hríva
place name. [unglossed]
hísë
dusk
hísë (2) noun "dusk" (LT1:255). A "Qenya" form possibly obsoleted by #1 above.
imi
in
imi prep. "in"; see mi (VT43:30)
imi
preposition. in, in, [ᴱQ.] inside
ista
verb. know
istanwa
known, generally recognized
lai
very
[lai adverbial particle "very" (VT45:8)]
latta
hole, pit
latta (1) noun "hole, pit" (DAT/DANT, VT45:8)
lingi-
verb. [unglossed]
lé
with
lé (2) prep. "with" (PE17:95)
mairëa
beautiful
mairëa adj. "beautiful" (of things made by art) (PE17:163). An alternative (and peculiar) form "mairia" is also implied in the source.
maitya
?. [unglossed]
meldë
friend
#meldë noun "friend", feminine (meldenya "my friend" in the Elaine inscription [VT49:40], Tolkien referring to Elaine Griffiths). Compare meldo.
men
way
men (2) noun "way" (SA) or "place, spot" (MEN)
mennai
until
mennai prep. "until" (VT14:5; in Tolkien's later Quenya rather tenna)
min
cardinal. one
min numeral "one", also minë (VT45:34, VT48:6)
minë
cardinal. one
minë numeral "one", also min (MINI, VT45:34)
mir
cardinal. one
mir (2) cardinal "one" (LT1:260; in LotR-style Quenya rather minë)
mo
one, someone, anyone
mo, indefinite pronoun "one, someone, anyone" (VT42:34, VT49:19, 20, 26)
málo
noun. friend
friend, comrade
málo
friend
málo noun "friend" (MEL, VT49:22)
máriel
feminine name. [unglossed]
mírya
beautiful
mírya adj. "beautiful" (of work of art only) (PE17:165)
nandë
noun. valley
nendë
slope, hillside
[nendë] (2) noun "slope, hillside" (DEN, struck out; compare VT45:9)
nerdo
large, strong man
nerdo noun "large, strong man" (compare nér) (VT47:33)
nildë
friend
nildë noun "friend" (fem.) (NIL/NDIL)
nén
water
nén (nen-) noun "water" (NEN).
nésa
sister
nésa (Þ) noun "sister" (VT47:14); this form from a late source possibly replaces earlier seler and onórë, q.v.
níva
?. [unglossed]
penda-
slope, incline
penda- vb. "slope, incline" (PE17:171, 173)
pendë
slope, downslope, declivity
pendë noun "slope, downslope, declivity" (PEN/PÉNED), "steep incline, hill side" (PE17:24)
pol
large, big (strong)
pol (2) adj. "large, big (strong)". Since this would be the sole example of a monosyllabic Quenya adjective, it may be that Tolkien is here citing the root POL rather than a complete word. Cf. polda.
rimbë
crowd, host, great number
rimbë noun "crowd, host, great number" (RIM, SA:rim, Letters:282)
rimpa
rushing, flying
rimpa adj.? noun? "rushing, flying" (RIP; the word is more likely an adjective)
sal-
verb. ?
sanganë
gather
sanganë vb.? "gather" (MC:214; this is "Qenya")
sermë
friend
sermë noun "friend" (fem.) (SER)
seron
friend
seron noun "friend" (SER)
sesta-
to liken, compare
sesta- vb. "to liken, compare" (QL:82)
sil-
shine
sil- vb. "shine" (white), present tense síla "shines, is shining" (FG); aorist silë, pl. silir (RS:324), frequentative sisíla- (Markirya comments), future tense siluva (VT49:38), dual future siluvat (VT49:44, 45)
sondo
friend
[sondo noun "friend" (VT46:15)]
ta
so, like that, also
ta (2) adv. "so, like that, also", e.g. ta mára "so good" (VT49:12)
ter
so
ter (2), also tér, prep. (?) ephemeral word for "so" (see ier), abandoned by Tolkien in favour of tambë (VT43:17)
umbacarin
noun. [unglossed]
usque
noun. dusk
dusk
usque
noun. dusk, twilight
vand-
way, path
vand- noun "way, path" (LT1:264; a final vowel would seem to be required, but in Tolkien's later Quenya, the words tië or mallë are to be preferred)
vanima
beautiful, fair
vanima adj. "beautiful, fair" (BAN, VT39:14) (glossed "proper, right, fair" in early "Qenya", LT1:272, though a later source says the word is used "only of living things, especially Elves and Men", PE17:150); nominal pl. vanimar "beautiful ones", partitive pl. genitive vanimálion, translated "of beautiful children", but literally meaning *"of [some] beautiful ones") (LotR3:VI ch. 6, translated in Letters:308). Arwen vanimalda "Beautiful Arwen", literally "Arwen your beauty" (see -lda for reference; changed to Arwen vanimelda in the second edition of LotR; see vanimelda).
vanima
adjective. beautiful
wilwarin
noun. butterfly
yávië
autumn
yávië noun "autumn" (SA:yávë); "autumn, harvest", in the calendar of Imladris a precisely defined period of 54 days, but also used without any exact definition (Appendix D). Noun yáviérë *"Autumn-day", a day outside the months in the Steward's Reckoning, inserted between Yavannië and Narquelië (September and October) (Appendix D)
ási, sí
interjection. come now, now
áya
awe
áya noun "awe" (PM:363)
ó
with, accompanying
úpa-
verb. [unglossed]
úr
noun. heat
úra
large
úra (2) adj. "large" (UR), probably obsoleted by #1 above
úsir
on the contrary
úsir adv. "on the contrary", a form Tolkien may have abandoned in favor of úsië (VT49:18)
þá
adverb. I agree of course, of course I do
as prep. "with" (together with), also attested with a pronominal suffix: aselyë "with thee" (VT47:31, VT43:29). The conjunction ar "and" may also appear in assimilated form as before s; see ar #1.