5.53 Dough
- ᴹQ. makse n. “dough”
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A word for “dough” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶mazgē under the root ᴹ√MASAG “knead” (Ety/MASAG), where zg unvoiced to sk and then the sk underwent metathesis to ks.
- N. moeas n. “dough”
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A word appearing as N. moeas “dough” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, an elaboration of primitive ᴹ✶mazgē (probably *mazgassē) under the root ᴹ√MASAG “knead” (Ety/MASAG).
Neo-Sindarin: It is common to adapt this word as ᴺS. maeas for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, since the diphthong oe < older ai in Noldorin of the 1930s generally became ae in Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s: compare N. oel “lake” vs. S. ael. However, the word moeas < *mazgassē has other phonological difficulties, since the phonetic developments of ancient zg were also different in Sindarin. See the entry on how [zb], [zg] became [ðβ], [ðɣ] for further discussion, as well as (rejected) N. madhias “softness” which shows the expected developments (EtyAC/MASAG). I personally retain ᴺS. maeas “dough” and assume it is the result of alternate developments, but ᴺS. madhias “dough” would be a reasonable alternative that better fits later Sindarin phonology.
5.55 Flour
- Q. mulë n. “meal, *grist, ground grains”
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A word in a list of “large & small” roots from around 1968 replacing polë “meal” (PE17/115). It was likely derived from *√MUL, which in the 1910s meant “grind” (QL/63). This words means “meal” in the sense “ground grains” such as “cornmeal”, not “meal” as a time for eating which is [ᴹQ.] mat.
- ᴱQ. mulma n. “fine flour”
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A word appearing as ᴱQ. mulma “fine flour” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√MULU “grind (fine)” (QL/63).
Neo-Quenya: The 1968 word Q. mulë “meal” (PE17/115) indicates *√MUL survived in Tolkien’s later writing, so I would retain ᴺQ. mulma for “fine flour”. But I would use it only for very powdery flour, and would use [ᴹQ.] pore (Ety/POR) for ordinary “flour”.
- ⚠️Q. polë (poli-) n. “meal, grist, [ᴹQ.] flour, [ᴱQ.] oats, grain (unground kernels of oats, wheat, etc.)”
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This word used for “flour” related words for much of Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴱQ. pole (poli-) “oats” in both the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√POL-I which was, in that document, distinct from ᴱ√POLO “have strength” (QL/75, PME/75). The word reappeared with various glosses in documents from the 1920s: “grain; unground kernels of oats, wheat, etc.” (PE15/73), “grain” (PE14/75), “flour” (PE16/141).
In the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s it was ᴹQ. pole “flour, meal” (PE21/12), but in the The Etymologies of the 1930s it became ᴹQ. pore (pori-) “flour, meal” derived from primitive ᴹ✶pori under the root ᴹ√POR (Ety/POR). Tolkien may have changed l to r to better distinguish it from the root ᴹ√POL(OD) “physically strong” (Ety/POL). In notes from around 1967, however, Tolkien became dissatisfied with the meaning of the root √POL, saying:
POL. This cannot refer to strength. (Too obvious a reminiscence of [Latin] pollens); also it does not account for poli- “meal, grist”. POL- should have senses “pound up”, break up small, reduced to powder etc. (PE17/181).
Thus it seems he restored pole (poli-). However, in notes from 1968 he reversed himself, saying:
Q. pol, large, big (strong). polda big. DELETE pole “meal”! Make it mule (PE17/115).
Neo-Quenya: Given the widespread use of √POL in words having to do with physical ability, I agree with Tolkien’s 1968 note that poli- is not viable for “flour” words. I recommend Q. mulë for “meal” = any ground grains in general, but I think it is worth retaining 1930s ᴹQ. pore specifically for “flour”.
- ᴱQ. polesse n. “porridge”
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A word appearing as ᴱQ. polesse “porridge” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, an extension of form of ᴱQ. pole “oats” (QL/75).
Neo-Quenya: In notes from 1968, Tolkien revised to Q. polë “meal” to Q. mulë (PE17/115), so I would update “porridge” to ᴺQ. mulessë.
- ᴹQ. porë (pori-) n. “flour, ⚠️meal”
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A word appearing in the The Etymologies of the 1930s with the gloss “flour, meal” derived from primitive ᴹ✶pori under the root ᴹ√POR (Ety/POR).
Neo-Quenya: I recommend 1968 Q. mulë for “meal” = any ground grains in general, but I think it worth retaining 1930s ᴹQ. pore specifically for “flour”.
- G. mail n. “flour”
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A noun appearing as G. mail “flour” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√MILI which had to do with “seed” words (GL/56; QL/61). This word seems to be the result of a-fortification: the insertion of an a in ancient word forms. Tolkien marked the word with a “?” indicating he was uncertain of it.
Neo-Sindarin: I would adapt this word as ᴺS. maul “flour” using a-fortification of the (hypothetical) root √MUL that seems to be the basis for Q. mulë “meal” from the 1960s.
5.56 Grind
- ᴱQ. mul- v. “to grind, *pulverize”
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A verb appearing as ᴱQ. mul- “grind” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√MULU “grind (fine)” (QL/63). In a nearby comparative list of roots it was given as mulu- “grind”.
Neo-Quenya: The 1968 word Q. mulë “meal” (PE17/115) indicates *√MUL survived in Tolkien’s later writing, so I would retain ᴺQ. mul- “to grind” for purposes of Neo-Quenya.
5.57 Mill
- ᴱQ. mulmar n. “miller”
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A word appearing as ᴱQ. mulmar “miller” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, probably an agental formation from ᴱQ. mulma “fine flour” derived from the early root ᴱ√MULU “grind (fine)” (QL/63).
Neo-Quenya: The 1968 word Q. mulë “meal” (PE17/115) indicates *√MUL survived in Tolkien’s later writing, so I would retain ᴺQ. mulmar “miller” for purposes of Neo-Quenya.
- ᴱQ. mulmin n. “mill”
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A word appearing as ᴱQ. mulmin “mill” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√MULU “grind (fine)” (QL/63).
Neo-Quenya: The 1968 word Q. mulë “meal” (PE17/115) indicates *√MUL survived in Tolkien’s later writing, so I would retain ᴺQ. mulmin “mill” for purposes of Neo-Quenya.