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!

Gnomish

masta-

verb. to feed, graze

The verb G. masta- “feed, graze” appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/56). Its etymology is unclear; it is tempting to assume it is derived from the early root ᴱ√MATA “eat” (QL/31), but is not clear how the st would arise in the phonology of Gnomish. Another possible root is ᴱ√M(B)ASA, but in the Qenya Lexicon this root was glossed “cook, bake” (QL/59, 63).

Neo-Sindarin: This word can easily be adapted as Neo-Sindarin ᴺS. masta- based on an ancient causative verb = √MAT “eat” + ✶-tā, since t + t from suffixion resulted in st in the Elvish phonology of the 1930s-60s. I would limit this verb to the sense “[put to] feed, graze” for animals, while directly feeding another would be ᴺS. media-.

Derivations

bas-

verb. to bake

A verb appearing as G. bas- “bake” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/22), based on the early root ᴱ√M(B)ASA “cook, bake” (QL/59).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin I would update this verb to ᴺS. basta- “to bake” for better compatibility with the later Quenya verb [ᴹQ.] masta-. I first saw this neologism suggested by Fiona Jallings (FJNS/339).

Cognates

  • Eq. mas- “to bake, cook”

Derivations