ath-

prefix. easy, easily

A prefix meaning “easy” or “easily” appearing in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 and based on the root √ATHA (PE17/148). Tolkien gave two examples of its use: athgar “easy (easy to do)” = ath + √KAR “do” and athgen “easily seen” = ath + √KEN “see”. These adjectives seem to be similar to the negative quasi-participles like úgar “(generally) idle = ✱not doing” seen in other notes from around 1959 (PE17/144), where the prefixed verb stem functions as an (aorist) participle. Presumably such quasi-participles are neither active or passive, and so assume a meaning based on the prefix: ath- “easy” functions passively (the thing done), ú- “not” functions actively (the person doing).

Conceptual Development: In a rejected page from the same set of notes, Tolkien had rhae “easy” derived from the root √SRA(YA) of the same meaning (PE17/172). But Tolkien seems to have altered the root to √SRAG “difficult” and √RAY “smile”.

athra-

prefix. across

ath

on both sides

(adv. prefix) ath- (across)

ath

on both sides

(adv. prefix) ath- (across).

athar

across

(preposition) *athar (beyond). Suggested correction of the reading "athan" in SD:62. As prep. probably followed by soft mutation. Also (as adverbial prefix) ath- (on both sides), athra-, thar- (athwart, over, beyond)

athelas

kingsfoil

(a healing plant brought to Middle-earth by the Númenoreans) athelas (pl. ethelais)

athelas

noun. "kingsfoil", a healing herb brought to Middle-earth by the Númenóreans

athelas

noun. kingsfoil, a healing herb

The Sindarin name of the “kingsfoil” (LotR/864), a combination athae and lass, hence literally “✱healing leaf”.

Conceptual Development: ᴱN. athelas appeared in the margins of The Lay of Leithian from the 1920s next to the phrase “of all the herbs of healing chief” (LB/269), and it already had the form N. athelas when it first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s (RS/190).

thar

adverb. across

adv. & prep. across. . This gloss was rejected.

thar-

prefix. across, athwart, over, beyond

thar-

across

_ pref. _across, over, properly 'athwart'. Original S. form þara-. See also the rejected glose in PE17:34.

athar

across

(beyond). Suggested correction of the reading "athan" in SD:62. As prep. probably followed by soft mutation. – Also (as adverbial prefix) ath- (on both sides), athra-, thar- (athwart, over, beyond)

athelas

kingsfoil

(pl. ethelais)