Quenya Adjectives

QUENYA ADJECTIVES

Morphology

Pure adjectives in Quenya end in either ⟨-a⟩ or ⟨-ë⟩. Those ⟨-in⟩ are actually ____

Formation of the Plura

For adjective in ⟨-a⟩, it’s plural is in ⟨-ë⟩: ⟨polda⟩ > ⟨poldë⟩ ‘big, strong’

For adjective in ⟨-ëa⟩, it’s plural is in ⟨-ië⟩: ⟨otsëa⟩ > ⟨otsië⟩ ‘seventh’

For adjective in ⟨-ë⟩, it’s plural is in ⟨-i⟩: ⟨nincë⟩ > ⟨ninci⟩ ‘small’

For adjective in ⟨-in⟩, it’s plural is in ⟨-ini⟩: ⟨firin⟩ > ⟨firini⟩ ‘dead’

Syntax

As in English, the normal word order is for the adjective to come before the noun.

The adjective may follow its noun for emphasis, in poetry or when used in apposition

⟨Elendil Voronda⟩ ‘Elendil the Faithful

Unlike in English, the adjective must agree with its noun in number

Comparison

There is no known form of the comparative of adjecives, but as in English, by placing ‘more’ or an equivalence before the noun.

⟨malda⟩ ‘more’ or ⟨lá⟩ ‘beyond’

The superlative of adjectives is formed by prefixing ⟨an-⟩ to the adjective.

⟨an⟩ + ⟨alta⟩ ‘great’ – ⟨analta⟩ ‘greatest’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨calima⟩ ‘bright’ – ⟨ancalima⟩ ‘brightest’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨eressëa⟩ ‘lonely’ – ⟨aneressëa⟩ ‘loneliest’***

⟨an⟩ + ⟨norna⟩ ‘tough’ – ⟨annorma⟩ ‘toughest’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨vanya⟩ ‘beautiful’ – ⟨anvanya⟩ ‘most beautiful’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨wenya⟩ ‘green’ – ⟨anwenya⟩ ‘greenest’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨yára⟩ ‘old’ – ⟨anyára⟩ ‘oldest’

There are no examples of superlatives originating from adjectives beginning with ⟨f⟩ or ⟨h⟩, but as can assume that the following results

⟨an⟩ + ⟨fána⟩ ‘white’ – ⟨anfána ?⟩ ‘whitest

⟨an⟩ + ⟨finwa⟩ ‘clever’ – ⟨anfinwa ?⟩ ‘cleverest’ ****

⟨an⟩ + ⟨halla⟩ ‘tall’ – ⟨anhalla⟩ ‘tallest’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨haura⟩ ‘huge’ – ⟨anhaura⟩ ‘hugest’

As to be expected in Quenya, this may cause assmilation of the ⟨n⟩ if the adjective begins with the consonants ⟨l, m, r, s⟩

⟨an⟩ + ⟨lauca⟩ ‘warm’ – ⟨allauca⟩ ‘warmest’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨moina⟩ ‘dear’ – ⟨ammoina⟩ ‘dearest’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨ringa⟩ ‘cold’ – ⟨arringa⟩ ‘coldest’

⟨an⟩ + ⟨sarda⟩ ‘hard’ – ⟨assarda⟩ ‘hardest’