13.41 Three
- Q. neldë num. “three”
-
The Quenya word for “three” derived from √NEL(ED) of the same meaning (VT47/10-11; Ety/NEL).
Conceptual Development: This use of nelde for “three” dates back all the way to Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s (PE14/49, 82). However, in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s ᴱQ. nelde was “four”, appearing under the the early root ᴱ√NELE “point” and serving as the basis for the word ᴱQ. neldenelqa “square” (QL/65). In this 1910s document, ᴱQ. ole was “three” derived from the early root ᴱ√OLO¹ “tip” (QL/69).
- S. neledh num. “three”
-
The Sindarin word for “three” was neledh (PE17/95; VT48/6), sometimes shorted to nêl (VT42/25). It was derived from the root √NELED (VT42/24; VT47/11).
Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s also had N. neledh “three” under the root ᴹ√NEL, but in that document the modern form was neled patterned after canad “four” (Ety/NEL). This modern form replaced a deleted variant {neleth} (EtyAC/NEL).
13.42 Third (ordinal)
- Q. neldëa num. “third”
-
The usual Quenya word for “third” was neldea as an adjectival form of neldë, along with an alternate (archaic?) form nelya of the same meaning (VT42/25).
Conceptual Development: In the Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s, ᴱQ. nelya was the normal word for “third” (PE14/51, 82).
- S. nelui num. “third”
-
The Sindarin word for “third”, an adjectival form of nel(edh) “three” in notes from the late 1960s using the adjectival suffix -ui (VT42/25). It replaced an archaic form neil or nail. In an earlier version of this document the colloquial form was neleg “third”, but this form was deleted (VT42/10).
13.43 a Third (fraction)
- Q. nel(d)esta num. “one third”
-
A word appearing as nelesta, neldesta, or nelta “one third” in notes on numbers from the late 1960s, a combination of nelda “three” with the fractional suffix -sta (VT48/11). A fourth variant nelsat appeared later on the same page.
Conceptual Development: The Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s had ᴱQ. neldesto “one third” with an adjective form ᴱQ. neldest(y)a (PE14/51, 84).
13.44 Occurring Three Times
- ᴱQ. nellume adv. “thrice, three times”
-
A word appearing in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s as ᴱQ. nellume or neldellume clearly meaning “*three times”, a combination of ᴱQ. nelde “three” and ᴱQ. -llume “times” (PE14/51, 84).
Neo-Quenya: I would retain ᴺQ. nellumë “thrice, three times” for purposes of Neo-Quenya since both elements remain in use in Tolkien’s later writings.
13.45 Threefold, Triple
- ᴹQ. nel- pref. “tri-; ⚠️[ᴱQ.] thrice”
-
A prefix for “tri-” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√NEL “three” (Ety/NEL).
Conceptual Development: In the Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s, ᴱQ. nel meant “thrice” (PE14/51, 84).
- N. nel- pref. “tri-”
-
A prefix for “tri-” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√NEL “three” (Ety/NEL).