amon

noun. hill, mountain with steep sides; lump, clump, mass, hill, (isolated) mountain; lump, clump, mass; [G.] steep slope

The basis Sindarin word for “hill”. In one set of notes from around 1967, Tolkien said it could be applied also to any “lump, clump, mass” (PE17/93). In this same note Tolkien said it was “often applied to (especially isolated) mountains”, the most notable example being S. Amon Amarth “Mount Doom”. Its plural form emyn “hills” also appears in many names.

Conceptual Development: This word had a long history in Tolkien’s Elvish languages. It first appeared as G. amon “hill, mount, steep slope” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/19), where it was probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√AM(U) “up(wards)”. ᴱN. amon “hill” also appears in Early Noldorin Word-lists from the 1920s again connected to am- “up” (PE13/137, 159), and was given as N. amon “hill” in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√AM “up” (Ety/AM²).

Its Quenya cognate Q. ambo was given as derivative of √AM “go up” in notes from 1967, but in other 1967 notes on the comparative, Tolkien coined some different roots as the basis for this S. amon “hill”, first √MAB “lump, mass” (PE17/90) and then √MBON, the latter being the basis for the alternate meanings “lump, clump, mass” mentioned above (PE17/90-93). Tolkien’s motivation for this change was that he wanted √AMA to have a new meaning “addition, increase, plus” to serve as the basis for the intensive.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume S. amon was derived from √AM “up”, since I prefer Q. an- for intensives, but it may have been influenced by √MBON and this was the reason for its alternate meanings “lump, clump, mass”.

amon

hill

pl1. emyn n. hill, lump, clump, mass, often applied to (esp. isolated) mountains. Q. umbo(n). FAmon Amarth

amon

noun. hill, steep-sided mount

amon darthir

place name. Amon Darthir

A mountain near the house of Húrin (UT/68). This first element is clearly amon “hill”, and the second might be a form of the verb [N.] dartha- “to endure”, so perhaps “✱Enduring Hill”.

amon gwareth

place name. Amon Gwareth

The hill upon which Gondolin was built (S/126). The first word is clearly amon “hill”, but the meaning of the second word is unclear.

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, G. Amon Gwareth was translated “Hill of Watch” (LT2/158), and appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon as the lenited form Amon ’Wareth “Hill of Ward”. Similar translations of N. Amon Gwareth appeared early drafts of the Silmarillion from the beginning of the 1930s (SM/34, 137, 139), but the name was left untranslated in Tolkien’s later writings. It is unclear whether the name retained its original meaning. The closest forms in The Etymologies from the 1930s is N. gwarth “betrayer” < ᴹ√WAR “give way, betray” (Ety/WAR), but it seems unlikely this was connected.

According to Christopher Tolkien, this name was at one point revised to Amon Gwared (WJ/200) in the his father’s later writings, but this form did not appear in the published Silmarillion.

amon obel

place name. Amon Obel

The hill on which Ephel Brandir was built (S/216). The first element is amon “hill”, but the meaning of the second element is unclear. It might be a lenited form ’obel of gobel “walled house or village, town”, but in Tolkien’s later writings, nouns were not usually lenited in this position. A likelier explanation is that the second element might be the Halathian word obel “town”.

Amon Hen

Amon Hen

topon. >> amon

Amon Lhaw

Amon Lhaw

topon. >> amon, lheweg

Amon Dîn

place name. Amon Dîn

topon. >> dîn

Amon Sûl

place name. Amon Sûl

topon.

amon amarth

place name. Mount Doom, (lit.) Hill of Doom

The Sindarin name of “Mount Doom” (LotR/1037), a combination of amon “hill” and amarth “fate, doom”, literally “Hill of Doom” (RC/769).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Amarthon >> Dolamarth (TI/343), with the element dôl for “hill” instead of amon.

amon anwar

place name. Hill of Awe

The Gondorian name for Roh. Halifirien, translated “Hill of Awe” (UT/301). It is a combination of amon “hill” and anwar “awe”, sometimes referred to simply as Anwar, as in the “Woods of Anwar” and the “wardens of Anwar” (UT/306).

amon dîn

place name. Silent Hill

One of the beacon hills of Gondor (LotR/747), translated “Silent Hill” (UT/319). This name is a combination of amon “hill” and dîn “silence” (PE17/95, 98).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Ring drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Amon Thorn (WR/232).

amon ereb

place name. Lonely Hill

A hill in East Beleriand where Denethor died (S/122), translated “Lonely Hill” (LR/143, WJ/185). This name is a combination of amon “hill” and ereb “lonely” (SA/er, Ety/ERE).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this hill was briefly named N. Amon Thoros (of unclear meaning), but this was changed to Amon Ereb, translated “Lonely Hill” (LR/56). The name also appeared in The Etymologies with the derivation given above (Ety/ERE).

amon ethir

place name. Hill of Spies

An artificial hill near Nargothrond from which the Elves could observe the surrounding country. It was translated “Hill of Spies” (S/217, WJ/149), a combination of amon “hill” and ethir “spy”.

amon hen

place name. Hill of Sight, (lit.) Hill of the Eye

A hill on the shore of Nen Hithoel, companion to Amon Lhaw. This name was usually translated “Hill of Sight” (LotR/393), but more literally meant “Hill of the Eye” (LotR/400, PE17/77). It is a combination of amon “hill” and hen “eye”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts, this hill was first named ᴹQ. Tirmindon “✱Watch Tower” (TI/364), but was soon changed to N. Amon Hen(n) (TI/364, WR/128).

amon lanc

place name. Naked Hill

The hill upon which Dol Guldur was built, translated “Naked Hill” (UT/280). It is a combination of amon “hill” and lanc “naked”.

amon lhaw

place name. Hill of Hearing, *(lit.) Hill of Ears

A hill on the shore of Nen Hithoel, companion to Amon Hen. This name was usually translated “Hill of Hearing” (LotR/393), but more literally meant “✱Hill of Ears” (LotR/400, PE17/77). It is a combination of amon “hill” and lhaw “ears”, the plural of lheweg “ear”.

Conceptual Development: The first mention of these hills in Lord of the Rings drafts were a collection of experimental names like N. Lhawhen that combined the elements of hearing and sight (TI/387). When the hills were separated, this one was named ᴹQ. Larmindon “✱Listen Tower” (TI/364), but it was soon changed to N. Amon Lhaw (TI/364).

amon rûdh

place name. Bald Hill

The hill where Mîm lived, translated “Bald Hill” (S/204). It is a combination of amon “hill” and rûdh “bald”.

Conceptual Development: In early drafts of the Silmarillion map, this hill as first named N. Amon Carab “Hill of the Hat” along with several other similar forms (WJ/187).

amon sûl

place name. Weathertop, (lit.) Hill of the Wind

The Sindarin name of Weathertop (LotR/185), more literally “Hill of the Wind” (RC/778). It is a combination of amon “hill” and sûl “wind”.

amon uilos

place name. Hill of Ever-snow

The Sindarin name of the mountain Q. Oiolossë (S/37). The first element is amon “hill” and the second element Uilos “Ever-snow” is the cognate of its Quenya name.

Conceptual Development: The earliest form of this name was N. Amon Uilas with an a corresponding to earlier ᴹQ. Ialasse (SM/81), but it was revised to N. Amon Uilos in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/210). This form of the name also appeared in The Etymologies (Ety/OY).

Amon Amarth

noun. mount [of] doom

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), amarth (“fate, doom”)

Amon Anwar

noun. hill of awe

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), anwar (“awe”)

Amon Carab

noun. hill of the hat

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), carab (“hat”)

Amon Dîn

noun. silent hill

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), dîn (“silent”) Davis Salo: “dh and mh were liable to revert to d and m when they came to follow a nasal after syncope” TolkLang message 19.31. #The name also could be interpreted as “hill of silence”, as adjective “silent” is attested as dínen.

Amon Ereb

noun. lonely hill

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), ereb (“isolated, lonely”)

Amon Ethir

noun. hill spy

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), [His.] ed (“out”) + tirn (“watcher”)

Amon Hen

noun. hill of the eye

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), hend (“eye”) #The ending -nd is usually preserved at the end of fully accented monosyllables, but here might be dropped because hend is preceded by another fully accented polysyllable, which made it lose some stress.

Amon Lanc

noun. naked hill

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), lanc (“naked”)

Amon Lhaw

noun. hill of hearing

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), lhaw (pl. “ears”)

Amon Obel

noun. hill-village

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”) + obel (“walled house or village”) #The second element is found in Obel Halad (possibly “town of chieftain”) .

Amon Rûdh

noun. bald hill

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), rûdh (“bald”)

Amon Sû

noun. hill of the wind

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), sûl (“wind”)

Amon Uilo

noun. mount of ever-white snow

amon (“hill, steep-sided mount”), #ui (stem of uireb “eternal”) + loss (“snow”) The final s in loss is dropped at the end of a polysyllable [HKF].

amon tirith

place name. Hill of Guard

The hill where Minas Tirith was built, translated “Hill of Guard” (RC/772). It is a combination of amon “hill” and tirith “watch, guard”.

Amon Amarth

place name. 'Mount Doom'

topon. 'Mount Doom'. >> amarth

Amon Amarth

'Mount doom'

topon. 'Mount (of) doom'. >> amarth. This gloss was rejected.

amon

hill

1) amon (pl. emyn) (steep-sided mount), 2) dôl (i dhôl, construct dol) (head), pl. dŷl (i nŷl). Note: In the Etymologies, this word was derived from a root with initial nd- (NDOL), which would make the mutations different (i nôl, pl. i ndŷl). However, the later name Fanuidhol "Cloudyhead" apparently indicates that the lenited form of this d was later to be dh (whereas it would be n if the former derivation had been maintained). 3) tund (i dund, o thund, construct tun) (mound), pl. tynd (i thynd), coll. pl. tunnath.

amon

steep-sided mount

amon (hill), pl. emyn.

amon

hill

(pl. emyn) (steep-sided mount)

amon

steep-sided mount

(hill), pl. emyn.

Amon Uilos

Amon Uilos (name)

amon ("steep-sided mount") + uilos ("always white")

Amon Anwar

Amon Anwar

Amon Anwar means "Hill of Awe" in Sindarin. Halifirien means "Holy Mountain" in the language of Rohan. Tolkien derived the name from Old English.

Amon Gwareth

Amon Gwareth

Amon Gwareth is Sindarin. It has meant "Hill of Watching", from amon "hill" and gwareth "watching", since its first conception. Christopher Tolkien wrote that his father later changed the name to Amon Gwared but this change did not make it into the published Silmarillion.

Amon Rûdh

Amon Rûdh

Amon Rûdh means "Bald Hill" in Sindarin (from amon = "hill" and rûdh = "bald"). Sharbhund means "Bald Hill" in Khuzdul, bund being the word for "head". The first element meaning "bald" would be shar(a)h. The cluster -rbh- could be the result of metathesis (from sharhbund).

Amon Amarth

Mount Doom

Sindarin: amon, "hill" and amarth, "fate, doom".

Amon Dîn

silent hill

Amon Dîn is Sindarin, meaning "silent hill" (amon + dîn). Probably it refers to its distinct rocky and barren appearance standing out and isolated from the heavily wooded hills of the Drúadan Forest.

Amon Gwareth

Hill of Watching

Amon Gwareth is Sindarin. It has meant "Hill of Watching", from amon "hill" and gwareth "watching", since its first conception. Christopher Tolkien wrote that his father later changed the name to Amon Gwared but this change did not make it in the published Silmarillion.

Amon Lanc

Naked Hill

Amon Lanc is a Sindarin name, consisting of amon ("hill") + lanc ("naked").

Amon Obel

Fortified Hill

Amon Obel means "Fortified Hill" in Sindarin (amon = "hill" and gobel = "walled settlement").

Amon Rûdh

Bald Hill

Amon Rûdh means "Bald Hill" in Sindarin (from amon = "hill" and rûdh = "bald").

Sharbhund means "Bald Hill" in Khuzdul, bund being the word for "head".

The first element meaning "bald" would be shar(a)h. The cluster -rbh- could be the result of metathesis (from sharhbund).

Amon Uilos

taniquetil

Amon Uilos

orod

noun. mountain

The Sindarin word for “mountain”, a derivative of √RŌ/ORO “rise” (PE17/63). Its proper plural form is eryd; the plural form ered in The Lord of the Rings is a late [Gondorian only?] pronunciation (PE17/33).

Conceptual Development: The singular form of this noun was extremely stable. It first appeared as G. orod “mountain” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s beside variant ort (GL/63), and it reappeared as N. orod “mountain” in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√OROT “height, mountain” (Ety/ÓROT). It appeared in a great many names in the sixty year span that Tolkien worked on the Legendarium.

The development of its plural form is a bit more complex. Its Gnomish plural was orodin (GL/63), but by the Early Noldorin of the 1920s, its plural was eryd (MC/217). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, however, Tolkien gave its plural form as oroti > ereid > ered (Ety/ÓROT). This fits with normal Noldorin plural patterns of the 1930s: compare plurals N. eregdos → eregdes, N. golodh → geleidh, N. doron → deren, N. thoron → therein. Sindarin plural patterns consistently show o → y in final syllables, such as S. golodh → gelydh or S. Nogoth → Negyth.

This Noldorin plural for orod “mountain” made it into Lord of the Rings drafts, and Tolkien never corrected it before publication. This meant Tolkien was stuck with this remnant of Noldorin plural patterns, which was contradicted by other plural forms in The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien was forced to contrive an explanation for this phenomenon:

> S. Ered. This is used always in L.R. as plural of orod, mountain. But Emyn, pl. of Amon. Cf. also Eryn Forest (oron originally plural = trees?) in Eryn Lasgalen. Rodyn, pl. of Rodon = Vala. It seems necessary to assume that: eryd > ered by late change, but y unstressed remained in certain circumstances, e.g. before nasals. † Use Eryd in Silmarillion (PE17/33).

Despite his statement that y only remained before nasals, ered is the only Sindarin word that retains the Noldorin plural pattern: see the examples golydh and nogyth above, neither involving nasals. Also, despite J.R.R. Tolkien’s intent to use eryd in The Silmarillion, his son Christopher Tolkien retained the form ered in The Silmarillion as published, most likely to avoid confusing readers when they compared this plural to the plural forms in The Lord of the Rings.

Neo-Sindarin: Most knowledgeable Neo-Sindarin writers assume o → y in final syllables is the correct Sindarin plural pattern, and orod → ered is an aberration. I personally assume it is a late Gondorian-only (mis)pronunciation. See the discussion of Sindarin plural nouns for more information.

mîg

preposition. among

aegas

noun. mountain peak

aeglir

noun. range of mountain peaks

el

star

n. star.

elen

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath _n._star. Its collective plural (pl2.) designates 'the (host of all the) stars, (all) the (visible) stars of the firmament'. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni. o menel aglar elenath ! lit. 'from Firmament glory of the stars !'. >> êl

elen

noun. star

gil

noun. star, bright spark

In The Etymologies (Ety/358, corrected by VT/45:15), this word was given as geil , plural gîl. However, later in LotR/E and RGEO/73, Tolkien seems to consider gil as a singular (with no hints in the sources of what the plural would be, besides the collective plural giliath )

gil-

noun. star

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

gill

noun. star

im

preposition. between

min-

preposition. (in) between (referring to a gap, space, barrier or anything intervening between two other things)

mîn

preposition. (in) between (referring to a gap, space, barrier or anything intervening between two other things)

ned

preposition. (uncertain meaning) in, of (about time, e.g. giving a date)

[Another possible interpretation: "another, one more" (related to Q. net(e)), VT/47:40]

orod

noun. mountain

orod

mountain

pl1. ered or eryd, pl2. #orodrim _n. _mountain. Tolkien notes that "eryd > ered by late change, but y unstressed remained in certain circumstances, e.g. before nasals" (PE17:33). >> dol, doll, Thangorodrim

pân

adjective. all, in totality

As no other word beginning in ph- is attested, it is assumed that a nasal mutation is triggered by the pronoun în.1 , hence the form observed in the "King's Letter"

pân

adjective. all, all, *complete, entire, full, the whole

@@@ extended meaning suggested on Discord 2022-03-11

vi

preposition. in

vi

preposition. in

êl

noun. star (little used except in verses)

êl

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath** ** n. star. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni, pl2. elelli. >> elen

êl

noun. star

A Sindarin word for “star” that is largely archaic and poetic, and is mainly used as element in names like Elrond (Let/281; WJ/363; Ety/EL); the more usual word for “star” in ordinary speech was gil (RGEO/65). However, the collective form elenath is still used in common speech to refer to the entire host of stars (WJ/363). The plural of êl is elin, as this word was derived from ancient ✶elen, and the final n that was lost in the singular was preserved in the plural. In some cases Tolkien posited a restored analogical singular elen from the plural form (PE17/24, 67, 139), but this isn’t in keeping with the notion that the word was archaic, so I would ignore this for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: This word and its root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. el “star” was derived from the root ᴹ√EL of similar meaning, but was “only [used] in names” (Ety/EL). It seems Tolkien introduced the root to give a new etymology for names like N. Elrond and N. Elwing, which initially appeared under the root ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” (Ety/ƷEL).

ambenn

uphill

(adj.) ambenn (sloping upward), pl. embinn,

cîl

pass between hills

(i gîl, o chîl) (cleft, gorge), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chîl), coll. pl. cíliath. . A homophone means ”renewal”.

dî

in

unstressed di (beneath, under) (VT45:37). Note: a homophone means ”bride, lady”.

dôl

hill

(i** dhôl, construct **dol) (head), pl. dŷl (i** nŷl). Note: In the Etymologies, this word was derived from a root with initial nd- (NDOL), which would make the mutations different (i** nôl, pl. i** ndŷl). However, the later name Fanuidhol "Cloudyhead" apparently indicates that the lenited form of this d was later to be dh (whereas it would be n** if the former derivation had been maintained).

gilion

of stars

(lenited ngilion; pl. gilioen). Archaic ✱giliaun.

gîl

star

gîl (i ngîl = i ñîl, o n**gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath** (RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

gîl

star

(i ngîl = i ñîl, o n’gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath **(RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. **elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

im

between

(prep.) im (within), also as prefix im- ”between, inter-”. Note: homophones include the pronoun ”I” and a noun mening ”dell, deep vale”. The word mîn (min-) means ”between” referring to a gap, space, barrier or anything intervening between two other things (VT47:11, 14)

im

between

(within), also as prefix im- ”between, inter-”. Note: homophones include the pronoun ”

mi

between

mi (with article: min)

mi

between

(with article: min)

mîn

i

(min-) means ”between” referring to a gap, space, barrier or anything intervening between two other things (VT47:11, 14)

ne

in

ned (used of time in the source), possibly followed by hard mutation (SD:129)

ne

in, inside

(prefix) (mid-)

orod

mountain

1) orod (pl. ered, eryd; coll. pl. #orodrim isolated from Thangorodrim), 2) ôr (stem orod-), also with pl. eryd, ered. (Names:178). Archaically, the plural forms were öryd, öröd.

orod

mountain

(pl. ered, eryd; coll. pl. #orodrim isolated from Thangorodrim)

pân

all

(adj.) *pân, pl. pain (only attested in mutated pl. form phain, SD:128-31). Not to be confused with the noun pân ”plank”.

pân

all

pl. pain (only attested in mutated pl. form phain, SD:128-31). Not to be confused with the noun pân ”plank”.

tund

hill

(i** dund, o thund, construct tun) (mound), pl. tynd (i** thynd), coll. pl. tunnath.

vi

in

(prep.) 1) vi (VT44:23), with article vin; 2) ne, ned (used of time in the source), possibly followed by hard mutation (SD:129); 3) dî, unstressed di (beneath, under) (VT45:37). Note: a homophone means ”bride, lady”.

vi

in

(VT44:23), with article vin

ôr

mountain

(stem orod-), also with pl. eryd, ered. (Names:178). Archaically, the plural forms were öryd, öröd.

amon

noun. hill

amon

noun. hill, steep-sided mount

amon thorn

place name. Amon Thorn

An earlier name for Amon Dîn (WR/232). The meaning of its second element is unclear; Roman Rausch suggested several possible interpretions (EE/3.22), the most likely of which seems to be thoron “eagle”.

amon hen

place name. Amon Hen

amon lhaw

place name. Amon Lhaw

amon uilos

place name. Amon Uilos

amon carab

place name. Hill of the Hat

An earlier name of Amon Rûdh that appeared in various forms in drafts to the Silmarillion map, one of which (Amon Carab) was translated “Hill of the Hat” (WJ/187). It seems to be a combination of amon “hill” and carab “hat”, the second of which is not otherwise attested. The variant Amon Garabel which shows Noldorin-style lenition of the 2nd element is strong evidence that this name is from the 1930s (or possibly 40s).

amon dengin

place name. Hill of Slain

An earlier form of the name Haudh-en-Ndengin, translated “Hill of Slain” (SM/146, LR/314), a combination of N. amon “hill” and the plural of N. dangen “slain (person)”.

amon ereb

place name. Lonely Hill

amon gwareth

place name. Hill of Watch

dolamarth

place name. Mount Doom

Early name of S. Amon Amarth from Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, also appearing as Amarthon (TI/343). It is a combination of dôl “head, hill” and ammarth “doom”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.57).

lhawhen

place name. Lhawhen

A variety of names for the hills Amon Lhaw and Amon Hen first consider by Tolkien in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/387). These names are all combinations of the elements lhaw “ears” or ᴹ√LAS “listen” with hên “eye” or ᴹ√TIR “watch”, as analyzed by Roman Rausch (EE/2.61).

di

preposition. in

amben

adverb. uphill, sloping upwards

amben

adjective. uphill, uphill; [ᴱN.] arduous, difficult, tiresome

An adjective (and adverb?) for “uphill” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, a combination of am “up” and N. penn “declivity, ✱slope” (Ety/PEN). It was contrasted with N. dadben “downhill, inclined, prone” (Ety/AM², PEN).

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies it first appeared as N. amdenn, a derivative of ᴹ√DEN “hillside, slope”, but the meaning of this root was change to ᴹ√DEN “hole; gap, passage” (Ety/DEN), after which the form amben < ᴹ√PEN(ED) was introduced (see above). The earliest appearance of this word was in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s where it was ᴱN. amvenn “uphill; arduous, difficult, tiresome”, marked as both an adjective and adverb, along with a noun variant ᴱN. amvinn “slope, incline, hillside” (PE13/139, 159-160). This early Noldorin form was a combination of ᴱN. am “up” and ᴱN. benn “sloping”.

Neo-Sindarin: Given its Early Noldorin use for “arduous, difficult, tiresome”, amben might be used colloquially in Neo-Sindarin with a similar sense for a thing that is difficult, analogous to English usages like an “uphill battle”: dagor amben.

ambend

adverb. uphill, sloping upwards

ambend

adverb. uphill

ambenn

adverb. uphill, sloping upwards

ambenn

adverb. uphill

el

noun. star

geil

noun. star, bright spark

geil

noun. star

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

haudh-na-dengin

place name. Hill of Slain

menniath

noun. many points

menniath

noun. range of mountains

mindon

noun. isolated hill, especially a hill with a watch tower

mindon

noun. tower

ne-

prefix. in

nedh-

prefix. in, inside, mid-

See also the preposition ned , and the noun ened for a discussion of this form

oegas

noun. mountain peak

oeglir

noun. range of mountain peaks

orod

noun. mountain

orod

noun. mountain

orodrim

noun. range of mountains

tund

noun. hill, mound

tunn

noun. hill, mound

ambona

noun. hill

ambo

hill, rising ground

ambo noun "hill, rising ground" (Markirya, PE17:92), "mount" (PE17:157), allative pl. ambonnar "upon hills" in Markirya (ruxal' ambonnar "upon crumbling hills") According to VT45:5, ambo was added to the Etymologies as a marginal note.

amun

hill

amun (amund-) noun "hill" (LT2:335; in Tolkien's later Quenya ambo)

imíca

among

imíca prep. "among" (VT43:30)

mici

among

mici ("k")prep. "among" (VT43:30)

imíca

preposition. among

mici

preposition. among

imbë

preposition/adverb. between, among, between, among; [ᴹQ.] in(wards)

mica

preposition. *among

illi

all

illi noun "all" (as independent noun, apparently treated as a plural form). Imb' illi "among all" (VT47:30)

imbë

between

imbë (1) prep "between" (Nam, RGEO:67, VT47:11, PE17:92). This is "between" referring to a gap, space, barrier, or anything intervening between two other things, like or unlike one another (compare enel). The pluralized form imbi implies "among" of several things (ancalima imbi eleni "brightest among stars"); "in the sense 'among' before plurals [imbë] is usually pluralized > imbi even when a plural noun follows". As pointed out by Patrick Wynne, imbi may also be used in the sense of "between" before two singular nouns connected by "and" (as in the example imbi Menel Cemenyë "between heaven and earth"), whereas imbë is used before dual forms, as in the examples imbë siryat "between two rivers", imbë met "between us". Elided imb' in the phrase imb' illi "among all" (VT47:11, 30). A dual form imbit is also mentioned, used to express "in absolute form the sense 'between two things' when these are not named" (apparently meaning that imbit expresses *"between them" referring to two entities, with no noun following) (VT47:30, PE17:92)

oron

noun. mountain

A word for “mountain” in Quenya whose stem form was oront-, so that it’s plural would be oronti (Ety/Ety/ÓROT).

Conceptual Development: There were a number of competing “mountain” words in Quenya of similar derivation, all based on the root √ORO “rise”; its Sindarin cognate S. orod “mountain” was much more stable in form. The earliest iteration of these Quenya words was ᴱQ. oro “hill” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√ORO, unglossed but with other derivatives like ᴱQ. oro- “rise” and ᴱQ. orto- “raise” (QL/70). The word oro “hill” also appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa from this period, alongside a variant form oron(d) of the same meaning (PME/70).

The variant oron reappeared in the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s, now with the gloss “mountain” (PE21/33); its inflected forms indicate a stem form of {orom- >>} orum- (PE21/34 and note #125). ᴹQ. oron “mountain” appeared again in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√OROT, this time with a stem form oront- as indicated by its plural oronti (Ety/ÓROT). Oron appeared once more in the name Q. Oron Oiolossë “Mount Everwhite” from the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 (WJ/403).

In Notes on Galadriel’s Song (NGS) from the late 1950s or early 1960s Tolkien gave the variant forms oro, orto “mountain” as derivatives of √ORO/RŌ “rise, mount” (PE17/63-64). ᴹQ. orto had previously appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√OROT but with the gloss “mountain-top” (Ety/ÓROT). Hints of this earlier meaning can be seen in the 1968 word Q. orotinga “mountain-top” though in this compound the second element Q. inga also means “top” (VT47/28). Orto “mountain” may be the final element of the 1968 name Q. Tarmacorto “High Mountain Circle”, but more likely the last element is derivative of √KOR “round”, perhaps ✱Q. corto “circle” (NM/351).

As for oro, it meant “mountain” as an element in many late names: Q. Orocarni “Red Mountains” (MR/77), Q. Orofarnë “Mountain Ash” (PE17/83), Q. oromandi “mountain dweller[s]” (PE16/96), and Q. Pelóri “Mountain Wall” (PE17/26), though in one place Tolkien glossed the prefix oro- as “hill” (PE17/83), perhaps a callback to its meaning in the 1910s.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I feel oron(t) for “mountain” is better established among Neo-Quenya writers; it is the form used in Helge Fauskanger’s NQNT (NQNT), for example. The word Q. orto was not used for “mountain” until quite late, and I would stick with its 1930s meaning “mountain-top”. As for Q. oro, I would use it as “mountain” only in compounds, not as an independent word.

elen

noun. star

The most common Quenya word for “star”, mentioned very frequently, derived from an extended form ✶elen of the root √EL “behold” (PE17/67; WJ/360, 362). Its usual plural form is eleni, but it has an archaic plural †eldi sometimes used in verse, the result of the Ancient Quenya sound whereby [[aq|[ln] became [ld]]] after the ancient plural underwent the Quenya syncope, ✶elenī > AQ. elni; its normal modern plural form eleni was actually a reformation from the singular (PE17/57, 151; WJ/362).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, though in the original entry for the root ᴹ√EL Tolkien said it was poetical and gave variants ellen and elena (Ety/EL).

mi

preposition. in, in, [ᴹQ.] within

mitta

preposition/adverb. between, [ᴹQ.] inwards, into, [ᴱQ.] in; [Q.] between

Taniquetild-

place name. Taniquetil

Túna

hill, mound

Túna (also Tún) place-name, used of the hill on which Tirion was built (Silm, TUN, KOR), derived from a stem (TUN) apparently meaning simply *"hill, mound".

ambapenda

uphill

ambapenda adj. "uphill". Also ampenda. (AM2)

ampenda

uphill

ampenda adj. "uphill". Also ambapenda. (AM2)

elen

star

elen noun "star" (SA:êl, elen, EL, VT49:39); pl. eleni (occasionally in verse: eldi) (WJ:362, PE17:127); partitive pl. elelli for elenli (PE17:127), gen. pl. elenion in the phrase Elenion Ancalima "brightest of stars" (LotR2:IV ch. 9; see Letters:385 for translation); elen atta "two stars" (VT49:44), genitive elen atto "of two stars" (VT49:45), eleni neldë "three stars", archaic elenion neldë = "of stars three". Genitive "of 3 stars" = elenion neldë (for archaic elenion neldëo) (VT49:45). Allative elenna "starwards" used as name of Númenor _(Silm; see Elenna)_; ablative pl. elenillor "from stars" in Markirya. **Nai elen siluva ***"may a star shine", VT49:38.

enel

between

enel prep. "between" = "at the central position in a row, list, series, etc. but also applied to the case of three persons" (VT47:11). This preposition refers to the position of a thing between others of the same kind; compare imbë.

illi

noun. all

ilya

all

ilya adj. and noun "all" (LR:47, 56; SD:310), "all, the whole" (IL); "each, every, all of a particular group of things" (VT39:20); ilyë before a plural noun, "all" being inflected like an adjective (Nam, RGEO:67): ilyë tier "all paths" (Namárië, VT39:20), ilyë mahalmar "all thrones" (CO), ilya raxellor "from all dangers" (VT44:9; we might expect *ilyë raxellor here), ilyárëa (older ilyázëa) "daily, of every day" (evidently ilya "every" + árë, ázë "day" + -a adjectival ending) (VT43:18). Tolkien apparently abandoned ilyárëa in favour of ilaurëa, q.v.

ilyë

adjective. all

imi

in

imi prep. "in"; see mi (VT43:30)

imi

preposition. in, in, [ᴱQ.] inside

mi

in, within

mi prep. "in, within" (MI, VT27:20, VT44:18, 34, VT43:30; the latter source also mentions the variant imi); mí "in the" (Nam, RGEO:66; CO gives mi; the correct forms should evidently be mi = "in" and mí = mi i "in the"; VT49:35 also has mí with a long vowel, though the gloss is simply "in"). Used in PE17:71 (cf. 70) of people clad "in" various colours, e.g. mi mísë "in grey". Allative minna "to the inside, into" (MI), also mina (VT43:30). The forms mimmë and mingwë seem to incorporate pronominal suffixes for "us", hence ?"in us", inclusive and exclusive respectively. The pronoun -mmë denoted plural inclusive "we" when this was written, though Tolkien would later make it dual instead (see -mmë). Second person forms are also given: mil or milyë *"in you" (sg.), millë "in you" (pl.) (VT43:36). A special use of mi appears in the phrase Wendë mi Wenderon "Virgin of Virgins" (VT44:18); here mi appears superfluous to achieve the desired meaning, but this combination of singular noun + mi + plural genitive noun may be seen as a fixed idiom expressing that the initial noun represents the most prominent member of a class.

mitta-

between

mitta- (2) prep. "between" (VT43:30; the final hyphen may suggest that suffixes would normally follow)

oron

mountain

oron (oront-, as in pl. oronti) noun "mountain" (ÓROT; the root occurs in orotinga, q.v.) Oron Oiolossë "Mount Everwhite" (WJ:403)

tundo

hill, mound

tundo noun "hill, mound" (TUN)

umbo

hill, lump, clump, mass

umbo, umbon noun "hill, lump, clump, mass" (PE17:93)

él

star

†él noun "star", pl. éli given (WJ:362, EL)

él

noun. star

An archaic or poetic word for star (WJ/362), somewhat common in compounds but in ordinary speech typically appearing as elen. It was derived directly from the primitive root √EL “behold”, the basis for other star words (PM/340; WJ/360).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as poetical ᴹQ. él “star” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above, though in this document the root ᴹ√EL meant “star” (Ety/EL), a common gloss for the root in later writings as well.

ílë

star

ílë noun "star" (LT1:269; rather elen, él in LotR-style Quenya.)

Taniquetil

Taniquetil

Taniquetil (or Taníquetil) is Quenya (pronounced [taˈnikʷetil]) and means "high-snow-peak". The name can be analyzed as ta- (cf. tára) "high", nique "white" and til "point".

ambō

noun. hill

il

root. all

A root meaning “all” in Tolkien’s writings from the 1930s through 1960s (VT48/25) with derivatives in both Quenya and Sindarin, the most notable being Q. Ilúvatar “All-father” (MR/39). Its earliest precursor is the root ᴱ√ILU “ether, the slender airs among the stars” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, whose derivatives include various sky-words as well as ᴱQ. Ilúvatar, since in this early period the name meant “Heavenly Father” (QL/42). The meaning of the root shifted to ᴹ√IL “all” in The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/IL), and it retained this sense thereafter.

imbi

preposition. between

elen

noun. star

imi

root. in

mīni

preposition. between

ēl

noun. star

katha

adjective. all

A word translated “all” in the Lament of Akallabêth (SD/288, VT24/12). This word appeared in the form kâtha in the final typescript version of the Lament (SD/247), but in all other instances appeared as katha. If the final typescript is later than the final manuscript, kâtha may be its final form, but I believe that the manuscript was later, and katha better matches its appearance as an element in kathuphazgân “conqueror” (SD/429). This last example is interesting in that it is an example of an adjective declined into the objective case.

urud

noun. mountain

A noun attested only in its plural form urîd “mountains” (SD/251). Several authors have suggested it is related to S. orod “mountain”, either borrowed directly or derived from the same Elvish root ᴹ√OROT (AAD/24, EotAL/ÓROT).

elen

noun. star

orot

noun. mountain

él

noun. star

enel

preposition. between, in the middle

This form was supposedly recorded by the Loremasters (VT47:39). It is derived from a variant of the root ÉNED- "centre" (LR:356), since "d and l interchanged frequently in Common Eldarin" (VT47:39).

ishi

preposition. in, inside

Usually placed after the noun in Black Speech, c.f. burzum-ishi (darkness-inside).