n. Zoo. swan.
Sindarin
alph
noun. swan
alph
noun. swan
alph
noun. swan
alphros
proper name. Alphros
24th prince of Dol Amroth, 2nd in the Fourth Age (PM/221, 223). The language and meaning of this name are not clear, but unlike the names of earlier princes, this name appears to be Sindarin instead of Adûnaic. His name seems to a compound of alph “swan” and ross “foam”, hence: “✱Swan Foam” (as suggested by David Salo, GS/340).
alph
alph
From OS alpha, from Common Telerin alpa, itself from PQ alkwâ (root ÁLAK).
alph
swan
alph (pl. eilph)
alph
swan
(pl. eilph)
alphen
pronoun. no one, nobody
angerthas
noun. runic alphabet, long rune-rows (extended version of the Certhas)
certhas
noun. runic alphabet, rune-rows
certhas
alphabet
(runic alphabet) certhas (i gerthas, o cherthas) (rune-row), pl. certhais (i cherthais)
tiwdi
alphabet
tiwdi (i diwdi), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thiwdi). (VT46:16; David Salo would read têwdi)
certhas
alphabet
(i gerthas, o cherthas) (rune-row), pl. certhais (i cherthais)
tiwdi
alphabet
(i diwdi), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thiwdi). *(VT46:16; David Salo would read têwdi)*
alfirin
immortal
alfirin (no distinct pl. form). Note: the word alfirin is also used as name of a flower.
alfirin
noun/adjective. immortal
alfirin
noun/adjective. name of a flower, bell-like and running through many soft and gentle colours
alfirin
noun/adjective. also used for another small white flower
alben
pronoun. no one
alfirin
immortal
(no distinct pl. form). Note: the word alfirin is also used as name of a flower.
The Sindarin noun for “swan” derived from primitive ✶alkwā (NM/378; UT/265; Ety/ÁLAK), where first the [[at|ancient [kw] became [p]]] and then the [[os|[lp] became [lf] (spelled lph)]].
Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, this word appeared as {alcwi >>} alfa (GL/18), which is perhaps the moment that Tolkien decided that labialized velars became labials in the Sindarin branch of Elvish (though in Gnomish this sound change applied only medially). In Gnomish Lexicon Slips modifying this document, the word became alf (PE13/109), and Tolkien stuck with this form thereafter, though eventually revising the spelling to alph once he decide that final [f] was spelled ph. In The Etymologies of the 1930s, N. alf “swan” appeared under the root ᴹ√ALAK “rushing” (Ety/ÁLAK).