A verb for “glitter” in the second version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa (TQ2) written around 1950 (PE18/87). Its ancient form ✶ak’la- was glossed “shine out, flash”, an abnormal vocalization of the verbal root √KAL “shine”, where Tolkien said “these formations appear to have been often intensive, or descriptive of sudden action”. Thus I think this verb was more properly used for a sudden flash of light. It is possible that the semantics of the verb changed to a more gentle or gradual glittering, but Quenya has other verbs for “twinkle”, “glitter” and “sparkle” (tintila-, mirilya-, ita-), and I would use alca- primarily with the sense “flash” in Neo-Quenya.
Quenya
alca-
verb. glitter
alca-
verb. to glitter, to glitter, *shine out, flash
Cognates
- ᴺS. agla- “to shine out, flash”
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶ak’la- > alka- [akla-] > [alka-] ✧ PE18/087 Variations
- alka- ✧ PE18/087
mirilya-
glitter
mirilya- vb. "glitter" (MBIRIL)
glitter