neldë

cardinal. three, three; [ᴱQ.] four

The Quenya word for “three” derived from √NEL(ED) of the same meaning (VT47/10-11; Ety/NEL).

Conceptual Development: This use of nelde for “three” dates back all the way to Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s (PE14/49, 82). However, in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s ᴱQ. nelde was “four”, appearing under the early root ᴱ√NELE “point” and serving as the basis for the word ᴱQ. neldenelqa “square” (QL/65). In this 1910s document, ᴱQ. ole was “three” derived from the early root ᴱ√OLO “tip” (QL/69).

neldë

cardinal. three

neldë cardinal "three" (SA:neldor, NÉL-ED, VT47:11, VT48:6). Eleni neldë "three stars", archaic elenion neldë = *"of stars three". Genitive "of 3 stars" = elenion neldë (for archaic elenion neldëo) (VT49:45; see 54 regarding neldion as the gen. pl.) Cf. also nelya, neldëa, Neldië.

neldëa

ordinal. third

The usual Quenya word for “third” was neldea as an adjectival form of neldë, along with an alternate (archaic?) form nelya of the same meaning (VT42/25).

Conceptual Development: In the Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s, ᴱQ. nelya was the normal word for “third” (PE14/51, 82).

neldëa

third

neldëa ordinal "third" (VT42:25); also nelya. Cf. neldë.

nel

thrice

nel adv. "thrice", also nel- (prefix) "tri-" (PE14:84, NEL). Compare neldë.

Neldion

day of the three [younger gods]

Neldion noun *"Day of the three [younger gods]", sc. Ossë, Orome and Tulkas (LEP/LEPEN/LEPEK). Elsewhere neldion appears as as the genitive plural form of neldë "three" (VT49:54), but Tolkien emended the relevant text.

elen

star

elen noun "star" (SA:êl, elen, EL, VT49:39); pl. eleni (occasionally in verse: eldi) (WJ:362, PE17:127); partitive pl. elelli for elenli (PE17:127), gen. pl. elenion in the phrase Elenion Ancalima "brightest of stars" (LotR2:IV ch. 9; see Letters:385 for translation); elen atta "two stars" (VT49:44), genitive elen atto "of two stars" (VT49:45), eleni neldë "three stars", archaic elenion neldë = "of stars three". Genitive "of 3 stars" = elenion neldë (for archaic elenion neldëo) (VT49:45). Allative elenna "starwards" used as name of Númenor _(Silm; see Elenna)_; ablative pl. elenillor "from stars" in Markirya. **Nai elen siluva ***"may a star shine", VT49:38.

nelya

third

nelya adj. "third" (VT42:25; also neldëa). Pl. Nelyar "Thirds", the original name of the Teleri (or rather the direct Quenya descendant of the original Primitive Quendian name) (WJ:380).

olë

cardinal. three

olë (2) cardinal "three" (LT1:258; in LotR-style Quenya Tolkien replaced this "Qenya" form with neldë)

eleni neldë

*3 stars

elenion neldë

of 3 stars

elen

noun. star

The most common Quenya word for “star”, mentioned very frequently, derived from an extended form ✶elen of the root √EL “behold” (PE17/67; WJ/360, 362). Its usual plural form is eleni, but it has an archaic plural †eldi sometimes used in verse, the result of the Ancient Quenya sound whereby [[aq|[ln] became [ld]]] after the ancient plural underwent the Quenya syncope, ✶elenī > AQ. elni; its normal modern plural form eleni was actually a reformation from the singular (PE17/57, 151; WJ/362).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, though in the original entry for the root ᴹ√EL Tolkien said it was poetical and gave variants ellen and elena (Ety/EL).

nelya Archaic

ordinal. third

él

star

†él noun "star", pl. éli given (WJ:362, EL)

él Archaic

noun. star

An archaic or poetic word for star (WJ/362), somewhat common in compounds but in ordinary speech typically appearing as elen. It was derived directly from the primitive root √EL “behold”, the basis for other star words (PM/340; WJ/360).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as poetical ᴹQ. él “star” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above, though in this document the root ᴹ√EL meant “star” (Ety/EL), a common gloss for the root in later writings as well.

ílë

star

ílë noun "star" (LT1:269; rather elen, él in LotR-style Quenya.)