Tolkien later seems to have replaced this form by leber
Sindarin
lebent
noun. fourth finger
Cognates
- Q. lepente “fourth finger” ✧ VT48/05
lebent
noun. ring finger
lebed
noun. finger
leber
noun. finger
leber
noun. finger
The Sindarin word for “finger”, derived from primitive ✶leper and based on the root √LEP “pick up” (VT47/10; VT48/5).
Conceptual Development: Tolkien used various Elvish words for “finger” over his life, but most were based on the root √LEP. The Gnomish Grammar and Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. leptha “finger” (GG/13; GL/53), clearly derived from the early root ᴱ√LEPE that was the basis for contemporaneous Qenya finger words (QL/53). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s it was ᴱN. lhê “finger”, derived from primitive ᴱ✶lept- (PE13/148). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was N. lhebed “finger” based on the root ᴹ√LEPET of the same meaning (Ety/LEP). In drafts of the 1968 notes mentioned above, Tolkien had S. lebed “finger” (VT47/27), but this was replaced by leber in the finished versions (VT47/23-24 note #30).
Cognates
- Q. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
Derivations
Element in
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶leper- > leber [lepero] > [leper] > [leber] ✧ VT47/10 ✶leper- > lebir [leperī] > [leperi] > [lepiri] > [lepir] > [lebir] ✧ VT47/10 ✶leper- > leber [lepero] > [leper] > [leber] ✧ VT47/24 ✶leperī > lebir [leperī] > [leperi] > [lepiri] > [lepir] > [lebir] ✧ VT47/24 ✶leper > leber [lepero] > [leper] > [leber] ✧ VT48/05 ✶leperī > lebir [leperi] > [leperi] > [lepiri] > [lepir] > [lebir] ✧ VT48/05 Variations
- lebed ✧ VT47/23 (
lebed)
lebenedh
noun. middle finger
lebig
noun. little finger
niged
noun. little finger
nobad
noun. the pair of fingers composed of the thumb and the index (grouped together as in the act of picking something)
lebent
ring finger
lebent (pl. lebint) (VT48:5), also called nethig. The word means ”little sister”, but was used in childrens play for the ring finger. (VT47:14, 38-39, VT48:48:6, 17)
lebent
ring finger
(pl. lebint) (VT48:5), also called nethig. The word means ”little sister”, but was used in children’s play for the ring finger. (VT47:14, 38-39, VT48:48:6, 17)
leber
finger
leber (pl. lebir) (VT47:10, 23, 24; VT48:5). This may replace ”Noldorin” lhebed, which we would otherwise update to Sindarin as lebed. For names of specific fingers, see INDEX FINGER, LITTLE FINGER, MIDDLE FINGER, RING FINGER, THUMB.
A name for the fourth finger in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from 1968, cognate to Q. lepente (VT48/5). Its initial element is derived from of ✶lepe “finger” and its 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).