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1 THEY, THEM
(3rd person pl. and dual forms): As the pronominal ending for “they”, Tolkien hesitated between -ltë and -ntë. For instance, a verb like “they do” is attested both as cariltë and carintë (VT49:16, 17). In one text, the ending -ltë is marked as archaic or poetic (VT49:17), but in other paradigms no such qualification occurs (VT49:51). The alternative form -nte- occurs in UT:317, with a second pronominal marker (-s “it”, denoting the object) following: Tiruvantes "they will keep it". General considerations of euphony may favour -ltë rather than -ntë (e.g. *quenteltë rather than *quententë for “they spoke” – in the past tense, many verbs end in -ntë even before any pronominal endings are supplied, like quentë “spoke” in this example). The ending -ltë (unlike -ntë) would also conform with the general system that the plural pronominal endings include the plural marker l (VT48:11). – In Tolkien’s early material, the ending -ltë appears as -lto instead (e.g. tulielto “they have come”, LT1:270). – A simple plural verb (with ending -r) can have “they” as its implied subject, as in the example quetir en “they still say” (PE17:167). – In the independent pronouns, distinct forms of may be used depending on whether “they, them” refers to living beings (persons, animals or even plants) or to non-living things or abstracts. The “personal” independent pronoun is te, which may have a long vowel when stressed (té, VT49:51). It is also attested in object position (laita te “bless them”, LotR:989 cf. Letters:308, VT43:20). It can receive case endings, e.g. dative ten (VT49:14; variant forms téna and tien, VT49:14, VT43:12, 21). As the “impersonal” they, them referring to non-living things, Tolkien in some sources used ta (VT43:20; 8, 9), but this apparently caused dissatisfaction because he also wanted ta to be the singular pronoun “that, it”. According to VT49:32, the form tai was introduced as the word for impersonal or inanimate “they, them” (in some places changed to te, apparently suggesting that Tolkien considered using te for both personal and impersonal “they/them”, abandoning the distinction). Another source (VT49:51) lists sa as the pl. impersonal form, but all other published sources use this pronoun for singular impersonal “it”, not pl. “they”. – The object “them” can also be expressed by the ending -t following another pronominal suffix (laituvalmet, “we shall bless [or praise] them", LotR:989 cf Letters:308). Presumably this ending -t makes no distinction between personal and impersonal forms. – Quenya also possesses special dual forms of “they, them”, used where only two persons or things are referred to (none of these pronouns distinguish between personal and impersonal forms). In VT49:16, the old ending for dual “they” is given as -stë (marked as archaic or poetic), but this would clash with the corresponding 2nd person ending. According to VT49:51, this ending was changed (also within the imaginary world) from -stë to -ttë, which seems the better alternative (*carittë, “the two of them do”). The independent dual pronoun is given as tú (ibid.) However, it may also be permissible to use te for “they, them” even where only two persons are involved (te is seemingly used with reference to Frodo and Sam in one of the examples above, laita te “bless them”). – Genitive forms, see THEIR; reflexive pronoun, see THEMSELVES.
См. также в других словарях:
old´-world´ly — old world «OHLD WURLD», adjective. 1. Also, Old World. of or having to do with the Eastern Hemisphere; not of the New World; not American: »old world monkeys, old world folk songs. 2. belonging to or characteristic of a former period: »old world… … Useful english dictionary
old-world — adj. 1. Characteristic of former times especially in Europe; as, an old world cottage. [WordNet 1.5] 2. (Biology) Native to the Old World; not found in the Americas; as, old world monkeys. [PJC] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
old-world — old worldly, adj. old worldliness, n. /ohld werrld /, adj. 1. of or pertaining to the ancient world or to a former period of history. 2. of or pertaining to the Old World: old world customs. 3. characteristic of the Old World; quaint; traditional … Universalium
Old World — Old Old, a. [Compar. {Older}; superl. {Oldest}.] [OE. old, ald, AS. ald, eald; akin to D. oud, OS. ald, OFries. ald, old, G. alt, Goth. alpeis, and also to Goth. alan to grow up, Icel. ala to bear, produce, bring up, L. alere to nourish. Cf.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Old World — n the Old World the Eastern ↑Hemisphere, especially Europe, Asia, and Africa →↑New World ▪ the civilizations of the Old World … Dictionary of contemporary English
old-world — adj [only before noun] an old world place or quality is attractive because it is old or reminds you of the past ▪ The town has retained much of its old world charm … Dictionary of contemporary English
old-world — adj [only before noun] an old world place or quality is attractive because it is old or reminds you of the past ▪ The town has retained much of its old world charm … Dictionary of contemporary English
Old World — n the Old World the Eastern ↑Hemisphere, especially Europe, Asia, and Africa →↑New World ▪ the civilizations of the Old World … Dictionary of contemporary English
old-world — old′ world′ adj. 1) of or pertaining to the ancient world or to a former period of history 2) of or pertaining to the Old World • Etymology: 1705–15 old′ world′ly, adj … From formal English to slang
old-world — [ōld′wʉrld′] adj. 1. of or from the Old World, esp. Europe 2. having or displaying certain usually good qualities or characteristics associated with European customs, manners, or standards [old world hospitality] … English World dictionary
old-world — old ,world adjective an old world quality or place is old fashioned in a pleasant and attractive way … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
