ᴱ√TUAKK “*axe” The root ᴱ√TUAKK appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s as the basis for ᴱQ. tuakka “axe” (QL/95). The majority of axe words from this period seem to be derived from an unattested root *ᴱ√PELEK, including ᴱQ. pelekko/G. peleg “axe” and ᴱQ. pelekta-/G. pelectha- “hew” (QL/73; GL/64).
Elvish Roots
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TOK-TOW
√TOK “non-resonant sounds” The roots √TOK and √NOK appeared in a list of sound roots from 1959-60 as root for “non-resonant sounds”, but with no derivatives (PE17/138). They are similar to earlier roots, such as ᴱ√OTO “knock” from the the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like the verb
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TIL-TIW
√TIL “point, horn” The root √TIL was used for “pointy thing” for much of Tolkien’s life, most notably as the final element in the name Q. Taniquetil “High White (or Snow) Peak”. Its earliest appearance was as unglossed ᴱ√TILI⁽²⁾ or ᴱ√T͡YILI (probably the true form) in the Qenya Lexicon of
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: THIL-THUR
√THIL “shine silver” Tolkien frequently used the root √THIL as the basis for “moon” words in Elvish. The first appearance of this root was ᴱ√ÞILI a variant of ᴱ√SILI “*gleam” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/83). The normal “moon” words in this period were ᴱQ. Sil and G.
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: THĀ-THER
ᴱ√THĀ/ATHA “ease, comfort, heal; be helpful; be willing to assist (in any work, etc.), agree, consent; [ᴹ√] forward” Tolkien introduced the root ᴹ√THA in Quendian & Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (EVS1) of the 1930s to serve as the basis for the (Old) Noldorin future suffix -thā. Tolkien said: “This thā
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TEFE-TELES
ᴱ√TEFE “*hate, dislike” An unglossed root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. tempe “hate” and ᴱQ. teve- “hate, dislike” (QL/90), where the -v- was because intervocalic voiceless spirants became voiced in Early Qenya (PE12/17-19). It also had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TAP-TAY
ᴹ√TAP “stop” A root in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “stop” with derivatives like ᴹQ. tampa “stopper” and ᴹQ. tape “he stops, blocks” (Ety/TAP; EtyAC/TAP). The word Q. tapta “impeded” from notes associated with the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 was probably related (VT39/17), indicating the roots ongoing
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TA-TAN
√TA “that, there, then; demonstrative” Tolkien used the root √TA for Elvish demonstratives for much of his life, but in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, ᴱ√TA “demonstrative” (with variant ᴱ√TAMA²) had derivatives like ᴱQ. tāma “this” and ᴱQ. tamīne “today” (QL/87). This ᴱ√TA seems to be a near demonstrative
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: SUB-SYAD
ᴹ√SUB “sink (esp. in water)” The root ᴹ√SUB “sink, esp. in water” appeared in a rejected page of verbal roots from the Quenya Verbal System of the 1940s where it had a derived past tense form ᴹQ. sumbe “*sank” as well as a distinct verb form ᴹQ. sumba- “to submerge”
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: STAB-STUD
ᴹ√STAB “*wood” An unglossed root in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives like ᴹQ. sambe “room, chamber”, N. tham “hall”, and ᴹQ. samna/N. thafn “wooden post” (Ety/STAB). It seems to be a later iteration of the unglossed root ᴱ√SAMA from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like