-lto

they

-lto, "Qenya" pronominal ending "they"; see -ltë

-ltë

they

-ltë, 3rd person pl. pronominal suffix, "they" (VT49:51; cariltë "they do", VT49:16, 17). It alternates with -ntë in Tolkiens manuscripts (VT49:17, 57). In his early material, the ending also appears as -lto, occurring in Fíriel's Song (meldielto "they are beloved" and cárielto "they made"), also in LT1:114: tulielto "they have come" (cf. VT49:57). Compare -lta, -ltya as the ending for "their".

-ltë

suffix. they

Derivations

• ✶te “they” ✧ VT49/50

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶te/se > -lte	[-lte]	✧ VT49/50

Variations

• -lte ✧ PE17/075; PE17/190; VT49/16; VT49/17 (-lte); VT49/51

-ntë

they

-ntë "they", pronomimal ending, inflexion of 3rd person plural when no subject is previously mentioned (CO; see also VT49:49). This ending competes with -ltë (q.v.) in Tolkiens conception (VT49:57; for "they do", both carintë and cariltë are attested, VT49:16 vs. 17). The corresponding pronominal possessive suffix appears as -ntya or -nta in various sources.

-ntë

suffix. they

Variations

• -nte ✧ PE17/057; PE17/190; UT/317; VT49/17

-ttë

they

-ttë (1) "they", dual 3rd person pronominal ending ("the two of them") (VT49:51), replacing (also within the legendarium) the older ending -stë (which was later used for the second person only). This older ending -stë corresponds to a possessive ending -sta "their" (VT49:16), but this was presumably likewise altered to *-tta as the new ending for dual "their" = "of the two of them".

toi

they

toi pron. "they" (FS; replaced by te in LotR-style Quenya?)

yu-

prefix. both, both, [ᴱQ.] twice

Derivations

• √YU “both, both, [ᴹ√] two” ✧ VT48/10

Element in

• ᴺQ. yuitë “dual”
• ᴺQ. yullumë “twice, two times”
• Q. yunquë “twelve” ✧ VT48/10
• ᴺQ. yuquain “twenty”
• ᴺQ. yúquëan “twenty”
• Q. yúyal “twilight”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√yu- > yu-	[ju-]	✧ VT48/10

yúyo

both

yúyo noun? adv.? "both" (YŪ, VT48:10). Used adjectivally in yúyo má "both hands"; notice that the noun following yúyo receives no plural or dual marker.

yúyo

adjective. both

Derivations

• √YU “both, both, [ᴹ√] two”

Element in

• Q. mahtanë yúyo má véla “*wield both hands alike” ✧ VT49/10

ar

and

ar (1) conj. "and" (AR2, SA, FS, Nam, RGEO:67, CO, LR:47, 56, MC:216, VT43:31, VT44:10, 34; see VT47:31 for etymology, cf. also VT49:25, 40). The older form of the conjunction was az (PE17:41). Ar is often assimilated to al, as before l, s (PE17:41, 71), but "in written Quenya ar was usually written in all cases" (PE17:71). In one case, Tolkien altered the phrase ar larmar "and raiments" to al larmar; the former may then be seen as representing the spelling, whereas the latter represents the pronunciation(PE17:175). More complex schemes of assimilation are suggested to have existed in "Old Quenya", the conjunction varying between ar, a and as depending on the following consonant (PE17:41, 71). An alternative longer form of the conjunction, arë, is said to occur "occasionally in Tolkien's later writings" (VT43:31, cf. VT48:14). In the Etymologies, the word for "and" was first written as ar(a) (VT45:6). In one source, Tolkien notes that Quenya used ar "as preposition beside, next, or as adverb = and" (PE17:145); compare ara.

ar

and

o (1) conj. "and", occurring solely in SD:246; all other sources give ar.

ar

conjunction. and, and; [ᴱQ., ᴹQ.] but

Changes

• ara → ar ✧ NM/239
• ar → ar “and” ✧ PE17/041
• ar → ar ✧ PE17/041
• ar → al ✧ PE17/175

Cognates

• S. a “and; †by, near, beside” ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/102; PE17/145; SA/ar

Derivations

• ✶as(a) “and” ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; VT47/31
  • √AS “beside” ✧ VT47/31
• ✶ad(a) “and, alongside” ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/070; PE17/071; PE17/071; PE17/102
  • √AD(A) “by (the side of), beside, alongside; against, opposed to, opposite” ✧ PE17/071
• √AD(A) “by (the side of), beside, alongside; against, opposed to, opposite” ✧ PE17/145
• √AR “beyond, further than; outside; beside, alongside, beyond, further than; outside; beside, alongside; [ᴱ√] spread, extend sideways” ✧ SA/ar

Element in

• Q. aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie’n aurë “Behold, people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come!” ✧ S/190; WJ/166
• Q. álamë tulya úsahtienna “[and] lead us not into temptation” ✧ VT43/21
• Q. alcar i Ataren ar i Yondon ar i Airefëan “glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit” ✧ VT43/36
• Q. alcarin Vendë ar manaquenta “O glorious and blessed Virgin” ✧ VT44/10
• Q. ar aistana i yávë mónalyo Yésus “and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus” ✧ VT43/31; VT43/31
• Q. ar ámen apsenë úcaremmar “and forgive us our trespasses” ✧ VT43/18
• Q. ar cé mo formenna tentanes Amanna “and if northwards, it pointed towards Aman” ✧ VT49/25
• Q. ar Elendil Vorondo voronwë “and of the faith of Elendil the Faithful” ✧ UT/305
• Q. ar hísië untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë “and mist covers the jewels of Calacirya forever” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
• Q. ar hísië untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë “and mist covers (lit. down-roofs) Calacirya’s jewels forever” ✧ RGEO/59
• Q. ar i Eru i or ilyë mahalmar ëa tennoio “and of the One who is above all thrones for ever” ✧ UT/305
• Q. ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë “and all paths are drowned deep in shadow” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
• Q. ar lumbulë undulávë ilyë tier “and (heavy) shadow swallowed (lit. down-licked) all roads” ✧ RGEO/59
• Q. ar mi cemen rainë i hínin “and on earth peace, good will toward men” ✧ VT44/34; VT44/34; VT44/34
• Q. ar sindanóriello caita mornië “and out of a grey country darkness lies” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
• Q. ar sindanóriello mornië caita “and from a grey country darkness lies” ✧ RGEO/59
• Q. ar súlë Manwëo etsurinyë ar Eldaron indor turyaner “*and the spirit of Manwe went out and the hearts of the Eldar were comforted / or obeyed” ✧ NM/239; NM/239
• Q. arta “etcetera” ✧ PE17/071
• Q. ar wingildi wilwarindië “*and the foam-like butterflies” ✧ PE16/096
• Q. cemendë tambe Erumandë “on Earth as [it is] in Heaven” ✧ VT43/17
• Q. cuita’r parë “live and learn” ✧ PE22/154
• Q. Elainen tárin Periandion ar meldenya anyáran “*to Elaine, queen of Hobbits and my very old friend” ✧ VT49/40
• Q. Eldarinwë Leperi ar Notessi “Elvish Fingers and Numerals” ✧ VT47/04
• Q. Nasser ar Cenime Cantar Valaron ar Maiaron “The Natures and Visible Shapes of the Valar and Maiar” ✧ PE17/175; PE17/175
• Q. savin Elessar ar i nánë aran Ondórëo “I believe that E[lessar] really existed and that he was a King of Gondor” ✧ PE22/158; VT49/27
• Q. násië “now and at the hour of our death: Amen” ✧ VT43/34; VT43/34
• Q. sínen i·anda nyarnë metta ar taina andaurenya na quanta “*with this the long tale ends and my extended long day is complete” ✧ Minor-Doc/1955-CT
• Q. sinomë maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn’ Ambar-metta “In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world” ✧ LotR/0967; PE17/103; PE22/147
• Q. sustanë Manwëo súlë ten i indo Sindicollo ar he lastanë ar carnes “*the spirit of Manwe blew unto the heart of Thingol and he listened and did it” ✧ NM/239; NM/239
• Q. Valar ar Maiar fantaner nassentar fanainen ve quenderinwe coar ar larmar “Valar and Maiar cloaked their true-being in veils, like to Elvish bodies and raiment” ✧ PE17/174; PE17/175; PE17/175
• Q. ványë ar válmë “I and those with me are against it” ✧ PE22/162

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶as(a) > ar	[asa] > [aza] > [ara] > [ar]	✧ PE17/041
✶ad(a) > az > ar	[ada] > [ad] > [að] > [ar]	✧ PE17/041
✶ad > ar	[ad] > [að] > [ar]	✧ PE17/041
✶ad(a) > ar	[ada] > [ad] > [að] > [ar]	✧ PE17/041
✶as(a) > ar	[asa] > [aza] > [ara] > [ar]	✧ PE17/041
✶ad > ar	[ad] > [að] > [ar]	✧ PE17/070
✶ad(ă)/ad > ar	[ad] > [að] > [ar]	✧ PE17/071
✶ad > ađ > ař > ar	[ad] > [að] > [ar]	✧ PE17/071
✶ada > ar	[ada] > [ad] > [að] > [ar]	✧ PE17/102
√ADA > ar	[ad] > [að] > [ar]	✧ PE17/145
√ar- > ar	[ar]	✧ SA/ar
✶as > ar	[asa] > [aza] > [ara] > [ar]	✧ VT47/31

Variations

• Ar ✧ NM/239
• ara ✧ NM/240 (ara)
• a ✧ PE17/071 (a)
• as ✧ PE17/071 (as); PE17/071
• al ✧ PE17/071; PE17/175
• are ✧ VT43/31 (are); VT43/34 (are); VT47/04

az

and

az, archaic form of the conjunction ar "and"; see ar #1.

ta

they, them

ta (3) pron. "they, them", an "impersonal" 3rd person pl. stem, referring "only to 'abstracts' or to things (such as inanimates) not by the Eldar regarded as persons" (VT43:20, cf. ta as an inanimate Common Eldarin plural pronoun, VT49:52). Compare te, q.v. The word ta occurring in some versions of Tolkien's Quenya Lord's Prayer may exemplify this use of ta as an "impersonal" plural pronoun: emmë avatyarir ta** "we forgive them" (VT43:8, 9; this refers to trespasses, not the trespassers). However, since Tolkien also wanted ta to mean "that" (see #1 above), he may seem to be somewhat dissatisfied with ta "they, them", introducing variant forms like tai (VT49:32) to free up ta as a sg. pronoun. In one document, tai was in turn altered to te (VT49:33), which could suggest that the distinction between animate and inanimate "they, them" was abandoned and the form te (q.v.) could be used for both. In some documents, Tolkien seems to use tar as the plural form (VT49:56 mentions this as an uncertain reading in a source where the word was struck out; compare ótar under ó**-).

te

they, them

te pron. "they, them", 3rd person pl. (VT49:51, LotR3:VI ch. 4, translated in Letters:308). The pronoun te represents an original stem-form (VT49:50). Dative ten, téna or tien "for them, to them" (q.v.) Stressed té (VT49:51). Ótë "with them", q.v. VT43:20 connects te "them" with a discussion of Common Eldarin pronominal stems (ca. 1940s), where te is the "personal" 3rd person pl. stem, referring to persons rather than abstracts or inanimates (which are denoted by ta instead; see, however, the entry ta #3 regarding the problems with this form, and the hints that te may possibly be used with reference to inanimates as well)). Also consider the reflexive pronoun intë "themselves", the final element of which is apparently this pronoun te; see also tú for the dual form.

-yë

conjunction. and

-yë (4) conj. "and" as a suffix added to the second of a pair, as Menel Cemenyë "Heaven and Earth" (VT47:30, 31, VT49:25). Other "pairs" are mentioned as examples but not actually translated into Quenya by Tolkien: Sun and Moon (*Anar Isilyë), Land and Sea (*Nór Eäryë), fire and water (*nárë nenyë, or *úr nenyë).

and

and

a (2) conj. "and", a variant of ar occurring in Fíriel's Song (that also has ar; a seems to be used before words in f-, but contrast ar formenna "and northwards" in a late text, VT49:26). According to PE17:41, "Old Quenya" could have the conjunction a (as a variant of ar) before n, ñ, m, h, hy, hw (f is not mentioned), PE17:71 adding ty, ny, hr, hl, ñ, l, r, þ, s. See ar #1. It may be that the a or the sentence nornë a lintieryanen "he ran with his speed" (i.e. as quickly as he could) is to be understood as this conjunction, if the literal meaning is "he ran and [did so] with his speed" (PE17:58).

arë

and

arë conj. "and", longer form of ar, q.v. (VT43:31)

tai

they, them

tai (2) pron. "they, them", 3rd person pl., used with reference to inanimates rather than persons or living things (VT49:32, see ta #3 above). Perhaps to avoid the clash with tai "that which", the pronoun tai "they, them" was altered to te in at least one manuscript (VT49:33), so that it would merge with the pronoun used of living beings and the distinction between animate and inanimate would be abandoned (see te).

tú

they, them

tú pron. "they, them", 3rd person dual ("the two of them"), both "personal and neuter" (the pronoun can be used of persons and things alike). (VT49:51) Tolkien also considered tet for the same meaning, listing it alongside tú in one source (VT49:56), but this form was apparently abandoned.

yo

and

yo conj. "and", "often used between _two _items (of any part of speech) that were by nature or custom clearly associated, like the names of spouses (Manwë yo Varda), or "sword and sheath" (*macil yo vainë*), "bow and arrows" (quinga yo pilindi), or groups like "Elves and Men" (Eldar yo Fírimor but contrast eldain a fírimoin [dative forms] in FS, where Tolkien joins the words with a, seemingly simply a variant of the common conjunction ar). In one source, yo is apparently a preposition "with" (yo hildinyar* = "with my heirs", SD:56).

asië

ease, comfort

asië (þ)noun "ease, comfort" (PE17:148)

mina

into

mina prep. "into" (VT43:30); see minna

-ath

suffix. collective or group plural

Derivations

• ✶-stā “collective suffix”
  • √SAT “space, place; divide, apportion, mark off”
• ✶atta “two” ✧ VT48/19
  • √ATATA “two, two; [ᴹ√] again, back” ✧ VT48/19

Element in

• S. Ann-thennath “*Long-shorts”
• S. Argonath “Pillars of the Kings, (lit.) Royal Stones” ✧ RC/347
• S. Ennorath “(All) the Middle-lands” ✧ PE17/025
• S. Hurinionath “Descendants of Húrin”
• S. Minhiriath “Between the Rivers”
• S. Remmirath “Netted Jewels”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶atta > -ath	[-atta] > [-attʰa] > [-aθθa] > [-aθθ] > [-aθ]	✧ VT48/19

Variations

• ath ✧ Let/427; PE17/025; PE17/025

ah

preposition/conjunction. and, with

The title Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth is translated as "converse of Finrod and Andreth", but some scholars actually believe this word to be unrelated with the conjunction a.1 , ar "and", and they render it as "with". Other scholars consider that "and" and "with" (in the comitative sense) are not exclusive of each other, and regard ah as the form taken by this conjunction before a vowel. That a, ar and ah are etymologically related has finally been confirmed in VT/43:29-30. Compare also with Welsh, where the coordination "and" also takes different forms whether it occurs before a vowel or a consonant (respectively ac and a). In written Welsh, a often triggers the aspirate mutation: bara a chaws "bread and cheese". This usage is seldom applied in colloquial Welsh (Modern Welsh §510)

ah

conjunction. and

adh

conjunction. and

ith

pronoun. they, 3rd pl. pronoun

a

conjunction. and

See ah for the form that this conjunction might take before a vowel

a

and

conj. and.Form of ad/ada before vowel, with soft mutation. Q. ar. >> ad, ada, adh

a

and

conj. and. About his mutation, see PE17:145.

a

conjunction. and

conj. and. Pedo mellon a minno! 'Say friend and enter'. Q. ar

a

conjunction. and; †by, near, beside

Changes

• a → a “and” ✧ PE17/041
• a → að “and” ✧ PE17/041
• a → a ✧ PE17/041

Cognates

• Q. ar “and, and; [ᴱQ., ᴹQ.] but” ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/102; PE17/145; SA/ar

Derivations

• ✶as(a) “and” ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; VT43/30; VT47/31
  • √AS “beside” ✧ VT47/31
• ✶ad(a) “and, alongside” ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/102
  • √AD(A) “by (the side of), beside, alongside; against, opposed to, opposite” ✧ PE17/071
• √AD(A) “by (the side of), beside, alongside; against, opposed to, opposite” ✧ PE17/145
• √AR “beyond, further than; outside; beside, alongside, beyond, further than; outside; beside, alongside; [ᴱ√] spread, extend sideways” ✧ SA/ar

Element in

• S. a Pherhael ar am Meril suilad uin aran o Minas Tirith nelchaenen ned Echuir “to Samwise and Rose the King’s greeting from Minas Tirith, the thirty-first day of Stirring” ✧ SD/129; SD/129
• S. aran Gondor ar Arnor ar Hîr i Mbair Annui “king of Gondor and Arnor and Lord of the Westlands” ✧ AotM/062; SD/129
• S. ar díheno ammen i úgerth vin “and forgive us our trespasses” ✧ VT44/28
• S. ar e aníra ennas suilannad mhellyn în phain “and he desires to greet there all his friends” ✧ AotM/062; SD/129
• S. ar in Ellath epholar eno vi Eressai “*and the Elves (?remember) still in Eressëa” ✧ VT50/19
• S. ar Iorhael, Gelir, Cordof, ar Baravorn, ionnath dîn “and Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Hamfast his sons” ✧ AotM/062; AotM/062; SD/129; SD/129
• S. ar Meril bess dîn, ar Elanor, Meril, Glorfinniel, ar Eirien sellath dîn “and Rose his wife; and Elanor, Rose, Goldilocks and Daisy his daughters” ✧ AotM/062; AotM/062; AotM/062; SD/129; SD/129; SD/129
• S. ar Nienor sel Morwen Níniel “*and Nienor daughter of Morwen, Níniel” ✧ VT50/18
• S. man agorech? “*and said Rían to Tuor: what have we done?” ✧ VT50/20; VT50/20
• S. Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth “The Debate of Finrod and Andreth” ✧ MR/329; PE17/041
• S. Daur a Berhael, Conin en Annûn “Frodo and Sam, princes of the west” ✧ Let/448; LotR/0953
• S. Dor-Cúarthol “Land of Bow and Helm”
• S. Narn e·Dant Gondolin ar Orthad en·Êl “*Tale of the Fall of Gondolin and the Raising of the Star” ✧ MR/373
• S. pedo mellon a minno “speak, friend, and enter; (alternately) say ‘friend’ and enter” ✧ LotR/0305; LotR/0305; PE17/041
• S. si loth a galadh lasto dîn “*here flower and tree listen [in] silence” ✧ LB/354

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶ad(a) > að > a	[ada] > [aða] > [að] > [a]	✧ PE17/041
✶as(a) > a(h) > a	[asa] > [aha] > [ah] > [a]	✧ PE17/041

Variations

• ar ✧ AotM/062; AotM/062; AotM/062; AotM/062; AotM/062; AotM/062; AotM/062; MR/373; SD/129; SD/129; SD/129; SD/129; SD/129; SD/129; SD/129; VT44/28; VT50/18; VT50/19
• a ✧ LB/354; Let/448; LotR/0305; LotR/0953; PE17/041 (a); PE17/041; PE17/041 (a); PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/102; PE17/145; SA/ar; VT47/31
• ah ✧ MR/329; VT43/30
• að ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; PE17/145
• ath ✧ PE17/041 (ath)
• a(ð) ✧ PE17/102
• að- ✧ PE17/145
• Ar ✧ SD/129; VT50/20
• A ✧ VT50/20 (A)

ad

conjunction. and

conj. and. a/adh before vowel, with soft mutation. Q. ar. >> a, ada, adh

ar

conjunction. and

See ah for the form that this conjunction might take before a vowel

ar

conjunction. and, and, [G.] too, besides

ada

conjunction. and

conj. and. a/adh before vowel, with soft mutation. Q. ar. >> a, ad, adh

ent

pronoun. they, 3rd pl. pronoun

Variations

• est ✧ VT50/14
• ith ✧ VT50/14
• idi ✧ VT50/14
• idir ✧ VT50/14

est

pronoun. they, 3rd pl. pronoun

Ídh

and

{ð}_ conj. _and. It was not mutated before vowels. >> a

Ídh

and

{ð} conj. and.Form of ad/ada before vowel, with soft mutation. Q. ar. >> a, ad, ada

Ídh

and

{ð} conj. and. About his mutation, see PE17:145.

idi(r)

pronoun. they, 3rd pl. pronoun

-rim

suffix. collective or group plural

Cognates

• Q. rimbë “host, great number, host, great number, [ᴹQ.] crowd” ✧ Let/178

Element in

• S. Crissaegrim “*Cleft Mountain Peaks”
• S. Falathrim “Elves of the Falas, Wave-folk”
• S. Galadhrim “Tree-people”
• S. Gondolindrim “People of Gondolin”
• S. Gonnhirrim “Masters of Stone”
• S. Gwathuirim “Dunlendings”
• S. Halethrim “People of Haleth”
• S. Haradrim “Southrons, (lit.) People of the Harad” ✧ Let/178
• S. Iathrim “*People of the Fence”
• S. Mithrim “Sindar”
• S. Naugrim “Dwarves”
• ᴺS. othrim “army”
• S. Rochirrim “Horse-lords” ✧ Let/178
• S. Rohirrim “Horse-lords”
• S. Thangorodrim “Mountains of Tyranny”
• S. Thindrim “Sindar”

Elements

Word	Gloss
rim	“host, great number, people (of one kind or origin), host, great number, people (of one kind or origin), [N.] crowd”

Variations

• rim ✧ Let/178; UTI/Edhelrim

ath

on both sides

(across)

ath

on both sides

(adv. prefix) ath- (across)

ath

on both sides

(adv. prefix) ath- (across).

hîn

they

(of women) hîn. It is unclear whether Tolkien maintained this ”Noldorin” pronoun in Sindarin.

hîn

they

. It is unclear whether Tolkien maintained this ”Noldorin” pronoun in Sindarin.

ui

both

(adjectival prefix) ui- (two, twi-);

ui

both

(two, twi-);

a

and

a, or ah when the next word begins in a vowel: Finrod ah Andreth, Finrod and Andreth. In some sources, Tolkien uses ar as the conjunction "and", but a(h) would seem to be the proper Sindarin form.

a

and

or ah when the next word begins in a vowel: Finrod ah Andreth, Finrod and Andreth. In some sources, Tolkien uses ar as the conjunction "and", but a(h) would seem to be the proper Sindarin form.

agh

conjunction. and

Element in

• Bs. ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul “one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them” ✧ LotR/0254; PE17/011

te

pronoun. they

Derivatives

• ✶-te-tē̆ “3rd pl reflexive” ✧ VT49/21
  • Q. -ttë “themselves” ✧ VT49/21
• Q. -ltë “they” ✧ VT49/50
• Q. -t “they (object suffix)”
• Q. te “them” ✧ VT49/50
• Q. -ttë “they (dual)” ✧ VT49/50
• ᴺS. tin “them”

Variations

• TE ✧ VT48/24; VT48/25
• t(e) ✧ VT49/17
• te/se ✧ VT49/50

yu

root. both, both, [ᴹ√] two

This Elvish root was connected to the sense “two” or “both” throughout Tolkien’s life. The first clear manifestation of this root was ᴱQ. yú “twice” and ᴱQ. yúyo “two” from the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s (PE14/49-51, 82-84). The root ᴹ√YŪ “two, both” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives like ᴹQ. yúyo “both” and ᴹQ. yúkale/N. uial “twilight” (Ety/KAL, YŪ). The root √YU appeared several times in Tolkien’s later writings, generally with the sense “both” (PE17/70; PE21/74; VT48/8, 10). It was likely related to the ancient dual suffix ✶-ū.

Derivatives

• ✶-ū “dual ending for pairs”
  • Q. -u “dual ending” ✧ Let/427
• ✶yŭ “both” ✧ PE17/070
  • Q. yo “both ... and” ✧ PE17/070
• Q. yu- “both, both, [ᴱQ.] twice” ✧ VT48/10
• Q. yúyo “both”
• S. ui- “twi-”

Element in

• ✶yūnekē “twelve, 2 sixes” ✧ VT48/08; VT48/10
• ✶yuyuñal “twilight”

Variations

• yū ✧ PE17/070; VT48/08
• JŪ ✧ PE21/74
• yu- ✧ VT48/10

yŭ

conjunction. both

Derivations

• √YU “both, both, [ᴹ√] two” ✧ PE17/070

Derivatives

• Q. yo “both ... and” ✧ PE17/070

thā/atha

root. ease, comfort, heal; be helpful; be willing to assist (in any work, etc.), agree, consent, 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 is probably in origin a defining adverb = then, next, since with time-reference the pronominal stem √THA in Noldorin referred forward” (PE22/97). Tolkien described a similar system for Sindarin in Common Eldarin: Verb Structure (EVS2) of the early 1950s: “The element thā is adverbial, and meant originally ‘then, next’. The pronominal stem the/tha when used in Sindarin with time-reference pointed forward to the future” (PE22/131).

In notes on Words, Phrases and Passages in the Lord of the Rings from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien assigned a disinct meaning for √ATH as “ease, comfort, heal”, forming the basis for the name of the healing plant S. athelas or Q. asëa aranion (PE17/49). In Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 Tolkien gave √ATHA as the basis for a number of words such as verb Q. asya-/S. eitha- “to ease, assist” and prefix Q. as(a)-/S. ath- “easily” (PE17/148).

In Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969, Tolkien connected √THA and √ATHA as a “mono-consonantal reversible” root ÞĀ̆/AÞA combining these two senses. As Tolkien described it:

> Its basic sense was probably “be helpful”, be willing to assist, in any work etc., agree, consent ... this sense is obscured in the uses of aþa- with other verbs, it may be supposed to be the earliest sense, because of derivatives made from it, such as Q aþea (< apaya) name (as = “beneficial” ?) of a herb (PE22/165).

From this, Tolkien described a variety of derivatives, such as Q. aþumo “good companion”, S. natha- (< an-aþa-) “bring help to, save, rescue” and Q. þá or aþa “I agree”, or in longer form aþanye “I will (do so)”. In Sindarin, this verb developed into a sort of future inflection:

> In S. the verb aþa, atha had become agglutinated to the verb stem, and formed a kind of “future”, expressing the intention of the subject, closely resembling in sense and uses English will (when not mere future): I will (I’ll) go, he will (he’ll) go, espec. in the 1st and 3rd persons. In the second person the implication of “will” of the subject is clearest in questions or negation (PE22/167).

As described in this document, the Sindarin verbal suffix -atha was not a true future, but was rather an expression of intent. Nevertheless, this document connected both prior senses of the roots √THA “future” and √ATHA “ease, assist, comfort” via a more basic sense of “be helpful”, with atha- “agree” > “I will” > (in Sindarin only) a future sense resembling English “I will [I intend to] go”. In this same document, however, Tolkien considered splitting out the medical senses of √ATHA into a distinct root √HATHA “treat kindly/make easy, (help to) cure”; see that entry for details.

Derivatives

• ✶athmō “good companion” ✧ PE22/165
  • Q. asumo “friend at need, friend with shared interests, colleague” ✧ PE22/166
• ✶aþayā “beneficial‽” ✧ PE17/049; PE22/165
  • Q. asëa “healing herb, athelas” ✧ PE17/049; PE22/165
  • S. athae “*healing herb, healing” ✧ PE17/049
• ᴹ✶thārō “saviour”
  • ᴹQ. sáro “saviour” ✧ LR/188
• Q. as(a)- “easily” ✧ PE17/148; PE17/172
• Q. asa- “to be willing, agree” ✧ PE22/165
• ᴺQ. ásë “aid, benefit”
• Q. asëa “healing herb, athelas” ✧ PE17/148
• Q. asië “ease, comfort” ✧ PE17/148
• Q. asya- “to ease, assist, comfort” ✧ PE17/148
• ᴺQ. asa “guest”
• Q. sá “very good, all right, I will, I agree of course, of course I do” ✧ PE22/165
• ᴺQ. sáme “salvation, saving, help”
• Q. sámo “helper”
• S. ath- “easily” ✧ PE17/148
• S. atha- “will (future)” ✧ PE22/165
• S. athae “*healing herb, healing” ✧ PE17/148
• S. eitha- “to ease, assist” ✧ PE17/148
• S. natha- “to bring help to, save, rescue” ✧ PE22/165
• T. atha- “to side with, ally oneself with, assist, serve” ✧ PE22/165

Variations

• ATH ✧ PE17/049; PE17/148
• ATHA ✧ PE17/148; PE22/166
• AÞA ✧ PE17/172 (AÞA)
• ÞĀ̆/AÞA ✧ PE22/165

as(a)

preposition. and

Changes

• as(a) → ad(a) “and” ✧ PE17/041

Derivations

• √AS “beside” ✧ VT47/31

Derivatives

• Q. ar “and, and; [ᴱQ., ᴹQ.] but” ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; VT47/31
• S. a “and; †by, near, beside” ✧ PE17/041; PE17/041; VT43/30; VT47/31

Variations

• as ✧ VT43/30; VT47/31

-ath

suffix. collective or group plural

Cognates

• ᴹQ. -sta “close grouping” ✧ PE21/57

Derivations

• ᴹ✶-asta “collective plural” ✧ PE21/57; PE21/64

Element in

• N. siniath “news, tidings” ✧ Ety/SI

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶-atta > -ath	[-attā] > [-atta] > [-attʰa] > [-aθθa] > [-aθθ] > [-aθ]	✧ PE21/57

Variations

• ath ✧ PE21/57

a

conjunction. and

Cognates

• ᴹQ. ar “and; but”

Element in

• N. pedo mellon a minno “speak, friend, and enter” ✧ TI/182

ar

conjunction. and

Derivations

• ᴹ√AR “beside, outside”

Element in

• N. lheben teil brann i annon ar neledh neledhi gar godrebh “five foot high the door and three may walk abreast” ✧ TAI/150