12.34 Bottom
- Q. sundo [þ] n. “base, root, [ᴹQ.] root-word”
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A word translated as “base” (PE18/33, 60, 84; WJ/319) or in its plural form as “roots” (PE18/95). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had ᴹQ. sundo “base, root, root-word” under the root ᴹ√SUD “base, ground” (Ety/SUD). The word Sundokarme “base structure” indicates a stem of sundo- (PE18/33, 84). In one place Tolkien gave its plural as sundur indicating a stem form of sundu- (PE18/95), but in another Tolkien had sundar “roots” indicating an alternate singular form sunda (UT/166). See S. thond “root” for a discussion of the vacillations on the possible etymologies of this word.
Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s also had ᴹQ. numbe or núve “root, foundation” under the root {ᴹ√(N)DUM >>} ᴹ√(N)DUB “lay base, foundation, root; found”, but this entry was deleted (EtyAC/NDUB).
- Q. tal(da) n. “to the bottom”
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Several specialized adverbs having to do with “bottom” appeared in various documents: ᴱQ. talta “to the bottom (of)” (PE15/71), ᴹQ. talte “down, at the bottom” (PE21/21), and tăl or talda “to the bottom” (PE21/76), the first from the early 1920s, the second from the 1930s, and the last pair from the early 1950s. The last was derived from ✶tald(a), where ✶-da was the ancient allative suffix “to” also seen in Q. tar(a) “thither” (PE19/104; VT49/11). Its base root is √TAL “foot”, so its original meaning was “to the foot”. Compare also cas(ta) “to the top, (orig.) to the head”.
- Q. talma n. “basis; [ᴹQ.] foundation, base, ⚠️root; [ᴱQ.] end”
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This word appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹQ. talma “base, foundation, root” derived from ᴹ✶talmā, appearing under the root ᴹ√TALAM “floor, base, ground” as an extension of ᴹ√TAL “foot” (Ety/TAL). The word talma “basis” appeared as either a Quenya or a primitive word in Common Eldarin: Noun Structure from the early 1950s (PE21/80).
Conceptual Development: Qenya word-lists of the 1920s had ᴱQ. talma “end” (PE16/144). The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. tauma “basis, foundation, ground floor” under the early root ᴱ√TAW̯A (QL/90).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya I would use this word for “basis; foundation, base” (physical or conceptual), but for “root” I would use Q. sundo.
- Q. tulco (tulcu-) n. “support, prop”
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A noun for “support, prop” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, derived from ᴹ✶tulku under the root ᴹ√TULUK (Ety/TULUK).
Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. tulpo “buttress, prop” and ᴱQ. talpa “support, prop, base, basis, pediment (column)” under the early root ᴱ√TḶPḶ (QL/93).