Q. #li(n)- pref. “many” (Category: Much, Many)
A Quenya prefix for “many” appearing regularly in Tolkien’s writings throughout his life, dating all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s. It was derived from the root √LI that was also the basis for the partitive plural suffix Q. -li. In Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948, Tolkien specified that li(n)- referred to an indefinite quantity bigger than a few: “a number, a good many, not a few” (PE23/101 note #36).
Indefinite, expressing “mere plurality” (more than two at least); “some” with the plural, “(not) a few,” “several.” This is expressed by the stems lī̆-, and lĭn(i). In C. Eldarin the stem meant “many,” often a great number, but in Quenya except in a few older derivatives, especially the prefix lin-, lilin-, it is used always as expressing a lesser or vaguer number than the next (PE23/100).
This was then contrasted with ᴹQ. sem(p)- “few” and ᴹQ. hrim- “a great number, very many” [>> rim-].
References ✧ PE17/81; VT42/18; VT48/32
Glosses
Variations
Element In
Derivations
ᴹQ. li(n)- pref. “many” (Category: Much, Many)
References ✧ Ety/DÓRON, LI, YEN; PE23/100-102, 111-112
Glosses
Variations
Inflections
| lilinna | allative | “*to many places” | ✧ PE23/112 |
| (li)línen | instrumental plural | “*by many means” | ✧ PE23/111 |
| lilis(se) | locative | “*in many places” | ✧ PE23/111 |
| lilindon | similative | “*like many” | ✧ PE23/111 |
Element In
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴹ√LI > lin- | [lin-] | ✧ Ety/DÓRON |
| ᴹ√LI > lin- | [lin-] | ✧ Ety/LI |
ᴱQ. li(n)- pref. “many” (Category: Much, Many)
References ✧ LT1A/Tinwë Linto; PE16/77; QL/42, 53, 69
Glosses
Variations
Related
Element In
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴱ√LĪ > li- | [li-] | ✧ QL/53 |