lye pron. "thou/thee, you", 2nd person sg. formal/polite (corresponding to familiar/intimate tye, q.v.) (VT49:36) It seems the original stem-form was le (VT49:50), distinct from de as a plural "you", but when initial d became l and the forms threatened to fall together, le was apparently altered to lye by analogy with the ending -lyë and the emphatic pronoun elyë. Stressed lyé (VT49:51). For lye as object, cf. nai Eru lye mánata "God bless you" (VT49:39). Allative lyenna "to you, upon you" (VT49:40-41). Compare the reflexive pronoun imlë "yourself, thyself", q.v. (it did not have to be *imlyë, for the corresponding pl. pronoun indë "yourselves" is distinct anyhow).
Quenya
imlë
yourself, thyself
imlë
pronoun. yourself (polite)
Elements
Word Gloss im- “same” lye “you (polite)” Variations
- imle ✧ VT47/37
- Imli ✧ VT47/38
lye
thou/thee, you
intyë
yourself, thyself
intyë *"yourself, thyself", 2nd person intimate sg. reflexive pronoun, e.g. *tiritye intyë, "you watch yourself" (but apparently the general reflexive pronoun immo can also be used). Compare imlë. (VT47:37)
imlë "yourself, thyself", 2nd person formal sg. reflexive pronoun, e.g. *tirilyë imlë, "you watch yourself". Compare intyë. (VT47:37)