at(a)-

prefix. double, second time, double, [repeat a] second time; [ᴱQ.] bi-, twi-; [ᴹQ.] back, again, re-

A prefix for “double” based on √AT of similar meaning used in various words like atendëa “double-middle” (RC/728) and atamaitë “two-handed” (PE17/162). In notes from around 1959 Tolkien said it could also be used for “again”, but “only in literal sense of second time, double” (PE17/166). Compare ataquanta- “refill” = “fill a second time” vs. the more ordinary word for “refill” = enquanta-.

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s translated the prefix ᴹQ. at(a)- as “back, again, re-” under the root ᴹ√AT(AT), which in this document was glossed “again, back” (Ety/AT(AT)). This distinction can be seen in 1940s ᴹQ. at-tul- “return” vs. later entul- from the 1950s and 60s. Earlier still the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. at-, att-, or atta- “bi-, twi-” under the early root ᴱ√ATA “dual” (QL/33).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use at(a)- mainly in the sense “double, bi-, twi-”, and would only use it for the sense “re-” in the limited sense “do a second time” as described above. However, based on its meaning in The Etymologies, at(a)- is popular as a prefix for “re-” in many neologisms, but I would avoid this because these 1930s glosses predate Tolkien’s introduction of en- “re-”.

-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.

-nna

suffix. (movement) to, towards, onto, at (arriving at a point); allative suffix

The Quenya allative suffix indicating motion towards; see that entry for discussion.

Conceptual Development: In Tolkien’s earlier writings, it had other forms like ᴱQ. -nta or -tta (PE14/46, 78).

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)_

ataquetië

saying again, repetition

ataquetië noun (or gerund of verb) "saying again, repetition" (PE17:166). Cited as at(a)quetië, implying an alternative form atquetië.

ataquetië

noun. saying again, repetition

atatya

double

atatya vb? adj.? "double" (VT42:26)

atatya

adjective. double

The Quenya word for “double” in notes from the late 1960s derived from primitive ✶atatya, an adjective form of the root √ATATA (VT42/26-27).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. tanta “double” under the root ᴹ√TATA “two” (Ety/TATA) and ᴹQ. atwa “double” under the root ᴹ√AT(AT) “again, back” (Ety/AT(AT)). The latter was glossed “either ... or” in Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948 (PE23/107); see the entry for ᴹQ. atwa for further discussion.

atta

cardinal. two

atta (1) cardinal "two" (AT(AT), Letters:427, VT42:26, 27, VT48:6, 19). Elen atta "two stars" (VT49:44); notice how a noun is indeclinable before this numeral, and any case endings are "singular" and added to the numeral rather than the noun, e.g. genitive elen atto "of two stars" (VT49:45). Attalyar "Bipeds" (sg. *Attalya) = Petty-dwarves (from Sindarin Tad-dail) (WJ:389). A word atta_ "again" was struck out; see the entry _TAT in Etym and cf. ata in this list.

atta

cardinal. two

This is the usual Quenya counting number for “two”, derived from √ATATA (VT42/27; VT48/19), which in turn is based on √AT “bi-, double, again (a second time)” (PE17/148, 166). It may be contrasted with yúyo “both” referring to both elements of a pair.

Conceptual Development: There was no word for “two” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s. In the Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s, ᴱQ. yúyo meant “two” and ᴱQ. {satta >>} satto meant “both” (PE14/49, 82). By The Etymologies of the 1930s, these meanings were reversed with ᴹQ. atta “two” appearing under ᴹ√ATTA and ᴹQ. yúyo “both” appearing under ᴹ√YŪ (Ety/ATTA, YŪ).

atwa

double

atwa adj. "double" (AT(AT) )

lala-

verb. to laugh

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).

opto

noun. back

pontë

back, rear

pontë (ponti-) noun "back, rear" (QL:75)

satto

cardinal. two

satto, "Qenya" numeral "two" (in Tolkiens later Quenya atta) (VT49:54)

tanta

double

tanta (2) (prob. adj.) "double" (TATA)

catta

noun. back

A neologism for “back” coined by Paul Strack in 2022 specifically for Eldamo, based on Q. ca(ta) “behind, at back of place”. This word can refer to the back of body as well as the back of other things.