4.81 Strong, Mighty, Powerful S. belaith [mb-] adj. “mighty” An adjective for “mighty” derived from the root √MBELEK in a page of notes having to do with “large & small” words, probably from the late 1960s (PE17/115), apparently from the primitive form *✶mbelektā with the ekt vocalizing to eith and
Select Elvish Words
Studies on selected elvish words to sort out their semantics.
Select Elvish Words 4.81-4.82: Strong, Weak (Quenya)
4.81 Strong, Mighty, Powerful Q. astalda adj. “strong, *valiant” An adjective glossed “strong” and derived from the root √STAL in a page of notes having to do with “large & small” words, probably from the late 1960s (PE17/115). This page was rejected, but Tolkien used Astaldo “Valiant” as a sobriquet
Select Elvish Words 4.77-4.79 Corpse, Grave
4.77 Corpse, Body Q. loico n. “corpse, dead body” A word for “corpse, dead body” in the 1960s version of the Markirya poem (MC/223). Its etymology is unclear. Conceptual Development: In the version of the poem from around 1930, Tolkien used the word ᴱQ. kaivo “corpse” (MC/214, 221), probably based
Select Elvish Words 4.76: to Kill
4.76 to Kill Q. nahta- v. “to slay, [ᴱQ.] slay cruelly; ⚠️[Q.] to hurt, injure, wound” A verb for “slay” based on the root √NDAK (PE22/156). Conjugations from 1964 (PE17/77) and 1969 (PE22/156-157, 159, 164) indicate it was a half-strong verb with past tense nacante, though it also had an
Select Elvish Words 4.75: Death (Sindarin)
4.75 to Die; Dead; Death S. fern n. and adj. “dead person; [N.] dead (of mortals)” An adjective in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “dead (of mortals)” under the root ᴹ√PHIR “die of natural causes”, used as a plural noun in the name Dor Firn i Guinar “Land of
Select Elvish Words 4.75: Death (Quenya)
4.75 to Die; Dead; Death Q. fir- v. “to die, fade, †expire, breathe forth” A verb for “to die”, originally meaning “breathe forth, expire” (MR/250). Tolkien also translated it as “die, fade” in notes for the Markirya poem of the 1960s (MC/223). The use of this verb for death was
Select Elvish Words 4.74-4.742: Life, Immortal (Sindarin)
4.74 to Live; Living; Life S. cuia- v. “to live” A verb for “to live” appearing only in the imperative form cuio in the phrase cuio i Pheriain anann “long live the Halflings” or “may the Halflings live long” (LotR/953; Let/448; PE17/102). It already had this form when it appeared
Select Elvish Words 4.74-4.742: Life, Immortal (Quenya)
4.74 to Live; Living; Life Q. ceula adj. “?alive (of vegetable)” A word in Quenya Notes from 1957 (QN) derived from the root √KEWE/KWĒ “live of vegetables” (PE17/159), so perhaps an adjective meaning “*alive (of vegetables)”. Conceptual Development: The word ᴱQ. lausiva “living (of plants)” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon
Select Elvish Words 4.73-4.732: Pregnant; to Conceive
4.73 Pregnant Q. colbanavië n. “gestation, *(lit.) womb-being” A noun for “gestation” in notes on Elvish life cycles from 1959, appearing in the form colbamarië and colbanavië (NM/91, 120). The initial element is colba in both cases, which might mean “womb” based on the root √KOL “bear, carry”. The final
Select Elvish Words 4.71-4.72: Beget, Bear (a child)
4.71 to Beget (of Father) Q. onta- v. “to beget, *conceive (a child); [ᴹQ.] to create” A verb in Tolkien’s writings glossed “beget” and derived from the root √NŌ/ONO (PE17/170; Ety/ONO). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it had a second gloss “create” (Ety/ONO). Conceptual Development: The Early Qenya Grammar