Q. similative grammar.

Q. similative grammar.

This noun case is one that Tolkien (probably) abandoned in his later writings. In the Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) he called it the “Manner” case (PE14/46, 78), but in declension tables from the late 1920s through 1930s he often labeled it the “Adverb” case (PE16/113; PE21/4, 53) and in a couple places he called it the “Comparative” case (PE21/42, 46). Elsewhere, though, Tolkien used the term “adverbial cases” to collectively refer to the allative, ablative, locative cases. I use the term “similative” (as in “something that is similar to another thing”) as the label for this noun case to avoid confusion with other grammatical functions, but Tolkien himself never used this term.

This case was used to form “an adverb of manner - a Q. formation, it is also employed as an indeclinable adj. = like” (PE21/3, item #10). It was formed with the suffix -ndon, such as:

The noun case appears in several phrases from the 1920s and 30s, most notably in early versions of the Markirya poem:

This noun case continued to appear in declension charts and descriptions of Quenya noun cases through the 1930s and 40s, and there is even a mention of it in notes on word lists for The Lord of the Rings written around or shortly before 1960, but at this point Tolkien abandoned the noun case:

like gold, in gold fashion = laurendon ... abandon -ndon. this is an agental suffix ? kiryando = sailor (PE17/58).

However, this is not the last mention of -ndon; it appears again in some notes from 1966-67:

Cf. also the ending -ndo, -ndon, as in kiryando(n) “like a ship” (PE17/74).

Thus it is conceivable it continued to be valid into the late 1960s. However, given its absence from the noun declensions in the contemporaneous Plotz letter or the 1960s version of the Markirya poem, I think it is likelier Tolkien had mostly given up on this noun case.

Conceptual Development: This noun case appeared in the Early Qenya Grammar (EQG) from the 1920s along with several examples: a kálie kulundon “it shone like gold”; kiryandon “like a ship” (PE14/46). With consonantal nouns the suffix became -indon with the i derived from consonantal plurals (PE14/47, 78). In the manuscript version there was a single (archaic) shorter variant -don (PE14/47) but in the typescript version, there were two short forms: -son, -don which were often used with “true consonantal words” (PE14/78).

The suffix -ndon was retained in a declension chart later in the 1920s except that the long consonantal form became -anon alongside short -don (PE16/113). In this chart Tolkien explicitly gave plural forms, which were simply -ndon added the vocalic or consonantal plural (PE16/115). He also gave a “rare & irreg[ural]” dual form -ndos (PE16/114).

These singular and plural forms reappeared in the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s, but the dual did not (PE21/4-6, 25). For many consonantal nouns, the non-assimilated form was -undon rather than -anon: nēn(un)don (PE21/23), malanon vs. malundon (PE21/24), etc. In the Declension of Nouns Tolkien also gave quite a few examples of the short suffix -don assimilated to consonantal nouns, but this only differed from -don in a handful of examples:

Aside from the first example which is just the regular assimilation sd > zd > rd, these all seem to represent an archaic variant suffix †-son as mentioned in the typescript version of EQG (PE14/78). This noun case shows little change after this, except that in a chart from later in the 1930s, the consonantal singular suffix -indon was restored (PE21/52), replacing -anon from the late 1920s and from the Declension of Nouns. This case ending continued to be mentioned in discussions of Quenya noun cases through the 1940s:

Q. also developed a comparative adverb or case ending in -ndon (of obscure origin): “like, as”; so kiryandon “like or as a ship”. This remained incapable of [?indicating] number (PE21/69, Notes for Qenya Declensions).

As noted above, Tolkien ultimately abandoned this noun case in the 1950s (PE17/58).

The full set of conceptual developments is given in the table below, using the version numbers for the declension charts from PE16 and PE21, with EQG for the Early Qenya Grammar and LQ for Late Quenya forms (in Plotz and elsewhere). The Entu, Ensi, Enta Declension (EEED) is inserted between versions 2 and 3, and the Bodleian Declension (BD) between versions 5c and 6, as discussed in the entry on noun cases.

V Similatives Sg. Du. Pl.
EQG vocalic -ndon
EQG consonantal -indon
EEED vocalic -ndon -ndos
EEED consonantal -anon -anos
3 vocalic -ndon -ndos -lindon
3 consonantal -anon -indon
4 vocalic -ndon -lindon
4 consonantal -anon/-undon -indon
5a vocalic -ndon -ndont -lindon
5b vocalic -ndon -ndont -lindon
5c vocalic -ndon -lindon
5c consonantal -indon -indon
BD vocalic -ndon
6 vocalic -ndon
LQ vocalic -ndon

Neo-Quenya: I recommend against using this noun case in Neo-Quenya. Its function can be replaced by the preposition ve “as, like, similar, after the manner [of]”.

Examples (similative)
kiryando(n) “like a ship” [← cirya¹] ✧ PE17/74
laurendon “in a gold fashion” ← laurëa ✧ PE17/58

Element In


ᴹQ. similative grammar.

Examples (similative)
[ahtu]matundon [← ahtumat] ✧ PE21/37
[ahtu]mattanon [← ahtumat] ✧ PE21/37
Alaryundon [← Alari] ✧ PE21/41
Alaryanon [← Alari] ✧ PE21/41
amandon [← aman] ✧ PE21/34
amanundon [← aman] ✧ PE21/34
amborundon [← ambor] ✧ PE21/33
ambusson [← ambor] ✧ PE21/33
anduldon [← andul] ✧ PE21/34
andulundon [← andul] ✧ PE21/34
arukundon [← arat] ✧ PE21/35
arakson [← arat] ✧ PE21/35
[Astul]ahtanon [← Astulat] ✧ PE21/37
kaliondanon [← Kalion] ✧ PE21/37
[kalm]indon [← kalma] ✧ PE21/52
[kalm]andon [← kalma] ✧ PE21/52
kardon [← kas¹] ✧ PE21/22
kasson [← kas¹] ✧ PE21/22
kiryandon [← kirya] ✧ PE21/4
kiryandon [← kirya] ✧ PE21/46
kiryandon [← kirya] ✧ PE21/53
kiryandon “like or as a ship” [← kirya] ✧ PE21/69
kiryandon [← kirya] ✧ VT28/8
veanerdon [← veaner²] ✧ PE21/36
veanerundon [← veaner²] ✧ PE21/36
[Koiv]ienendon [← Kuiviénen] ✧ PE21/36
[Earend]ildon [← Earendel] ✧ PE21/34
[Earend]eldon [← Earendel] ✧ PE21/34
[Earend]elundon [← Earendel] ✧ PE21/34
endandon [← en] ✧ VT36/8
endon [← en] ✧ VT36/8
entandon [← enta] ✧ VT36/8
ensindon [← ente] ✧ VT36/8
entundon [← ento] ✧ VT36/8
falmarindon [← Falmarin] ✧ PE21/36
falmarinundon [← Falmarin] ✧ PE21/36
fassanon [← fas] ✧ PE21/26
fasson [← fas] ✧ PE21/26
filekundon [← filet] ✧ PE21/35
filikson [← filet] ✧ PE21/35
hahtanon [← hat] ✧ PE21/27
helendon [← helen] ✧ PE21/34
helindon [← helen] ✧ PE21/34
helemundon [← helen] ✧ PE21/34
hendon [← hen] ✧ PE21/52
hónon [← ] ✧ PE21/38
hondon [← ] ✧ PE21/38
hondon [← hón] ✧ PE21/23
homanon [← hón] ✧ PE21/23
homnon [← hón] ✧ PE21/23
homundon [← hón] ✧ PE21/23
homindon [← hón] ✧ PE21/52
hundon [← hún] ✧ PE21/24
ildumandon [← ilduma] ✧ PE21/4
[kaima]sambanon [← kaimasan] ✧ PE21/37
[kel]utundon [← kelut] ✧ PE21/35
[kel]uston [← kelut] ✧ PE21/35
untamondon [← untamo] ✧ PE21/5
lamnanon [← laman] ✧ PE21/28
lamnaron [← laman] ✧ PE21/28
lamundon [← laman] ✧ PE21/28
lamundon [← laman] ✧ PE21/28
lassendon [← lasse] ✧ PE21/6
lassendon [← lasse] ✧ PE21/47
lassendon [← lasse] ✧ PE21/53
lepsanon [← let] ✧ PE21/26
lepsundon [← let] ✧ PE21/26
lindindon [← linde²] ✧ PE21/10
[Lungu]makson [← Lunguma] ✧ PE21/41
[Lungu]mandon [← Lunguma] ✧ PE21/41
mánon [← má¹] ✧ PE21/40
makson [← má¹] ✧ PE21/40
mánon [← †má²] ✧ PE21/38
mandon [← †má²] ✧ PE21/38
malanon [← mál] ✧ PE21/24
malundon [← mál] ✧ PE21/24
maldon [← mál] ✧ PE21/24
maldundon [← maldo] ✧ PE21/11
mallendon [← malle] ✧ PE21/44
[mal]undon [← malo²] ✧ PE21/12
[mard]anon [← mar] ✧ PE21/27
[miu]yundon [← miue] ✧ PE21/13
yakanon [← yat²] ✧ PE21/24
yakundon [← yat²] ✧ PE21/24
yakson [← yat²] ✧ PE21/24
nēn(un)don [← nén] ✧ PE21/23
nendon [← nén] ✧ PE21/23
ninganon [← nin] ✧ PE21/26
ningaron [← nin] ✧ PE21/26
nerdon [← nér] ✧ PE21/20
nerundon [← nér] ✧ PE21/21
nerdon [← nér] ✧ PE21/52
nerindon [← nér] ✧ PE21/52
[nild]anon [← nil] ✧ PE21/26
[ninqer]uvandon [← ninqeru] ✧ PE21/15
Núnon [← ] ✧ PE21/38
olardon [← olar] ✧ PE21/33
olarundon [← olar] ✧ PE21/33
ondondon [← ondo] ✧ PE21/5
ondundon [← ondo] ✧ PE21/11
Oromendon [← Orome] ✧ PE21/41
[Orome]kson [← Orome] ✧ PE21/41
orundon [← oron] ✧ PE21/34
orumundon [← oron] ✧ PE21/34
pénon [← ] ✧ PE21/38
pendon [← ] ✧ PE21/38
[pel]taksanon [← peltas] ✧ PE21/37
pilendon [← pilen] ✧ PE21/34
pilindanon [← pilin] ✧ PE21/36
pilindundon [← pilin] ✧ PE21/36
pilindindon [← pilin] ✧ PE21/52
pilindon [← pilin] ✧ PE21/52
polindon [← pole] ✧ PE21/13
qeletundon [← qelet] ✧ PE21/35
qeliston [← qelet] ✧ PE21/35
qendanon [← Qen] ✧ PE21/25
qilerdon [← qilir] ✧ PE21/34
qilirundon [← qilir] ✧ PE21/34
rínon [← ] ✧ PE21/38
rindon [← ] ✧ PE21/38
sangandon [← sanga] ✧ PE21/42
sorundon [← soron] ✧ PE21/34
soronundon [← soron] ✧ PE21/34
sútanon [← sút] ✧ PE21/24
sutson [← sút] ✧ PE21/24
taldon [← tál] ✧ PE21/21
talanon [← tál] ✧ PE21/22
talundon [← tál] ✧ PE21/22
[tal]atundon [← talat] ✧ PE21/35
[Tamp]iondon [← Tampio] ✧ PE21/41
tárindon [← tári] ✧ PE21/14
telkondon [← telko] ✧ PE21/53
pelkondon [← pelko] ✧ PE21/48
[pelk]ondon [← pelko] ✧ VT28/8
telumettanon [← telumet] ✧ PE21/37
telumehtanon [← telumet] ✧ PE21/37
tetanon [← tet(ta)] ✧ PE21/24
tetundon [← tet(ta)] ✧ PE21/24
ténon [← tie] ✧ PE21/40
tekson [← tie] ✧ PE21/40
[Tinúv]ieldon [← Tinúviel] ✧ PE21/35
[Tinúv]ielundon [← Tinúviel] ✧ PE21/35
tónon [← ] ✧ PE21/40
[tund]undon [← tundo²] ✧ PE21/11
Valinordon [← Valinor] ✧ PE21/36
[Vali]nóranon [← Valinor] ✧ PE21/36
verundon [← veru¹] ✧ PE21/15
assandos [← assa²] dual ✧ VT36/8
assindos [← asse] dual ✧ VT36/8
assundos [← asso] dual ✧ VT36/8
endanos [← en] dual ✧ VT36/8
endos [← en] dual ✧ VT36/8
[andul]indon [← andul] plural ✧ PE21/34
[kalm]ahta [← kalma] plural ✧ PE21/52
[kalm]ihta [← kalma] plural ✧ PE21/52
karindon [← kas¹] plural ✧ PE21/22
kiryalindon [← kirya] plural ✧ PE21/4
kiryandon [← kirya] plural ✧ PE21/46
[kiry]alindon [← kirya] plural ✧ PE21/46
homindon [← hón] plural ✧ PE21/23
ildumalindon [← ilduma] plural ✧ PE21/4
untamolindon [← untamo] plural ✧ PE21/5
lamnindon [← laman] plural ✧ PE21/28
lassindon [← lasse] plural ✧ PE21/6
lasselindon [← lasse] plural ✧ PE21/6
lassindon [← lasse] plural ✧ PE21/47
lassendon [← lasse] plural ✧ PE21/47
[leps]indon [← let] plural ✧ PE21/26
mallindon [← malle] plural ✧ PE21/45
yakindon [← yat²] plural ✧ PE21/24
nerindon [← nér] plural ✧ PE21/20
ondolindon [← ondo] plural ✧ PE21/5
qendindon [← Qen] plural ✧ PE21/25
laisindon [← laite] plural ✧ PE21/7
laitelindon [← laite] plural ✧ PE21/7
sangalindon [← sanga] plural ✧ PE21/42
talindon [← tál] plural ✧ PE21/21
tárilindon [← tári] plural ✧ PE21/14
pelkondon [← pelko] plural ✧ PE21/48
tyaliendon [← tyalie] plural ✧ PE21/47
verulindon [← veru¹] plural ✧ PE21/15
[kalm]íka [← kalma] plural prosodic-lengthening ✧ PE21/52
[ahtu]mátanon [← ahtumat] prosodic-lengthening ✧ PE21/37
[Lungu]mánon [← Lunguma] prosodic-lengthening ✧ PE21/41

References ✧ PE21/3, 50, 69

Element In


ᴱQ. similative grammar.

Examples (similative)
aiwendon [← aiwe] anwe or aiqale elta súrut lunte aiwendon lossiattea ✧ PE16/147
kardon [← kas] ✧ PE16/113
karanon [← kas] ✧ PE16/113
kiryandon “like a ship” ← kirya ✧ PE14/46
kiryandon [← kirya] ✧ PE16/113
kulu(i)ndon “like gold” ← kulu ✧ PE14/46
kulundon “like gold” ← kulu a kálie kulundon ✧ PE14/46
mallendon [← malle] ✧ PE16/113
nengaron [← nen²] ✧ PE16/113
nendon [← nen²] ✧ PE16/113
nerdon “like a man, manfully” ← ner ✧ PE14/79
nerdon “manfully” ← ner ✧ PE15/75
nerdon [← ner] ✧ PE16/113
neranon [← ner] ✧ PE16/113
ondondon [← ondo] ✧ PE16/113
pilind(an)on [← pilin] ✧ PE16/113
telkondon [← telko] ✧ PE16/113
wilwarindon “as a butterfly” [← wilwarin] valkane wilwarindon ✧ MC/213
wilwarindon “like a butterfly” [← wilwarin] pinilya wilwarindon ✧ MC/220
wilwarindon “like a butterfly” [← wilwarin] lutsilya wilwarindon ✧ PE16/62
vilvarindon [← wilwarin] lutsilja vilvarindon ✧ PE16/72
wilwarindon [← wilwarin] {lutsilya >>} pinilya wilwarindon ✧ PE16/74
wilwarindon [← wilwarin] maano kiluvando ninkve lutya kirya wilwarindon ✧ PE16/77
kiryandos [← kirya] dual ✧ PE16/114
kiryalindon [← kirya] plural ✧ PE16/115
lasselindon “like leaves” [← lasse] plural taurelasselindon ✧ MC/213
lasselindon “like leaves” [← lasse] plural taurelasselindon ✧ MC/220
lasselindon “like leaves” [← lasse] plural taurelasselindon ✧ PE16/62
lässelindon [← lasse] plural taurelässelindon ✧ PE16/72
lasselindon [← lasse] plural taurelasselindon ✧ PE16/74
lasselindon [← lasse] plural ar i·suuru laustuvaaro lintataurelasselindon ✧ PE16/77
mallindon [← malle] plural ✧ PE16/115
ondolindon [← ondo] plural ✧ PE16/115
pilindindon [← pilin] plural ✧ PE16/115
tinwelindon “like stars” [← tinwe] plural tinwelindon talalínen ✧ MC/213
tinwelindon “like stars” [← tinwe] plural talainen tinwelindon ✧ MC/220
tinwelindon “like stars” [← tinwe] plural alainen tinwelindon ✧ PE16/62
tinvelindon [← tinwe] plural äläinen tinvelindon ✧ PE16/72
tinwelindon [← tinwe] plural {álainen >>} talainen tinwelindon ✧ PE16/74
tinwelindon [← tinwe] plural {vainolisse >>} laivarisse luunelinkve talaliinen tinwelindon, talaliinen tinwelindon? ✧ PE16/77
tyalielindon [← tyalie] plural ✧ PE16/115

Element In