Arathorn

noun. royal eagle

aran (“king”) + thorn (“eagle”)

Arathorn

noun. 'Steadfast King'

prop. n. 'Steadfast King'. >> ara-, thorn. This gloss was rejected.

Arathorn

noun. 'Steadfast King'

prop. n. 'Steadfast King'. . This gloss was rejected.

arathorn

masculine name. Steadfast King

The 12th and 15th chieftains of the Dúnedain, the latter of whom was the father of Aragorn (LotR/1038).

Possible Etymology: The initial element of this name is clearly ar(a)- “noble” (Let/426). Tolkien considered two possibilities for the second element: either thorn “steadfast" (PE17/32, 113) or thoron “eagle” (Let/427). The etymological discussion for the first of these possibilities is more complete, and includes the translation “Steadfast King” (PE17/113).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, the father of Aragorn was first named N. Aramir (TI/7), later revised to ᴹQ. Eldakar >> ᴹQ. Valatar >> N. Kelegorn (TI/404, note #10) and finally N. Arathorn (TI/392).

Element in

• S. Arathornion “Arathorn’s son”

Elements

Word	Gloss
ar(a)-	“noble, royal, high”
thorn	“steadfast”

Variations

• Aran-thorn ✧ PE17/032

Aranthorn

'Steadfast King'

prop. n. 'Steadfast King'. >> Arangorn