hand
Quenya
Maia
the beautiful
maia
noun. (angelic) spirit, the Beautiful
Derivations
Element in
- Q. Nasser ar Cenime Cantar Valaron ar Maiaron “The Natures and Visible Shapes of the Valar and Maiar” ✧ PE17/175
- ᴺQ. úmaia “demon, devil”
- Q. Úmaiar “Evil Spirits”
- 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
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √MAY > máya > maia [māja] > [maija] > [maia] ✧ PE17/163 √MAY > máya > maia [māja] > [maija] > [maia] ✧ PE17/163 √MAY > Maiar [mājar] > [maijar] > [maiar] ✧ PE17/163 ✶magyā > maiya [magjā] > [maɣjā] > [maijā] > [maija] ✧ PE19/075 ✶magyā > maı̯ya > maia [magjā] > [maɣjā] > [maijā] > [maija] > [maia] ✧ PE19/094 Variations
- maia ✧ MR/340; PE17/163; PE17/163; PE19/075; PE19/094
- maiya ✧ PE19/075
- Máya ✧ VT42/13
maiya
noun. (angelic) spirit
má
noun. hand
má
hand
má noun "hand" (MA3, LT2:339, Narqelion, VT39:10, [VT45:30], VT47:6, 18, 19); the dual "a pair of hands" is attested both by itself as mát (VT47:6) and with a pronominal suffix as máryat "his/her (pair of) hands" (see -rya, -t) (Nam, RGEO:67). The nominative plural form was only máli, not **már (VT47:6), though plurals in -r may occur in some of the cases, as indicated by the pl. allative mannar "into hands" (FS). Mánta "their hand", dual mántat "their hands" (two hands each) (PE17:161). Cf. also the compounds mátengwië "language of the hands" (VT47:9) and Lungumá "Heavyhand" (VT47:19); also compare the adj. -maitë "-handed". See also málimë.
má
noun. hand
má
noun. hand
The most common Quenya word for “hand”, which Tolkien usually derived from a root √MAH or √MAƷ “hand; handle, wield”. The weak consonant h or ʒ in the root was lost very early, so that primitive ✶mā was one of a rare set of ancient monosyllabic nouns ending in a vowel. Tolkien said that of the various hand words, má was “the oldest (probably) and the one that retained a general and unspecialized sense — referring to the entire hand (including wrist) in any attitude or function” (VT47/6).
As a part of the body, má “hand” was usually referred to in the singular (má) or dual (mát). This was true when referring to the hands of groups of people as well. For example, to say that “the Elves raised their hands”, you would say either i Eldar ortaner mánta (singular, one hand each) or i Eldar ortaner mántat (dual, both hands each), with the possessive suffix -nta “their”.
The plural form már “hands” (or archaic †mai) was almost never used, in part because it conflicted with Q. már “dwelling”. The singular form was also used in general statements and proverbs: “hand is cleverer than foot” má anfinya epe tál (ná). A collection of otherwise unrelated hands would likely use the partitive-plural form: máli “some hands”, which in this case could also serve as the general plural (VT47/12 Note 2). See the discussions on PE17/161 and VT47/6 for more information.
This word is also unusual in that it retains its long vowel before consonant clusters in inflected forms such as mánta “their hand” (PE17/161) or márya “his/her hand” (PE17/69). As Tolkien described it:
Lá is usually shortened to la before 2 consonants, according to the usual Q. procedure, but the long vowel can be retained, especially for additional emphasis, as in other cases where pronominal affixes follow a long vowel, as in márya “his hand” (PE22/160).
Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to ᴱQ. mā “hand” from Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√MAHA “grasp” (QL/57). ᴹQ. má “hand” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√MAƷ “hand” (Ety/MAƷ). Tolkien mentioned this word with great frequency, usually derived from √MAH or √MAƷ (as noted above) though he sometimes considered deriving it from √MAG instead.
Cognates
Derivations
- √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ PE17/069; PE17/162; PE19/100; VT39/11; VT47/19
- √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ PE17/161; VT47/18
- ✶mā “hand” ✧ PE19/102; VT47/06
- ✶maha “hand, the manager” ✧ PE19/074; PE19/102; VT47/06; VT47/07; VT47/35
- √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ VT47/18; VT47/18
- √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
- √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ PE21/70
- √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
- ✶maha “hand, the manager” ✧ PE19/106; VT47/18
Element in
- Q. an sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë “for now the Kindler, Varda, the Queen of the Stars from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
- Q. an sí Varda, Tintallë, Elentári ortanë máryat Oiolossëo ve fanyar “for now Varda, Star-kindler, Star-queen [has] lifted up her (two) hands from Mount Everwhite like (white) clouds” ✧ RGEO/59
- Q. forma “right-hand” ✧ VT47/06
- Q. hyarma “left hand” ✧ VT47/06
- Q. Lungumá “Heavyhand” ✧ VT47/19
- Q. mahtanë yúyo má véla “*wield both hands alike” ✧ VT49/10
- Q. maitë “handy, skillful; having a hand, handed; shapely, handy, skillful, [ᴹQ.] skilled; [Q.] shapely, well-shaped; (as suffix) having a hand, handed” ✧ PE17/161; VT47/06
- Q. málimë “wrist, (lit.) hand-link” ✧ VT47/06
- Q. mátengwië “language of the hands”
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √MAƷ > mā [maɣa] > [mā] ✧ PE17/069 √MAG > mā [maga] > [maɣa] > [mā] ✧ PE17/161 √MAƷ > má [mā] ✧ PE17/162 √MAƷ > má [maɣa] > [mā] ✧ PE19/100 ✶māh > mâ [māh] > [mā] ✧ PE19/102 ✶māʒ > mã [māɣ] > [mā] ✧ PE19/106 √maha > mā [maha] > [mā] ✧ VT39/11 ✶mā > má [mā] ✧ VT47/06 ✶māʒ(ă) > mā [māɣa] > [mā] ✧ VT47/18 √mag > mā [māga] > [māɣa] > [mā] ✧ VT47/18 √MAƷA > má [maɣa] > [mā] ✧ VT47/19 Variations
- mā ✧ PE17/069; PE17/161; VT39/09; VT39/11; VT47/18; VT47/18
- mâ ✧ PE19/102
- mã ✧ PE19/106
maitya
?. [unglossed]
Variations
- mahtya ✧ PE19/084 (mahtya)
úmaiar
úmaiar
Úmaiar pl. noun, Maiar (see Maia) who became evil and followed Melkor, like the Balrogs (MR:79). Sg. #Úmaia.
Máya
máya
Máya pl. Máyar, see Maia
malsa
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
- ✶maslā ✧ PE19/101
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶maslā > malsa [maslā] > [malsā] > [malsa] ✧ PE19/101
arra
adjective. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √SRAG “awkward, awry; hard, (very) difficult” ✧ PE17/172
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √SRA-G > asra > arra [asra] > [azra] > [arra] ✧ PE17/172
umbacarin
noun. [unglossed]
amya-
verb. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √AM “go up, go up, [ᴹ√] up” ✧ PE17/157
Elements
Word Gloss -ya “verbal suffix” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √AM > amya [amja-] ✧ PE17/157 Variations
amya✧ PE17/157 (amya)
cairë
?. [unglossed]
Cognates
- S. caer “*flat isle on a river, [N.] flat isle on a river” ✧ PE17/101
Derivations
- √KAY “lie, lie, [ᴹ√] lie down; [ᴱ√] rest, dwell” ✧ PE17/101
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KAYA > caire [kaire] ✧ PE17/101 Variations
- caire ✧ PE17/101
cúma
noun. [unglossed]
Cognates
- S. cû “bow, bow; [N.] arch, crescent; [G.] waxing or waning moon” ✧ PE17/122
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶kūma > cúma [kūma] ✧ PE17/122
finca
noun. [unglossed]
Cognates
- S. fing “lock of hair” ✧ PE17/017
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶finik/fink > finca [pʰinika] > [pʰinka] > [pʰiŋka] > [ɸiŋka] > [fiŋka] ✧ PE17/017 Variations
- finca ✧ PE17/017
háro
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶khādo > hāzo > hāro [kʰādo] > [xādo] > [xāðo] > [hāðo] > [hāro] ✧ PE22/148 Variations
- hāro ✧ PE22/148
tomba
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √TOM “of resonant sounds” ✧ PE17/138
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √TOM > tomba [tomba] ✧ PE17/138
Vanimo
the beautiful
Vanimo (pl. Vanimor given), noun "the beautiful", children of the Valar (BAN), or "fair folk" = (men and) elves (UGU/UMU, VT45:17). Negated úvanimor = "monsters".
melya-
verb. [unglossed], *to be in love
Derivations
- √MEL “love, love, [ᴹ√] love (as friend)”
um(ba)-
prefix. [unglossed]
Derivations
Element in
- Q. umbacarin “[unglossed]” ✧ PE17/172
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √UMU > um(ba) [umba-] ✧ PE17/172 Variations
- um(ba) ✧ PE17/172 (um(ba))
cambë
noun. hand, (hollow of) hand
Derivations
- √KAB “hold, contain, retain, possess, have in hand, hold, contain, retain, possess, have in hand; [ᴹ√] hollow”
naue
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
- ✶ndagwē ✧ PE19/094
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶ndagwē > ndau̯we > nau̯we > naue [ndagwē] > [ndaɣwē] > [ndauwē] > [nauwē] > [naue] ✧ PE19/094 Variations
- nawe ✧ PE19/094 (
nawe)
sal-
verb. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √SAL “[unglossed], *harp(ing), lyre” ✧ PE22/133
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √SAL > asálie [asālie] ✧ PE22/133
éna
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶eñna > enna > éna [eŋna] > [enna] ✧ PE19/097
ceura
noun. [unglossed]
felca
adjective. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √PHELEG “excavation, excavation; [ᴹ√] cave” ✧ PE17/118
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √PHELEK > felca [pʰelka] > [ɸelka] > [felka] ✧ PE17/118
hindo
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √KHIN “child” ✧ PE17/157
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KHIN > hindo [kʰindo] > [xindo] > [hindo] ✧ PE17/157
hindë
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √KHIN “child” ✧ PE17/157
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KHIN > hinde [kʰinde] > [xinde] > [hinde] ✧ PE17/157 Variations
hinde✧ PE17/157 (hinde)
nonda
hand, especially in [?clutching]
nonda noun "hand, especially in [?clutching]" (VT47:23; Tolkien's gloss was not certainly legible)
sóla
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
- ✶soglā ✧ PE19/095
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶soglā > sóla [sogrā] > [soɣlā] > [sōlā] > [sōla] ✧ PE19/095
thar-
verb. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √STAR “*stiff, [ᴹ√] stiff” ✧ PE22/133
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √STAR > thar [star-] > [θar-] ✧ PE22/133 Variations
- thar ✧ PE22/133
tompë
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √TOM “of resonant sounds” ✧ PE17/138
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √TOM > tompe [tompe] ✧ PE17/138 Variations
- tompe ✧ PE17/138
úpa-
verb. [unglossed]
conta-
verb. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √KOM “gather, collect” ✧ PE17/157
Elements
Word Gloss -ta “causative verb suffix” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KOM > conta [komta-] > [konta-] ✧ PE17/157 Variations
conta✧ PE17/157 (conta)
hendas
?. [unglossed]
Element in
- Q. calma hendas “*light in the eyes” ✧ PMCH/02; TMME/192
lingi-
verb. [unglossed]
þúna
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶stuknā > thúna [stuknā] > [stugnā] > [θugnā] > [θuŋnā] > [θūnā] > [θūna] > [sūna] ✧ PE19/086 Variations
- thúna ✧ PE19/086 (thúna)
felehta-
verb. [unglossed], *to excavate, tunnel, mine
Derivations
- √PHELEG “excavation, excavation; [ᴹ√] cave” ✧ PE17/118
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √PHELEK > felehta [pʰelektā] > [ɸelektā] > [ɸelextā] > [ɸelextā] > [felextā] ✧ PE17/118 Variations
- felehta ✧ PE17/118
holdë
noun. [unglossed]
Derivations
- √SKOL “shut, close” ✧ PE17/098
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √KHOL > holde [kʰolde] > [xolde] > [holde] ✧ PE17/098 Variations
- holde ✧ PE17/098
sélo
?. [unglossed]
Derivations
- ✶steglō ✧ PE19/095
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶steglō > thélo > þélo > sélo [steglō] > [θeglō] > [θeɣlō] > [θēlō] > [θēlo] > [sēlo] ✧ PE19/095
Maia pl. Maiar noun "the Beautiful" (MR:49), the lesser (= non-Vala) Ainur that entered Eä. Variant Máya in VT42:13/VT47:18, pl. Máyar in PM:363, 364 and VT47:18 (possibly, Máya is to be understood as the older form of Maia). With negative prefix ú- also Úmaiar, Maiar who became evil and followed Melkor, such as Balrogs (MR:79, "Umaiar", MR:165).