12.43 Near Q. ar- pref. “by-, beside, near, [just] outside” This prefix appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as the prefixal form of the preposition ᴹQ. ara under the root ᴹ√AR² “beside, outside”, most notably as an element in ᴹQ. Arvalin “Outside Valinor” (Ety/AR²). In this entry Tolkien said
Select Elvish Words: 12.42 Left (vs. Right)
Q. hyarma n. “left-hand [side]” A word for “left-hand” (VT47/6; VT49/12), a combination of hyar- “left” and má “hand”. It may also mean “left-hand side” based on S. harvo. ᴹQ. hyarmaite adj. “lefthanded” A word for “lefthanded”, a combination of hyar[ya] “left” and maite “handed” (Ety/KHYAR). Conceptual Development: The Qenya
Select Elvish Words: 12.41 Right (vs. Left)
12.41 Right (vs. Left) Q. for- pref. “right-hand, north” A prefix meaning either “right-hand” or “north”, depending on context (PE17/18). It is derived from the root ᴹ√PHOR. Q. forma n. “right-hand” A word for “right-hand” in notes from the late 1960s (VT47/6), a combination of for- “right” and má “hand”.
Troublesome Elvish Words (TEW 1–10)
The purpose of this series is to compile a list of Elvish (Quenya and Sindarin) words and expressions that can be a potential source of confusion and are often used incorrectly in Neo-Elvish writings. The abbreviations used here for sources are adopted from Eldamo : Reference Index. TEW 1 –
Select Elvish Words: 12.399 From, Away
12.399 From, Away Q. au- pref. “away (from)” A prefix meaning “away” derived from √AWA of similar meaning (PE17/24). In one note from the late 1960s, it had variants o and va (VT49/24). In the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60, Tolkien further specified that it meant “away from the
Sindarin Stress — A muta cum liquida rule?
In Appendix E, Tolkien described Sindarin (and Quenya) stress as follows: In words of two syllables it falls in practically all cases on the first syllable. In longer words it falls on the last syllable but one, where that contains a long vowel, a diphthong, or a vowel followed by
Select Elvish Words: 12.398 To, Towards
12.398 To, Towards Q. am(be)na adv. “nearer to” A word appearing as amna or ambena “nearer to” in notes from around 1967, an allative form of ambë “more” and more precisely meaning “to a further point in the motion towards an object” (PE17/91). It might be contrasted with ambela “further
Select Elvish Words: 12.397 Beyond
12.397 Beyond Q. ambela adv. “further still beyond, far away beyond” A word glossed “further still beyond, far away beyond” in notes from around 1967, a combination ambë “more” and lá “beyond” (PE17/91). Q. haila adv. “far beyond” A word for “far beyond” in notes from 1965, a combination of
Select Elvish Words: 12.396 Behind, At the Rear
12.396 Behind, At the Rear Q. ca(ta) prep. “behind, at back of place; [ᴹQ.] after [of time]” A preposition appearing as ca, cata, cana “behind, at back of place” in notes from the mid-1950s (VT43/30). In notes associated with the Aia María prayer from the 1950s Tolkien wrote the forms
Select Elvish Words: 12.3955 In Front
12.3955 In Front Q. opo prep. “in front (of place), before; ⚠️after (of time)” A word appearing as opo, pō, pono, poto- “in front, of place” in notes from the mid-1950s (VT49/32) and as opo, pō “before, in front of” in notes from 1969 associated with the Ambidexters Sentence (VT49/32).