This put me in mind of Lobelia Sackville-Baggins' "Code of the Brandybucks," in one chapter of which she uses the term "mathom" most delightfully, and in the original sense of the word. It is in the chapter where Pippin sneaks into Frodo's room in the middle of the night seeking comfort. He offers to get Frodo whatever he wants most in the world as a thank you for his help, impulsively saying "I'll get you Sam!" And Frodo replies something to the effect of "Sam! You can't "get" me Sam! He's a person, not a mathom!"
I just love it! Anyhow, I had to share, given the topic.