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Select Elvish Words: 14.35 Again

14.35 Again

ᴹQ. ata adv. “again, *(lit.) a second time”

An adverb in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “again” based on the root ᴹ√AT “back, again”, a root that was also the basis for the word “two” (Ety/AT(AT)).

Conceptual Development: In Tolkien’s later writings, he said prefixal at(a)- “again” could only be used “only in literal sense of second time, double” (PE17/166).

Q. en- pref. “re-, again”

The usual Quenya prefix for “re-, again” (PE17/68; UT/317), used in words like enquanta- “refill” (LotR/377) and entul- “return” (S/195). It is derived from the root √EN.

Conceptual Development: The word ᴱQ. antulu- “return” from the 1910s indicates that ᴱQ. an- is a possible precursor to en-.

Q. han- pref. “*back as an answer or return by another agent”

A prefix derived from a root √KHAN that apparently replaced TŌ/OTO “back as an answer, or return by another agent to an action affecting him as in answering, replying, avenging, requiting, repaying, rewarding” and so presumably with a similar meaning, especially given hanquenta “answer” (PE17/166).

ᴹQ. tolta- n. “to repeat”

A word in a marginal note to Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948 glossed “to repeat” and derived from √TOTO “repeat” (PE23/109).

ᴹQ. tolte n. “*repetition”

An untranslated word in a marginal note to Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948 derived from √TOTO “repeat” (PE23/109). It resembles a noun, so it might mean “*repetition”.

S. ad- pref. “[N.] again, re-, ⚠️back”

The usual Sindarin prefix for “re-, again”. In The Etymologies of the 1930s, N. ad- was given as the equivalent of [ᴹQ.] at(a)- “back, again, re-” under the root ᴹ√AT “back, again” which was also the basis for the word “two” (Ety/AT(AT)). In Tolkien’s later writings, Tolkien’s said the Quenya prefix could be used “only in literal sense of second time, double” and the more general Quenya prefix for “re-” was en- (PE17/166-7). However, he said “In Sindarin this [EN] would so often be indisting[uishable] from ET- ‘out’ (as et-pet-, say out, en-pet > ephed) that it [was] replaced by ATA-, as adbed, rephrase” (PE17/177). Thus it seems S. ad- could be used for general repetition, not merely repetition a second time.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would use ad- only for “re-, again”. For “back” I would use dan.

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