[lependë] noun "middle finger", also lepenel (VT47:10, VT48:15; struck out)
Quenya
lepenel
middle finger
lepenel
noun. middle finger
Cognates
Elements
Word Gloss lepe “finger” enel “in the middle, between”
lependë
middle finger
lependë
noun. middle finger
In rought drafts of notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from 1968, Tolkien coined various words for “middle finger” using initial element √ENED “middle”: Q. enestil, enelde or enelde, the first of these in combination with Q. til “tip” with the usual sound change of d+t > t+t > st (VT47/26). But Tolkien soon revised the form to lepende, a combination of ✶lepe “finger” and Q. endë “middle” (VT47/27).
The word lepende “middle finger” reappeared in the polished version of these notes, along with a variant lepenel (VT47/10). Tolkien said this variant was an older word interpreted as “finger number-three”, but was originally based on Q. enel “in the middle, between” (VT47/11), with d/l variation in the primitive root √ENED (VT47/29 note #43). In yet another version of these notes, lepenel was the only word for “middle finger” (VT48/5).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d use lependë as the usual word for “middle finger”, with †lepenel as an archaic variant.
Variations
- lepende ✧ VT47/10; VT47/11; VT47/27; VT47/28
eneldë
middle finger
[eneldë, enellë, enestil noun "middle finger" (VT47:26)]
antil
middle finger
[antil noun "middle finger" (VT47:26)]
lepenel noun "middle finger", also [lependë] (VT47:10, VT48:5; lependë was struck out, VT48:15)