Q. imbë¹ prep. and adv. “between, among” (Category: Between)
The basic Quenya word for “between” as given in the Q. Namárië poem (LotR/377). It has a plural variant imbi “among” used with plural nouns (PE17/92). In ordinary use its singular imbe is “between” two objects, and when those objects are not named it can itself be dualized as imbit (PE17/92). More exactly, it “referred to a gap, space, barrier, or any thing intervening between two other things like or unlike one another” (VT47/11). In reference to the gap, it could also mean “a deep valley or wide ravine between high mountain sides (as Rivendell): sc. = tween-land” (PE17/92). See imbë² for further discussion.
Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. {imba >>} imbe “in(wards)” under the root ᴹ√IMÍ “in” (EtyAC/IMÍ). This was likely a later iteration of ᴱQ. int “inwards” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√IMI² “in, into” (QL/42).
References ✧ LotR/377; PE17/73, 91-92, 135; PE23/134; RGEO/58-59; VT47/11, 30
Glosses
Variations
Related
Inflections
| imbit | dual | “between two things” | ✧ PE17/92; VT47/30 |
| imb’ | elided | “among” | ✧ PE17/91 |
| imbi | plural | “among” | ✧ PE17/91; PE17/92; VT47/30; VT47/30 |
| imbi | plural | “between” | ✧ VT47/11 |
Element In
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ✶imbĭ > imbĕ | [imbi] > [imbe] | ✧ PE17/92 |
| ✶imbi > imbe | [imbi] > [imbe] | ✧ VT47/11 |
| ✶imbĭ > imbĕ | [imbi] > [imbe] | ✧ VT47/30 |
ᴹQ. imbe¹ adv. “in(wards)” (Category: In, Inside)
References ✧ EtyAC/IMÍ
Glosses
Variations
Changes
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴹ√IMÍ > imbe | [imbe] | ✧ EtyAC/IMÍ |