ᴹQ. rimba adj. “frequent, numerous” (Category: Much, Many)
An adjective in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “frequent, numerous” derived from ᴹ✶rimbā under the root ᴹ√RIM (Ety/RIM). Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948 had a similar word ᴹQ. hríma “very numerous (great in number or quantity)” (PE23/106). In drafts of DRC it was rhíma and was glossed “many” (PE23/106 note #80).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya I prefer rimba “frequent, numerous” over hríma, since it better aligns with Tolkien’s later derivatives from the root √RIM. I would also use rimba for “*(very) many”, as opposed to ᴹQ. lia “several” for a moderate number and ᴹQ. sempa for “few”.
Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. limba “many” under the early root ᴱ√LĪ (QL/53). It also had ᴱQ. olli “many” under the early root ᴱ√OLO², a plural adjective (QL/69).
Reference ✧ Ety/RIM ✧ “frequent, numerous”
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴹ✶rimbā > rimba | [rimbā] > [rimba] | ✧ Ety/RIM |
ᴱQ. limba adj. “many” (Category: Much, Many)
Reference ✧ QL/53 ✧ “many”
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴱ√LĪ > limba | [limbā] > [limba] | ✧ QL/53 |