Quenya 

leper

finger

leper (pl. leperi given) noun "finger" (VT44:16, VT47:10, 14, 24, VT48:5; an older source gives the word for "finger" as lepsë, q.v.)

leper

noun. finger

The Quenya word for “finger” appearing in various notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from 1968, derived from the root √LEP “pick up” (VT47/10; VT48/5).

Conceptual Development: The Quenya “finger” words went through quite a few conceptual changes, but they were always based on the root √LEP. The earliest of these was ᴱQ. let (lept-) “finger” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√LEPE with plural form lepsi (QL/53). In Qenya word lists of the 1920s, however, this became ᴱQ. lepta “finger”, still with the plural lepsi (PE15/72; PE16/137).

The form was ᴹQ. let (leps-) in the Declension of Nouns of the early 1930s (PE21/19, 26), expanded to ᴹQ. lepse “finger” in The Etymologies written around 1937, based on the root ᴹ√LEPET of the same meaning (Ety/LEPET). This form demonstrated the 1930s sound change whereby pt became ps (PE19/44 note #44). Tolkien revised this sound change so that the result remained pt (PE19/44), and in 1940s drafts to The Lord of the Rings Tolkien used the word ᴹQ. rakkalepta “✱claw-fingered” in Treebeard’s description of orcs (SD/68), though in the published version this word only appeared in English.

In the Outline of Phonology from the 1950s (OP1) Tolkien considered restoring the sound change pt > ps (PE19/84 note #75), and Q. lepsë appeared in notes from the late 1950s or early 60s on the tree name S. lebethron, so named because “its leaves (like chestnut) [were] shaped like a fingered hand” (PE17/89). However, he again abandoned this, clarifying that the actual result of [[q|[pt] was a spirantal [ɸt]]] (spelled pt to represent the bilabial pronunciation), and that in Tarquesta pronunciation (Exhilic Quenya of the first age) the [ɸ] vocalized to [u̯] so that ✶lepta > leꝑta > Q. leu̯ta “finger” (PE19/84). Q. lepta appeared in several words in the 1960s: Q. leptafinya “clever-fingered” (PE17/17) and Q. Tyelpelepta “✱silver-fingered” (VT47/27).

In drafts of the 1968 notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals, lepta reappeared as an independent word, but with the gloss “thumb” (VT47/27). In the final versions of these notes, however, Tolkien used leper for “finger”, as noted above.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use leper for “finger”, but would retain lepta as an adjective meaning “fingered”, especially in compounds like [ᴹQ.] raccalepta “claw-fingered”.

Cognates

  • S. leber “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
  • T. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05

Derivations

  • leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT44/16
    • lepero “finger” ✧ VT47/13; VT47/24
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
leper- > leper[leper]✧ VT47/10
leper- > leper[leper]✧ VT47/24
leper > leper[leper]✧ VT48/05
Quenya [VT47/03; VT47/04; VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lepsë

finger

lepsë noun "finger" (LEP/LEPET; see leper). According to VT45:27, Tolkien derived lepsë from primitive ¤lepti; if so, lepsë should have the stem-form *lepsi-. However, Tolkien struck out the ancestral form lepti, so we cannot be sure whether this idea was maintained or not. In later sources, the word for "finger" appears as leper.

leuta

noun. finger

Derivations

  • lepetā “thumb, ‘picker’; finger” ✧ PE19/084
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/27

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
lepta > leꝑta > leu̯ta[lepta] > [leɸta] > [leuta]✧ PE19/084

Variations

  • leu̯ta ✧ PE19/084

Sindarin 

leber

noun. finger

Sindarin [VT/47:10,23-24, VT/48:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

leber

noun. finger

The Sindarin word for “finger”, derived from primitive ✶leper and based on the root √LEP “pick up” (VT47/10; VT48/5).

Conceptual Development: Tolkien used various Elvish words for “finger” over his life, but most were based on the root √LEP. The Gnomish Grammar and Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. leptha “finger” (GG/13; GL/53), clearly derived from the early root ᴱ√LEPE that was the basis for contemporaneous Qenya finger words (QL/53). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s it was ᴱN. lhê “finger”, derived from primitive ᴱ✶lept- (PE13/148). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was N. lhebed “finger” based on the root ᴹ√LEPET of the same meaning (Ety/LEP). In drafts of the 1968 notes mentioned above, Tolkien had S. lebed “finger” (VT47/27), but this was replaced by leber in the finished versions (VT47/23-24 note #30).

Cognates

  • Q. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05

Derivations

  • leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT47/24; VT48/05; VT48/05
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT44/16
    • lepero “finger” ✧ VT47/13; VT47/24
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24

Element in

  • S. lebdas “index finger” ✧ VT48/05
  • S. lebenedh “middle finger” ✧ VT48/05
  • S. lebent “fourth finger” ✧ VT48/05
  • ᴺS. leberen “fingered, of fingers”
  • S. lebethron “Gondorian hardwood, *(lit.) finger tree”
  • S. lebig “little finger” ✧ VT48/05

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
leper- > leber[lepero] > [leper] > [leber]✧ VT47/10
leper- > lebir[leperī] > [leperi] > [lepiri] > [lepir] > [lebir]✧ VT47/10
leper- > leber[lepero] > [leper] > [leber]✧ VT47/24
leperī > lebir[leperī] > [leperi] > [lepiri] > [lepir] > [lebir]✧ VT47/24
leper > leber[lepero] > [leper] > [leber]✧ VT48/05
leperī > lebir[leperi] > [leperi] > [lepiri] > [lepir] > [lebir]✧ VT48/05

Variations

  • lebed ✧ VT47/23 (lebed)
Sindarin [VT47/10; VT47/23; VT47/24; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lebed

noun. finger

Tolkien later seems to have replaced this form by leber

Sindarin [Ety/368, X/LH, VT/47:23-24,27] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lebent

noun. ring finger

Sindarin [VT/48:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lebenedh

noun. middle finger

Sindarin [VT/48:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lebig

noun. little finger

Sindarin [VT/48:5,15] Group: SINDICT. Published by

niged

noun. little finger

Sindarin [VT/48:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nobad

noun. the pair of fingers composed of the thumb and the index (grouped together as in the act of picking something)

Sindarin [VT/48:5,16] Group: SINDICT. Published by

leber

finger

leber (pl. lebir) (VT47:10, 23, 24; VT48:5). This may replace ”Noldorin” lhebed, which we would otherwise update to Sindarin as lebed. For names of specific fingers, see INDEX FINGER, LITTLE FINGER, MIDDLE FINGER, RING FINGER, THUMB.

Telerin 

leper

noun. finger

Cognates

  • Q. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05

Derivations

  • leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT44/16
    • lepero “finger” ✧ VT47/13; VT47/24
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24
Telerin [VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Primitive elvish

leper

noun. finger

Derivations

  • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT44/16
  • lepero “finger” ✧ VT47/13; VT47/24
    • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24

Derivatives

  • Q. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
  • S. leber “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT47/24; VT48/05; VT48/05
  • T. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
lepero > leper-[lepero] > [leper]✧ VT47/13
lepero > leper-[lepero] > [leper]✧ VT47/24

Variations

  • leper- ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24
Primitive elvish [VT44/16; VT47/10; VT47/11; VT47/24; VT47/29; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lepero

noun. finger

Derivations

  • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24

Derivatives

  • leper “finger” ✧ VT47/13; VT47/24
    • Q. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
    • S. leber “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT47/24; VT48/05; VT48/05
    • T. leper “finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05
Primitive elvish [VT47/13; VT47/24] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lepe

noun. finger

Derivations

  • LEP “pick up/out (with the fingers); finger” ✧ VT47/10

Element in

  • Q. lepecan “fourth finger” ✧ VT47/10
  • Q. lependë “middle finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/11
  • Q. lepenel “middle finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/11
  • Q. lepetas “index finger” ✧ VT47/10; VT47/11
  • Q. lepincë “little finger” ✧ VT47/10
  • Q. tolpë “thumb” ✧ VT47/28

Variations

  • lepen ✧ PE21/71
  • lepe- ✧ VT47/11
Primitive elvish [PE21/71; VT47/10; VT47/11; VT47/28] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

lhebed

noun. finger

Tolkien later seems to have replaced this form by leber

Noldorin [Ety/368, X/LH, VT/47:23-24,27] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhebed

noun. finger

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. lepse “finger” ✧ Ety/LEP

Derivations

  • ᴹ√LEPET “finger” ✧ Ety/LEP

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√LEPET > lhebed[lepete] > [lepet] > [l̥epet] > [l̥ebet] > [l̥ebed]✧ Ety/LEP

Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Qenya 

lepse

noun. finger

Cognates

  • N. lhebed “finger” ✧ Ety/LEP

Derivations

  • ᴹ√LEPET “finger” ✧ Ety/LEP
  • ᴹ✶lepti ✧ EtyAC/LEP; PE19/042
    • ᴹ√LEPET “finger” ✧ Ety/LEP
    • ᴹ√LEP “*finger” ✧ PE19/042

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√LEPET > lepse[lepti] > [lepte] > [lepse]✧ Ety/LEP
ᴹ✶lepti > lepse[lepti] > [lepte] > [lepse]✧ EtyAC/LEP
ᴹ✶lepta > lehta[lepta] > [lexta]✧ PE19/042
ᴹ✶lepta > lepsa[lepta] > [lepsa]✧ PE19/042

Variations

  • lehta ✧ PE19/042 (lehta)
  • lepsa ✧ PE19/042 (lepsa)
Qenya [Ety/LEP; PE19/042] Group: Eldamo. Published by

let

noun. finger

Qenya [PE21/19; PE21/26] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

lepet

root. finger

Derivatives

  • ᴹ✶lepti ✧ Ety/LEP
    • ᴹQ. lepse “finger” ✧ EtyAC/LEP; PE19/042
  • ᴹQ. lepse “finger” ✧ Ety/LEP
  • N. lhebed “finger” ✧ Ety/LEP
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/LEP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

leptha

noun. finger

Derivations

  • ᴱ√LEPE “*finger”

Element in

Gnomish [GG/13; GL/53] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

lhê

noun. finger

Derivations

  • ᴱ✶lept- ✧ PE13/148
    • ᴱ√LEPE “*finger” ✧ PE13/148
Early Noldorin [PE13/148] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

let

noun. finger

Derivations

  • ᴱ√LEPE “*finger” ✧ QL/053

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√LEPE > let[lept] > [let]✧ QL/053
Early Quenya [PME/053; QL/053] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lepta

noun. finger

Element in

Variations

  • lepta ✧ PE15/72; PE15/74; PE16/137
Early Quenya [PE15/72; PE15/74; PE16/137] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tenge

noun. finger

tenna

noun. finger

A noun for “finger” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√TENE “touch, feel” (QL/91). It was also mentioned in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa, but with -nd- written above it indicating a variant form tenda (PME/91). A similar word tenge “finger” appeared Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/137), but ᴱQ. lepta was written next to it, perhaps as a replacement, since after this point finger-words were primarily based on √LEP.

Derivations

  • ᴱ√TENE “touch, feel” ✧ QL/091

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√TENE > tenna[tennā] > [tenna]✧ QL/091

Variations

  • tenge ✧ PE16/137
Early Quenya [PE16/137; PME/091; QL/091] Group: Eldamo. Published by