celeb

silver

_n. _silver. >> Celebdil, Celebrant, celebrin

celeb

noun. silver

celeb

noun. silver

Celeborn

noun. Celeborn

#high silver; celeb (silver) + orn (from PQ *ornē “uprising, tall”) Reinterpreted from earlier “silver tree”; celeb (“silver”) + orn (“tree”); S equivalent of Tel. Teleporno.

celebrimbor o eregion teithant i thiw hin

Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs

celebdil

place name. Silvertine

Sindarin name of a peak in the Misty Mountains translated “Silvertine”, itself a translation of Kh. Zirakzigil of the same meaning (LotR/283). This name is a combination of celeb “silver” and the lenited form of till “point, spike”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Tolkien first wrote this name as N. Celebras “Silverhorn” before settling on N. Celebdil (TI/174, 306).

celeborn

proper name. Tree of Silver

A tree in Tol Eressëa (S/59), translated “Tree of Silver” (MR/155) or “Silver Tree” (UT/266). This name is a combination of celeb “silver” and orn “tree”.

Conceptual Development: The name N. Celeborn appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s with the translation “Tree of Silver” (LR/210).

celeborn

masculine name. Silver-tree; Silver Tall

The husband of Galadriel and ruler of Lórien. His name can variously be interpreted as “Silver-tree” (NM/349) or “Silver-tall” (NM/352). His hair was silver (LotR/354), which may have been an aspect of his name as Galadriel’s golden hair was of hers.

Possible Etymology: The etymology of Celeborn’s name is a bit confused, since Tolkien changed his mind on its meaning. It is very likely when Tolkien invented the name he interpretted it as “Silver-tree”, a compound of S. celeb “silver” and orn “tree”, and that was the meaning Tolkien initially gave it in notes from 1968 (NM/349). But in later these notes, he decided that the second element of the name was derived from ancient ✶ornā “tall” (NM/350), so that the meaning of these name was actually “Silver-tall” (NM/352 note #8).

In The Lord of the Rings and the published version of The Silmarillion, Celeborn was a kinsman of Thingol in Doriath and therefore a Sindarin elf, and Galadriel met him in Beleriand (LotR/1082, S/115). However, in the aformentioned 1968 note and other writings from this period, Celeborn was a Telerin of Valinor and came with Galadriel to Middle-earth (NM/349-352; UT/233; PM/347). In this revised scenario, we have the clearest explanations of both Celeborn’s and Galadriel’s names, ultimately derived from the Telerin names T. Teleporno and T. Alatáriel, respectively. However, this scenario clashes badly with the narratives in the published Silmarillion.

Even if you assume that Celeborn was Sindarin, his name could still be “derived” from T. Teleporno in the sense that it was derived from the Ancient Telerin name of the same meaning. In this scenario, Galadriel could have gotten her Telerin name Alatáriel due to the influence of her mother Eärwen, who was herself Telerin.

Conceptual Development: See N. Keleborn for a discussion of earlier forms of this name.

celebrant

place name. Silverlode, Silver-course

A stream flowing through Dimrill Dale translated “Silverlode” (LotR/341) or “Silver-course” (RC/262). It is itself a translation of Kh. Kibil-nâla of the same meaning (PE17/35, TI/174). This name is a combination of celeb “silver” and rant “course” (RC/775).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this river was first named “Red Way”: N. Crandir along with other variations (RS/432-3). Tolkien changed the name to N. Celebrin “✱Silver” (RS/434) and later N. Celeb(rind)rath “Silverlode” (TI/241) before settling on N. Celebrant (TI/235). The final name also appeared in The Etymologies as a river-name, without translation (Ety/RAT).

celebrimbor

masculine name. Silver-fist

Last descendant of Fëanor, who crafted the Elvish rings of power (LotR/242), translated “Silver-fist” (PE17/42) or “Silver Grasp” (PM/179). His name is a combination of celebrin “silver” and the suffixal form -bor of paur “fist” (PE17/42, SA/celeb).

Conceptual Development: This name already had its final form when it first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/449). The name N. Celebrimbor also appeared in The Etymologies, already with its final meaning (Ety/KWAR).

celebros

place name. Silver Foam, Silver Rain

A stream in Beleriand (S/220), translated “Silver Foam” (SM/313) or “Silver Rain” (LR/140; Ety/ROS¹). This name is a combination of celeb “silver” and ross “foam” (SA/celeb, ros), so a more literal translation would be “Foam-silver” (WJ/151).

Conceptual Development: In early Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name was once briefly written N. Celebrindon “Silver Bowl” (SM/313), but it mostly appeared in the form N. Celebros (SM/131, 313; LR/140). At its first appearance, its translation was already “Foam-silver” (SM/131), and it retained essentially the same meaning thereafter. This name also appeared in The Etymologies, which is the source of the derivation given above (Ety/ROS¹).

celebrían

feminine name. Silver-queen

Wife of Elrond and mother of Arwen (LotR/375), translated “Silver-queen” (Let/423). Her name is a combination of celeb “silver” and rían “queen”.

celebrindal

feminine name. Silverfoot

Sobriquet of Idril, translated “Silver-foot” (S/126). Her name is a combination of celebrin “silver” and the lenited form -dal of tâl “foot” (SA/celeb, tal).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this name appeared as G. Talceleb “Silver Feet” (LT2/165, 216). In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, Tolkien changed the name to N. Celebrindal “Silver-foot” (SM/143, LR/141), though in The Etymologies it appeared in a variant (lenited) form Gelebrendal with an e replacing the i (Ety/KYELEP).

Celebdil

noun. silver tine

celeb (“silver”) + till (“horn, point”)

Celebdil

'Silvertine'

topon. 'Silvertine', a moutain crowned by a pinnacle. Dw. Zirak-zigil. >> celeb, till

Celeborn

noun. a kinsman of Thingol

_prop. n. _a kinsman of Thingol. A S. name. >> celeb, orn

Celebrant

noun. silver lode

celeb (“silver”) + rant (“load, vein”)

Celebrant

Silverlode

_ topon. _Silverlode. It is probable that Dwarves actually found silver in this river. Dw. Kibil-nâla. >> celeb, -rant

Celebros

noun. silver foam, silver rain

celeb (“silver”) + ros (“foam, rain”) The original form of ros is probably ross, with the final s dropped at the end of a polysyllable [HKF].

celebrindor

masculine name. *Silver-lord

5th king of Arthedain (LotR/1038). His name is most likely a combination of celebrin “silver” and the suffixal form -dor “lord”.

Conceptual Development: In drafts of the Lord of the Rings appendices, this name first appeared as (rejected) N. Celemenegil and N. Celebrindol (PM/208).

Celebrimbor

noun. silver fist

celebrin (“silver-like”) + paur (“a tightly closed hand as in using an implement or a craft-tool”) Sindarized form of Tel. Telperimpar, Q Tyelpinquar.

Celebrimbor

noun. famous craftman

_ prop. n. _famous craftman, the Lord of the Elves of Eregion. He was the ruler of the Elvish realm at the time of the forging of the Rings. Q. Telpinquar, Telperinquar  >> celebrin, paur

Celebrindal

noun. silver foot

celebren (< celebrina “silver-like”) + tâl (“foot”) [HKF] nd didn’t became nn when n and d come from different elements of a compound.

celebrin

adjective. not implying 'made of silver' but 'like silver' in hue

_ adj. _not implying 'made of silver' but 'like silver' in hue, or worth. Q. #telperin, #telpin. >> Celebrimbor

celebrin

adjective. like silver (in hue or worth), like silver (in hue or worth), [G.] of silver

Celebrindal

noun. a title of Idril

_prop. n. _a title of Idril. >> Idril. This gloss was rejected.

celeb

silver

1) (noun) celeb (i geleb, o cheleb), pl. celib (i chelib) if there is a pl. form. 2) (adj., "of/like silver") celebren (lenited gelebren, pl. celebrin; also celebrin- as first element of compounds, as in Celebrindal). Also celefn (lenited gelefn, pl. celifn). As for ”silver” as adjective, see also SHINING WHITE. Adj.

Celebdil

Celebdil

Celebdil is the Sindarin name of Khuzdul Zirakzigil, translated as the mountain Silvertine. Celebdil contains celeb ("silver") and a derivative of the root TIL. Silvertine contains tine, "spike, sharp horn".

Celeborn

Celeborn

Celeborn is a Sindarin name, consisting of celeb ("silver") + a derivative of ornā ("tall"). Teleporno, his original Telerin name, has an identical meaning. The name Teleporno was "Sindarized" as Celeborn: Telerin telpe ("silver") (Quenya tyelpe) was transformed to Sindarin celeb. He was given the epithet "the Wise" by Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings.

Celebrant

Celebrant

Celebrant is a Sindarin name, consisting of celeb, "silver" and rant, "course". The element lode in Silverlode means "course, water-channel". These names were also a translation of Kibil-nâla in Khuzdul, the language of Dwarves.

Celebrimbor

Celebrimbor

The name Celebrimbor is the Sindarin translation of his Quenya father-name Telperinquar (pron. [ˌtelpeˈriŋʷkʷar]). His mother-name is unknown. Celebrimbor consists of celebrin ("silver-like") + baur ("fist").

Celebrindor

Celebrindor

The etymology of Celebrindor's name is uncertain. The most likely meaning is "silverlike lord" from celebrin "silver-like (adjective)" and taur, which means among other things "lord".

Celebdil

Silverspike

Celebdil is the Sindarin name of Khuzdul Zirakzigil, translated as the mountain Silvertine. From celeb, "silver" and til, "spike".

Silvertine contains tine, "spike, sharp horn".

Celebrant

Silverlode

Celebrant is a Sindarin name, consisting of celeb, "silver" and rant, "course".

The element lode in Silverlode means "course, water-channel".

These names were also a translation of Kibil-nâla in Khuzdul, the language of Dwarves.

ithil

noun. Moon

The usual name for the Moon in Sindarin, from an augmented form of the root √THIL (Let/425; Ety/THIL). This word is most likely the proper name of the Moon, analogous to English “Luna”: in The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien indicated Ithil was a “poetic name”. Compare this to S. Raun “Wanderer”, which is more descriptive of the nature of the body and hence closer to “Moon” (and “moon”).

Conceptual Development: The first precursor to this name seems to be G. Thilim “Moon” in an early list of names (PE14/13). This became G. {Thil >>} Sil “Rose of Silpion, Moon” (GL/67, 72) and G. {Thilmos >>} Silma in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/33, 67), both derivatives of the early root ᴱ√SILI as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Sil). The name Ithil first appeared in early versions of the tales of Númenor from the 1930s (LR/41).

ithildin

noun. a silver-colored substance, which mirrors only starlight and moonlight

mithril

noun. true-silver, a silver-like metal

raun

noun. Moon

A word for “moon”, equivalent of Q. Rána, attested in later writings only as the element -rawn in the archaic form S. †cýrawn “new-moon”, in modern speech cýron (VT48/7). Based on its use in this word, as well as in N. cúran “crescent moon” [ᴺS. cúron], it seems this is the ordinary word for “Moon” (or “moon”) as a celestial body, as opposed to S. Ithil which is the proper name of the moon, equivalent to English “Luna”. Raun is derived from primitive ✶rānā from the root √RAN “wander”, and hence originally meant something like “Wanderer”, though its Quenya equivalent is usually translated “Wayward”.

Conceptual Development: A very similar form G. Rân “the moon” appeared in Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/64), as well as ᴱN. rán “moon” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/152), though in this period its etymology is unclear. It appeared as N. Rhân “Moon” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, derived from the root ᴹ√RAN “wander, stray” (Ety/RAN), but in this period its Quenya equivalent was ᴹQ. Rana with short a. In later writings the Quenya form became Q. Rána, requiring a change to S. Raun since ancient ā became au in Sindarin.

ithil

moon

(= ”the sheen”)

raun

moon

(pl. roen, idh roen), coll. pl. ronath. Cf. the ending -ron at the end of month-names. Raun is basically the adj. ”straying, wandering” used as a noun, hence identifying the Moon as ”the Wanderer”. – The ”Noldorin” form rhân presupposes a different primitive form and may not correspond to S ✱rân as would normally be supposed.

celeb

noun. silver

celeb

noun. silver

celebrin

place name. Celebrin

An earlier name of Celebrant in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/434), apparently a variant of celebren “of silver” used as a name.

celebrindol

masculine name. Celebrindol

celebrimbor o eregion teithant i thíw thin

Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs

celeb(rind)rath

place name. Silverlode

An earlier name of Celebrant in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/241), apparently celeb “silver” or celebren “of silver”, combined with rath “course, river-bed”.

celebras

place name. Silverhorn

Earliest name for S. Celebdil in the Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/174), a combination of celeb “silver” and the lenited form of rhas “horn”.

celeb(?)rhein

feminine name. ?Silver-footprint

A name appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s with a smudged and unreadable character between the b and r (EtyAC/RUN), apparently a combination of celeb “silver” and the lenited form of rhein “footprint”. It might be a variant of Celebrindal “Silverfoot”.

celebrond

masculine name. Silver-mace

A name appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s glossed “Silver-mace”, a combination of celeb “silver” and the lenited form of grond “club” (Ety/RUD).

celebdil

place name. Silvertine

celeborn

proper name. Tree of Silver

celebrant

place name. Silverlode

celebros

place name. Silver Foam, Silver Rain

celebren

adjective. of silver, like silver

celebrimbor

masculine name. Silver-fist

celebrindal

feminine name. Silverfoot

celebrindon

place name. Silver Bowl

celebren

adjective. like silver (in hue or worth)

celefn

adjective. of silver

celevon

adjective. of silver

ithil

noun. Moon

rhân

noun. Moon

Tyelperinquar

silver-fist, celebrimbor

Tyelperinquar masc. name, "Silver-fist, Celebrimbor" (PM:318; also Telperinqar, q.v.)

telperinquar

masculine name. Silver-fist

Quenya name of Celebrimbor, from which his Sindarin name is derived (SA/celeb, PE17/42). In pure Quenya, this name would be ✱Tyelperinquar (not attested). This name also appeared in the shorter form T(y)elpinquar (PM/318; VT47/8, 23). His name is a compound of the adjective telperin “like silver” and quár(ë) “fist” (SA/celeb, PE17/42).

telpë

silver

telpë noun "silver" (in one example with generalized meaning "money", PE14:54), telep- in some compounds like Teleporno; assimilated telem- in Telemnar and the adj. telemna (KYELEP/TELEP, SA:celeb, LT1:255, 268; also tyelpë, telep-, UT:266). The true Quenya descendant of primitive ¤kyelepē is tyelpë, but the Telerin form telpë was more common, "for the Teleri prized silver above gold, and their skill as silversmiths was esteemed even by the Noldor" (UT:266). In various names: Telperion the White Tree of Valinor; Telperien ("Telperiën"), fem. name including telp- "silver" (Appendix A); Telperinquar "Silver-fist, Celebrimbor" (SA:celeb - also Tyelperinquar); Telporno, Teleporno "Silver-high" = Sindarin _Celeborn(Letters:347, UT:266). _It seems that Teleporno is properly Telerin, Quenyarized as Telporno. Compare adjectives telemna, telpina, telepsa, telepta (q.v.)

merenya-

verb. to be festive, celebrate

telporno

masculine name. *Silver Tall

The Quenya name of Celeborn (Let/425). Assuming it has the same etymology as his Sindarin name, it is a compound of telpë “silver” and primitive ✶ornā “uprising, tall” (UT/266). See the entry for Celeborn for further discussion.

telperin

adjective. like silver (in hue or worth)

telpë

noun. silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money

tyelpë

noun. silver

silma

silver, shining white

silma adj. "silver, shining white" (SIL), "crystal (white)" (PE17:23)

telemna

of silver

telemna adj. "of silver" (KYELEP/TELEP). Possibly this (like telpina and perhaps telepsa) describes something actually made of the metal silver, whereas telepta (q.v.) only refers to silver colour.%

telempë

silver

telempë noun "silver" (LT1:268; in Tolkien's later Quenya telpë, which is actually also found in early "Qenya")

telepsa

of silver

telepsa adj. "of silver" (KYELEP/TELEP).

telepta

silver

telepta adj. "silver" (as adj.: silvery) (LT2:347), used as noun in the phrase mi telepta of someone clad "in silver", where the context (involving other colour-words) shows that this adj. describes something of silver colour(PE17:71). Compare telemna, telepsa, telpina.

telepta

adjective. silver, silver, [ᴱQ.] of silver

telpina

of silver

telpina adj. "of silver" (KYELEP/TELEP). Compare telemna, telepta.

tyelpë

silver

tyelpë noun "silver" (KYELEP/TELEP), etymology also in Letters:426 and UT:266. Tyelpë is the true Quenya descendant of primitive ¤kyelepē, but the Telerin form telpë was more common, "for the Teleri prized silver above gold, and their skill as silversmiths was esteemed even by the Noldor" (UT:266). In the Etymologies, tyelpë is also the name of Tengwa #1 with overposed dots, this symbol having the value ty (VT45:25). Cf. tyelpetéma as the name of the entire palatal series of the Tengwar system.

kyelep

root. silver

This root and ones like it were used for Elvish words for “silver” throughout Tolkien’s life. The earliest iteration of the root began with T-, however, appearing as unglossed ᴱ√TELEPE in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. telpe “silver” (QL/91). Even at this early stage, however, the Gnomish equivalent was G. celeb (GL/25), but the reason for the t/c variation isn’t clear. The closest explanation is that palatal consonants like [c] became [tʲ] in Qenya vs. [k] in Gnomish (compare ᴱQ. tyava- vs. caf- “taste” from ᴱ√TYAVA) but this doesn’t explain why the Qenya form has initial t- rather than ty-.

Elsewhere in the Elvish languages of the 1910s there seem to be etymological variations of [k] vs. [t], such as ᴱQ. kitya- vs. G. tisca- “tickle” (QL/47; GL/70) and ᴱQ. talqe vs. G. celc “glass” (QL/88; GL/25), so perhaps ᴱQ. telpe vs. G. celeb “silver” is another example of this. Another explanation appeared in Early Noldorin word lists from the 1920s, where the primitive form was ᴱ✶kelekwé which produced ᴱN. celeb as usual but the Qenya form was ᴱQ. telqe with “k = t by dissimilation” (PE13/140), presumably away from q.

In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had the root ᴹ√KYELEP with variant ᴹ√TELEP, producing N. celeb but ᴹQ. tyelpe or ᴹQ. telpe (Ety/KYELEP). But Tolkien revised this entry, marking ᴹ√TELEP as questionable and introducing the Telerin form ᴹT. telpe < ᴹ√KYELEP, concluding that ᴹQ. telpe must be a loan from Telerin. This finally put N. celeb vs. ᴹQ. telpe (borrowed from Telerin) on a solid phonological foundation. Tolkien seems to have stuck with this explanation, mentioning this borrowing from Telerin to Quenya several times in his later writings, with the proper but now archaic Quenya form being Q. †tyelpë (Let/426; PM/356; UT/266).

kyelepē

noun. silver

rānā

noun. moon

kibil-nâla

place name. Silverlode, Silver-course

kibil

noun. silver

zigil-nâd

place name. Silverlode

zirakinbar

place name. Silverhorn

telpe

noun. silver

telperimpar

masculine name. Silver-fist

telperin

adjective. like silver (in hue or worth)

nîlu

noun. moon

A noun translated as “moon” and fully declined as an example of a Strong II noun (SD/431). It appears with both a short and long final -u, but Tolkien indicated that the form with long û is actually the personified form Nîlû “Man in the Moon” (SD/426), perhaps the Adûnaic name of Tilion. Tolkien also listed the “later forms Nil, Njūl” (SD/306), one of which may be the Westron word for “moon”, most likely Wes. nil. Andreas Moehn suggested (EotAL/NUL) that this noun may be related to nûlo/nûlu/nâlu, but given the evil connotations of these words (SD/306) and the different stem vowels, this seems unlikely to me.