NID is a Primitive Quendian root meaning "press, thrust, force (in a given direction)".[1]
Development in Primitive Quendian
From NID was possibly derived inidō, which meant "the mind in its purposing faculty, the will".[1] This may have been a compound with IN ("mind", "inner self")[2]:155 and the genitive suffix "-ō". In this origin, inidō would loosely translate to "(the directive) force of the inner self".
Inidō shifted into in'dō, and then indo with a verbal form indu-.[1]
Development in Quenya
Through the Noldorin Quenya phonetic development of (d > ř > r),[2]:129 NID became the basic verb nír with the same meaning.[1]
Nír had very broad application, and could refer to any type of pressure including physical pressure exerted by or against inanimate objects. In the case of force by a rational will (a faculty of the fëa and Ainur), the more specific indu- was used.[1]
| Word | Meaning | Affix |
|---|---|---|
| avanir | “unwill”;[3] in the sense of resisting force | ava- ("negation") |
| nira | "an individual 'will' (or potential)",[4] "'will' as a potential or faculty"[3]:fn1 | -a (adjectival noun suffix) |
| nírë | "force (in general)"[1] | -rë (generic abstract noun) |
| nirin | "I press, thrust, force (in a given direction)"[4] | -n(yë) (aorist 1st person singular) |
| nírítë | "forceful, exerting great thrust or pressure, driving"[1] | -itë (verbal suffix meaning "capable of doing, generally (and naturally) doing") |
| nirmë | "exercise of will, an act of will";[4] in the sense of an exertion of force or pressure | -më (eventitive abstract noun) |
| nirnen[1] | "through the use of force" | -nen (instrumental) |
Development in Sindarin
In Sindarin NID shifted phonologically to nîð, and narrowed in meaning to only rational purpose or will.[1]
Indu shifted phonologically (indu > ind > inn), and inn came to mean some particular purpose or intention of an individual.[1]
| Word | Meaning | Affix |
|---|---|---|
| innas | "will"[5] | -as (abstract/gerundial suffix) |
| níða | "determined to"; exertion of strong will in major purposes[1] | -a (genitive suffix) |
| niðin | "intend to"; weaker exertion of will or not in a major purpose[1] |
Development in Telerin
In Telerin nīde had the same meaning as S. nîð, and indo had the same meaning as S. inn. The verb nid- had the same meaning as Q. nir.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Feanorian Alphabet, Part 1 & Quenya Verb Structure", in Parma Eldalamberon XXII (edited by Christopher Gilson and Arden R. Smith), pg. 165
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Two. Body, Mind and Spirit: IX. Ósanwe-kenta"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Vinyar Tengwar, Number 41, July 2000, pg. 17
- ↑ Vinyar Tengwar, Number 44, June 2002, pg.26