Quenya 

neldë

cardinal. three, three; [ᴱQ.] four

The Quenya word for “three” derived from √NEL(ED) of the same meaning (VT47/10-11; Ety/NEL).

Conceptual Development: This use of nelde for “three” dates back all the way to Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) of the 1920s (PE14/49, 82). However, in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s ᴱQ. nelde was “four”, appearing under the early root ᴱ√NELE “point” and serving as the basis for the word ᴱQ. neldenelqa “square” (QL/65). In this 1910s document, ᴱQ. ole was “three” derived from the early root ᴱ√OLO “tip” (QL/69).

Quenya [PE17/095; SA/neldor; VT47/10; VT47/11; VT48/06; VT49/45] Group: Eldamo. Published by