e

root. that (by you)

eðus

adjective. eðus

eid(e)lā

noun. Eid(e)lā

ekse

adverb. ekse

ektar-

noun. ektar-

ektḷ

noun. ektḷ

elmendaya

adjective. elmendaya

elmendiya

adjective. elmendiya

elmendā

noun. elmendā

elménd(i)ya

adjective. elménd(i)ya

ektĭ

noun. ektĭ

enuthi

noun. enuthi

enwa

adjective. enwa

etḷ-

noun. etḷ-

ele

root. drive, push, thrust, send forth

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “drive, push, thrust, send forth”, with derivatives like “spear” and “thrust” (QL/35). It was also the basis for the rootᴱ√LEHE “come, be sent, approach” (QL/52). There are indications in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon that Tolkien gradually gave up this root: he first gave the forms G. elta- “to thrust, dig, poke (inward)” and G. elt “a dig, a poke (probe)”, then apparently revised them to G. elta-/eltha- “draw, tug, lug” and G. elt “a tug, lug”, representing a semantic shift from “push” to “pull” (GL/32).

These Gnomish forms were all eventually deleted and replaced by G. eltha- “to alter, change” and G. elt “a change”. These replacements are sufficiently distinct in meaning that I think they represent the introduction of a new root ✱ᴱ√ELE connected to “wonder” and “otherness”; see that entry for details. Meanwhile, it seems the Gnomish “thrust” words were transferred to the root ᴱ√ḶTḶ, as in G. ilta- “to stick in, prod, prick” (GL/51).

ene

root. *name

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with various derived words having to do with names or being called a name (QL/35). There were similar forms in the contemporaneous Gnomish lexicon, such as G. enn “name” and G. entha- “name, call, indicate, point out” (GL/32). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it seems this root was replaced by ᴹ√ES “indicate, name” (Ety/ES). However, in Sindarin prayers from the 1950s, Tolkien used the word S. eneth for “name” (VT44/24), perhaps indicating the continued validity of this root in the Sindarin branch of the languages.

ene

root. *idea, invention, devise

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives having to do with ideas and devices (QL/35). It seems to have been replaced in the 1930s by ᴹ√GAWA “think out, devise, contrive” (Ety/GAWA).

ete

root. cling together

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “cling together” serving as the basis for words for “ivy” and “cousin” (QL/36). It was probably replaced by √ET “out”.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, the “ivy” words might be salvageable as derivatives of √ET in the sense of “a thing clinging to the outside”.

eŋe

root. *plane, level

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives having to do with plains, planes and level surfaces (QL/36). There are no signs of it in Tolkien’s later writing.

eðusmānī

place name. beyond the abode of the Mánir

eðe

root. *iron, steel

eka-ʒalda-mbod-t

masculine name. he of the broad shoulders

ere

root. remain alone

eika

root. *far, broad

A root in the Qenya and Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives having to do with “far”, “wide” and “broad” (QL/29; GL/32). The most notable derivative of this root was the name G. Egalmoth “Broad Shoulder”. This name remained in Tolkien’s narratives, but its etymology seems to have been unexamined for many years, until Tolkien eventually revisited it along with some other old names and reinterpreted it as “pointed helm-crest” (WJ/318).

enu

root. origin‽

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “origin” but this gloss was marked with a “?” by Tolkien (QL/35). In this document, the root was the basis for ᴱQ. Enu “God”. Given the later alteration of the Elvish word for God to Q. Eru, it is pretty unlikely the root remained valid in Tolkien’s later conception of the Elvish languages.

ekta

noun. thorn

eðe

root. out

eke

root. *point

ene

root. six

eχt·taþ·

noun. thorn-bush

ehe

root. *sharp

ese

root. out

eře

root. out

ske-ndá

noun. eye

þeχiē

noun. eyesight

þeχē

noun. eye, pupil

þχe-ndǝ

noun. eye

ƕehe

root. breath; die, expire

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “breath; die, expire” and with the derivative ᴱQ. fé “last hour, death” (QL/41). It also has some derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. fest “breath, breathing” and G. festa- “breath[e]” (GL/35). There are no obvious signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing, though the connection between “last breath” and “death” does reappear in the root √PHIR (WJ/387).

pere

root. *endure

An unglossed root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s Tolkien said was similar in meaning to ᴱ√PENE “✱through” (QL/73). Some of its derivatives had similar meanings like ᴱQ. perma “passage; pass, aperture”, but most of its derivatives had to do with enduring and endurance. In Tolkien’s later writings the sense “endure” was generally assigned to the root ᴹ√BOR(ON).

nyeχie

noun. tear

lepse

?. [unglossed]

lopse

?. [unglossed]

mele

root. love

pelesa

noun. fence

sleiwa

adjective. pale

tel+u

root. to finish, close, end, complete

teled-

noun. [unglossed]

t’lépe

noun. silver

hepe

root. bind, encircle‽

lōtetarwa

noun. garden

lene

root. long

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s given as ᴱ√LENE “long”, with the added explanation that it “developed in opp. directions of slow, tedious, trailing, etc. and — stretch, thin, etc.”. Tolkien originally put the word ᴱQ. lenka “slow, left” under this root, but seems to have transfered this word to ᴱ√LEKE, perhaps at the same time he elaborated on the meaning of ᴱ√LENE “long”. Its remaining derivatives include ᴱQ. lenwa “long and thin, straight, narrow” and ᴱQ. lenu- “stretch”.

There are a number of words in the Gnomish Lexicon that seem to be derived from this root, including G. len “wherewith, far, long, away” and G. lenwi “length, distance”, but these were rejected, and Tolkien replaced them with G. lenc “far, distant” derived from ᴱ√leŋe (which was followed by other similar Gnomish derivatives), possibly representing a conceptual shift in this root (GL/53). In any case, there are no clear signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing, unless perhaps it remanifested as ᴹ√LEN “way, (?road)” from The Etymologies of the 1930s (EtyAC/LEN).

yere(ne)

root. *iron

This root appeared in two different forms in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s: as ᴱ√DYEÐE = ‘EÐE equivalent of ᴱQ. anga “iron” (QL/105), and as ERE(N) “iron or steel” = ᴱ√YEREN (QL/36). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon Tolkien had related forms G. ger “ore, metal” and G. geth “ore of metals (esp. raw iron)” (GL/38); the second of these was deleted, which probably means Tolkien selected ᴱ√YEREN over ᴱ√DYEÐE. In any cases, none of these forms appear in later writings, where Tolkien largely used √ANGA for “iron”.

kenye

root. prick

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “prick” (QL/46). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

ŋuarenđā

noun. family

peia

noun. scorn

tegna

adjective. straight

heth·thed·’lon

noun. daisy

keme

root. soil

nele

root. point

lefe

root. half

lehe

root. half

ektī

noun. ektī

ele Speculative

root. ?wonder

A hypothetical early root serving as the basis for Gnomish words having to do with “otherness”, such as G. eleg “other”, G. elfel “different, like something else” and possibly also eltha- “to alter, change”, though the last word seems to have been part of a separate etymological paradigm (GL/32). This collection of words also included G. elm “wonder” and elma- “marvel at, admire”. Similar forms appeared in the 1920s: ᴱN. elvennai “wonderful, marvelous” and ᴱN. elven “wonder, wonderment”, the latter with a Qenya cognate ᴱQ. elmenda (PE13/143, 161).

Some of this sense of wonderment may have resurfaced in the root √EL in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60, where Tolkien said of ELE that “according to Elvish legend this was a primitive exclamation, ‘lo! behold!’ made by the Elves when they first saw the stars” (WJ/360). On this basis, I think it worth concocting an extended Neo-Eldarin root ᴺ√ELEM “wonder, marvel” to salvage the “wonder” words from the 1920s. It might also be worthwhile to concoct an extended root ᴺ√ELEK “different, strange; other” to salvage Gnomish “other” words from the 1910s, but that one is more of a stretch and I no longer recommend its use. Neologisms based on later roots serve better for that purpose.

ewe

root. *lamb

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s serving at the basis for the word ᴱQ. eule “lamb” (QL/36). It is likely also the basis for G. iol “lamb” (GL/51) given how [[g|[eu], [iu] became [io] or [iu]]] in Gnomish (PE15/13). These words might be salvaged for purposes of Neo-Eldarin using a (hypothetical) root ✱√EW(EL), though the Neo-Sindarin word for “lamb” would need to become ᴺS. ŷl to reflect Sindarin phonology.

sṇtṇ

root. esteem

The root ᴱ√SṆTṆ “esteem” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives ᴱQ. santa “dear, beloved” and ᴱQ. sinte “esteem; estimate, computation” (QL/85). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing, but I think it is worth positing a Neo-Root ᴺ√SINIT for “esteem” and “estimate” words.

vaẏa

root. enfold, wind about

@@@ update Gnomish derivatives to reflect final ɣʷ

kantya

noun. edge

ʒirdǝ

noun. entrails, bowels

ilu

root. ether, the slender airs among the stars

kili

root. edge

lapa

root. enfold

mata

root. eat

noho

root. extended

ƕen+u Reconstructed

root. *poison

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s given as ᴱ√HEN+U with derivatives having to do with poison (QL/40). Many of the Qenya derivatives begin with f, such as ᴱQ. heno “venom, poison” beside feno and ᴱQ. fent “serpent”, versus ᴱQ. henuva “venomous, poisonous”. Thus I think the true root may have been ᴱ√ǶEN+U or it at least had such a variant, since [[eq|initial and intervocalic ƕ [xʷ] became f]] in Early Qenya. Its Gnomish cognates likewise mostly began with f, such as G. fem “venom” and G. fenog “venomous” (GL/34). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

muru

root. slumber

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “slumber”, with derivatives like ᴱQ. murme “slumber, sleep” and ᴱQ. muru- “to slumber” (QL/63). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon it had derivatives like G. maur “a dream, vision” and G. murtha- “dream” (GL/57-58). In Tolkien’s later writing sleep and dream words were mostly derived from √LOR.

tołᵂo

root. [unglossed]

An unglossed root in The Qenya Phonology of the 1910s illustrating a hypothetical series of ancient lateral approximants, with derived roots like ᴱ√TOLO and ᴱ√TOẆO [with ẇ = ɣʷ] (PE12/16). The former appeared in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon as the basis for island words (QL/94), but the latter appeared nowhere else in Early Qenya writings.

usu

root. get out, escape

The root ᴱ√USU⁽⁾ appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with the gloss “get out, escape” and derivatives like ᴱQ. usu- “he escapes” and ᴱQ. uswe “issue, outlet, escape” (QL/98). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon it had derivatives like G. us(ta)- “leave, depart” and G. uthwen “way out, exit; escape” (GL/75), the latter hinting that the root form may have been a blending with ✱ᴱ√UÞU. I think it is worth positing a Neo-Eldarin root ᴺ√UTH to salvage these early words for “escape”.

aka

root. *intensive, excessive

A root in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s whose derivatives have to with “extreme” and “excessive“ (GL/17). It’s probably related to the intensive prefix ᴱQ. aka- from the 1920s Early Qenya Grammar (PE14/81). Given the differences in later intensive prefixes and its clash with other roots like 1930s ᴹ√AK “narrow” and (Sindarin only) √AK “hostile return”, it is unlikely this root remained valid in Tolkien’s later conception of the languages.

gwini

root. sparkle

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with variant forms ᴱ√GWIMI and ᴱ√GWINI and glossed “sparkle” (QL/104). They had derivatives in both Qenya and Gnomish such as ᴱQ. wimpele “a twinkling”, ᴱQ. wintil “a glint”, G. gwim “a spark, wink”, and G. gwinc “a spark, flash” (QL/104, GL/45). There are no signs of these roots in Tolkien’s later writing.

koho

root. undergo, endure

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “undergo, endure”, with most of its derivatives having to do with patience, such as ᴱQ. kóle “passivity, endurance, patience” and ᴱQ. kóleva “passive” (QL/47).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think these early words may be reimagined as derivatives of √KOL “bear”.

mili

root. *seed

An unglossed root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. mile “seed” and ᴱQ. milnar(wa) “sown field” (QL/61). The root ᴱ√mil was also given as the basis for G. mail “flour” in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon, though this Gnomish word was marked with a “?” (GL/56). There are no signs of this root having similar meanings in Tolkien’s later writing.

oho

root. *egg

An unglossed root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives ᴱQ. ohte “egg” and ᴱQ. oi “bird, hen”; Tolkien speculated it was in fact the same root as ᴱ√OHO “cry” (QL/69). G. och “egg” from the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon is clearly related (GL/62), and probably also G. uil “hen” and G. uitha- “lay eggs, nest” given than they appear adjacent to uith “eggs”, the plural of och (GL/74). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing, but I think it is worth retaining in Neo-Eldarin as ᴺ√OKH.

omo

root. all, every

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “all, every”, with derivatives like ᴱQ. oma “everywhere”, ᴱQ. ompa “each; all, every” and various words for omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence (QL/70). In Tolkien’s later writing these senses were assigned to √IL.

qṛðṛ

root. *wicked, evil

An unglossed root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with variants ᴱ√QṚŘṚ [QṚÐṚ] and ᴱ√QARA [marked with a “?”] as well as derivatives ᴱQ. qarda “bad” and ᴱQ. qarka “perverse, naughty” (QL/78). The root was also mentioned in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon as qṛđ with derivatives like G. curdhu “sin, wickedness, evil” and G. cwarth “evil, bad, wicked” (GL/28). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

saw̯a

root. [unglossed]

An unglossed root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/82), which may have reemerged as √SAWA “disgusting, foul, vile” in notes from the 1950s (PE17/172, 183).

sivi

root. [unglossed]

Unglossed roots in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with variants ᴱ√SIVI and ᴱ√SIWI and a single unglossed derivative ᴱQ. sivilda (QL/84). It is difficult to guess what Tolkien intended for these forms to mean, though they conceivably reemerged as the later roots ᴹ√SIW “excite, egg on, urge” (Ety/SIW) or √SIB “rest, quiet” (VT44/35).

suku

root. *sweet

The root ᴱ√SUKU⁽²⁾ appeared unglossed in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. suksa “sweet” and ᴱQ. sutya- “sweeten, soothe” (QL/87). A parenthetical comment indicated that ᴱ√ÐUKU might be the true root form. There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

taða

root. *hedge, fence, enclosure

An unglossed root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, previously given as [deleted] ᴱ√TAŘA “chevaux de frise” (a fortification of wooden spikes), with derivatives like ᴱQ. tanda “hedge, fence, enclosure; border, rim”, ᴱQ. tarasse “hawthorn”, and ᴱQ. tarwa “garden, enclosure” (QL/87, 89). It also had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. tadhos “hawthorn”, G. tand “enclosure, garden”, and G. tath “hedge, fence” (GL/68). I think it is worth positing a Neo-Root ᴺ√TAD “enclosure” to salvage some of these early words.

toko

root. feel with the hand, handle; appraise, tax, assess, assay; try, test, essay, endeavour

This root appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “feel with the hand, handle; appraise, tax, assess, assay; try, test, essay, endeavour” with the verb ᴱQ. toko- of the same meaning and ᴱQ. tókele “handling” (QL/94). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing. I think it is worth retaining a Neo-Root ᴺ√TOK “appraise, tax, assess, assay”, but the sense “handle” is better addressed by the later root √MAH or √MAƷ (PE17/163) and for “try” I’d use √RIK (PE17/93).

uqu

root. wet

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “wet”, with derivatives like ᴱQ. úqa “wet” and ᴱQ. úqil “rain” (QL/98). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon it had derivatives like G. ub⁽⁾ “wet” and G. uch “rain” (GL/74). In later writings Tolkien used different roots for “wet”.

ṇqṇ

root. *ear

This was listed as two distinct unglossed roots in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, ᴱ√(U)ṆQ(U)Ṇ¹ and ᴱ√(U)ṆQ(U)Ṇ², the former having derivatives related to hooks, loops or handles, and the latter having derivatives having to do with ears, but Tolkien speculated that the two may have been originally the same, and I think that’s probably his intent (QL/98). Tolkien compared the second root to ᴱ√TṆQṆ “hear” (QL/93, 98). The only obvious derivative of any of these roots from the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon was G. unc “ear, handle (of a jar)”, which likewises points to a common root (GL/75). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

ī

root. be

alakya-

verb. to shield, ward off, protect

atak-

verb. to build, establish

atāqa

verb. to build, establish

kapa-

verb. to leap

kar-

verb. to make

mat-

verb. to eat

mtā

noun. cheek

nindyā

adjective. blue

niqi

root. white

ornĕ

noun. tree

oso

root. *enclosure

saχ[a]

noun. fire

sōđā

noun. house

toẇo

root. [unglossed]

voro

root. *ever, always

ʒaldá

adjective. wide, broad

-yǝ

suffix. [unglossed]

aı̯·ind

noun. birds nest

gwṛðṛ

root. die

imi

root. same, alike

kasa

root. head

laha

root. *open, extend

liya

root. unite many as one

mala

root. yellow

maẏa

root. *excessive

mḷkḷ

root. possess

noro

root. run, go smoothly, ride, spin

nā

root. be, exist

ou̯a

noun. the sea

qala

root. die

sapa

root. dig, excavate

suhyu

root. air, breath, exhale, puff

ō

root. be, exist

ʒara

root. spread, extend sideways; wide places

ṇðṇ

root. stretch, extend

ẇaða

root. dwell

ara

root. spread, extend sideways

ataqa-

verb. to build, establish

aða

root. stretch, extend

baẏa

root. *enfold

nřn

root. stretch, extend

sisi

root. singe, etc.

tḷkḷ

root. [unglossed]

ðapa

root. dig, excavate

foto Speculative

root. end, final, last

A hypothetical early root to explain Gnomish words such as G. fod “end, butt, bottom” and G. fodra “the last, latest, endmost” (GL/35). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writings.

þoro Reconstructed

root. eagle

iti Speculative

root. precious

A hypothetical root to explain words in the Gnomish Lexicon such as G. idra “dear, valued, precious” and G. idril “sweetheart”, the latter being the earliest etymology of the name G. Idril (GL/50). For the later etymologies of this name and the possible conceptual evolution of the root, see the entries for √IR “desire” and √IT “glitter, shine, shimmer, twinkle”.

þisi Reconstructed

root. singe, etc.

The root ᴱ√SISI “singe, etc.” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives ᴱQ. sisi- “scorch, singe, fry” and ᴱQ. sisin “parched, scorched” (QL/84). Its derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon were words like G. thisin “parched, withered” and G. thith “dust” (GL/73), indicating an actual root form ✱ᴱ√ÞISI.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin I think it is worth positing a Neo-Root ᴺ√THITH to salvage some of these early words; ᴺ√THITH is better than ✱ᴺ√THIS if we wish retain Early Qenya forms, as otherwise they would become sir- rather than sis-.

aya(la) Speculative

root. lake

wasa Speculative

root. juice

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.

miqi

root. kiss

The root ᴱ√MIQI “kiss” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. miq- “to kiss” and ᴱQ. miqele “kissing” (QL/61). Derivatives also appeared in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. mib “a little kiss, a peck” and G. mictha- “kiss, bill” (GL/57). The word ᴱQ. miqilitse “little or tender kiss” appeared in the ᴱQ. Nieninqe poem from the 1920s (MC/215; PE16/90, 92). Tolkien created a new version of this poem in 1955 and reused many of the same words, including Q. mikwi- “kiss” and Q. miquelis “(soft, sweet) kiss” (PE16/96); the latter also appeared as ᴹQ. miqilis “kiss” in the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s (PE21/33). These later examples support the ongoing validity of this root, perhaps as ✱√MIKW.

tṃpṃ

root. build

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “build”, with derivatives ᴱQ. tump- “build”, ᴱQ. tumpo “shed”, and ᴱQ. tampo “well” (QL/93). It was likely related to ᴱ√TAMA “(beat) smelt, forge” (QL/88), as further evidenced by ᴱ✶tṃp- “beat” > ᴱQ. tump- in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s (PE14/58). It thus may have reemerged in the later root √TAM “construct” from the late 1960s (PE17/107).

ðana

root. day

A primitive form in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives meaning “day” (GL/38). There were a variety of different roots for “day” in later writings such ᴹ√AR or √UR.

alchwa

noun. swan

dak-

verb. to slay

m(b)ṇðṇ

root. bind

mẓđē

noun. mist

qṇtā́

adjective. full

kolo

root. *point

oho

root. cry

roto

root. hollow

taqa

root. fashion

tyulu

root. tall

ukko

noun. rain

vī

root. as

ṇ̄dai

adverb. far away

ẏuru

root. run

vo(no) Reconstructed

root. son

hotho

root. bind

mī

root. in