an- (2) intensive or superlative prefix carrying the idea of "very" or "most", seen in ancalima "most bright" (cf. calima "bright"), antara "very high, very lofty" and #anyára "very old" or "oldest" (the latter form occurring in the so-called Elaine inscription [VT49:40], there with the dative ending -n). Assimilated to am- before p-, as in amparca ("k") "very dry", and to al-, ar-, as- before words in l-, r-, s- (though Tolkien seems to indicate that before words in l- derived from earlier d, the original quality of the consonant would be preserved so that forms in and- rather than all- would result). See also un-. (Letters:279, VT45:5, 36) Regarding the form of the superlative prefix before certain consonants, another, partially discrepant system was also set down in the Etymologies and first published in VT45:36. The prefix was to appear as um- or un- before labialized consonants like p-, qu-, v- (the consonant v preserving its ancient pronunciation b- following the prefix, thus producing a word in umb-), as in- (technically iñ-) before c- and g- (the latter presumably referring to words that originally had initial g-, later lost in Quenya but evidently preserved following this prefix), and as an- otherwise. However, this system would contradict the canonical example ancalima, which would have been *incalima if Tolkien had maintained this idea. In a post-LotR source, the basic form of the prefix is given as am- instead (see am- #2). In this late conception, the prefix still appears as an- before most consonants, but as ama- before r, l, and the form an- is used even before s- (whether original or from þ), not the assimilated variant as- described above. General principles would suggest that the form am- should also appear before y- (so the form #anyára probably presupposes an- rather than am- as the basic form of the prefix, Tolkien revisiting the earlier concept in the _Elaine inscription). (PE17:92)_
Quenya
in
the
in
article. the
an-
very
il-
verb. no, *un-
il- (prefix) "no, *un-" (LA); cf. ilfirin "immortal" (vs. firin "dead"). This prefix "denotes the opposite, the reversal, i.e. more than the mere negation" (VT42:32). But il- can also mean "all, every"; see ilaurëa, ilqua, ilquen.
i
article. the
Cognates
- S. i “the” ✧ PE17/066
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. alcar i Ataren ar i Yondon ar i Airefëan “glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit” ✧ VT43/37; VT43/37; VT43/37
- Q. ar aistana i yávë mónalyo Yésus “and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus” ✧ VT43/31
- Q. ar ámen apsenë úcaremmar “and forgive us our trespasses” ✧ VT43/19
- 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 mi cemen rainë i hínin “and on earth peace, good will toward men” ✧ VT44/35; VT44/35
- Q. á sac’ i fendë, mecin “close the door, please” ✧ PE22/166
- Q. auta i lómë “The night is passing!” ✧ S/190; WJ/166
- Q. caitas lá i sír “it is beyond the river” ✧ PE17/065
- Q. caitas palla i sír “it is far beyond the river” ✧ PE17/065
- Q. eldar ataformaiti “the Elves were ambidexters” ✧ VT49/08
- Q. epetai i hyarma ú ten ulca símaryassen “consequently the left hand was not to them evil in their imaginations” ✧ VT49/12
- Q. et i péti “*out of the lips, out of the mouth” ✧ VT47/35
- Q. Heru Imillion “Lord of the Rings” ✧ DTS/54
- Q. i arani Eldaive “The kings of the Eldar” ✧ WJ/369
- Q. i arani Eldaron “The kings of the Eldar” ✧ WJ/369
- Q. i Equessi Rúmilo “The Sayings of Rúmil” ✧ WJ/398
- Q. i fairi nécë “the pale phantoms” ✧ MC/221; MC/222
- Q. i falmalinnar imbë met “on the foaming waves between us” ✧ LotR/0377; PE17/127; RGEO/58
- Q. an i falmalī “*on the foaming waves” ✧ PE17/127
- Q. i falmalinnar imbë met “upon the (many) foaming waves between us (two)” ✧ RGEO/59
- Q. i Héru aselyë “the Lord is with thee” ✧ VT43/29
- Q. i hyarma tentanë Melcorello “the left hand pointed away from Melkor” ✧ VT49/22
- Q. Indis i·Ciryamo “The Mariner’s Wife” ✧ UT/008
- Q. Ingoldo “The Noldo” ✧ PE19/076
- Q. i roccor rindi “the horses are swift” ✧ PE21/77
- Q. i Tumbo Tarmacorto “the Vale of the High Mountain Circle” ✧ NM/351
- Q. i Túrin i Cormaron “the Lord of the Rings” ✧ Minor-Doc/1973-05-30; Minor-Doc/1973-05-30
- Q. i tyulma ciryava “the mast of the ship” ✧ PE21/80
- Q. i·oromandi tanna lendë “*the wood-spirits came thither” ✧ PE16/096
- Q. lan i Valaron arcanwar tauvar “*while the thrones of the Valar endure” ✧ PE22/147
- Q. lendes lann’ i sír “he came (to a point) beyond the river” ✧ PE17/065
- Q. lendes pallan(na) i sír “he came (to a point) far beyond the river” ✧ PE17/065
- Q. mana i coimas Eldaron? “What is the ‘coimas’ of the Eldar?” ✧ PM/395
- Q. mana i·coimas in·Eldaron? “What is the ‘coimas’ of the Eldar?” ✧ PM/403; PM/403
- Q. ma Varda enquantuva i yulma nin sí “will Varda now refill the cup for me?” ✧ PE22/161
- Q. lissë miruvóreva mí oromardi “of sweet nectar in the high-halls”
- Q. lírinen ómo i·aire tário “by the song of the voice of the holy queen” ✧ PE17/076
- Q. lírinen ómo i·aire táríva “by the song of the voice of the holy queen” ✧ PE17/076
- Q. Quennar Onótimo ✧ MR/049
- Q. roccor i Erulingaron márë nár (ma naitë)? “the horses of the Rohirrim are good (are they not, lit. is it true)” ✧ PE22/166
- Q. násië “now and at the hour of our death: Amen” ✧ VT43/35
- Q. sí man i yulma nin enquantuva? “who now shall refill the cup for me?” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
- Q. sí man i yulma nin enquantuva? “now who the cup for me will refill?” ✧ RGEO/59
- Q. sí man i yulmar men enquantuva? “*who now shall refill the cups for us?” ✧ Minor-Doc/2013-05-13
- Q. sí man i yulmar n(g)wen enquantuva “*who now will refill the cups for us (dual)” ✧ VT21/06
- Q. Sindar i Eldar Malariando “Grey are the Elves of Beleriand” ✧ PE21/77; PE21/77
- 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. 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
- Q. tambë engë i et... “as it was [in] the [beginning]...” ✧ VT43/38
- Q. tyulma i ciryo “the mast of the ship” ✧ PE21/80
- Q. utúlie’n aurë “The day has come!” ✧ S/190; WJ/166
- Q. yan i wilyar antar miquelis “*to whom the air gives kisses” ✧ PE16/096
- Q. yassen tintilar i eleni “wherein the stars tremble” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
- Q. yassen tintilar i eleni “in which twinkle the stars” ✧ RGEO/59
Variations
- i ✧ DTS/54; LotR/0377; LotR/0377; LotR/0377; MC/221; MC/222; Minor-Doc/1955-CT; Minor-Doc/1973-05-30; Minor-Doc/2013-05-13; MR/049; NM/239; NM/351; PE16/096; PE17/013 (i); PE17/065; PE17/066; PE17/068; PE17/127; PE17/127; PE19/076; PE21/77; PE21/80; PE22/147; PE22/161; PE22/166; RGEO/58; RGEO/58; RGEO/58; RGEO/59; RGEO/59; RGEO/59; S/190; UT/305; UT/317; VT21/06; VT43/19; VT43/29; VT43/31; VT43/35; VT43/37; VT43/37; VT43/37; VT43/38; VT44/35; VT47/35; VT49/08; VT49/12; VT49/22; WJ/166; WJ/369; WJ/369
- in ✧ NM/240 (
in)- I ✧ PE16/096; WJ/398
- i· ✧ PE17/076; PM/395; PM/403; UT/008
- in· ✧ PM/403
ui
no
ui interjection "no" (originally an endingless negative verb in the 3rd person aorist: "it is not [so]"; see #u-). Apparently this is the word for "no" used to deny that something is true (compare vá, which is rather used to reject orders, or to issue negative orders). (VT49:28) Compare uito.
la-
prefix. not, in-, un-
Derivations
- √LA “no, not; negative; not to be”
Element in
- Q. lacalima “not possible to be kindled (made to shine)” ✧ PE22/155
- Q. lacaltaima “not possible to be kindled” ✧ PE22/155
- Q. lacaraitë “impossible, *inactive; impossible”
- Q. lacarë “not-doing, inaction”
- ᴺQ. lacárima “not feasible, impossible”
- Q. lacárima “not feasible, impossible” ✧ PE22/153
- Q. lacarina “undone, undone, *unfinished” ✧ PE22/156
- Q. lacenítë “unseeing, blind” ✧ PE22/153
- ᴺQ. lahlaraitë “deaf, (lit.) unable to hear”
- Q. laista “ignorance, (lit.) not-knowing” ✧ PE22/153
- ᴺQ. lalevítë “lame”
- Q. lamate “fasting, a fast”
- Q. lamélima “unlovable” ✧ PE22/156
- ᴺQ. lanéya “recently, not long ago”
- Q. lanotoitë “innumerable”
- ᴺQ. latanca “unsure, insecure”
- ᴺQ. lavéla “different, dissimilar”
Variations
- la ✧ PE22/153; PE22/153 (la)
- lă ✧ PE22/156 (lă)
ú-
verb. not-, un-, in-
ú- (2) prefix "not-, un-, in-", denying presence or possession of thing or quality (VT39:14, UGU/UMU/VT46:20, GŪ, LT1:272), or simply suggesting something bad or immoral (see #úcar-, Úmaiar). Tolkien at one point considered redefining ú- as an element signifying "bad, uneasy, hard"; the already-published form únótima would then mean "difficult/impossible to count" rather than simply "uncountable" (VT42:33). However, Tolkien's very last word on the matter seems to be that ú- was to remain a mere negative (VT44:4). Compare úa, q.v. According to the Etymologies, the prefix ú- usually has a "bad sense", whereas according to early material u- (uv-, um-, un-) is a "mere negation" (UGU/UMU vs. VT42:32) According to a later source, ú- could be used as an uninflected verbal prefix, mainly in verse, but in a normal style the prefix was "verbalized" as ua-, q.v. (PE17:144). The stem Ū, as a negation, was accompanied by "pursed lips and shaking of the head" (PE17:145).
ala
not
ala, #ála (1) imperative particle á, a combined with the negation lá, -la "not" to express a prohibition (VT43:22; see lá #1). Also with 1st person suffix -lyë (alalyë and álalyë, VT43:10, 22, VT44:8) and 1st person pl. object suffix -më (alamë and álamë, "do not [do something to] us", as in álamë tulya, "do not lead us", VT43:12, 22). In the essay Quendi and Eldar, negative imperatives are rather indicated by áva, q.v., but this form can well coexist with ala, #ála.
ala-
not
ala- (2) negative prefix "not", "un-", reduced to al- before a vowel (VT42:33, GALA, VT45:25), though the example Alcorin would suggest that al- can sometimes appear before a consonant as well. In a deleted entry in Etym, al(a)- was defined as "not" and said to be a "pure negative" (VT45:5). In alahasta, Alamanyar, alasaila, Alcorin.
ita
very, extremely
ita, íta adv. 2) "very, extremely" (PE17:112). Like #1 above, this element emerged as part of Tolkiens efforts to explain the initial element of the name Idril (Q Itaril), so it is questionable if #1 and #2 were ever meant to coexist in the "same" version of Quenya.
lai
very
[lai adverbial particle "very" (VT45:8)]
ú-
prefix. no, not, un-, in-; hard, difficult, bad, uneasy; hardly, with difficulty, ‘badly’
Cognates
- S. ú- “no, not, negative; impossible, no, not, negative; impossible; [N.] bad-” ✧ PE17/062
Derivations
Element in
- ᴺQ. úpuhta- “to fornicate”
- ᴺQ. úhep- “to lose, (lit.) to un-keep”
- ᴺQ. únet- “to lose, (lit.) to un-get”
- Q. úcalima “dim, murky, dim, murky, *not bright” ✧ PE22/156
- Q. úcar- “*to trespass, do wrong, sin”
- Q. úcarë “*sin, debt, trespass”
- Q. úcárima “hard to do, difficult” ✧ PE22/156
- Q. úcarnë “not red” ✧ PE22/152
- ᴺQ. úcim- “disregard”
- ᴺQ. úfailië “unrighteousness”
- Q. úfantima “not concealable”
- Q. úfanwëa “not veiled, unveiled”
- ᴺQ. úhandë “unreason, incomprehension”
- Q. úχarin “unmarred” ✧ PE17/150
- Q. Úlairi “Ring-wraiths, (lit.) ?Un-living, Un-summer”
- ᴺQ. úlaita- “to dishonour”
- ᴺQ. úlévima “paralyzed, lame”
- Q. Úmaiar “Evil Spirits”
- Q. úmaitë “clumsy(-handed), unskilled”
- Q. Úmaneldi “*Elves not of Aman”
- Q. Úmanyar “Those not of Aman”
- Q. úmara “bad, ill-used, evil, sinister” ✧ VT49/15
- Q. úmárë “not good = evil” ✧ PE22/152
- Q. únat “thing impossible to be or to be done”
- Q. únehta “*atom”
- Q. Úner “Noman” ✧ UT/211
- Q. únotë(a) “not counted, uncounted” ✧ PE17/143; VT39/14
- Q. únótima “numberless, innumerable, countless, difficult/impossible to count” ✧ PE17/062; PE17/063; PE17/143; PE22/156; PE22/160; VT39/14; VT42/33
- ᴺQ. únut- “to untie”
- Q. únyárima “impossible to recount”
- Q. úpa “dumb [unable to speak]”
- Q. úpahtëa “speechless”
- ᴺQ. úpoica “unclean”
- ᴺQ. úqua “nothing”
- ᴺQ. úquen “nobody, no one”
- Q. úquétima “unspeakable, impossible to say or put into words, unpronounceable”
- Q. úsahtië “inducement to do wrong, *temptation”
- Q. úsië “on the contrary” ✧ VT49/18
- Q. úsir “on the contrary” ✧ VT49/18
- ᴺQ. útancië “uncertainty”
- ᴺQ. útulya- “to mislead”
- ᴺQ. útúrima “unruly”
- Q. úvana “marred”
- Q. úvanë(a) “without beauty”
- Q. úvanima “not fair, ugly; hard to call beautiful, hideous” ✧ PE17/143; PE22/156; VT39/14
- Q. úvanimo “monster, corrupt or evil creature”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √UG > ú [ugu-] > [uɣu-] > [ū-] ✧ PE22/160 √û > ú [ū-] ✧ VT42/33 Variations
- ū- ✧ PE17/062; PE17/144; PE22/152; PE22/156
- ū ✧ PE22/156; PE22/167; VT44/04
- ú ✧ PE22/160; VT42/33
- Ú- ✧ UT/211 (Ú-)
al(a)-
prefix. in-, un-, not; †-less, without
Cognates
- S. al- “no, not”
Derivations
- √LA “no, not; negative; not to be” ✧ PE22/153; VT42/33
Element in
- ᴺQ. alacénima “invisible”
- ᴺQ. alacestaima “unsearchable”
- ᴺQ. alacestima “unsearchable”
- ᴺQ. alafasta “tidy, orderly”
- Q. alahasta “unmarred”
- ᴺQ. alahastaima “incorruptable”
- ᴺQ. alahastima “incorruptable”
- Q. alahen “eyeless” ✧ PE22/153
- ᴺQ. alahírima “unfindable, impossible to find”
- ᴺQ. alaica “blunt”
- ᴺQ. alairë “unholy”
- ᴺQ. alaloitala “unfailing”
- ᴺQ. alalunga “light, unheavy”
- ᴺQ. alamára “no-good”
- ᴺQ. alanancárima “indestructible”
- ᴺQ. alapálima “unshakable”
- ᴺQ. alapihta “unshrunk”
- ᴺQ. alapulúna “unleavened, unfermented”
- Q. alasaila “unwise”
- ᴺQ. alasóvinë “unwashed”
- ᴺQ. alavahtaina “undefiled”
- ᴺQ. alavistaima “unchangeable”
- ᴺQ. alavistima “unchangeable”
- Q. aleldarin “unelvish” ✧ PE22/156
- Q.
aleldarinwa“unElvish” ✧ PE22/156 (aleldarinwa)- ᴺQ. allumë “never”
- ᴺQ. alquen “nobody, no one”
- ᴺQ. alaquen “nobody, no one”
- Q. lacaraitë “impossible, inactive; impossible” ✧ PE22/156 (
alákăraite*)- Q. lanotoitë “innumerable” ✧ PE22/156 (
alánŏtoite)- ᴺQ. alavéla “different, various [pl.]”
- Q. Alamanyar “(Elves) Not of Aman” ✧ PE22/156
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √ALA > al [al-] ✧ PE22/153 √ala > ala [ala-] ✧ VT42/33 Variations
- al ✧ PE22/153; PE22/153; PE22/153
- ala- ✧ PE22/153
- ala ✧ PE22/153; PE22/156; PE22/160; PE22/160; VT42/33
- al- ✧ VT42/33
la
no, not
la negation "no, not" (see lá); also prefix la- as in lacarë, q.v. (VT45:25)
lá
no, not
lá (1) adv. "no, not" (LA, VT45:25) According to VT42:33, lá is the stressed form, alternating with la when the negation is unstressed. In another conceptual phase of Tolkien's, lá had the opposite meaning "yes" (VT42:32-33), but this idea is contradicted by both earlier and later material: usually lá is conceived as a negation. The negation can receive tense markers and be used as a negative verb "when [another] verb is not expressed" (VT49:13), apparently where the phrase "is not" is followed by a noun or an adjective as a predicate, or where some verb is understood, as in English "I do not" (i.e. "I do not do whatever the context indicates"). With pronominal endings la- in the aorist, e.g. lanyë "I do not, am not" (etc.) (Tolkien abandoned the form lamin.) Exemplified in the sentence melin sé apa lanyë hé *"I love him but I do not [love] him" (another person) (VT49:15). Present tense laia, past lánë, perfect alaië, future lauva.
lai
adverb. very
Derivations
- √DAY “*great”
i (1) "the", indeclinable definite article (I, Nam, RGEO:67, Markirya, WJ:369, WJ:398, MC:215, 216, 221). A variant in (q.v.) is also attested. Hyphenated i- in i-mar "the earth" (FS), i-Ciryamo "the mariner's" (UT:8), i-aldar "the trees" (Narqelion), attached with a dot in i·yulmar "the cups" (VT48:11), I·Eldanyárë "the History of the Elves" (LR:199), i·arya *"the best" (PE17:57), directly prefixed with no hyphen or dot in icilyanna = i cilyanna in SD:247, also ihyarma "the left hand" in VT49:22 (but i hyarma in other versions of the same text).