Quenya 

fána

cloud

fána (2) noun "cloud" _(SPAN, VT46:15). _Cf. fana.

lumbo

cloud

lumbo noun "cloud" (pl. lumbor in Markirya), also glossed "gloom; dark, shade" (PE17:72, 168). In early "Qenya", lumbo was glossed "dark lowering cloud" (LT1:259)

lómi

clouds

lómi noun "clouds" (MC:214; this is "Qenya"; in LotR-style Quenya it would evidently be the pl. of lómë)

fanya

(white) cloud

fanya noun "(white) cloud" (translated "sky" in FS); pl. fanyar in Namárië(Nam, RGEO:67). ). Used "only of white clouds, sunlit or moonlit, or clouds gilded or silvered at the edges by light behind them", not "of storm clouds or cloud canopies shutting out the light" (PE17:174). Cf. lumbo, q.v. According to VT46:15, fanya was originally given as an adjective "white" in the Etymologies; the printed version in LR wrongly implies that fanya and fána both mean "cloud", whereas actually the first was at this stage meant to be an adjective "white" whereas fána is both noun "cloud" and adj. "white". However, Namárië and later emendations to the entry SPAN in Etym indicate that Tolkien would later think of fanya as a noun "cloud", perhaps giving it the same double meaning as fána: noun "cloud" as well as adjective "white". According to PE17:26, fanya was originally an adjectival form "white and shining" that was however often used as a noun "applied to various things, notably to white clouds lit by sun or moon". In Namárië, the word is used poetically with reference to the hands of Varda (she lifted her hands ve fanyar "like clouds").

fána

adjective. white, white; [ᴹQ.] cloud

@@@ as suggested by Helge Fauskanger, the form fánë “white” in the Markirya poem may be a slip or misreading

Element in

Variations

  • fáne ✧ MC/221; MC/222
Quenya [MC/221; MC/222] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungo

cloud, dark shadow

ungo noun "cloud, dark shadow" (UÑG)

lumbo

noun. cloud; gloom, dark, shade, cloud, [ᴱQ.] dark lowering cloud; [Q.] gloom, dark, shade

A word for “cloud” appearing in the plural form lumbor “clouds” in the Markirya poem of the 1960s. An identical form ᴱQ. lumbo appeared five decades earlier in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with the gloss “dark lowering cloud” as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√LUVU (QL/57). The context of the 1960s Markirya poem was that of a gathering storm, so it seems likely lumbor also referred to dark or stormy clouds. As further support of this, in other late notes lumbo was glossed “gloom” (PE17/72) or “dark, shade” (PE17/168) as a derivative of √LUM or √LUB “shadow, darkness”.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would assume lumbo mainly means “dark cloud”, along with the general darkness and gloom of bad weather.

Derivations

  • LUB “shadow, darkness” ✧ PE17/168

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
LUM > lumbo[lumbo]✧ PE17/168
Quenya [MC/222; PE17/072; PE17/168] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lómë

dusk, twilight

lómë noun "dusk, twilight", also "night"; according to SD:415, the stem is lómi- (contrast the "Qenya" genitive lómen rather than **lómin in VT45:28). According to PE17:152, lómë refers to night "when viewed favourably, as a rule, but it became the general rule" (cf. SD:414-415 regarding lōmi as an Adûnaic loan-word based on lómë, meaning "fair night, a night of stars" with "no connotations of gloom or fear"). In the battle-cry auta i lómë "the night is passing" (Silm. ch. 20), the "night" would however seem to refer metaphorically to the reign of Morgoth. As for the gloss, cf. Lómion masc. name "Child of Twilight [dusk]", the Quenya name Aredhel secretly gave to Maeglin _(SA). Otherwise lómë is usually defined as "night" (Letters:308, LR:41, SD:302 cf.414-15, SA:dú)_; the _Etymologies defines lómë as "Night [as phenomenon], night-time, shades of night, Dark" (DO3/DŌ, LUM, DOMO, VT45:28), or "night-light" (VT45:28, reading of _lómë uncertain). In early "Qenya" the gloss was "dusk, gloom, darkness" (LT1:255). Cf. lómelindëpl. lómelindi "nightingale" _(SA:dú, LR:41; SD:302, MR:172, DO3/DŌ, LIN2, TIN). _Derived adjective #lómëa "gloomy" in Lómëanor "Gloomyland"; see Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna...

lómë

noun. night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, [ᴹQ.] night-time, shades of night, gloom; [ᴱQ.] shadow, cloud

Cognates

  • S. “night, dimness; dim, dark, night, dimness; [N.] night-fall, late evening; [S.] dim, dark” ✧ PE17/152; SA/dú; SA/lómë

Derivations

  • dōmē “night, twilight” ✧ PE17/152; SA/dú
    • DOM “dark, dark, [ᴹ√] faint, dim” ✧ PE17/152
  • DOM “dark, dark, [ᴹ√] faint, dim” ✧ PE22/153

Element in

  • Q. Aldalómë “Tree-twilight” ✧ RC/385
  • Q. auta i lómë “The night is passing!” ✧ S/190; WJ/166
  • Q. Hísilómë “Land of Mist, (lit.) Mist-and-Dusk”
  • ᴺQ. illómëa “nightly”
  • Q. lómëa “shadowed, gloomy, shadowed, gloomy, *dusk-like” ✧ PE17/081
  • Q. Lómëanor “Gloomyland” ✧ Let/308
  • Q. lómelindë “nightingale, (lit.) dusk-singer” ✧ SA/dú; SA/lómë
  • Q. Lómion “Son of Twilight” ✧ SA/lómë
  • ᴺQ. lómivehtë “night life”
  • ᴺQ. silomë “tonight”
  • Q. Taurelilómëa “Forestmanyshadowed” ✧ Let/308
  • Q. Tauremornalómë “*Forest (of) Black Night”
  • Q. tindómë “(starry) twilight, (usually) time near dawn, (starry) twilight, time near dawn, [ᴹQ.] starlit dusk”
  • Q. undómë “twilight, time near evening”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
dōmē > lómë[dōmē] > [lōmē] > [lōme]✧ PE17/152
DOM > lóme[dōmē] > [lōmē] > [lōme]✧ PE22/153
dōmē > lómë[dōmē] > [lōmē] > [lōme]✧ SA/dú

Variations

  • lóme ✧ Let/308; PE17/081; PE17/120; PE22/153 (lóme)
  • lômí ✧ PE17/087 (lômí)
  • Lómë ✧ RC/385
Quenya [Let/308; PE17/081; PE17/087; PE17/120; PE17/152; PE22/153; RC/385; RC/727; S/190; SA/dú; SA/lómë; WJ/166] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ninquë

white, chill, cold, palid

ninquë adj. "white, chill, cold, palid" (WJ:417, SA:nim, PE17:168, NIK-W - spelt "ninqe" in Etym and in LT1:266, MC:213, MC:220, GL:60), pl. ninqui in Markirya. Compounded in Ninquelótë noun "White-Flower" (SA:nim), = Sindarin Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor; ninqueruvissë ("q") "white-horse-on" _(MC:216; this is "Qenya", read _ninqueroccossë or *ninquiroccossë in LotR-style Quenya). Normally ninquë would be expected to have the stem-form ninqui-, given the primitive form ¤ninkwi; Ninquelótë rather than *Ninquilótë must be seen as an analogical form.

fanta-

to veil, cloak, mantle

fanta- vb. "to veil, cloak, mantle" (VT43:22), mainly used of veils cast over things that shone, or that were brighter and more vivid (PE17:174); according to Tolkien usually the strong past tense fánë and perfect afánië were used, but later also fantanë in the past tense (and then perhaps *afantië in the perfect?) (PE17:179-180) Cf halya- (q.v.), the stem of which Tolkien contrasted with the stem of this verb (PE17:184).

histë

dusk

histë noun "dusk" (LT1:255)

hísë

dusk

hísë (2) noun "dusk" (LT1:255). A "Qenya" form possibly obsoleted by #1 above.

usque

noun. dusk

dusk

Quenya [PE 18:50 PE 18:100] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

vasar

noun. veil

Cognates

  • S. gwath “shadow, dim light, shadow, dim light, [N.] shade” ✧ VT42/09

Derivations

  • WATHAR “*shadow, veil” ✧ VT42/09; VT42/10

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
Wathar > waþar > vasar[watʰar] > [waθar] > [βaθar] > [vaθar] > [vasar]✧ VT42/09
waþar > vasar[watʰar] > [waθar] > [βaθar] > [vaθar] > [vasar]✧ VT42/10
Quenya [VT42/09; VT42/10] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vasar

veil

vasar (þ) noun "veil" (VT42:10, the word was "not in daily use", VT42:9). Older form waþar.

usque

noun. dusk, twilight

Quenya [PE 22:51] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

halya-

veil, conceal, screen from light

halya- vb. "veil, conceal, screen from light" (SKAL1, VT46:13) Tolkien noted that "√SKAL applied to more opaque things that cut off light and cast shadows over other things" (PE17:184), contrasting it with √SPAN, the rejected stem of fanta-, q.v.

vasarya-

to veil

vasarya- (þ) vb. "to veil" (VT42:10)

fanwa

veil, screen

fanwa noun "veil, screen" (PE17:176, 180)

fána

white

fána, fánë (1) adj. "white" (Markirya - fánë as a sg. form in may be a misreading). Compare fanya.

fánë

adjective. white

Sindarin 

fain

noun/adjective. cloud

Sindarin [Ety/387, WR/288, RC/268, VT/46:15, X/EI] Group: SINDICT. Published by

uilos

noun/adjective. always white, ever white as snow

Sindarin [RGEO/74, Letters/278, UT/55] ui- + loss "everlasting snow, ever (white as) snow. Group: SINDICT. Published by

uilos

noun/adjective. a small white everlasting flower also called simbelmynë or "evermind"

Sindarin [RGEO/74, Letters/278, UT/55] ui- + loss "everlasting snow, ever (white as) snow. Group: SINDICT. Published by

fân

noun. veil

Sindarin [RGEO/74] Q fana. Group: SINDICT. Published by

moth

noun. dusk

Element in

esgal

noun. veil, screen, cover that hides

Sindarin [S/431] Group: SINDICT. Published by

glân

adjective. white, [bright shining] white; [N.] clear; [G.] pure, †bright; [ᴱN.] clean

Derivations

Element in

fanha-

verb. to veil

v. to veil, cloak. Q. fanta-. Naturally mainly used of veils cast over things that shone, or were brighter and more vivid.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:174] < *_phantā- _< PHAN cover, screen, veil. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

silivren

adjective. (white) glittering

Sindarin [LotR/II:I, RGEO/72] silif+-ren. Group: SINDICT. Published by

fân

noun. cloud (applied to clouds, floating as veils over the blue sky or the sun or moon, or resting on hills)

Sindarin [RGEO/74] Q fana. Group: SINDICT. Published by

fain

noun/adjective. white, shimmering, shining; white and shining [thing]; dim, dimmed; filmy, fine-woven; (vague) apparition; cloud, white, shimmering, shining, [N.] radiant; [S.] white and shining [thing]; dim, dimmed; filmy, fine-woven; (vague) apparition; cloud

Cognates

  • Q. fanya “(white) cloud, white and shining [thing], (white) cloud, white and shining [thing]; [ᴹQ.] sky; white” ✧ PE17/026; PE17/036

Derivations

  • PHAN “cover, screen, veil; white, (light white) shape; shape, vision” ✧ NM/237; PE17/026; PE17/036; PE17/179
    • PHA “exhalations (as mists upon water or steams and the like)” ✧ NM/237
  • phanyā “*veiled, veiling” ✧ PE17/174
    • PHAN “cover, screen, veil; white, (light white) shape; shape, vision” ✧ PE17/174
    • PHA “exhalations (as mists upon water or steams and the like)” ✧ NM/237

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
phan > fein > fain[pʰanjā] > [pʰanja] > [ɸanja] > [ɸanja] > [fania] > [fenia] > [feni] > [fein] > [fain]✧ NM/237
FAN > fain[pʰanjā] > [pʰanja] > [ɸanja] > [ɸanja] > [fania] > [fenia] > [feni] > [fein] > [fain]✧ PE17/026
PHAN > fain[pʰanjā] > [pʰanja] > [ɸanja] > [ɸanja] > [fania] > [fenia] > [feni] > [fein] > [fain]✧ PE17/036
phanyā > fain[pʰanjā] > [pʰanja] > [ɸanja] > [ɸanja] > [fania] > [fenia] > [feni] > [fein] > [fain]✧ PE17/174
PHAN > fain[pʰanjā] > [pʰanja] > [ɸanja] > [ɸanja] > [fania] > [fenia] > [feni] > [fein] > [fain]✧ PE17/179
Sindarin [NM/237; PE17/026; PE17/036; PE17/174; PE17/179; RC/268] Group: Eldamo. Published by

faen

white

(radiant). No distinct pl. form.

fain

noun/adjective. white

Sindarin [Ety/387, WR/288, RC/268, VT/46:15, X/EI] Group: SINDICT. Published by

fain

white

; no distinct pl. form.

nim

white

_adj. _white. >> Nimbrethil

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:19] < T. _nimbi _white. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

nim

white

_adj. _white (usual word). >> nimp, nimras

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:168] < _nimbĭ _< _nimpĭ_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

nim

adjective. white

Cognates

  • Q. ninquë “white; chill, cold; pallid” ✧ SA/nim

Derivations

  • At. nimbi “white” ✧ PE17/019
    • ninkwi “white, pale”
    • NIK(W) “(also of) snow, ice, snow, ice; *white” ✧ PE17/168
  • ninkwi “white, pale” ✧ PE17/168
    • NIK(W) “(also of) snow, ice, snow, ice; *white” ✧ PE17/168
  • S. nimp “pale, pallid, white, pale, pallid, white; small and frail, [ᴱN.] wan, sickly” ✧ SA/nim
    • NIK(W) “(also of) snow, ice, snow, ice; *white” ✧ PE17/168
    • nimpĭ “small” ✧ VT48/18
    • NIP “small (usually with connotation of weakness)” ✧ VT48/18

Element in

  • S. Barad Nimras “White Horn Tower” ✧ SA/nim
  • S. Ered Nimrais “White Mountains, (lit.) White-horns Mountains” ✧ SA/nim
  • S. Nimbrethil “Silver-birches” ✧ PE17/019; PE17/019; SA/nim
  • S. Nimloth “White Blossom, Pale Blossom” ✧ SA/nim
  • S. Nimras “White Horn” ✧ PE17/168
  • S. Nimrodel “Lady of the White Cave”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
At. nimbi > nim[nimbi] > [nimbe] > [nimb] > [nimm] > [nimm] > [nim]✧ PE17/019
Sindarin [PE17/019; PE17/168; SA/nim] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nimp

white

(nim-) (pale); no distinct pl. form.

faun

cloud

(pl. foen, coll. pl. fonath)

fân

cloud

1) fân (veil, also used of the manifested body of a Vala), construct fan, pl. fain, 2) faun (pl. foen, coll. pl. fonath)

fân

cloud

(veil, also used of the manifested body of a Vala), construct fan, pl. fain

escal

veil

(screen, cover that hides), pl. escail. Also spelt esgal (pl. esgail).

escal

veil

(noun) 1) escal (screen, cover that hides), pl. escail. Also spelt esgal (pl. esgail). 2) fân (cloud, manifested body of a Vala), construct fan, pl. fain

gloss

white as snow, dazzling white

(in compounds -los), lenited ’loss; pl. glyss.

daw

nighttime

(i dhaw) (gloom), pl. doe (i noe), coll. pl. ?dawath or ?doath.

dusk

(i dhû) (night, nightfall, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302).

night

(i dhû) (nightfall, dusk, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302)

fuin

night, nightshade, dead of night

(gloom, darkness). No distinct pl. form.

fân

veil

(cloud, manifested body of a Vala), construct fan, pl. fain

gwathra

veil

(i ’wathra, in gwathrar) (dim, obscure, overshadow)

gwathra

veil

(verb) gwathra- (i **wathra, in gwathrar**) (dim, obscure, overshadow)

morn

night

(i vorn) (darkness), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”dark, black” (Letters:386).

moth

dusk

1) moth (i voth), pl. myth (i myth). David Salo would read *môth with a long vowel. 2) (i dhû) (night, nightfall, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302).

moth

dusk

(i voth), pl. myth (i myth). David Salo would read ✱môth with a long vowel.

tinnu

dusk

tinnu (i dinnu, o thinnu) (twilight, starlit evening, early night without a moon, starry twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

dusk

(i dinnu, o thinnu) (twilight, starlit evening, early night without a moon, starry twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

early night without a moon

(i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

dúath

nightshade

(i dhúath) (dark shadow), pl. dúaith (i núaith).

glân

white

1) glân (clear), lenited lân, pl. glain. (UT:390, VT45:13). Note: a homophone means ”hem, border”. 2) nimp (nim-) (pale); no distinct pl. form. 3) faen (radiant). No distinct pl. form. 4) fain; no distinct pl. form.

glân

white

(clear), lenited ’lân, pl. glain. (UT:390, VT45:13). Note: a homophone means ”hem, border”.

silivren

glittering white

(lenited hilivren; pl. *silivrin**). *Verb

mith

white fog

mith (i vith) (wet mist), no distinct pl. form except with article (i mith). David Salo would read mîth with a long vowel. Note: a homophone is the adjective ”pale grey”.

mith

white fog

mith (i vith) (wet mist), no distinct pl. form except with article (i mith). David Salo would read mîth with a long vowel. Note: a homophone is the adjective ”pale grey”.

Telerin 

nimbi

adjective. white

About Nimrodel: "Nim is evidently the Telerin word nimbi 'white'." >> Nimrais >> Nimrodel

Telerin [PE17/49] Published by

nimbi

adjective. white

Derivations

  • At. nimbi “white”
    • ninkwi “white, pale”
    • NIK(W) “(also of) snow, ice, snow, ice; *white” ✧ PE17/168
Telerin [PE17/019; PE17/049] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Nandorin 

spenna

noun. cloud

Derived from a stem SPAN "white" (LR:387), but hardly a direct cognate of Quenya fanya and Telerin spania (both probably from spanjâ), nor a direct cognate of Sindarin faun, stated to be derived from spâna. Rather spenna must derive from spannâ, sc. the stem SPAN with the adjectival ending -nâ (or possibly the simpler adjectival ending combined with a medial strengthening n > nn). As for the change of a to e, cf. scella from skalnâ.

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (LR:387)] < SPAN. Published by

Primitive elvish

phanā

noun. veil, cloud

Derivations

  • PHAY “spirit, spirit; [ᴹ√] radiate, send out rays of light” ✧ NM/237
    • PHA “exhalations (as mists upon water or steams and the like)” ✧ NM/237
  • PHAN “cover, screen, veil; white, (light white) shape; shape, vision” ✧ PE17/173; PE17/174
    • PHA “exhalations (as mists upon water or steams and the like)” ✧ NM/237

Derivatives

  • Q. fana “raiment, veil; (bright) shape or figure; bodily form of an angelic spirit” ✧ PE17/173; PE17/174
  • S. fân “(white) cloud; veil, curtain; form or vision of a spiritual being; spirit [embodied]” ✧ PE17/173; PE17/174

Variations

  • phănā ✧ NM/237
Primitive elvish [NM/237; PE17/173; PE17/174] Group: Eldamo. Published by

us(u)kwē

noun. dusk

Derivations

  • USUK “dusk, evening, *reek, smoke; dusk, evening” ✧ PE18/100; PE21/71

Derivatives

  • Q. usquë “dusk, dim light, [ᴹQ.] reek, *smoke; [Q.] dusk, dim light, [ᴹQ.] twilight; [ᴱQ.] fog” ✧ PE18/100; PE21/71

Variations

  • uskwē ✧ PE18/100
  • usukwē ✧ PE21/71
Primitive elvish [PE18/100; PE21/71] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

faun

noun. cloud

Noldorin [Ety/387, VT/46:15] Group: SINDICT. Published by

faun

noun. cloud

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. fána “cloud; white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶spāna “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
    • ᴹ√SPAN “white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶spāna > faun[spāna] > [spǭna] > [sɸǭna] > [sɸouna] > [ɸouna] > [founa] > [fauna] > [faun]✧ Ety/SPAN
Noldorin [Ety/SPAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fein

noun/adjective. cloud

Noldorin [Ety/387, WR/288, RC/268, VT/46:15, X/EI] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tindu

noun. dusk, twilight, early night (without Moon)

Noldorin [Ety/355, Ety/393, X/ND2] tinu+dû. Group: SINDICT. Published by

tindu

noun. starry twilight

Noldorin [Ety/355, Ety/393, X/ND2] tinu+dû. Group: SINDICT. Published by

tinnu

noun. dusk, twilight, early night (without Moon)

Noldorin [Ety/355, Ety/393, X/ND2] tinu+dû. Group: SINDICT. Published by

tinnu

noun. starry twilight

Noldorin [Ety/355, Ety/393, X/ND2] tinu+dû. Group: SINDICT. Published by

brassen

adjective. white-hot

Noldorin [Ety/351] Group: SINDICT. Published by

fein

noun/adjective. white

Noldorin [Ety/387, WR/288, RC/268, VT/46:15, X/EI] Group: SINDICT. Published by

Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Ancient telerin

uso

noun. dusk

Derivations

  • USUK “dusk, evening, *reek, smoke; dusk, evening” ✧ PE21/71

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
usuk > uso[usuk] > [usu] > [uso]✧ PE21/71
Ancient telerin [PE21/72] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nimbi

adjective. white

Derivations

  • ninkwi “white, pale”
    • NIK(W) “(also of) snow, ice, snow, ice; *white” ✧ PE17/168

Derivatives

  • S. nim “white” ✧ PE17/019
  • T. nimbi “white”

Element in

  • S. Nimrodel “Lady of the White Cave” ✧ PE17/049
Ancient telerin [PE17/019; PE17/049] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

fána

noun/adjective. cloud; white

Cognates

  • N. faun “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • ᴹT. spania “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • Dan. spenna “white fog” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivations

  • ᴹ√SPAN “white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Element in

  • ᴹQ. Fantur “Lord of Cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√SPAN > fána[spāna] > [ɸāna] > [fāna]✧ Ety/SPAN
Qenya [Ety/SPAN; EtyAC/SPAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungo

noun. cloud, dark shadow

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “cloud, dark shadow” derived from the root ᴹ√UÑG (Ety/UÑG) and serving as the initial element in ᴹQ. Ungoliante “Gloomweaver” (LR/230). In later writings, √UÑG referred to spiders instead (LotR/1122; PE22/160), so this word was probably abandoned.

Derivations

  • ᴹ√UÑG “*gloom” ✧ Ety/UÑG

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√UÑG > ungo[uŋgo]✧ Ety/UÑG

hui

proper name. Night

A name for (Primordial?) Night appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√PHUY, along with its (archaic?) variant Fui (Ety/PHUY).

Conceptual Development: This name is most likely a remnant of the name ᴱQ. Fui from the earliest Lost Tales, where it was another name for the goddess ᴱQ. Nienna (LT1/66, LT1A/Fui). According to the Qenya and Gnomish Lexicons from the 1910s, this earlier version of the name is derived from the root ᴱ√ǶUẎU (GL/36, QL/38).

Derivations

  • ᴹ√PHUY “*darkness” ✧ Ety/PHUY

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√PHUY > Fui > Hui[pʰui] > [ɸui] > [hui]✧ Ety/PHUY

núre

noun. night

Derivations

  • ᴹ√NDŪ “go down, sink, set (of Sun)”

Element in

ninqe

adjective. white

Cognates

  • N. nimp “pale” ✧ Ety/NIK-W

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶ninkwi “white, pale” ✧ Ety/NIK-W
    • ᴹ√NIK(W) “*snow; white” ✧ Ety/NIK-W

Element in

  • ᴹQ. nieninqe “snowdrop, (lit.) white tear” ✧ Ety/NIK-W
  • ᴹQ. Ninqendi “White-elves”
  • ᴹQ. ninqeri “*white (female thing or personification)” ✧ PE21/15
  • ᴹQ. ninqeru “white man, white male swan, white ship, white (male thing or personification)” ✧ PE21/15
  • ᴹQ. ninqisse “whiteness” ✧ Ety/NIK-W
  • ᴹQ. Ninqelóte “Pale Blossom”
  • ᴹQ. ninqita- “to whiten, make white; to shine white” ✧ Ety/NIK-W; Ety/NIK-W
  • ᴹQ. Taniqetil “High White Horn” ✧ Ety/NIK-W

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶ninkwi > ninqe[niŋkwi] > [niŋkwe]✧ Ety/NIK-W
Qenya [Ety/NIK-W; PE21/15] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

môr

noun. night

A noun for “night” derived from primitive ᴹ✶mǭri (EtyAC/MOR), where the primitive [[ilk|[ǭ] became [ō]]].

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. móre “blackness, dark, night” ✧ Ety/MOR

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶mǭri “blackness, dark, night” ✧ EtyAC/MOR
    • ᴹ√MOR “*black, dark” ✧ Ety/MOR

Element in

  • Ilk. myrilind “nightingale” ✧ Ety/MOR

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶mǭri > môr[mǭri] > [mǭre] > [mōre] > [mōr]✧ EtyAC/MOR
Doriathrin [Ety/MOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Ossriandric

spenna

noun. white fog

A noun glossed “white fog” developed from the root ᴹ√SPAN (Ety/SPAN, EtyAC/SPAN), perhaps from a primitive form ✱✶spannā as suggested by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Nandorin/spenna). As noted by Helge Fauskanger, it seems the primitive vowel [a] became [e]. The mechanism is unclear, but perhaps [[dan|this change was triggered by the initial [s] plus voiceless stop]].

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. fána “cloud; white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivations

  • ᴹ√SPAN “white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√SPAN > spenna[spannā] > [spennā] > [spenna]✧ Ety/SPAN
Ossriandric [Ety/SPAN; EtyAC/SPAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

spāna

noun. cloud

Derivations

  • ᴹ√SPAN “white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivatives

  • N. faun “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • ᴹT. spania “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/SPAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

doʒ

root. night

A root in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “night” that (along with ᴹ√DOM) was the basis for the ᴹQ. lóme/N. “night” (Ety/DOƷ). It replaced some rejected variants ᴹ√LOƷ and ᴹ√DAW (EtyAC/LOƷ). Many of the derivatives of ᴹ√DOƷ were later assigned to other roots: N. dûr “dark” became S. dûr “dark” < √NDU “under, down” in notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/152) and ᴹQ. lóna “dark” became Q. lúna (PE17/22). There are no signs of ᴹQ. “night” and N. daw “night-time, gloom” in Tolkien’s later writing. Future derivations of Q. lómë/S. only mention the root √DOM (PE17/152; PE22/153) and thus ᴹ√DOƷ may have been abandoned.

In a message to the Elfling mailing list from July 2012 (Elfling/362.96), David Salo suggested there might be a later root ✱√DU serving as the basis for Q. lúna “dark” and Q. lúmë “darkness”, though the latter might instead be from √LUM. Such a root ✱√DU is not attested in Tolkien writings, but if it existed, it could be a later iteration of ᴹ√DOƷ. Another possible example of the root ✱√DU is primitive ✶durnŭ “dark of hue”.

Derivatives

  • Ilk. daum “night-time, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • ᴹ✶doʒmē ✧ Ety/DOMO
    • Ilk. daum “night-time, gloom”
    • On. doume “night-time, gloom”
    • N. daw “night-time, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • ᴹQ. “night, a night” ✧ Ety/DOƷ; EtyAC/LOƷ
  • ᴹQ. lóme “night, night-time, shades of night, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ; Ety/LUM
    • Ad. lômi “(pleasant) night” ✧ SD/415
  • ᴹQ. lóna “dark” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • N. “night, night-fall, late evening” ✧ Ety/DOƷ; Ety/DYEL; Ety/DOMO
  • N. dúlin(n) “nightingale” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • N. dûr “dark” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • On. doume “night-time, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
    • N. daw “night-time, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ

Element in

  • Ilk. durgul “sorcery”
  • N. daw “night-time, gloom” ✧ EtyAC/LOƷ (daw)
  • N. Delduthling “Ungoliant, *(lit.) Horror Night Spider” ✧ Ety/DYEL; Ety/SLIG; Ety/UÑG
  • N. Dureledh “Dark-elf” ✧ Ety/MOR
  • N. Durion “Dark-elf” ✧ Ety/MOR
  • N. Magladhûr “Black-sword” ✧ Ety/MAK (DOƷ)

Variations

  • DOƷ/DÔ ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • DOG ✧ Ety/UÑG
  • LOƷ ✧ EtyAC/LOƷ (LOƷ)
  • DAW ✧ EtyAC/LOƷ (DAW)
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/DOƷ; Ety/DOMO; Ety/DYEL; Ety/LUM; Ety/MAK; Ety/MOR; Ety/NDŪ; Ety/SLIG; Ety/UÑG; EtyAC/LOƷ; EtyAC/UÑG] Group: Eldamo. Published by

span

root. white

Derivatives

  • Dan. spenna “white fog” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • ᴹ✶spāna “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
    • N. faun “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
    • ᴹT. spania “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • ᴹQ. fána “cloud; white” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • ᴹQ. fanya “sky; white” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • N. fein “white, radiant” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • N. Fannor “Cloud-lord” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Element in

  • ᴹ✶Olosphantur “Lórien” ✧ Ety/ÓLOS
  • ᴹ✶Spanturo “lord of cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • ᴹQ. Are Fanturion “Day of the Fanturi, fourth day of the Valian week” ✧ Ety/LEP
  • ᴹQ. Nurufantur “Lord of Death-cloud” ✧ Ety/ÑGUR
  • ᴹQ. Olofantur “Lord of Dream-cloud” ✧ Ety/ÓLOS
  • N. Fannor “Cloud-lord” ✧ Ety/TĀ
  • N. Gurfannor “Lord of Death-cloud” ✧ Ety/ÑGUR
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/LEP; Ety/ÑGUR; Ety/ÓLOS; Ety/PHAY; Ety/SPAN; Ety/TĀ] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Telerin

spania

noun. cloud

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. fána “cloud; white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶spāna “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
    • ᴹ√SPAN “white” ✧ Ety/SPAN
Middle Telerin [Ety/SPAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

glum

noun. cloud

lum

noun. cloud

Cognates

  • Eq. lumbo “dark lowering cloud” ✧ LT1A/Luvier

Derivations

  • ᴱ√LUVU “*dark (weather)” ✧ LT1A/Luvier

Element in

  • G. Lumfod “Gloomy End” ✧ GL/55
  • G. lumbri “foul weather” ✧ GL/55; LT1A/Luvier
  • G. lumbrin “overcast” ✧ GL/55; LT1A/Luvier

Variations

  • glum ✧ GL/55
Gnomish [GL/55; LT1A/Luvier] Group: Eldamo. Published by

cwelm

noun. dusk

fui

noun. night

Cognates

  • Eq. hui “dark, murk, fog; night, evening” ✧ LT1A/Fui; QL/041

Derivations

  • ᴱ√ǶUẎU “*darkness” ✧ GL/36; QL/041

Element in

  • G. fuior “deadly nightshade”
  • G. Durufui “Yule, (lit.) Log-night” ✧ LT1A/Turuhalmë
  • G. Fuil “Queen of the Dark” ✧ GL/36
  • G. Tarn Fui “Door of Night” ✧ LT1A/Tarn Fui

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√fuʒu > fui¹[xʷuɣu] > [fuɣu] > [fuɣ] > [fui]✧ GL/36
ᴱ√ǶUẎU > fui[xʷui] > [fui]✧ QL/041

Variations

  • fui¹ ✧ GL/36
  • Fui ✧ LT1A/Tarn Fui; LT1A/Turuhalmë
Gnomish [GL/36; LT1A/Fui; LT1A/Tarn Fui; LT1A/Turuhalmë; QL/041] Group: Eldamo. Published by

math

noun. dusk

Cognates

  • Eq. maske “dusk” ✧ QL/059

Derivations

  • ᴱ√MAÞA “dusk” ✧ LT2A/Umboth-muilin

Element in

  • N. Math-Fuin-delos “Deadly Nightshade”
  • G. mathusgi “twilight” ✧ GL/56; LT2A/Mathusdor
  • G. mathwen “evening” ✧ GL/56; LT2A/Mathusdor
  • G. nuimath “‘second twilight’, first signs of dawn” ✧ GL/61
  • G. obromath “the twilight that follows the night, ‘second twilight’, just before dawn” ✧ GL/62
  • G. mathrin “dusk, dusky” ✧ GL/56; LT2A/Mathusdor
Gnomish [GL/56; GL/61; GL/62; LT2A/Mathusdor; LT2A/Umboth-muilin; QL/059] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

fuin

noun. night

Element in

  • En. Taur-na-Fuin “Deadly Nightshade” ✧ SM/026
  • En. urfuin “nightless” ✧ PE13/156

Variations

  • Fuin ✧ SM/026
Early Noldorin [PE13/143; PE13/156; SM/026] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

maþa

root. dusk

This root was given as ᴱ√MASA¹ “dusk” in its main entry in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, but its Gnomish form math- indicates the true root was ᴱ√MAÞA (QL/59). This was clarified in a list of roots at the end of the M-section in the Qenya Lexicon (QL/63) and its representation as maþ- in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon (GL/59). Its most notable use in the Legendarium was in the name G. Umboth-muilin “Pools (muil-plural) of Twilight (umboth)”, where G. umboth or umbath “nightfall” was derived from a strengthened form of the root, ᴱ√mbaþ- (GL/75). However, in later writings this name was reconceived as Ilk. Umboth Muilin “Veiled (muilin) Pool (umboth)”, with the first element umboth meaning “large pool” (Ety/MBOTH, MUY). The name was ultimately replaced with S. Aelin-uial (S/114), by which point the early root ᴱ√MAÞA was long abandoned.

Derivatives

  • Eq. maska “dusky, misty” ✧ QL/059
  • Eq. maske “dusk” ✧ QL/059
  • G. math “dusk” ✧ LT2A/Umboth-muilin

Element in

  • ᴱ√MBAÞA “*dusk” ✧ GL/75

Variations

  • maþ- ✧ GL/75; LT2A/Umboth-muilin
  • MASA¹ ✧ QL/059
Early Primitive Elvish [GL/75; LT2A/Umboth-muilin; QL/059; QL/063] Group: Eldamo. Published by

niqi

root. white

Derivatives

  • Eq. ninqa- “to shine white”
  • Eq. ninqe “white” ✧ LT1A/Taniquetil; QL/066
  • Eq. nikte- “to whiten, cleanse” ✧ QL/066
  • Eq. niqilis “fine snow” ✧ QL/066
  • Eq. niqis “snow” ✧ LT1A/Taniquetil; QL/066
  • G. nib “snowflake”
  • G. nigor “rain, rainy weather”
  • G. nimp “pallid”
  • G. nictha- “to rain, hail, snow”

Element in

Early Primitive Elvish [LT1A/Taniquetil; QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

aulo

noun. cloud

Early Quenya [PE16/142] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fanya

noun. cloud

Early Quenya [PE16/142] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lossa

adjective. white

Derivations

Element in

Early Quenya [MC/213; MC/216; PE16/092] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lóme

noun. dusk, gloom, darkness; shadow, cloud

Changes

  • LŏmeLōme “dusk, gloom, darkness” ✧ QL/055

Cognates

  • G. lôm “gloom, shade” ✧ LT1A/Hisilómë

Derivations

  • ᴱ√LOMO “*lurk; shadow” ✧ LT1A/Hisilómë; QL/055

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√LOMO > Lōme[lōmi] > [lōme]✧ QL/055

Variations

  • -lómë ✧ LT1A/Gwerlum
  • lómë ✧ LT1A/Hisilómë
  • lōme ✧ PME/055
  • Lōme ✧ QL/055
  • Lŏme ✧ QL/055 (Lŏme)
Early Quenya [LT1A/Gwerlum; LT1A/Hisilómë; MC/214; MC/221; PE16/062; PE16/072; PE16/074; PE16/075; PE16/077; PME/055; QL/055] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fui

noun. night

histe

noun/adjective. dusk

maske

noun. dusk

Cognates

  • G. math “dusk” ✧ QL/059

Derivations

  • ᴱ√MAÞA “dusk” ✧ QL/059

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√MASA¹ > maske[maθkē] > [maθke] > [maske]✧ QL/059
Early Quenya [QL/059] Group: Eldamo. Published by

móri

noun. night

ninqe

adjective. white

Cognates

  • G. nimp “pallid” ✧ GL/60
  • En. nimp “wan, pale, sickly” ✧ PE13/164

Derivations

  • ᴱ√NIQI “white” ✧ LT1A/Taniquetil; QL/066

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√NIQI > ninqe[niŋkʷi] > [niŋkʷe]✧ QL/066

Variations

  • ninqë ✧ LT1A/Nielíqui; LT1A/Taniquetil
  • ninkve ✧ PE16/072; PE16/072; PE16/077
Early Quenya [GL/60; LT1A/Nielíqui; LT1A/Taniquetil; MC/213; MC/220; PE13/164; PE14/045; PE14/048; PE14/077; PE14/080; PE15/78; PE16/056; PE16/057; PE16/060; PE16/062; PE16/064; PE16/072; PE16/074; PE16/077; PE16/081; PE16/100; PE16/140; PME/066; QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by