ᴹQ. feren (fern-) n. “beech-tree” (Category: Beech)
A word for “beech-tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with variants feren and ferne derived from primitive ᴹ✶pheren based on the root ᴹ√PHER(EN) “beech” (Ety/BERÉTH; PHER). Its plural form was ferni < *fer(e)nī due to the affect of the Quenya syncope. It is likely the variant singular ferne was based on this plural, with feren being the original singular form.
Conceptual Development: In Early Qenya of the 1910s and 20s, the word for “beech” was ᴱQ. neldor derived from the early root ᴱ√NELE point (QL/65; PE16/139). Later Tolkien decided S. neldor “beech” was Sindarin; see that entry for discussion.
References ✧ Ety/BERÉTH, PHER
Glosses
Variations
Related
Inflections
| ferni | plural | ✧ Ety/BERÉTH; Ety/PHER |
Element In
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴹ✶phéren > feren | [pʰeren] > [ɸeren] > [feren] | ✧ Ety/BERÉTH |
| ᴹ√PHÉREN > feren | [pʰeren] > [ɸeren] > [feren] | ✧ Ety/PHER |