12.76 Angle, Corner
- Q. nehtë n. “spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow promontory; angle”
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A word given as Q. {nakte >>} nehte or nekke, the equivalent of S. naith “angle”, all based on the root √NEK as described in Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/55). In late notes associated with the “Disaster at Gladden Fields” Tolkien again derived Q. nehte from √nek “narrow”, saying it applied to “any formation or projection tapering to a point” and could thus be used for “spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow promontory” (UT/282).
Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. nasta “spear-head, spear-point, gore, triangle” under from the root ᴹ√SNAS, that in this document was also the basis for N. naith “gore” (Ety/SNAS; EtyAC/SNAS). A similar word in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) of 1948 was ᴹQ. enke “spear point” based on the root ᴹ√EK, but the page where this word appeared as marked through (PE22/127 note #152).
- ᴱQ. nelqa adj. “cornered”
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A word appearing as ᴱQ. nelqa in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, glossed “cornered, often = square” and based on the early root ᴱ√NELE “point” which in this document was also the basis for ᴱQ. nelde “four” (QL/65).
Neo-Quenya: In Tolkien’s later writings Q. neldë and √NEL meant “three”, but I think ᴺQ. nelqua “cornered, *angled” might be retained in reference to [ᴹQ.] neltil “triangle” (Ety/NEL).
- ᴱQ. nelt n. “corner”
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A word appearing as ᴱQ. nelt “corner (from outside)” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√NELE “point” (QL/65).
Neo-Quenya: In Tolkien’s later writings √NEL meant “three”, but I think this early word might be adapted as ᴺQ. neltë “corner” in reference to [ᴹQ.] neltil “triangle” (Ety/NEL).
- ᴹQ. neltil n. “triangle”
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A word for “triangle” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, a combination of ᴹ√NEL “three” and ᴹ√TIL “point” (Ety/NEL, TIL).
Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. neldenelqa “square, quadrilateral” (lit. “four-cornered”), since in this document ᴱQ. nelde meant “four” (QL/65).
- Q. nexa adj. “sharp, angular”
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A word given as Q. {nerta >> nerca >>} nerca or nexa, possibly the equivalent of S. neg(e)n “sharp, angular” as suggested by Christopher Gilson, all based on the root √NEK as described in Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/55).
- N. bennas n. “angle”
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A word for “angle” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, a combination of ᴹ√BEN “corner (from inside)” and ᴹ√NAS “point” (Ety/BEN). In Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s, it was an early name for S. Egladil (TI/238).
- S. naith n. “spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow promontory; angle”
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This word was most notably used as the name of the wedge of land in Lórien where Galadriel base farewell to the Fellowship: S. Naith, translated “Gore” (LotR/347) or “Triangle” (RC/307). In The Etymologies of the 1930s N. naith “gore” was derived from primitive ᴹ✶[s]natsai based on the root ᴹ√SNAS or ᴹ√SNAT; Tolkien indicated the primitive form might have been a plural (Ety/SNAS). In Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien instead derived naith “angle” from primitive ✶nektē based on the root √NEK (PE17/55). In late notes associated with the “Disaster at Gladden Fields” Tolkien again derived naith from √nek “narrow”, saying it applied to “any formation or projection tapering to a point” and could thus be used for “spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow promontory” (UT/282).
- N. nelthil n. “triangle”
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A word for “triangle” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, a combination of ᴹ√NEL “three” and ᴹ√TIL “point” (Ety/NEL, TIL).