12.371 Between
- Q. enel prep. “in the middle, between”
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A word for “between” in the sense “in the middle” (VT47/11). More precisely it meant “at the central position in a row, list, series, etc. but also applied to the case of three persons” and that it “referred to the position of a thing between others of like kind”, as opposed to imbë used for “between” things of differing kinds. For non-sequential groups Tolkien said enel “was mainly used of persons; from it was derived the word enelmo: ‘a go-between, intervener, intermediary, mediator’ (VT47/14 note #17)”. It was related to the root √ENED “middle” via ancient D/L variations (VT47/31 note #45).
- Q. imbë prep. and adv. “between, among; ⚠️[ᴹQ.] in(wards)”
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The basic Quenya word for “between” as given in the Q. Namárië poem (LotR/377). It has a plural variant imbi “among” used with plural nouns (PE17/92). In ordinary use its singular imbe is “between” two objects, and when those objects are not named it can itself be dualized as imbit (PE17/92). More exactly, it “referred to a gap, space, barrier, or any thing intervening between two other things like or unlike one another” (VT47/11). In reference to the gap, it could also mean “a deep valley or wide ravine between high mountain sides (as Rivendell): sc. = tween-land” (PE17/92). See imbë² for further discussion.
Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. {imba >>} imbe “in(wards)” under the root ᴹ√IMÍ “in” (EtyAC/IMÍ). This was likely a later iteration of ᴱQ. int “inwards” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√IMI² “in, into” (QL/42).
- Q. imíca prep. “among”
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A word for “among” in the Aia María prayer of the 1950s, revised through the various versions of the prayer as {mil >>} mi >> {mitta >>} mika >> imíca (VT43/26-28). In the final version it was given as imíca nisi “among women”. Notes from around the same period had miki “among” as an extension of mi “in”, possible a root or primitive form (VT43/30).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I reserve imíca for “among” a group of like things (among women), as opposed to imbi the plural of imbë which can be used for “among” a group of different things: máma imbi rácar “a sheep among wolves”.
- Q. mitta prep. and adv. “[ᴹQ.] inwards, into, ⚠️[ᴱQ.] in; [Q.] between”
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A derivative of √MI “in” with various meanings throughout Tolkien’s life. It seems to mean “in” within the name Mittalmar “Inlands” from the mid-1960s. In Quenya prayers of the 1950s, it was briefly used for “among” before being revised to mika (VT43/27-28), and was glossed “between” in accompanying etymological notes (VT43/30). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹQ. mitta or minta was glossed “inwards, [?]into” [the second gloss is difficult to read] under the root ᴹ√MI “inside” (EtyAC/MI). In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s ,ᴱQ. mitta was glossed “in, into, inwards” under the early root ᴱ√MĪ² (QL/61).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use mitta as a preposition or adverb meaning “inwards, into”, and would assume the 1950s meaning “between” was transient and abandoned.
- S. im prep. “between”
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A Sindarin word for “between” appearing as an element in the name Taur-im-Duinath “Forest between the Rivers” (S/123), clearly related to Q. imbë “between” (LotR/377).
- S. mîn prep. “between; gap, space, barrier; anything intervening between two other things”
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A Sindarin word for “between” (VT47/11). Tolkien contrasted it with Q. enel by saying:
It differed from C.E. imbi and mīni (both probably derivatives of MI “in”) in that enel referred to the position of a thing between others of like kind, whereas imbi (Q. imbe) and mīni (S. mîn, min-) referred to a gap, space, barrier, or anything intervening between two other things (like or unlike one another).
The prefixal use of min- can be seen in S. Minhiriath “Between the Rivers” (LotR/1040; UT/261).
Neo-Sindarin: When I first created this entry, I misinterpreted the above description and assumed mîn was actually noun meaning a “gap, space, barrier, or anything intervening between two other things”. As such I accidentally created a neologism. This is a moderately useful neologism, however, so for purposes of Neo-Sindarin I would use mîn as preposition, prefix and noun for between, between-, and “a between [thing or place]”. For a pure preposition, see im².