√NET root. “trim, pretty, dainty”
A root element Tolkien gave unglossed in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s serving primarily as the basis for extended √NETER “nine”; Tolkien explicitly contrasted it with √NETH “sister”, used for the finger-name of the fourth and ninth fingers but not etymologically related “nine” (VT47/11-12). However in somewhat earlier versions of these notes from 1968, Tolkien glossed √NET as “trim (pretty, dainty)” and derived the finger name Q. nettë “little girl” directly from this root along with other words like Q. netil “trinket” and netya- “trim, adorn” (VT47/33).
Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is worth retaining the “pretty, dainty” sense of this root, though not necessarily connecting it to “nine”, which can simply be from unrelated √NETER.
References ✧ VT47/12, 15-16, 33
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