lassë noun "leaf"; pl. lassi is attested (Nam, RGEO:66, Letters:283, LAS1, LT1:254, VT39:9, Narqelion); gen. lassëo "of a leaf", gen. pl. lassion "of leaves" (earlier lassio) (WJ:407). The word lassë was only applied to certain kinds of leaves, especially those of trees (PE17:62), perhaps particularly _ear-shaped _leaves (cf. the entry _LAS1 _in the Etymologies, where Tolkien comments on the pointed or leaf-shaped Elvish ears and suggests an etymological connection between words for "ear" and "leaf"); see also linquë #3. Compound lasselanta "leaf-fall", used (as was quellë) for the latter part of autumn and the beginning of winter (Appendix D, Letters:428); hence Lasselanta alternative name of October (PM:135). Cf. also lassemista "leaf-grey, grey-leaved" (LotR2:III ch. 4, translated in Letters:224, PE17:62), lassewinta a variant of lasselanta (PM:376). Adj. laicalassë "green as leaves" (PE17:56). See also lillassëa, lantalasselingëa.
Quenya
las
adverb. it is/was not so
Derivations
- ✶lasa “not it = it is/was not so” ✧ PE22/140
Element in
- Q. au túlielde (las)! “if only you had come (were here)” ✧ PE22/140
- Q. quīlas tūleste san inye tūle “*suppose he came (he did not), then I came” ✧ PE22/140
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶lăsă > las [lasa] > [las] ✧ PE22/140 Variations
- laza ✧ PE22/140 (laza)
las
particle. not it {markör f modus irrealis}
lassë
noun. leaf, leaf; [ᴱQ.] petal
Cognates
Derivations
Element in
- Q. ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen “ah! like gold fall the leaves in the wind” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
- Q. ai! lassi lantar laurië súrinen “ah! leaves fall golden in [by means of] the wind” ✧ RGEO/58
- Q. laicalassë “green-leaf, green as leaves”
- ᴺQ. lassëa “with leaves, leafy”
- Q. lasselanta “(late) autumn, (lit.) leaf-fall, (late) autumn, (lit.) leaf-fall; [ᴹQ.] October” ✧ LotR/1107
- Q. Lassemista “Leaf-Grey”
- Q. lassewinta “leaf fall, autumn, *(lit.) leaf blowing”
- Q. lillassëa “having many leaves”
- ᴺQ. lótelas “petal, (lit.) flower-leaf”
- ᴺQ. nornolassëa “having oak-leaves”
- Q. olass(i)ë “foliage, collection of leaves”
- ᴺQ. parmalas(së) “page, (lit.) leaf of book”
- Q. táli lantalasselingië “*with feet like the music of falling leaves” ✧ PE16/096; PE16/096
- Q. taniquelassë “*high-white-leaf”
- ᴺQ. tyávelassë “spice, (lit.) taste-leaf”
- ᴺQ. yullas “tea”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶lassē > lasse [lassē] > [lasse] ✧ Let/282 ✶lassḗi > lássei > lassī [lassei] > [lassī] > [lassi] ✧ PE19/106 ✶lasséinen > lassēnen > lassī́nen [lasseinen] > [lassīnen] ✧ PE19/106 ✶lassē > lasse [lassē] > [lasse] ✧ VT39/09 Variations
- lasse ✧ Let/282; LotR/1107; PE16/096; PE16/096; PE17/062; PE17/062; Plotz/11; VT39/09
lassë
leaf
lasta-
listen
lasta- vb. "listen", also lasta adj. "listening, hearing" (LAS2, PE17:56); cf. adj. asalastë (*aþa-) adj. "easily heard" (PE17:148)
hlas
noun. ear
The Quenya word for “ear” is derived from primitive √S-LAS, an elaboration of √LAS “listen” (PE17/62, 77). It had a stem form of hlar- because medial s generally became z and then r, but the s was preserved when final.
Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s the word for “ear” was derived directly from ᴹ√LAS “listen”, and had the form lár (Ety/LAS²). This seems to be a brief reversion to Early Qenya phonology of the 1910s, where medial s survived and it was final s that became r (PE12/26); compare to ᴹQ. kár (kas-) “head”, also from The Etymologies (Ety/KAS). In that document, the Noldorin word for “ear” was N. lhewig, a singular form based on the fossilized dual lhaw (Ety/LAS²). The voiceless lh- in this word was the result of the Noldorin sound-change of the 1930s whereby ancient initial r-, l- were unvoiced.
This Noldorin word made it into Lord of the Rings drafts as part of Amon Lhaw “Hill of Hearing, (lit.) Hill of Ears” (TI/364), a form that Tolkien retained in the published version (LotR/393). Since the unvoicing of initial l was no longer a feature of Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s, Tolkien needed to contrive a new derivation from primitive √S-LAS, which also necessitated a change in the Quenya cognate to voiceless initial hl-.
Early Qenya words for “ear” from the 1910s had a completely different basis. They include ᴱQ. ankar (ankas-) “ear (of men)”, ᴱQ. qan (qand-) “ear”, and ᴱQ. unk (unq-) “ear (of animals)” from the Qenya Lexicon, all based on the root ᴱ√ṆQṆ (QL/31, 76, 98). The last of these reappeared as unko “ear” in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s and contemporaneous word lists (PE14/52, 76, 117; PE15/71), but seems to have been abandoned by the 1930s.
Cognates
- S. lheweg “ear” ✧ PE17/062; PE17/062; PE17/077
Derivations
Element in
- ᴺQ. hlarma “earpiece, receiver”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √S-LAS > hlas [slas] > [l̥as] ✧ PE17/062 ✶slasū > hlaru [slasū] > [l̥asū] > [l̥azū] > [l̥azu] > [l̥aru] ✧ PE17/077
hlas
ear
hlas noun "ear", stem hlar- as in the dual form hlaru (PE17:62). Compare lár #2.
taniquelassë
leaf
taniquelassë noun name of tree (UT:167), perhaps Tanique(til) + lassë "leaf"
lár
ear
lár (2) noun "ear" (?). Tolkien's wording is not clear, but ¤lasū is given as an ancient dual form "(pair of) ears"; Quenya lár could represent the old singular las- (LAS2). In a post-LotR source, Tolkien derives hlas "ear" (dual hlaru) from a stem SLAS(PE17:62). Initial hl- rather than l- reflects the revised form of the stem (LAS becoming SLAS), and in the later version of the phonology, postvocalic -s does not become -r when final. Compare the noun "dream", given as olor in the Etymologies (LOS), but as olos pl. olori in a later source (UT:396)
felehta-
verb. [unglossed], *to excavate, tunnel, mine
An untranslated form appearing in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 derived from the root √PHELEG/PHELEK (PE17/118), possibly a verb derived from ✱phelektā- or ✱phelegtā-. The derivatives of this root had to do with mines and tunnels, so perhaps this verb meant “✱to excavate, tunnel, mine”.
Derivations
- √PHELEG “excavation, excavation; [ᴹ√] cave” ✧ PE17/118
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √PHELEK > felehta [pʰelektā] > [ɸelektā] > [ɸelextā] > [ɸelextā] > [felextā] ✧ PE17/118 Variations
- felehta ✧ PE17/118
amya-
verb. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √AM “go up, go up, [ᴹ√] up” ✧ PE17/157
Elements
Word Gloss -ya “verbal suffix” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √AM > amya [amja-] ✧ PE17/157 Variations
amya✧ PE17/157 (amya)
arra
adjective. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √SRAG “awkward, awry; hard, (very) difficult” ✧ PE17/172
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √SRA-G > asra > arra [asra] > [azra] > [arra] ✧ PE17/172
cairë
?. [unglossed]
Cognates
- S. caer “*flat isle on a river, [N.] flat isle on a river” ✧ PE17/101
Derivations
- √KAY “lie, lie, [ᴹ√] lie down; [ᴱ√] rest, dwell” ✧ PE17/101
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KAYA > caire [kaire] ✧ PE17/101 Variations
- caire ✧ PE17/101
conta-
verb. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √KOM “gather, collect” ✧ PE17/157
Elements
Word Gloss -ta “causative verb suffix” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KOM > conta [komta-] > [konta-] ✧ PE17/157 Variations
conta✧ PE17/157 (conta)
cúma
noun. [unglossed]
Cognates
- S. cû “bow, bow; [N.] arch, crescent; [G.] waxing or waning moon” ✧ PE17/122
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶kūma > cúma [kūma] ✧ PE17/122
felca
adjective. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √PHELEG “excavation, excavation; [ᴹ√] cave” ✧ PE17/118
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √PHELEK > felca [pʰelka] > [ɸelka] > [felka] ✧ PE17/118
finca
noun. [unglossed]
Cognates
- S. fing “lock of hair” ✧ PE17/017
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶finik/fink > finca [pʰinika] > [pʰinka] > [pʰiŋka] > [ɸiŋka] > [fiŋka] ✧ PE17/017 Variations
- finca ✧ PE17/017
hendas
?. [unglossed]
Element in
- Q. calma hendas “*light in the eyes” ✧ PMCH/02; TMME/192
hindo
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √KHIN “child” ✧ PE17/157
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KHIN > hindo [kʰindo] > [xindo] > [hindo] ✧ PE17/157
hindë
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √KHIN “child” ✧ PE17/157
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KHIN > hinde [kʰinde] > [xinde] > [hinde] ✧ PE17/157 Variations
hinde✧ PE17/157 (hinde)
holdë
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √SKOL “shut, close” ✧ PE17/098
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KHOL > holde [kʰolde] > [xolde] > [holde] ✧ PE17/098 Variations
- holde ✧ PE17/098
háro
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶khādo > hāzo > hāro [kʰādo] > [xādo] > [xāðo] > [hāðo] > [hāro] ✧ PE22/148 Variations
- hāro ✧ PE22/148
malsa
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
- ✶maslā ✧ PE19/101
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶maslā > malsa [maslā] > [malsā] > [malsa] ✧ PE19/101
melya-
verb. [unglossed], *to be in love
Derivations
- √MEL “love, love, [ᴹ√] love (as friend)”
naue
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
- ✶ndagwē ✧ PE19/094
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶ndagwē > ndau̯we > nau̯we > naue [ndagwē] > [ndaɣwē] > [ndauwē] > [nauwē] > [naue] ✧ PE19/094 Variations
- nawe ✧ PE19/094 (
nawe)
sal-
verb. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √SAL “[unglossed], *harp(ing), lyre” ✧ PE22/133
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √SAL > azálie [asālie] > [azālie] ✧ PE22/133
sélo
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
- ✶steglō ✧ PE19/095
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶steglō > thélo > þélo > sélo [steglō] > [θeglō] > [θeɣlō] > [θēlō] > [θēlo] > [sēlo] ✧ PE19/095
sóla
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
- ✶soglā ✧ PE19/095
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶soglā > sóla [soglā] > [soɣlā] > [sōlā] > [sōla] ✧ PE19/095
thar-
verb. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √STAR “*stiff, [ᴹ√] stiff” ✧ PE22/133
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √STAR > thar [star-] > [θar-] ✧ PE22/133 Variations
- thar ✧ PE22/133
tomba
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √TOM “of resonant sounds” ✧ PE17/138
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √TOM > tomba [tomba] ✧ PE17/138
tompë
noun. [unglossed], *pulse, beat
@@@ Neo-meaning “✱pulse, beat” suggested by Röandil on 2023-04-20
Derivations
- √TOM “of resonant sounds” ✧ PE17/138
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √TOM > tompe [tompe] ✧ PE17/138 Variations
- tompe ✧ PE17/138
um(ba)-
prefix. [unglossed]
Derivations
Element in
- Q. umbacarin “[unglossed]” ✧ PE17/172
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √UMU > um(ba) [umba-] ✧ PE17/172 Variations
- um(ba) ✧ PE17/172 (um(ba))
éna
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶eñna > enna > éna [eŋna] > [enna] ✧ PE19/097
þúna
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶stuknā > thúna [stuknā] > [stugnā] > [θugnā] > [θuŋnā] > [θūnā] > [θūna] > [sūna] ✧ PE19/086 Variations
- thúna ✧ PE19/086 (thúna)
lingi-
verb. [unglossed]
maitya
?. [unglossed]
Variations
- mahtya ✧ PE19/084 (mahtya)
umbacarin
noun. [unglossed]
úpa-
verb. [unglossed]
The basic Quenya word for “leaf”, derived from the root √LAS (PE17/62, 153; VT39/9). This word dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where ᴱQ. lasse “leaf” appeared as its own entry (QL/51). ᴹQ. lasse “leaf” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√LAS (Ety/LAS¹). In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s Tolkien said that lasse meant both “a leaf or petal” (GL/52). After that Tolkien translated it only as “leaf”. In one set of later notes Tolkien said it was even more restricted in meaning, and “only applied to certain kinds of leaves, especially those of trees, and would not e.g. be used of leaf of a hyacinth (linque)” (PE17/62).
Neo-Quenya: Despite Tolkien late declaration, I would use lassë as the general “leaf” word for purposes of Neo-Quenya, though more specialized words may also exist such as linquë “(leaf of a) hyacinth”. I would also use it metaphorically in its Early Qenya sense as the “petal” of a flower where the context is very clear, such as lassi indilo “leaves of a lily” = “lily petals”. But where ambiguous, I would use the neologism ᴺQ. lótelas for “petal”, more literally “flower leaf”.