Quenya 

lepsë

finger

lepsë noun "finger" (LEP/LEPET; see leper). According to VT45:27, Tolkien derived lepsë from primitive ¤lepti; if so, lepsë should have the stem-form *lepsi-. However, Tolkien struck out the ancestral form lepti, so we cannot be sure whether this idea was maintained or not. In later sources, the word for "finger" appears as leper.

lepsë

noun. *finger

Variations

  • lepse ✧ PE17/089

leper

finger

leper (pl. leperi given) noun "finger" (VT44:16, VT47:10, 14, 24, VT48:5; an older source gives the word for "finger" as lepsë, q.v.)

leper

noun. finger

The Quenya word for “finger” appearing in various notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from 1968, derived from the root √LEP “pick up” (VT47/10; VT48/5).

Conceptual Development: The Quenya “finger” words went through quite a few conceptual changes, but they were always based on the root √LEP. The earliest of these was ᴱQ. let (lept-) “finger” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√LEPE with plural form lepsi (QL/53). In Qenya word lists of the 1920s, however, this became ᴱQ. lepta “finger”, still with the plural lepsi (PE15/72; PE16/137).

The form was ᴹQ. let (leps-) in the Declension of Nouns of the early 1930s (PE21/19, 26), expanded to ᴹQ. lepse “finger” in The Etymologies written around 1937, based on the root ᴹ√LEPET of the same meaning (Ety/LEPET). This form demonstrated the 1930s sound change whereby pt became ps (PE19/44 note #44). Tolkien revised this sound change so that the result remained pt (PE19/44), and in 1940s drafts to The Lord of the Rings Tolkien used the word ᴹQ. rakkalepta “✱claw-fingered” in Treebeard’s description of orcs (SD/68), though in the published version this word only appeared in English.

In the Outline of Phonology from the 1950s (OP1) Tolkien considered restoring the sound change pt > ps (PE19/84 note #75), and Q. lepsë appeared in notes from the late 1950s or early 60s on the tree name S. lebethron, so named because “its leaves (like chestnut) [were] shaped like a fingered hand” (PE17/89). However, he again abandoned this, clarifying that the actual result of [[q|[pt] was a spirantal [ɸt]]] (spelled pt to represent the bilabial pronunciation), and that in Tarquesta pronunciation (Exhilic Quenya of the first age) the [ɸ] vocalized to [u̯] so that ✶lepta > leꝑta > Q. leu̯ta “finger” (PE19/84). Q. lepta appeared in several words in the 1960s: Q. leptafinya “clever-fingered” (PE17/17) and Q. Tyelpelepta “✱silver-fingered” (VT47/27).

In drafts of the 1968 notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals, lepta reappeared as an independent word, but with the gloss “thumb” (VT47/27). In the final versions of these notes, however, Tolkien used leper for “finger”, as noted above.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use leper for “finger”, but would retain lepta as an adjective meaning “fingered”, especially in compounds like [ᴹQ.] raccalepta “claw-fingered”.

Cognates

  • S. leber “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
  • T. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05

Derivations

  • leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT44/16
    • lepero “finger” ✧ VT47/13; VT47/24
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
leper- > leper[leper]✧ VT47/10
leper- > leper[leper]✧ VT47/24
leper > leper[leper]✧ VT48/05
Quenya [VT47/03; VT47/04; VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

éna

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • eñna ✧ PE19/097
    • “be, exist”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
eñna > enna > éna[eŋna] > [enna]✧ PE19/097

amya-

verb. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • AM “go up, go up, [ᴹ√] up” ✧ PE17/157

Elements

WordGloss
-ya“verbal suffix”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
AM > amya[amja-]✧ PE17/157

Variations

  • amya ✧ PE17/157 (amya)

arra

adjective. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • SRAG “awkward, awry; hard, (very) difficult” ✧ PE17/172

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
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

DevelopmentStagesSources
KAYA > caire[kaire]✧ PE17/101

Variations

  • caire ✧ PE17/101

conta-

verb. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • KOM “gather, collect” ✧ PE17/157

Elements

WordGloss
-ta“causative verb suffix”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
KOM > conta[komta-] > [konta-]✧ PE17/157

Variations

  • conta ✧ PE17/157 (conta)

cúma

noun. [unglossed]

Cognates

  • S. “bow, bow; [N.] arch, crescent; [G.] waxing or waning moon” ✧ PE17/122

Derivations

  • kūma ✧ PE17/122
    • KU(H) “bow, [ᴱ√] bend”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
kūma > cúma[kūma]✧ PE17/122

felca

adjective. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • PHELEGexcavation, excavation; [ᴹ√] cave” ✧ PE17/118

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
PHELEK > felca[pʰelka] > [ɸelka] > [felka]✧ PE17/118

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

  • PHELEGexcavation, excavation; [ᴹ√] cave” ✧ PE17/118

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
PHELEK > felehta[pʰelektā] > [ɸelektā] > [ɸelextā] > [ɸelextā] > [felextā]✧ PE17/118

Variations

  • felehta ✧ PE17/118

finca

noun. [unglossed]

Cognates

  • S. fing “lock of hair” ✧ PE17/017

Derivations

  • phinik ✧ PE17/017
    • SPIN(ID) “fine thread, filament; hair” ✧ PE17/017

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
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
Quenya [PMCH/02; TMME/192] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hindo

noun. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • KHIN “child” ✧ PE17/157

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
KHIN > hindo[kʰindo] > [xindo] > [hindo]✧ PE17/157

hindë

noun. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • KHIN “child” ✧ PE17/157

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
KHIN > hinde[kʰinde] > [xinde] > [hinde]✧ PE17/157

Variations

  • hinde ✧ PE17/157 (hinde)

holdë

noun. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • SKOL “shut, close” ✧ PE17/098

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
KHOL > holde[kʰolde] > [xolde] > [holde]✧ PE17/098

Variations

  • holde ✧ PE17/098

háro

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
khādo > hāzo > hāro[kʰādo] > [xādo] > [xāðo] > [hāðo] > [hāro]✧ PE22/148

Variations

  • hāro ✧ PE22/148

lingi-

verb. [unglossed]

maitya

?. [unglossed]

Variations

  • mahtya ✧ PE19/084 (mahtya)

malsa

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
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

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
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

DevelopmentStagesSources
SAL > azálie[asālie] > [azālie]✧ PE22/133

sélo

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
steglō > thélo > þélo > sélo[steglō] > [θeglō] > [θeɣlō] > [θēlō] > [θēlo] > [sēlo]✧ PE19/095

sóla

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
soglā > sóla[soglā] > [soɣlā] > [sōlā] > [sōla]✧ PE19/095

thar-

verb. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • STAR “*stiff, [ᴹ√] stiff” ✧ PE22/133

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
STAR > thar[star-] > [θar-]✧ PE22/133

Variations

  • thar ✧ PE22/133

tomba

noun. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • TOM “of resonant sounds” ✧ PE17/138

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
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

DevelopmentStagesSources
TOM > tompe[tompe]✧ PE17/138

Variations

  • tompe ✧ PE17/138

um(ba)-

prefix. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • UMU “not, expressing privation, not, expressing privation; [ᴹ√] negative stems” ✧ PE17/172
    • Ū “denial of fact, privation, negative element, denial of fact, privation, negative element, [ᴱ√] not”

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
UMU > um(ba)[umba-]✧ PE17/172

Variations

  • um(ba) ✧ PE17/172 (um(ba))

umbacarin

noun. [unglossed]

úpa-

verb. [unglossed]

þúna

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

  • stuknā ✧ PE19/086
    • STUK “[unglossed]” ✧ PE19/086

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
stuknā > thúna[stuknā] > [stugnā] > [θugnā] > [θuŋnā] > [θūnā] > [θūna] > [sūna]✧ PE19/086

Variations

  • thúna ✧ PE19/086 (thúna)

leuta

noun. finger

Derivations

  • lepetā “thumb, ‘picker’; finger” ✧ PE19/084
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/27

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
lepta > leꝑta > leu̯ta[lepta] > [leɸta] > [leuta]✧ PE19/084

Variations

  • leu̯ta ✧ PE19/084