limbë

quick, swift

limbë (1) adj. (stem limbi-, given primitive form ¤lĭmbĭ) "quick, swift" (PE17:18)

limbë

many

limbë (2) adj. "many", probably obsoleted by #1 above (LT2:342)

limbë

adjective. quick, swift

li(n)-

prefix. many

A Quenya prefix for “many” appearing regularly in Tolkien’s writings throughout his life, dating all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s. It was derived from the root √LI that was also the basis for the partitive plural suffix Q. -li. In Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948, Tolkien specified that li(n)- referred to an indefinite quantity bigger than a few: “a number, a good many, not a few” (PE23/101 note #36).

> Indefinite, expressing “mere plurality” (more than two at least); “some” with the plural, “(not) a few,” “several.” This is expressed by the stems lī̆-, and lĭn(i). In C. Eldarin the stem meant “many,” often a great number, but in Quenya except in a few older derivatives, especially the prefix lin-, lilin-, it is used always as expressing a lesser or vaguer number than the next (PE23/100).

This was then contrasted with ᴹQ. sem(p)- “few” and ᴹQ. hrim- “a great number, very many” [>> *rim-***].

lin-

many

lin- (1) (prefix) "many" (LI), seen in lindornëa, lintyulussëa; assimilated lil- in lillassëa.

nótë

number

nótë noun "number" (NOT)

lina

adjective. many

A neologism for “many” derived from the root √LI. I’ve deprecated this word in favor of attested ᴹQ. lia.

lĭmbĭ

adjective. quick, swift

-lī

suffix. many

li

root. many

This root was connected to words for “many” throughout Tolkien’s life. In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s it appeared as ᴱ√LĪ, with variant ᴱ√ILI “many” and extended form ᴱ√LIYA (LI + ya) “unite many as one” with derivatives like ᴱQ. lia- “entwine” and ᴱQ. liante “tendril” (QL/42, 53). In later writings there is no sign of the inversion √IL “many” (later √IL meant “all”), whereas ᴱ√LIYA seems to have shifted to unrelated ᴹ√SLIG with derivatives like ᴹQ. lia “fine thread, spider filament” and ᴹQ. liante “spider” (Ety/SLIG).

The base root ᴹ√LI “many” did reappear in The Etymologies of the 1930s, however (Ety/LI), and √LI “many” appeared again in etymological notes from the late 1960s (VT48/25). The long-standing connection between this root and the Quenya (partitive) plural suffixes indicates its stability in Tolkien’s mind.

lim

adjective. quick, swift

fair

adjective. quick

_adj. _quick, ready, prompt. >> feir

feir

adjective. quick

_adj. _quick, ready, prompt. >> fair

lae

noun. great number

brêg

quick

brêg (sudden, lively), lenited vrêg, pl. brîg

brêg

quick

(sudden, lively), lenited vrêg, pl. brîg

gwanod

number

(noun) gwanod (i **wanod) (tale), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd**),

gwanod

number

(i ’wanod) (tale), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd)

laew

many

laew (frequent); no distinct pl. form.

laew

many

(frequent); no distinct pl. form.

nedia

number

(verb) *nedia- (reckon, count) (i nedia, in nediar). Cited in archaic form ”noedia” = nödia- (LR:378 s.v. NOT).

nedia

number

(reckon, count) (i nedia, in nediar). Cited in archaic form ”noedia” = nödia- (LR:378 s.v. NOT).

noth

noun. number

rim

great number

(crowd, host), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rim), coll. pl. rimmath. Note: a homophone means ”cold pool or lake”.

lhae

noun. great number