-lë
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-lë is a Quenya suffix that has four meanings.
-lë1
Typically used to derive verbal nouns.[1]
Examples
- hortalë = "speeding, urging" (horta- = "to speed, urge"; KHOR)
- intyalë = "imagination"; lit. "guessing, supposing" (intya- = "to guess, suppose"; INK)
- vestalë = "wedding" (vesta- = "to wed"; BES)
-lë2
Some verbal nouns may be formed directly from the stem when it ends in a vowel.
Examples
- tailë = "lengthening" ("to extent, make longer"; TAY or TAI)
- cuilë = "life, being alive" ("come to life"; KUY)
-lë3
In the case of basic stems ending in a consonant, the ending -lë may be added to a nasal-infixed form of them.
Examples
- mancalë = "commerce" (manca- = "to trade"; derived from MBAKH "exchange")
- quentalë = "account, history" ("speak"; KWET)
-lë4
The ending -lë is also used to derive concrete nouns from an adjective.
Examples
- oialë = "everlasting [?age]" (oia = "everlasting"; OY?)
- aicalë = "a peak" (aica = "sharp"; AYAK)
- meryalë = "holiday" (merya = "festive"; MBER)
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings: Eldarin Roots and Stems", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), pp.58-9
