An “adjective referring to the stars” mentioned in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60, hence “✱of the stars” or “✱stellar” (WJ/362), replacing the more ancient adjective form ✶elenā which after various sound changes became confused with Q. Elda “Elf” (WJ/360, 362). As a proper name, Q. Elenya happens to be the Elvish name for “Saturday”, more literally “✱Star-day” (LotR/1110).
Quenya
elenya
stellar
elenya
adjective. adjective referring to the stars, *of the stars, stellar
Cognates
- S. Eledh “Elf” ✧ WJ/362
Derivations
Element in
- Q. Elenya “Saturday, *Star-day”
Elements
Word Gloss elen “star” -ya “adjective suffix” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶elenā > elenya [elenjā] > [elenja] ✧ WJ/360
elenya
noun. Saturday, *Star-day
Cognates
- S. Orgilion “*Star-day, Saturday” ✧ LotR/1110
Elements
Word Gloss elenya “adjective referring to the stars, *of the stars, stellar”
elena
of the stars
elena adj. "of the stars" (SA:êl, elen); also elenya
elda
of the stars
elda 1. originally adj. "of the stars", but wholly replaced (WJ:362) by: 2. noun (Elda) = one of the people of the Stars, (high-)elf, an Elf (SA:êl, elen, Letters:281, ELED, ÉLED; notice that Tolkien abandoned a former etymology with "depart"), chiefly in the pl. Eldar (WJ:362, cf. GAT(H), TELES).The primitive form Tolkien variously cited as ¤eledā / elenā(Letters:281, PE17:152) and ¤eldā(WJ:360). Partitive pl. Eldali (VT49:8), gen. pl. Eldaron (WJ:368, PM:395, 402);dative pl.eldain "for elves", for Eldar (FS); possessive sg. Eldava "Elf's" (WJ:407); possessive pl. Eldaiva (WJ:368), Eldaivë governing a plural word (WJ:369). The word Eldar properly refers to the non-Avari Elves only, but since Eldar rarely had any contact with the Avari, it could be used for "elves" in general (in LT1:251, Elda is simply glossed "Elf"). See also Eldo. The plural form Eldar should not require any article when the reference is to the entire people; i Eldar refers to a limited group, "(all) the Elves previously named"; nevertheless, Tolkien in some sources does use the article even where the reference seems to be generic (i Eldar or i-Eldar, VT49:8).
elenya adj. *"stellar" (only defined as an adjective referring to stars by Tolkien) (WJ:362). Cf. Elenya, name of the first day of the Eldarin six-day week, dedicated to the stars (Appendix D).