canta (1) ("k") cardinal "four" (KÁNAT, VT42:24, VT48:6). In the Etymologies as printed in LR, this word was cited with a final hyphen (as if it were a verb), but the hyphen does not actually appear in Tolkien's manuscript (VT45:19). Ordinal cantëa ("k") "fourth" (VT42:25) Compare cantil.
Quenya
cantil
fourth finger
cantil
noun. fourth finger
canta
cardinal. four
canta
cardinal. four
cantil
noun. quadrangle, *quadrilateral, rectangle, square
cantilya
adjective. quadrangular
lepecan
noun. fourth finger
A name for the fourth finger in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from 1968, a combination of ✶lepe “finger” and a reduced form of Q. canta “four” (VT47/10). Rough drafts of these notes had lepekan(t) or Q. cantil with the initial element meaning “four” and the final element Q. til “tip” (VT47/27 note #25). Later version of these notes also had lepekan, along with a more obscurely formed Q. lepente (VT48/5), whose second element is likely related to Q. net(ë) “one more [beyond the middle]” (VT47/15), as suggested by Patrick Wynne (VT48/14-15 note #5).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d use lepecan (lepecant-) for “fourth finger” as the best established of all the various forms, with Q. lepente as a more obscure variant.
can-
cardinal. four
can- (1) (prefix)("k") "four" (KÁNAT)
lepecan
fourth finger
lepecan ("k")noun "fourth finger" (counted from the thumb) (VT47:10, VT48:5), also lepentë
lepente
noun. fourth finger
lepentë
fourth finger
lepentë noun "fourth finger" (counted from the thumb) (VT48:5, 14, 15), also lepecan
[cantil ("k")noun "fourth finger" (VT47:26)]