lóna

dark

?lóna (4) adj. "dark" (DO3/DŌ). If this is to be the cognate of "Noldorin"/Sindarin dûr, as the context seems to indicate, lóna is likely a misreading for *lóra in Tolkien's manuscript.

lúna

dark

lúna adj. *"dark" in Lúnaturco and Taras Lúna, Quenya names of Barad-dûr (Dark Tower). (PE17:22). In the Etymologies, lúnë "blue" was changed by Tolkien from lúna (VT45:29).

lúna

adjective. *dark

A word appearing in notes from the mid-to-late 1960s as an element of two different Quenya equivalents of S. Barad-dûr “Dark Tower”: Q. {Lúnaturma >>} Lúnaturco and Taras Lúna. Tolkien states that taras is “tower”, while turco is derived from √TURUK and is thus probably “✱stronghold”, so that the word lúna must mean “✱dark”. David Salo suggested in a post to the Elfling mailing list in 2012 (Elfling/362.96) that perhaps it was related to lúmë “darkness” from the Markirya poem, both derived from an (unattested) root ✱√DU “dark”.

Conceptual Development: A similar form ᴹQ. lóna “dark” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√DOƷ “night” (Ety/DOƷ).

Neo-Quenya: Since ᴹQ. lóna has several other attested meanings (ᴹQ. lóna “island”, Q. lóna “deep pool, well”), I recommend using the later and less ambiguous word lúna for “dark” in Neo-Quenya writings.

Cognates

• S. dûr “dark (with evil implications), gloomy, hellish” ✧ PE17/022

Derivations

• √DU “dark”

Element in

• Q. Lúnaturco “?Dark Stronghold” ✧ PE17/022; PE17/022 (Lúnaturma)
• Q. Taras Lúna “*Dark Tower” ✧ PE17/022

Variations

• Lūna ✧ PE17/022

morĭ

adjective. dark

PQ. dark

móri

dark

móri adj. "dark" (MC:221; this is "Qenya"; in Tolkien's later Quenya mórë, morë)

ulca

adjective. dark

dark, gloomy, sinister

lúmë

darkness

lúmë (2) noun "darkness" (one wonders if Tolkien confused lúmë "time, hour" and lómë "night") (Markirya)

lúmë

noun. darkness

A noun in the 1960s versions of the Markirya glossed “darkness” (MC/222), perhaps derived from a root √DU as suggested by David Salo in a post to the Elfling mailing list in 2012 (Elfling/362.96).

Neo-Quenya: I’d generally use Q. huinë for “darkness” in Neo-Quenya, but that word is more for total darkness, whereas lúmë might be a less severe form of darkness, a variant of Q. lómë “night, dusk”.

Derivations

• √DU “dark”

Element in

• Q. enwina lúmë “the old darkness” ✧ MC/222

Variations

• lúme ✧ MC/222

mor

darkness

mor noun "darkness" (Letters:308; probably just an Elvish "element" rather than a complete word; Namárië has mornië for "darkness")

mornië

darkness

mornië noun "darkness" (Nam, RGEO:67), "dark, blackness" (PE17:73). Early "Qenya" also has Mornië "Black Grief", "the black ship that plies between Mandos and Erumáni" (LT1:261). This is probably a compound of mor- "black" and nië "tear".

mori-

dark, black

mori- "dark, black" in a number of compounds (independent form morë, q.v.):Morimando "Dark Mando" = Mandos (MBAD, VT45:33), morimaitë "black-handed" (LotR3:VI ch. 6, VT49:42). Moriquendi "Dark Elves" (SA:mor, WJ:361, 373), Moringotto "Black Foe", Sindarin Morgoth, later name of Melkor. The oldest form is said to have been Moriñgotho (MR:194). In late material, Tolkien is seen to consider both Moringotto and Moricotto _("k") _as the Quenya form of the name Morgoth (VT49:24-25; Moricotto also appears in the ablative, Moricottollo). Morion "the dark one", a title of Morgoth (FS). Morifinwë "dark Finwë", masc. name; he was called Caranthir in Sindarin (short Quenya name Moryo). (PM:353) In the name Morinehtar, translated "Darkness-slayer", the initial element is defined would thus seem to signify "darkness" rather than "dark" as an adjective (see mórë). (PM:384, 385)

morna

dark, black

morna adj. "dark, black" (Letters:282, LT1:261; also used of black hair, PE17:154), or "gloomy, sombre" (MOR). Used as noun in the phrase mi…morna of someone clad "in…black" (PE17:71). In tumbalemorna (Letters:282), q.v. Pl. mornë in Markirya**(the first version of this poem had "green rocks", MC:215, changed to ondolisse mornë** "upon dark rocks" in the final version; see MC:220, note 8).

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

lúrëa

dark, overcast

lúrëa adj. "dark, overcast" (LT1:259)

morqua

black

morqua adj. "black" (LT1:261; rather morna in LotR-style Quenya)

morë

black

morë adj. "black" (MOR), "dark, darkness" (Letters:282). In compounds the stem-form mori- (q.v.) appears, since the primitive form was ¤mori.

nulda

secret

nulda adj. "secret" (DUL)

morion

son of the dark

morion noun "son of the dark" (LT1:261). In Fíriel's Song, Morion is translated "dark one", referring to Melko(r); this may be a distinct formation not including the patronymic ending -ion "son", but rather the masculine ending -on added to the adjective morë, mori- "dark".

hróva

dark, dark brown

hróva adj. "dark, dark brown", used to refer to hair (PE17:154)

ungo

cloud, dark shadow

ungo noun "cloud, dark shadow" (UÑG)

nulla

dark, dusky, obscure

nulla adj. "dark, dusky, obscure" (NDUL), "secret" (DUL). See also VT45:11.

núla

dark, occult, mysterious

núla ("ñ")adj. "dark, occult, mysterious" (PE17:125)

núla

adjective. dark, occult, mysterious

Derivations

• √ÑGUL “dark with sinister associations” ✧ PE17/125

Elements

Word	Gloss
núlë	“black arts, sorcery”
-a	“adjectival suffix”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√ÑGUL > ñúla	[ŋgūla] > [ŋūla] > [nūla]	✧ PE17/125

Variations

• ñúla ✧ PE17/125

hróva

adjective. dark, dark brown (of hair)

Changes

• hrúva → hróva ✧ PE17/154

Variations

• hróva ✧ PE17/154 (hróva)
• hrúva ✧ PE17/155 (hrúva)

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

• Q. lumba “gloomy”
• Q. man cenuva lumbor ahosta? “Who shall see the clouds gather?” ✧ MC/222; MC/222

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√LUM > lumbo	[lumbo]	✧ PE17/168

cal-

verb. to shine

Cognates

• S. cal- “to shine”

Derivations

• √KAL “light; shine, be bright, light; shine, be bright, [ᴱ√] shine golden”

Element in

• Q. Anar caluva tielyanna “The sun shall shine upon your path” ✧ UT/022
• Q. calima “bright, luminous”
• Q. calina “light, bright, sunny, (lit.) illumined”
• ᴺQ. nancal- “to reflect, (lit.) shine back”

mori

night

mori noun "night" (LT1:261, in Tolkien's later Quenya mórë, morë)

morna

adjective. black, dark; black of hair, black, dark; black of hair; [ᴹQ.] sombre, gloomy

Cognates

• S. morn “black, dark; night” ✧ Let/382

Derivations

• ✶mornā “dark” ✧ Let/382
  • √MOR “black, dark, darkness” ✧ Let/382
• √MOR “black, dark, darkness” ✧ PE17/073

Element in

• Q. mornië “darkness, blackness” ✧ PE17/073
• Q. ondolissë mornë “on the dark rocks” ✧ MC/222
• Q. sanomë tarnë Olórin, Aracorno, Eomer, Imrahil, mi mísë, mi telepta yo morna, mi laiqua yo ninquë, mi luinë, ta Gimli mi lossëa “There stood Gandalf, Aragorn, Eomer and Imrahil in grey, in silver and black, in green and white, and in blue, and also Gimli in white” ✧ PE17/071
• Q. Tauremorna “Black Forest” ✧ PE17/082
• Q. Tauremornalómë “*Forest (of) Black Night”
• Q. Tumbalemorna “deepvalleyblack” ✧ LotR/1131

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶mornā > morna	[mornā] > [morna]	✧ Let/382
√MOR > morna	[morna]	✧ PE17/073

morë

noun/adjective. dark, black; darkness, night, dark, black; darkness, [ᴹQ.] blackness, [Q.] night

A word meaning both “dark” and “black” in various compounds, sometimes also functioning as a noun “darkness”. It was derived from primitive ✶mori based on the root √MOR (Let/382).

Conceptual Development: This word has a long history in Tolkien’s languages. It first appeared as ᴱQ. {mōre >>} mōri “night” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s from the early root ᴱ√MORO (QL/62), also appearing as mōre “night” in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/63). The word mōre was used as “darkness” in the Oilima Markirya poem written around 1930 (MC/214).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s there were two distinct forms: noun ᴹQ. móre “blackness, dark, night” from primitive ᴹ✶mǭri and adjective ᴹQ. more “blackness, dark, night” from primitive from primitive ᴹ✶mori (Ety/MOR; EtyAC/MOR), though the adjective prefix mori- was frequently translated “dark” in contemporaneous compounds: ᴹQ. Morimando “Dark Mando”, ᴹQ. Moriqendi “Dark Elves”, etc. In later writings, the forms with long ó were no longer used, though whether this was intentional or a coincidence is unclear.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would mainly use more as an adjective with the sense “dark”, reserving for the colour “black” the word morna instead. For the noun form, I’d use mornië, but I sometimes use mori- or móri- for “night” in compounds as the time of darkness.

Cognates

• S. môr “dark(ness); †night, dark(ness); †night, [N.] †black” ✧ Let/382

Derivations

• ✶mori “black” ✧ Let/382
  • √MOR “black, dark, darkness” ✧ Let/382

Element in

• Q. Herumor “*Black Lord”
• ᴺQ. morendë “midnight”
• ᴺQ. moricalca “obsidian, (lit.) black glass”
• Q. Morifinwë “Dark Finwë”
• Q. Morikotto “*Dark Enemy” ✧ VT49/24
• ᴺQ. mórilanta “nightfall”
• ᴺQ. morilúpë “blackbird, (lit.) black plume”
• Q. morimaitë “black-handed” ✧ PE17/110
• Q. Morinehtar “Darkness-slayer” ✧ PM/384
• Q. Moriquendi “Elves of the Darkness, (lit.) Dark Elves”
• ᴺQ. moritöa “ebony wood”
• ᴺQ. móriva “nocturnal”
• ᴺQ. morteccon “graphite, (lit.) black writing rock”
• ᴺQ. morumbar “dark-fated”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶mori > more	[mori] > [more]	✧ Let/382

Variations

• more ✧ Let/382

naxa

adjective. evil

naxa

noun/adjective. evil

Element in

• Q. carë mára quí tyarë naxa “doing good may cause evil” ✧ PE22/154

Variations

• naxa ✧ PE22/154

olca

evil, bad, wicked

olca adj. "evil, bad, wicked" (VT43:23-24, VT48:32, VT49:14, PE17:149). The root meaning implies "wickedness as well as badness or lack of worth" (PE17:170). Variant of ulca.

ulca

evil, bad, wicked, wrong

ulca adj. "evil, bad, wicked, wrong" (QL:97, VT43:23-24, VT48:32, VT49:14; compounded in henulca "evileyed", SD:68); variant olca, q.v. Compare noun ulco. The adj. ulca may also itself be used as a noun "evil", as in the ablative form ulcallo "from evil" (VT43:8, 10) and the sentence cé mo quetë ulca *"if one speaks evil" (VT49:19).

ulca

adjective. evil; dark, gloomy, sinister, evil; dark, gloomy, sinister; [ᴱQ.] bad, wicked, wrong

This is one of two later words Tolkien consider for “evil”; the other is Q. olca < √OKO. Of the two, ulca has the longer conceptual history, dating back to early Quenya (QL/97). Both words have the same Sindarin cognate, S. ogol.

Ulca has two attested late derivations. One is from the root √UK (PE17/149), listed as a possible replacement of √OKO, but Tolkien marked this derivation as uncertain. Another derivation is ✶ū “not” + KAL “light” = ✶uk’la “gloom, gloomy” (PE18/88), an example of abnormal vocalization. If this second derivation is accepted, ulca could have later developed the senses “sinister, evil” either due to the “bad” connotations of Q. ú- or perhaps by influence of Q. olca. If so, it may have even supplanted olca as the general word for “evil” as it appears to have done in Tolkien’s later writings.

Cognates

• S. ogol “bad, evil, wrong; gloom(y)” ✧ PE17/149; PE18/088

Derivations

• ✶ulka ✧ PE17/149; VT48/32
  • √UK “nasty” ✧ VT48/32
• ✶uklā “gloom, gloomy” ✧ PE18/088; VT43/24

Element in

• Q. cé mo quetë ulca “*if one speaks evil” ✧ VT49/19
• Q. epetai i hyarma ú ten ulca símaryassen “consequently the left hand was not to them evil in their imaginations” ✧ VT49/14
• ᴹQ. henulca “*evil-eyed”
• Q. násië “but deliver us from evil: Amen” ✧ VT43/23
• ᴺQ. ulcarindo “evil-doer”
• ᴺQ. ulquet- “to accuse”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶UKLA > ulca	[ukla] > [ulka]	✧ PE17/149
✶ū̆k’la > ulka	[ukla] > [ulka]	✧ PE18/088
✶ū̆k’lā > ulka	[uklā] > [ulkā] > [ulka]	✧ VT43/24
✶ukla > ulca	[ukla] > [ulka]	✧ VT48/32

Variations

• ulka ✧ PE18/088; VT43/24

úra

evil, nasty

úra (1) adj. "evil, nasty" (VT43:24, VT48:32)

úro

evil

úro noun "evil" (VT43:24); Tolkien may have abandoned this form in favour of ulco, q.v.

fána

cloud

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

lomba

secret

lomba adj.or noun "secret" (LT1:255)

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)

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...

mórë

blackness, dark, night, darkness

mórë noun "blackness, dark, night, darkness" (MOR, MC:214), also given with a short vowel:morë "dark, darkness" (Letters:282). If this is the initial element of Morinehtar "Darkness-slayer" (PM:384, 385), it would seem to have the stem-form mori-, though mori- is normally the adjective "dark, black" (see below).

tumna

lowlying, deep, low

tumna adj. "lowlying, deep, low" (TUB); early "Qenya" glosses: "deep, profound, dark or hidden" (LT1:269, 271)

usque

noun. dusk, twilight

úmëa

evil

úmëa (2) adj. "evil" (UGU/UMU). Obsoleted by #1 above? Possibly connected to úmëai in Narqelion, if that is a "Qenya" plural form.

látie

noun. openness

Elements

Word	Gloss
láta	“open (not closed)”
-ië	“abstract noun, adverb”

látië

openness

látië noun "openness" (VT39:23)

ló

night, a night

ló (1) noun "night, a night" (DO3/DŌ, VT45:28)

-ië

openness

-ië (2) abstract ending, often used to derive abstracts from adjectives, e.g. látië "openness" vs. láta "open", mornië "darkness" vs. morna "black, dark", vanië (for *vanyië) "beauty" vs. vanya "fair".

Fui

night

Fui noun "Night" (PHUY) - variant Hui, which form is probably to be preferred in light of Tolkien's later insight that the related word fuinë (see below) is actually Telerin, the proper Quenya form being huinë.

Hui

night

Hui noun "Night" (PHUY), in earlier "Qenya" defined as "evening" _(MC:214) or"fog, dark, murk, night" (LT1:253)._

olo

night

?olo (reading uncertain), possibly a synonym of ló #1, hence noun "night" (VT45:28)

ulco

evil

ulco (stem #ulcu-) noun "evil", pl. *ulqui (VT43:23-24; the stem-form is attested in the ablative case: ulcullo "from evil", VT43:12)

ulco

noun. evil

Derivations

• √UK “nasty”

Element in

• Q. násië “but deliver us from evil: Amen” ✧ VT43/24; VT43/23
• ᴺQ. ulculóra “without evil”

nurno

adjective. dark, deep (of hue)

@@@ from Discord 2022-03-05

Derivations

• ✶durnu “dark of hue”
  • √DU “dark”

dúath

adjective. dark

_ adj. _dark, black shadow.

dûr

dark

_ adj. _dark, gloomy, 'hellish'.

morn

adjective. black, dark

dûr

adjective. dark, sombre

moth

noun. dusk

Element in

• ᴺS. mothren “dusk, dusky”
• S. Nan Elmoth “*Valley of Starry Dusk” ✧ SA/moth
• S. Gilammoth

mor

black

_adj. _black.

mor-

black

_ pref. _black. >> Moria, morn-

morn

adjective. black

adj. black. >> mor, Morgai

morn-

black

_pref. _black. >> Moria, mor-

dúath

noun. darkness, shadow

dúath

noun. nightshade

morn

noun/adjective. black, dark; night

Cognates

• Q. morna “black, dark; black of hair, black, dark; black of hair; [ᴹQ.] sombre, gloomy” ✧ Let/382

Derivations

• ✶mornā “dark” ✧ Let/382; WJ/362
  • √MOR “black, dark, darkness” ✧ Let/382

Element in

• S. Aravorn
• S. Eryn Vorn “Dark Wood” ✧ RC/lxv
• S. galvorn “type of dark metal devised by Eöl, *(lit.) shining-black”
• S. Helevorn “Black Glass” ✧ PE17/037
• S. Lacho calad! Drego morn! “Flame light! Flee night!” ✧ UT/065
• S. Morben “*Dark-folk” ✧ WJ/362
• S. morchant “shadow cast by light, (lit.) dark shape” ✧ VT42/09
• S. Mordor “Black Land” ✧ Let/427
• S. Morgai “Black Fence” ✧ PE17/101
• S. morgul “black arts, sorcery, necromancy” ✧ PE17/031; PE17/125
• S. Moria “Black Chasm, Black Pit” ✧ PE17/035
• S. Mormegil “Black Sword”
• S. Mornan “Dark Valley”
• ᴺS. mornechui “coffee”
• S. Mornedhel “Dark-elf”
• S. Morthond “Blackroot”
• S. Ras Morthil “Andrast”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶mornā > morn	[mornā] > [morna] > [morn]	✧ Let/382
✶mornā > morn-	[mornā] > [morna] > [morn]	✧ WJ/362

Variations

• morn- ✧ WJ/362

môr

noun. darkness, dark, night

dû

noun. night, dimness; dim, dark, night, dimness; [N.] night-fall, late evening; [S.] dim, dark

Cognates

• Q. lómë “night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, [ᴹQ.] night-time, shades of night, gloom; [ᴱQ.] shadow, cloud” ✧ PE17/152; SA/dú; SA/lómë

Derivations

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

Element in

• S. Deldúwath “Deadly Nightshade, (lit.) Horror of Night-shadow” ✧ SA/dú
• S. dúath “night shadow, dark/black shadow, night shadow, dark/black shadow, [N.] night-shade” ✧ PE17/087; PE17/152; SA/dú
• S. dúlin “nightingale” ✧ SA/dú
• ᴺS. dúvad “supper, dinner”
• S. Nanduhirion “Dimrill Dale, (lit.) Vale of (the Region of) Dim Streams” ✧ PE17/037; RC/269; SA/sîr
• S. tinnu “*twilight, [N.] (starry) twilight, dusk, early night (without moon)”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶dōmē > dû	[dōmē] > [dūme] > [dūme] > [dūm] > [dūv] > [dū]	✧ PE17/152
✶dōmē > dú	[dōmē] > [dūme] > [dūme] > [dūm] > [dūv] > [dū]	✧ SA/dú

Variations

• dú ✧ SA/dú; SA/lómë; SA/sîr

cal-

verb. to shine

Cognates

• Q. cal- “to shine”

Derivations

• √KAL “light; shine, be bright, light; shine, be bright, [ᴱ√] shine golden”

dû

night

_ n. _night (when viewed favourably). Q. lóme.

rhû

evil

adj. evil, wicked. Q. hruo. >> Rhudaur

rhû

evil

_ adj. _evil, wicked. Q. hrúa, hrúya. >> rhu-, Rhudaur

thurin

masculine name. Secret

A name that Finduilas gave to Túrin translated “Secret” (UT/157), simply the adjective thurin “secret, hidden” used as a name.

Elements

Word	Gloss
thurin	“secret, hidden”

fuin

noun. night, dead of night, gloom, darkness

ogol

evil

1) ogol (wicked), pl. egyl (archaic ögyl) (VT48:32), 2) possibly also um (bad), pl. ym (or uim?) (David Salo would read *ûm with a long vowel. According to VT46:20, it may be that Tolkien intended um as a primitive base rather than as a ”Noldorin” word; the word ogol may therefore be preferred.)

ogol

evil

(wicked), pl. egyl (archaic ögyl) (VT48:32)

um

evil

(bad), pl. ym (or uim?) (David Salo would read ✱ûm with a long vowel. According to VT46:20, it may be that Tolkien intended um as a primitive base rather than as a ”Noldorin” word; the word ogol may therefore be preferred.)

doll

dark

doll (dusky, misty, obscure), lenited noll, pl. dyll. Note: In ”Noldorin”, this word appeared as dolt as well as doll, but the latter seems the best form in S.

doll

dark

(dusky, misty, obscure), lenited noll, pl. dyll. Note: In ”Noldorin”, this word appeared as dolt as well as doll, but the latter seems the best form in S.

dûr

dark

dûr (sombre), lenited dhûr, pl. duir

dûr

dark

(sombre), lenited dhûr, pl. duir

graw

dark

graw (swart), lenited raw, pl. groe. (VT45:16)

graw

dark

(swart), lenited ’raw, pl. groe. (VT45:16)

morn

dark

morn (black), pl. myrn, lenited vorn. Note: the latter word is also used as a noun ”darkness, night”. (Letters:386)

morn

dark

(black), pl. myrn, lenited vorn. Note: the latter word is also used as a noun ”darkness, night”. (Letters:386)

môr

dark

môr (black), lenited vôr, pl. mŷr (Letters:382), also

môr

dark

(black), lenited vôr, pl. m**ŷr* (Letters:382)*, also

dû

darkness

1) dû (i dhû) (night, nightfall, late evening, dusk), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302), 2) fuin (gloom, night, dead of night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form. 3) môr (i vôr, construct mor), pl. mŷr (i mŷr) if there is a pl. (Letters:382); 4 morn (i vorn) (night), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word môr, morn is also used as an adjective ”dark, black”. (Letters:386)

dû

darkness

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

fuin

darkness

(gloom, night, dead of night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form.

môr

darkness

(i vôr, construct mor), pl. m**ŷr (i m**ŷr) if there is a pl. (Letters:382); 4 morn (i vorn) (night), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word môr, morn is also used as an adjective ”dark, black”. (Letters:386)

daw

nighttime

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

graurim

dark people

(VT45:16);

graw

adjective. dark, swart

dúath

dark shadow

(i dhúath) (nightshade), pl. dúaith (i núaith);

dû

dusk

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

guldur

dark sorcery

(i nguldur = i ñuldur), pl. gyldyr (in gyldyr = i ñgyldyr)

moth

dusk

1) moth (i voth), pl. myth (i myth). David Salo would read *môth with a long vowel. 2) dû (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.

môr

black

1) môr (dark), lenited vôr, pl. mŷr (Letters:382), also morn (dark), pl. myrn, lenited #vorn. Note: the word is also used as a noun ”darkness, night”. (Letters:386) The lenited form #vorn appears, compounded, in the name of the

môr

black

(dark), lenited vôr, pl. m**ŷr (Letters:382), also morn (dark), pl. **myrn, lenited #vorn. Note: the word is also used as a noun ”darkness, night”. (Letters:386) The lenited form #vorn appears, compounded, in the name of the

dúath

nightshade

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

galvorn

black metal

(i ’alvorn), pl. gelvyrn (i ngelvyrn = i ñelvyrn) if there is a pl. (WJ:322). 2) donn (swart, swarty, shady, shadowy) (lenited dhonn, pl. dynn). (VT45:11). Also dunn- in compounds.

gwathra

obscure

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

gwathra

obscure

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

úmarth

evil fate

(pl. úmerth).

dû

night

1) dû (i dhû) (nightfall, dusk, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302), 2) morn (i vorn) (darkness), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”dark, black” (Letters:386).

dû

night

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

faun

cloud

(pl. foen, coll. pl. fonath)

morn

night

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

fuin

night, nightshade, dead of night

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

dolen

secret

(hidden), lenited dholen, pl. dolin

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

ummas

noun. evil

Derivations

• ᴹ√UMU “negative stems”
  • ᴹ√GŪ “no, not” ✧ Ety/UGU; Ety/GŪ

thurin

secret

(adjective) 1) thurin (hidden); no distinct pl. form, 2) dolen (hidden), lenited dholen, pl. dolin;

thurin

secret

(hidden); no distinct pl. form

hethu

obscure

_(adjective) _1) *hethu (foggy, vague), analogical pl. hethy; lenited chethu. Cited in archaic form hethw (LR:364 s.v. KHIS, KHITH). 2) doll (dark, dusky, misty), lenited noll, pl. dyll. Note: In ”Noldorin”, this word appeared as dolt as well as doll, but the latter seems the best form in S.

hethu

obscure

(foggy, vague), analogical pl. hethy; lenited chethu. Cited in archaic form hethw (LR:364 s.v. KHIS, KHITH). 2) doll (dark, dusky, misty), lenited noll, pl. dyll. Note: In ”Noldorin”, this word appeared as dolt as well as doll, but the latter seems the best form in S.

golu

secret lore

(i ngolu = i ñolu, o n’golu = o ñgolu) (secret lore), analogical pl. gely (in gely = i ñgely) if there is a pl. Archaic golw, hence golwath as the likely coll. pl. 

tinnu

early night without a moon

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

tovn

adjective. lowlying, deep, low

sil-

verb. to shine

Cognates

• Q. sil- “to shine (white)” ✧ WJ/367

Element in

• T. él síla lúmena vomentienguo “A star shines upon the hour of the meeting of our ways” ✧ WJ/407

dunna

adjective. black

This might seem to be derived from dunnâ, sc. the stem DUN "dark (of colour)" (LR:355) either with the adjectival ending -nâ or with medial fortification n > nn and the simpler adjectival ending -â. However, other Nandorin words seem to have lost their final -â's, e.g. ealc "swan" from alk-wâ, and (to quote a wholly parallel example) cogn "bow" from ku3nâ. The descendant form is not cogna with the final vowel intact as the case would seem to be in dunna. However, primitive -ô does come out as -a in Nandorin, cf. golda "Noldo" from ñgolodô, so a form dunnô might be capable of yielding dunna, but this primitive form would rather be a noun "dark person/thing", since primitive -ô, -nô are nominal rather than adjectival endings. Of course, Nandorin may have turned an original noun into an adjective, or developed an adjectival ending -a afresh. But all things considered *dunnâ still appears to be the best reconstruction of the primitive form.

The words dunna and scella raise the question of whether original final -â is actually preserved as -a following double consonants (as opposed to clusters of different consonants) in 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 -â combined with a medial strengthening n > nn). As for the change of a to e, cf. scella from skalnâ.

búrz

adjective. dark

Element in

• Bs. burzum “darkness” ✧ PE17/011; PE17/012
• Bs. Lugbúrz “Dark Tower” ✧ PE17/012; PE17/079

Variations

• burz ✧ PE17/012

burzum

noun. darkness

Element in

• Bs. ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul “one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them” ✧ LotR/0254; PE17/011; PE17/012

Elements

Word	Gloss
búrz	“dark”
-um	“particularizing suffix”

búrz

adjective. dark

burzum

noun. darkness

dulgu

adjective. black, dark

An adjective translated “black” (SD/247). It appears in its plural form dulgî “black” in the final version of the Lament of Akallabêth (SD/247) and in its singular form dulgu in the second draft of this text (SD/312). It may be related to S. dûr “dark” and N. doll “obscure, hidden, dusky”, as suggested by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynn (AAD/14). It is likely related to or a variant of dolgu “black, dark”.

Element in

• Ad. bawîba dulgî “winds (were) black” ✧ SD/247; SD/312

dolgu

noun. dark, (evil) night

A noun attested as the isolated word dolgu, described as “a word with the evil sense of ‘night’ or ‘dark’” (SD/306). It may be related to S. dû “night” and N. doll “obscure, hidden, dusky”, as suggested by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynn (AAD/13). It is similar to the word dulgu “black” appearing in the Lament of Akallabêth and the two may be variations of the same word, but most authors have suggested (AAD/13-14, AL/Adûnaic, EotAL/DUL’G, NBA/11, 24) that they are distinct words. In the phonetic rules in Lowdham’s Report from this period, a short o cannot appear in an Adûnaic (SD/423), so perhaps the proper form of this noun should be ✱dôlgu.

azan

adjective. dark, dim

Element in

• Kh. Azanulbizar “Dimrill Dale, (lit.) Rills of the Shadows” ✧ PE17/037; RS/466

narâg

adjective. black

Derivatives

• S. Narog ✧ PE17/037; PE17/047

Element in

• Kh. Narag-zâram “*Black Lake” ✧ PE17/037; RS/466
• Kh. Nargûn “Mordor” ✧ PE17/037; RS/466
• Kh. Nar(u)kuthûn ✧ PE17/047

Variations

• Narâg ✧ PE17/037
• naruka ✧ PE17/047 (naruka)

dom

root. dark, dark, [ᴹ√] faint, dim

This root was the basis for the main Elvish words for “dusk, night”, which was established as Q. lómë in Quenya for most of Tolkien’s life. The earliest form of this root was ᴱ√LOMO in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, unglossed but with various derivatives having to do with “dusk” and “shadow” (QL/55). One notable derivative was ᴱQ. lóme “dusk, gloom, darkness”, which survived in Tolkien’s later writings as “night” and in the 1910s was the basis for ᴱQ. Hisilóme/G. Hithlum “Shadowy Twilights”. Another notable derivative was G. lómin “shady, shadowy, gloomy; gloom(iness)” (GL/45) used in the name G. Dor Lómin, which in the 1910s was translated as “Land of Shadow” (LT1/112).

The “shadow” meaning of this early root seems to have transferred to ᴹ√LUM from The Etymologies of the 1930s, which served as the new basis for N. Hithlum (Ety/LUM), as opposed contemporaneous N. Dor-lómen which was redefined as “Land of Echoes (< ᴹ√LAM via Ilkorin or in later writings, via North Sindarin). The “dusk” sense was transferred to a new root ᴹ√DOM “faint, dim”, which (along with ᴹ√DOƷ) was the basis for the pair words ᴹQ. lóme/N. dû “night” (Ety/DOMO).

These two words for “night” survived in Tolkien’s later writing in both Quenya and Sindarin (Let/308; SA/dú). In notes from the 1940s Tolkien clarified that it “has no evil connotations; it is a word of peace and beauty and has none of the associations of fear or groping that, say, ‘dark’ has for us” (SD/306). The Elves were quite comfortable being under the night sky, dating back to the time when the Elves lived under the stars before the rising of the Sun and the Moon. The root √DOM reappeared in etymologies for star-words from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/152). It appeared again in some very late notes from 1969 where it was glossed “dark” and served as the basis for words meaning “blind” as well as “night”, though this paragraph was rejected (PE22/153, note #50).

Derivatives

• ✶dōmē “night, twilight” ✧ PE17/152
  • Q. lómë “night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, [ᴹQ.] night-time, shades of night, gloom; [ᴱQ.] shadow, cloud” ✧ PE17/152; SA/dú
  • S. dû “night, dimness; dim, dark, night, dimness; [N.] night-fall, late evening; [S.] dim, dark” ✧ PE17/152; SA/dú
• ᴺQ. lomba “blind”
• Q. lomba “blind” ✧ PE22/153
• Q. lómë “night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, [ᴹQ.] night-time, shades of night, gloom; [ᴱQ.] shadow, cloud” ✧ PE22/153
• ᴺS. dom “blind”
• S. dom “blind” ✧ PE22/153

mornā

adjective. dark

Derivations

• √MOR “black, dark, darkness” ✧ Let/382

Derivatives

• Q. morna “black, dark; black of hair, black, dark; black of hair; [ᴹQ.] sombre, gloomy” ✧ Let/382
• S. morn “black, dark; night” ✧ Let/382; WJ/362

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

mori

adjective. black

Derivations

• √MOR “black, dark, darkness” ✧ Let/382

Derivatives

• Q. morë “dark, black; darkness, night, dark, black; darkness, [ᴹQ.] blackness, [Q.] night” ✧ Let/382
• S. môr “dark(ness); †night, dark(ness); †night, [N.] †black” ✧ Let/382; NM/279

Element in

• ✶morikwende “*Dark-elf, [ᴹ✶] Dark-elf”
• ✶Moriñgotho “Black Foe” ✧ PE19/081
• ᴺS. merifind “Black-haired”

Variations

• morĭ ✧ PE19/081

mor

root. black, dark, darkness

This root was connected to “black” and “darkness” for all of Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as unglossed ᴱ√MORO in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. móre “night” and ᴱQ. morna “black” (QL/62). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon it had derivatives like G. morn “dark, black” and G. morth “darkness” (GL/58). It appeared as ᴹ√MOR in The Etymologies of the 1930s with a similar set of derivatives (Ety/MOR) and √MOR was mentioned regularly in Tolkien’s later writings with glosses like “black, dark, darkness” (Let/308, 382; PE17/73).

Derivatives

• ✶mori “black” ✧ Let/382
  • Q. morë “dark, black; darkness, night, dark, black; darkness, [ᴹQ.] blackness, [Q.] night” ✧ Let/382
  • S. môr “dark(ness); †night, dark(ness); †night, [N.] †black” ✧ Let/382; NM/279
• ✶mornā “dark” ✧ Let/382
  • Q. morna “black, dark; black of hair, black, dark; black of hair; [ᴹQ.] sombre, gloomy” ✧ Let/382
  • S. morn “black, dark; night” ✧ Let/382; WJ/362
• Q. morna “black, dark; black of hair, black, dark; black of hair; [ᴹQ.] sombre, gloomy” ✧ PE17/073
• Q. mornië “darkness, blackness” ✧ PE17/073

Element in

• Q. Moriquendi “Elves of the Darkness, (lit.) Dark Elves” ✧ SA/mor
• Q. Mormacil “Black Sword”
• ᴺQ. mortavar “ebony, ivory”
• Q. Morwë
• S. Morannon “Black Gate” ✧ Let/382; PE17/073
• S. Moravar
• S. Morbenedh “*Dark-elf”
• S. Mordor “Black Land” ✧ Let/382; PE17/073; SA/mor
• S. Morgoth “Black Foe, Dark Foe, Black Enemy, Dark Tyrant” ✧ Let/382; PE17/073; SA/mor
• S. morgul “black arts, sorcery, necromancy” ✧ Let/382; PE17/036
• S. Moria “Black Chasm, Black Pit” ✧ Let/382; Let/384; SA/mor
• S. Mormegil “Black Sword” ✧ SA/mor
• S. Morwen “Dark Maiden” ✧ SA/mor

Variations

• mor ✧ Let/308; SA/mor
• mor- ✧ PE17/036

du Reconstructed

root. dark

Derivatives

• ✶durnu “dark of hue”
  • ᴺQ. nurno “dark, deep (of hue)”
• Q. lúmë “darkness”
• Q. lúna “*dark”

dûr

adjective. dark

Cognates

• ᴹQ. lóna “dark” ✧ Ety/DOƷ

Derivations

• ᴹ√DOƷ “night” ✧ Ety/DOƷ

Element in

• N. Barad-dûr “Dark Tower”
• N. Dureledh “Dark-elf” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
• N. Durion “Dark-elf” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
• N. Durthang
• N. durgul “sorcery”
• N. Magladhûr “Black-sword”
• N. Ennyn Dûr “Gates of Mordor” ✧ WR/113 (Ennyn Dûr)

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√DOƷ/DÔ > dûr	[dōr] > [dūr]	✧ Ety/DOƷ

Variations

• Dûr ✧ WR/113

daw

noun. night-time, gloom

grau

adjective. dark, swart

Derivations

• ᴹ√GRAW “dark, swart” ✧ EtyAC/GRAWA

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√GRAWA > grau	[grawa] > [graw] > [grau]	✧ EtyAC/GRAWA

morn

adjective. black, dark

dûr

adjective. dark, sombre

morn

adjective. black

Cognates

• ᴹQ. morna “gloomy, sombre” ✧ Ety/MOR

Derivations

• ᴹ√MOR “*black, dark” ✧ Ety/MOR

Element in

• N. Eredvyrn “Black Mountains” ✧ TI/124
• N. Helevorn “Black Glass”
• N. Elivorn “Lake-Black” ✧ Ety/MOR
• N. i vegli vorn “the black bear” ✧ PE22/033
• N. Maglavorn “Black-sword” ✧ Ety/MOR (maglavorn)
• N. meglivorn “blackbear” ✧ Ety/MOR; EtyAC/LIS (morn) (mormagli); EtyAC/MAT (Mormagli); EtyAC/MAT (Meglivorn)
• N. Mornennyn “Gates of Mordor” ✧ WR/113
• N. Mordu “*Black Night”
• N. morgul “sorcery” ✧ EtyAC/ÑGOL
• N. Moria “Black Gulf”
• N. Mormegil “Black-sword”
• N. Mornvenniath “Black Mountains”
• N. Morthond “Blackroot”
• N. Morthu “*Black Stench”
• N. Morwen
• N. Nann Orothvor “Vale of Black Horror”
• N. Nelig Myrn “Teeth of Mordor” ✧ WR/113
• N. Naglath Morn “Teeth of Mordor” ✧ WR/122 (Naglath Morn)

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√MOR > morn	[morna] > [morn]	✧ Ety/MOR

Variations

• moru ✧ EtyAC/MOR
• Morn ✧ WR/113; WR/122 (Morn)

môr

adjective. black

Cognates

• ᴹQ. more “black, dark” ✧ Ety/MOR

Derivations

• ᴹ✶mori “black” ✧ Ety/MOR
  • ᴹ√MOR “*black, dark” ✧ Ety/MOR

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶mori > môr	[mori] > [more] > [mor] > [mōr]	✧ Ety/MOR

dúath

noun. darkness, shadow

dúath

noun. nightshade

dúwath

noun. darkness, shadow

dúwath

noun. nightshade

doll

adjective. dark, dusky, obscure

dolt

adjective. dark, dusky, obscure

môr

noun. darkness, dark, night

doll

adjective. obscure, dark, dusky, hidden, secret

Cognates

• ᴹQ. nulla “dark, dusky, obscure; hidden, secret” ✧ Ety/DUL; Ety/NDUL; EtyAC/DUL; EtyAC/DUL

Derivations

• ᴹ✶ndulna “secret” ✧ Ety/DUL
  • ᴹ√(N)DUL “hide, conceal” ✧ Ety/DUL
• ᴹ✶ndulla “dark, dusky, obscure” ✧ Ety/NDUL; EtyAC/DUL; EtyAC/DUL
  • ᴹ√(N)DUL “hide, conceal” ✧ Ety/NDUL; Ety/DUL

Element in

• N. dolen “hidden, secret” ✧ Ety/DUL
• N. Dolwethil “(Woman of) Secret Shadow”
• N. Gondolin “Heart of Hidden Rock” ✧ EtyAC/DUL

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶ndulna > doll	[ndulna] > [ndulla] > [dulla] > [dolla] > [doll]	✧ Ety/DUL
ᴹ✶ndulla > doll	[ndulla] > [dulla] > [dolla] > [doll]	✧ Ety/NDUL

Variations

• dolt ✧ Ety/DUL

dolt

adjective. obscure

faun

noun. cloud

faun

noun. cloud

Cognates

• ᴹQ. fána “cloud; white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivations

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

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶spāna > faun	[spāna] > [spǭna] > [sɸǭna] > [sɸouna] > [ɸouna] > [founa] > [fauna] > [faun]	✧ Ety/SPAN

tindu

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

tindu

noun. starry twilight

tinnu

noun. starry twilight

muin

adjective. secret

Cognates

• ᴹQ. muina “hidden, secret” ✧ Ety/MUY

Derivations

• ᴹ√MUY “*secret” ✧ Ety/MUY

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√MUY > muin	[mujna] > [muina] > [muin]	✧ Ety/MUY

Variations

• muin ✧ EtyAC/MUY (muin)

thurin

adjective. secret, hidden

fuin

noun. night, dead of night, gloom, darkness

tinnu

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

tofn

adjective. lowlying, deep, low

tofn

adjective. lowlying, deep, low

Cognates

• ᴹQ. tumna “lowlying, deep, low, lowlying, low; deep, [ᴱQ.] profound; dark, hidden” ✧ Ety/TUB

Derivations

• ᴹ✶tubnā “deep” ✧ Ety/TUB
  • ᴹ√TUB “to fall low[?], go down (below normal ground level), (esp.) to go down (sink, dive) into water” ✧ Ety/TUB

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶tubnā > tofn	[tubnā] > [tubna] > [tumna] > [tomna] > [tomn] > [tovn]	✧ Ety/TUB