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
Elements
Word Gloss canta “four” tillë “tip, point; [within compounds] finger, toe, tip, point; [within compounds] finger, toe; [ᴱQ.] eyelash” Variations
- kantil ✧ VT47/26
canta
cardinal. four
canta
cardinal. four
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
- Q. ca(na)sta “one fourth, one fourth, *quarter”
- ᴺQ. canquain “forty”
- ᴺQ. canaquain “forty”
- ᴺQ. canaquëan “forty”
- ᴺQ. cantallumë “four times”
- ᴺQ. cantalya “four-legged, quadruped, (lit.) four-footed”
- Q. cantëa “fourth”
- ᴺQ. cantil “quadrangle, *quadrilateral, rectangle, square”
- Q. lepecan “fourth finger”
- Q. cantil “fourth finger”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶kanatā > kanta [kanatā] > [kantā] > [kanta] ✧ VT42/24 Variations
- can-ta ✧ PE17/095
- kanta ✧ VT42/24; VT48/06
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
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.
Elements
Word Gloss lepe “finger” canta “four” Variations
- lepekan ✧ VT47/10; VT48/05
- lepekan(t) ✧ VT47/27
lepente
noun. fourth finger
Cognates
lepentë
fourth finger
lepentë noun "fourth finger" (counted from the thumb) (VT48:5, 14, 15), also lepecan
cantil
noun. quadrangle, *quadrilateral, rectangle, square
Element in
- ᴺQ. cantilya “quadrangular”
Elements
Word Gloss canta “four” tildë “a fine sharp point, fine sharp point, [ᴹQ.] spike; (mountain) horn, [ᴱQ.] tip, ️peak”
[cantil ("k")noun "fourth finger" (VT47:26)]