An adjectival form of li(n)-, translated “(not) a few, several” and appearing in Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948 (PE23/106). Tolkien said “this is rare, since this notion is expressed by the ‘long plural’ in –li: Eldali, Elves, some Elves, several Elves”. In drafts Tolkien said it could also mean “lines (straight or string)” (PE23/106 note #80), probably an allusion to ᴹQ. lia “fine thread, spider filament” from The Etymologies (Ety/SLIG).
Qenya
lia
noun. fine thread, spider filament, fine thread, spider filament; [ᴱQ.] twine, *wire
lia
adjective. (not) a few, several
li(n)-
prefix. many
linin-
prefix. many
A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “fine thread, spider filament” and derived from ᴹ✶ligā under the root ᴹ√SLIG having to do with spider words (Ety/SLIG).
Conceptual Development: The word ᴱQ. lia “twine” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√LI+ya “unite many as one” with derivatives having to do with threads and vines (QL/53).
Neo-Quenya: In Tolkien’s later writings, √ungu- became the basis for spider words, but I retain ᴹ√SLIG assuming it has to do with threads and strings to salvage words from the 1910s and 30s. As such I’d use lia for threads and strings that are relatively thin compared to other items of their class, especially those crafted by twining: “fine thread”, a “twine” as a thin cord and by extension things like a “✱wire”.