√LAP root. “fold, bend, [ᴱ√] enfold”
The first appearance of this root was as ᴱ√LAPA “enfold” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. lapa- “wrap, swathe, wind” and ᴱQ. lapil “swathe, flowing cloth” (QL/51). It also had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon like G. laf “loose-end, end of rope, hem of robe” and G. laptha- “to relax, loosen” (GL/52).
The root reappeared (unglossed) in The Etymologies of the 1930s, but there its derivatives were ᴹQ. lapse/N. lhaes “babe” (Ety/LAP). It is possible the meaning of the root shifted, but another likely possibility is that sense of these words were “babe” = “enfolded one”, as in swaddled in cloth; hat tip to Lokyt for suggesting this. The root √LAP appeared again in notes from the late 1960s with the glosses “fold, bend” (VT47/35), so it seems its early meaning was (more or less) retained.
Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I would stick with the sense “(en)fold” for √LAP.
Reference ✧ VT47/35 ✧ “fold, bend”
Derivatives
ᴹ√LAP root. “*babe”
Reference ✧ Ety/LAP
Related
Derivatives
ᴱ√LAPA root. “enfold”
References ✧ QL/51
Glosses
Related
Derivatives