Gloss “-nde” by Aldaleon

-nde

suffix. {deverbative, denoting a durable process}

Quenya [PE 22:110; PE 22:137] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by
Tom Bombadil #480

I do not completely understand what that is, both -nde and deverbative. Is a deverbative always a personalisation of a verb? If so, what about -nde? "Denoting a durable process" sounds like a special sort of gerund to me, and not like a personalisation ... anywhay, -nde is definitely a personalisation, at least a feminine one.

PS. I could also not understand what a nomen actionis is. Could any linguist have pity with me and explain it in simple english?

Aldaleon #481

Good question!

This is from a section in Parma Eldalamberon 22 which discusses how to form substantival derivates from verb stems. Tolkien presented three ways: -ste, -re and -nde, of which -nde is described as "very frequent", and more general and less particular than -ste.

ola- "to grow" > olaste "growth"
ista- "to know" > istare "knowledge"
mitta- "to insert" > mittande "insertion"
turya- "to strengthen" > turyande "strengthening"

So essentially, you turn verbs into nouns (substantives) using derivation suffixes. It is very interesting, and something which is discussed in great detail in Parma Eldalamberon 22.

Tom Bombadil #482

Thanks for your answer, but now, excuse my inquisitiveness, I have a new question. I always thought that there are six suffixes which can transform any kind of word (even nouns) into an abstract noun:

-ve

-re

-le

-me

-sse

and -ie.

At least -ie is often used in this context. What about these suffixes?

Tamas Ferencz #483

Yes, those are all examples of nominal formative suffixes. What Aldaleon quoted from PE22 was specifically examples of verbal nominal suffixes, i.e. suffixes used to form nouns out of verbs (hence the term "deverbative"). For -nde we even have an example of it being attached to a gerund: kariende "the process of making, manufacture" - which fits the gloss of "denoting a durable process".

Note that this -nde is not related to the feminine agental suffix (i)nde (as in e.g. serinde "needlewoman").

Tolkien worked on Quenya for over five decades and he came up with a lot of variants - which is good for us as it only extends our capabilities to form words.

For more examples on nominal formative suffixes see lesson 14 of Atanquesta.