na-

verb. na-

[na-] (3) a prefix occurring in the Markirya poem, changed by Tolkien to a-, q.v.

na-

prefix. plu-

na-

prefix. infinitive prefix

ná-

verb. to be, to be, [ᴱQ.] exist

The basic Quenya verb for “to be”, based on the root √NĀ (PE17/93). It was typically used as the copula equating a noun to another noun or an adjective:

> √NA joining adjs./nouns/pronouns in statements (or wishes) asserting (or desiring) a thing to have a certain quality, or to be the same as another (PE22/147).

In many circumstances this verb was optional:

> As a copula “be, is” is not usually expressed in Quenya where the meaning is clear: sc. in such expressions as “A is good” where the adjective (contrary to the usual order in Quenya of a qualifying adjective) follows: the normal Quenya for this is A mára (PE17/93).

For further discussion see the entry on the Quenya copula.

Conceptual Development: This verb dates back all the way to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where it was given as the early root ᴱ√NĀ “be, exist” (QL/64). This verb and its root appeared regularly throughout Tolkien’s writings thereafter, but at times Tolkien considered alternative verbs for “to be”; see the entry ëa- for further discussion.

a-

see

a- (2) a prefix occurring in the Markirya poem (Tolkien first used na-, then changed it). It may be prefixed to verbal stems following a noun that is the object of sense-verbs like "see" and "hear" when the verb it is prefixed to describes what happens to this noun, as in man cenuva lumbor ahosta[?] (changed from na-hosta), "who shall see the clouds gather?" (hosta = "gather").

a-

prefix. infinitive prefix

na

to be

na (1) form of the verb "to be", evidently the imperative (or subjunctive): Tolkien stated that na airë would mean "be holy" (VT43:14), and san na (q.v.) must mean "thus be" = "let it be so"; see ná #1 Cf. also the sentence alcar mi tarmenel na Erun "glory in high heaven be to God" (VT44:32/34). Inserted in front of a verb, na expresses a wish: aranielya na tuluva "may thy kingdom come" (ibid).

na-súrimar

noun. aspirate

aspirate [stops]

cúna-

verb. to bend

A verb for “to bend” based on the adjective Q. kúna “bent, curved” appearing in the Markirya poem of the 1960s (MC/223).

Conceptual Development: Versions of the poem from around 1930 had ᴱQ. lunga(na)- for “bend” (MC/214), more exactly meaning “sag, bend down, hang heavy” (PE16/75) and thus clearly based on ᴱQ. lungo or lunga “heavy” (PE13/163; PE16/75). Another poem from this same period had ᴱQ. kauta- “to bend” (MC/216; PE16/100).

ana-

prefix. plu-

namárië

interjection. farewell, (lit.) be well, let it be well (to you)

cautáron

bent

cautáron ("k") adj.?"bent" (MC:216; this is "Qenya")

cen-

see, behold

cen- ("k")vb. "see, behold", future tense cenuva ("kenuva") "shall see" in Markirya. Imperative cena ("k"), VT47:31.Also #cen = noun "sight" as the final element of some nouns (*apacen, tercen, q.v.) Compare the root KHEN-, KEN-, KYEN- "look at, see, observe, direct gaze" (VT45:21)

cenya

verb. see, perceive

cúna

bent, curved

cúna ("k") 1) adj. "bent, curved", from which is derived 2) cúna- vb. "bend", occurring with a- prefix (changed by Tolkien from a na-prefix) in Markirya. Here cúna- is intransitive; we do not know whether it can also be transitive "bend".

ea

verb. be

be

ea-

verb. be, exist

hosta-

verb. to gather (hastily together), collect, assemble, pile up

This was the Quenya verb for “gather” for most of Tolkien’s life. It appeared in notes associated with the Markirya poem from the 1960s with the glosses “gather, collect, assemble” (MC/223). It also appeared in Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s with the glosses “gather hastily together, pile up” and derived from √KHOT “gather, together in confusion, jumble” (PE17/39). ᴹQ. hosta- “to collect” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√KHOTH “gather” (Ety/KHOTH). ᴱQ. hosta- appeared in the Qenya Verb Forms of the 1910s as the basis for ᴱQ. hostalka “able to gather” (PE14/33-34).

locin

adjective. bent, bent, *curled

An adjective meaning “bent” appearing in 1964 notes on Dalath Dirnen (DD) based on the root √LOK “bend” (PE17/160).

Neo-Quenya: I would use this adjective for “curled” as well, given lócë “bight, bend, curl of hair” appearing on the same page.

namárië

farewell

namárië interjection "farewell" (Nam, RGEO:67)

namárië

Farewell

This was the poem that Galadriel recited to Frodo and the fellowship as they departed Lórien (LotR/377). It is the longest canonical Elvish text published by Tolkien, and one of the longest texts in the corpus. In the literature, it is usually called the Namárië or “Farewell” poem, though in one place Tolkien gave it the formal title Altariello nainië Lóriendesse “Galadriel’s lament in Lórien” (RGEO/58).

As a poem, this text is freer in word order and syntax than ordinary Quenya prose (RGEO/58). This makes it somewhat difficult to interpret the poem, since the English translation of the poem does not correspond directly with the Elvish wording. Fortunately, Tolkien published an extensive commentary on the poem within his lifetime (RGEO/58-62), making the proper interpretation the poem abundantly clear. In this commentary, Tolkien included a prose version of the poem, written in a “normal style” and with more ordinary (and therefore easier to follow) word order. The prose version of the poem is discussed in a separate entry.

The text below mostly divides the poem into one phrase for each line of the original poem. The exceptions are lines 5-6, 9-10 and 13-14 which are organized differently to facilitate discussion. The English glosses are from the translation of the poem in the 50th anniversary edition of The Lord of the Rings. Only proper names are capitalized. Interpretations are discussed in the entries for individual phrases.

numba

bent, humped

numba adj. "bent, humped" (PE17:168)

nëa

to be

nëa (2) an optative form of the verb na- "to be"? (nëa = LotR-style Quenya nai?): ya rato nëa "which soon may (it) be" = "which I hope will be soon" (Arct)

tunta-

see, notice, perceive

tunta- "see, notice, perceive", pa.t. túne (QL:95)

véla

verb. see

véla (2) vb. "see" (Arct); present/continuative tense of a verbal stem #vel-? The context of the sentence where it occurs ("till I see you next") suggests that this is "see" in the sense of "meet".

>> yomenië

á na márië

be well