15.11 to Sense, Perceive; Sense
- Q. laika adj. “keen, sharp, acute, *perceptive”
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An adjective in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√LAIK “keen, sharp, acute” (Ety/LAIK), presumably of the same meaning. Its base meaning seems to be “*perceptive” given the noun ᴹQ. laike “acuteness, keenness of perception” from the same entry. The adjective also had the form laike in The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road (LR/367), but in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne said the adjective form was actually laika (VT45/25).
The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. laika “keen, sharp” under the early root ᴱ√LAIKA (QL/50). In this period it seems it could mean “*perceptive” as in lastalaike “sharpsighted” (PE15/68). But it also seemed to mean “sharp [bladed]” as in Tarambolaika “Thudder-sharp” the Qenya name of Tuor’s axe (PE13/103; PE15/22; QL/89) and ilaika “blunt” = “*not sharp” (QL/41).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would assume the primary meaning of laica was “keen [of senses], *perceptive”, but could also be used of “keen, sharp” of blades more metaphorically. For a more proper adjective “sharp, piercing” of blades and knives I would maica, but note also hendumaica “sharp-eye[d]”. Thus it seems the Elves had a semantic association between keen senses and penetrating blades, like English.
- Q. laike n. “acuteness, keenness of perception”
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A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “acuteness, keenness of perception” from the root ᴹ√LAIK “keen, sharp, acute” (Ety/LAIK).
- ᴱQ. tunta- v. “to notice, perceive, ⚠️see”
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A verb appearing as ᴱQ. tunta- “see, notice, perceive” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√TUN+TƎ having to do with perception (QL/95).
Neo-Quenya: I would retain ᴺQ. tunta- “to notice, perceive” for purposes of Neo-Quenya based on a Neo-Root ᴺ√TUNUT.
- ᴱQ. tunto adj. “notice, regard, perception; quickness of perception, wit”
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A noun appearing as ᴱQ. tunto “notice, regard, perception; quickness of perception, wit” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√TUN+TƎ having to do with perception (QL/95).
Neo-Quenya: I would retain ᴺQ. tunto for purposes of Neo-Quenya based on a Neo-Root ᴺ√TUNUT.
- N. lhaeg adj. “keen, sharp, acute”
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An adjective in The Etymologies of the 1930s appearing as both N. lhaeg cognate to ᴹQ. laika “keen, sharp, acute”, and ON. laika/N. lhoeg cognate to Ilk. laig “keen, sharp, fresh, lively”, all under the root ᴹ√LAIK of similar meaning (Ety/LAIK; EtyAC/LAIK). It seems likely these are the same adjective, with vacillation over whether [ai] became [oe] or [ae] in the language’s phonetic development.
Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. gleg, leg, or lêg “keen, sharp, piercing” as cognate to ᴱQ. laika (GL/39, 53). Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s had ᴱN. lhaig “sharp” (PE13/148).
Neo-Sindarin: Many Neo-Sindarin writers adapt this word as ᴺS. laeg “keen, sharp, acute” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin as suggested in Hiswelókë’s Sindarin Dictionary (HSD), since the unvoicing of initial l to lh was a feature of Noldorin of the 1930s but not Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s. I would use laeg to mean both “sharp [senses]” and “sharp [edge]”.
- G. nus- n. “to take notice, perceive”
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The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. nus- “take notice, perceive” (GL/61) likely based on the early root ᴱ√NUSU having to do with smell (QL/68).
Neo-Sindarin: The root ᴹ√NUS “sense, wisdom” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s also having to do with smell, but the verb form nus- is not a suitable derivative of that root. For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would adapt this verb as ᴺS. nuicha- < *nusya- with an ancient meaning “(orig.) to smell [something]”, drifting to “take notice, perceive” over time. Contrast this with ᴺS. nosta- “to smell” from the same root.