atalantë noun "downfall, overthrow, especially as name [Atalantë] of the [downfallen] land of Númenor" (DAT/DANT, TALÁT, Akallabêth, SD:247, 310; also LR:47, VT45:26). Variant atalantië "Downfall", said to be a normal noun-formation in Quenya (Letters:347, footnote). From the common noun atalantë "collapse, downfall" is derived the adj. atalantëa "ruinous, downfallen", pl. atalantië in Markirya (changed to sg. atalantëa this change does not make immediate sense, since the adjective undoubtedly modifies a plural noun, but Tolkien does not always let adjectives agree in number).
Quenya
atalante
verb. collapsed
atalantë
downfall, overthrow, especially as name [atalantë] of the [downfallen] land of númenor
atalantë
noun. collapse, downfall
Element in
Variations
- atalante ✧ MC/223; PE18/088 (atalante)
- talante ✧ PE18/088 (talante)
atalantë
proper name. Downfall(en)
A Quenya name of Númenor after its fall into the sea (S/281), it is simply the noun atalantë “collapse, downfall” used as a name (MC/223).
Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Atalante appeared in the earliest tales of the fall of Númenor (LR/11, 25), usually in this form though at least once appearing as Atalantie (Let/347). Its resemblance to the name Atlantis was intentional (Let/347), created as part of the background for Tolkien’s (unfinished) time-travel story about Atlantis: “The Lost Road” (LR/36-104).
Cognates
- Ad. Akallabêth “Downfallen” ✧ Let/347; PM/158; S/281; SI/Akallabêth; SI/Atalantë
Derivations
- √TALAT “to slip (down), collapse, fall in ruin; slipping, sliding, falling down; ground (bottom), to slip (down), collapse, fall in ruin; slipping, sliding, falling down; ground (bottom); [ᴹ√] slide down, incline, slope, lean, tip, topple over” ✧ Let/347; PM/158
Elements
Word Gloss atalantë “collapse, downfall” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources √talat > Atalantie [atalantie] ✧ Let/347 √TALAT > atalantë [atalante] ✧ PM/158 Variations
- Atalantie ✧ Let/347
- Atalantië ✧ LRI/Atalantë
- atalantë ✧ PM/158
atalantëa
ruinous, downfallen
atalantëa adj. "ruinous, downfallen"; see atalantë
ataltare
noun. collapse
atalta-
collapse, fall in
atalta- vb. "collapse, fall in" (TALÁT), weak pa.t. ataltanë "down-fell, fell down" in LR:47 and SD:247, but strong past tense atalantë "down-fell" in LR:56
collapsed, fell down