Quendi

zF2% noun. elves

Quendi "Elves" as a race (analogical sg. quendë, not much used) (WJ:361;SA:quen-/quet-, WJ:372, KWEN(ED), spelt "qende, Qendi" in Etym). Gen. pl. Quendion (PM:395)

Quendingoldo

elves

Quendingoldo masc. name, apparently compound of Quendi "Elves" and -ngoldo "Noldo", Sindarin Pengolodh, a loremaster of Gondolin. (PM:401, 404-405, VT48:5) Shorter form Quengoldo (PM:404, VT48:14)

laiquendi

collective name. Green-elves

Name for the Nandor of Beleriand meaning “Green-elves” (S/96), a compound of laica “green” and the plural of Quendë “Elf”. In one place (WJ/385), Tolkien said this name was not much used.

Conceptual Development: The earliest form of this name was ᴹQ. Laiqeldar (SM/270), because at the time Tolkien used Eldar as a generic term for Elves. This version contained an earlier Quenya word for “green”: ᴹQ. laiqa. The name changed to ᴹQ. Laiqendi when Tolkien revised his naming scheme for Elves (LR/176, Ety/LÁYAK). The name retained this form into the published version of The Silmarillion, despite the change of ᴹQ. laiqa >> Q. laica (PE17/84), though later it could have derived the “qu” from the element Quendë.

-li

the elves

-li partitive pl. ending (simply called a plural suffix in the Etymologies, stem LI). The ending is used to indicate a plural that is neither generic (e.g. Eldar "the Elves" as a race) nor definite (preceded by article); hence Eldali is used for "some Elves" (a particular group of Elves, when they are first mentioned in a narrative, VT49:8). Sometimes Tolkien also lets -li imply a great number; in PE17:129, the form falmalinnar from _Namárië _is broken down as falma-li-nnar "foam wave-many-towards-pl. ending", and falmali by itself Tolkien translated "many waves" (PE17:73). A distinct accusative in -lī seems to occur in the phrase an i falmalī (PE17:127, apparently meaning the same as i falmalinnar, but replacing the allative ending with a preposition). Genitive -lion in vanimálion, malinornélion (q.v. for reference), allative -linna and -linnar in falmalinnar, q.v. The endings for other cases are only known from the Plotz letter: possessive -líva, dative -lin, locative -lissë or -lissen, ablative -lillo or -lillon, instrumental -línen, "short locative" -lis. When the noun ends in a consonant, r and n is assimilated before l, e.g. Casalli as the partitive pl. of Casar "Dwarf" (WJ:402), or elelli as the partitive pl. of elen "star" (PE17:127). It is unclear whether the same happens in monosyllabic words, or whether a connecting vowel would be slipped in before -li (e.g. ?queneli or ?quelli as the partitive pl. of quén, quen- "person").

Calaquendi

noun. Elves of the Light

Elves of the Light

Calaquendi

elves of the light, light-elves

Calaquendi pl. noun "Elves of the Light, Light-elves" (SA:kal-, SA:quen-/quet-, WJ:361, WJ:373); spelt Kalaqendi in Etym (KAL). Sg. *Calaquendë.

Eldanyárë

history of the elves

Eldanyárë noun "History of the Elves" (LR:199, there with the definite article: I·Eldanyárë). See nyárë.

Hecel

land of forsaken elves

Hecel ("k") (Heceld-, e.g. pl. Heceldi, WJ:371), noun with same meaning as hecil, q.v., but reformed to match Oarel, especially applied to the Eldar left in Beleriand. Helcelmar and Heceldamar *"Land of Forsaken Elves", the name used by the loremasters of Aman for Beleriand. (WJ:365)

Laiquendi

green-elves

Laiquendi noun "Green-elves", not much used (translated from Sindarin Laegil, Laegelrim) (WJ:385, SA:quen-/quet-, LÁYAK; spelt "Laiqendi" in the latter source)

Laiquendi

noun. Green Elves

Green Elves

Lembi

elves remaining behind

Lembi noun "Elves remaining behind" = Telerin Ilkorins (LEB/LEM, PE17:143). Sg. #Lembë. Also called Úamanyar.

Moriquendi

noun. Elves of the Dark

Elves of the Dark

Nanar

green-elves, *danians

Nanar pl. noun "Green-elves, *Danians", sg. *Nana (DAN)

Nandor

noun. Danian Elves

Danian Elves

Quendelië

the people of the elves

Quendelië ("q")noun *"the People of the Elves" (KWEN(ED) )

Quenderin

quendian, belonging to the elves as a whole

Quenderin adj."Quendian, belonging to the Elves as a whole" (a learned word) (WJ:407). The phrase quenderinwë coar "Elvish bodies" (PE17:175) presupposes a longer form *quenderinwa, here attested in the pl.

Sindar

noun. Grey-elves

Grey-elves

Tareldar

high-elves

Tareldar pl. noun "High-elves" (MR:349), sg. #Tarelda

avamanyar

collective name. Elves who would not go to Aman

Another name of the Avari meaning “Elves who would not go to Aman”. This term was coined to distinguish them from the Úmanyar “Elves who did not go to Aman, but not because they refused” (that is, the Sindar). It is a combination of Amanyar (“Elves of Aman”) with the prefix ava- for refusal. Unlike the other elaborations of Amanyar, this term appears in the singular in at least one place: avamanya “not (willing to go to) Aman” (PE17/143).

hanu

male (of men or elves), male animal, man

hanu noun "a male (of Men or Elves), male animal, man" (3AN, VT45:16)

hrondo

corporeal form or body (especially of the elves)

hrondo noun "a corporeal form or body (especially of the Elves)" (PE17:183). Tolkien replaced this word by hroa, q.v.

tareldar

collective name. High-elves

A term for the “Elves who were in or who ever had dwelt in Aman” (MR/349). As such, it was equivalent to the (less arrogant sounding) term Amanyar. This name is a compound of tar- “high” and the plural of Elda “Elf”. This name appeared in The Silmarillion index (SI/Eldar) but not in The Silmarillion itself, though the English term “High Elves” appeared frequently in Tolkien’s writing.

tarquendi

high-elves

tarquendi ("q")noun "High-elves" = Lindar (= the later Vanyar; Tolkien revised the names) Sg. #tarquendë (TĀ/TA3)

úmaneldi

non-aman elves

Úmaneldi noun *"Non-Aman Elves", Elves who never dwelt in Aman (= Úmanyar) (WJ:373). Sg. #Úmanel, #Úmaneld-.

alamanyar

collective name. (Elves) Not of Aman

An earlier version of Úmanyar, differing only in its use of the prefix al(a)- for negation instead of ú- (MR/170). In some late notes from 1967-69, Tolkien considered restoring this form (PE21/72; PE22/156).

eldanyárë

proper name. History of the Elves

A title for the history of Elvenkind, an alternate title to The Silmarillion (MR/143). This name is a compound of Elda “Elf” and nyárë “history”.

Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Eldanyáre first appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/199).

eldar sindar

Grey Elves

quenelya

adjective. of the Elves

sindar eldar

Grey Elves

-ya

elvish

-ya (5) adjectival ending, as in the word Quenya "Elvish" itself; when added to a verbal stem it may derive a kind of short active participle, as in melumatya "honey-eating" (mat- "eat"), saucarya "evil-doing" (car- "do"). (PE17:68)

minquë

cardinal. eleven

minquë ("q") cardinal "eleven" (MINIK-W, LT1:260, VT48:4, 6, 8, VT49:57). Not to be confused with minquë as the pa.t. of miqu- "to kiss", q.v. Etymology discussed, VT48:7, 8 (where the unorthodox spelling "minkwe" occurs besides "minque").

minquë

cardinal. eleven

Eldalië

the elven-folk

Eldalië noun "the Elven-folk" (often used vaguely to mean all the race of Elves, though it properly did not include the Avari) (WJ:374, ÉLED; possessive Eldaliéva in the name Mindon Eldaliéva, q.v.) "Qenya" genitive in -n in Eldalien as part of the title Quenta Eldalien "History of the Elves" (SD:303).

Ingwë

chief

Ingwë masc. name, "chief", name of the "prince of Elves" _(PM:340, ING, WEG, VT45:18). Pl. Ingwer "Chieftains", what the Vanyar called themselves (so in PM:340, but in PM:332 the plural has the more regular form Ingwi). Ingwë Ingweron "chief of the chieftains", proper title of Ingwë as high king (PM:340)_. In the Etymologies, Ingwë is also said to be the name of a symbol used in writing: a short carrier with an i-tehta above it, denoting short i (VT45:18).

Nurquendi

gnomes

Nurquendi ("q")noun "Gnomes" (lit. *"Deep Elves"), sg. *Nurquendë (NŪ)

Telellë

little elf

Telellë noun "little elf" (also Teler); the Telelli are said to be "young Elves of all clans who dwelt in Kôr to perfect their arts of singing and poetry" (LT1:267; see Teler)

aman

blessed, free from evil

aman adj. "blessed, free from evil". Adopted and adapted from Valarin (WJ:399), though in other versions Tolkien cited an Elvish etymology (cf. VT49:26-27). Place-name Aman the Blessed Realm, from the stem mān- "good, blessed, unmarred" (SA:mān), translated "Unmarred State" (VT49:26). Allative Amanna (VT49:26). Adj. amanya "of Aman, Amanian" (WJ:411), nominal pl. Amanyar "those of Aman", Elves dwelling there (with negations Úamanyar, Alamanyar "those not of Aman"). Also fuller Amaneldi noun "Aman-elves" (WJ:373).Masc. name Amandil *"Aman-friend" (Appendix A, SA:mān), the father of Elendil; also name of the Númenorean king Tar-Amandil (UT:210).

avar

recusant, one who refuses to act as advised or commanded

avar noun "recusant, one who refuses to act as advised or commanded"; pl. Avari Elves that refused to join in the westward march to Aman (WJ:371, singular Avar in WJ:377 and VT47:13, 24).The Etymologies gives Avar or Avaro, pl. Avari "Elves who never left Middle-earth or began the march" (AB/ABAR)

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).

in

the

i (1) "the", indeclinable definite article (I, Nam, RGEO:67, Markirya, WJ:369, WJ:398, MC:215, 216, 221). A variant in (q.v.) is also attested. Hyphenated i- in i-mar "the earth" (FS), i-Ciryamo "the mariner's" (UT:8), i-aldar "the trees" (Narqelion), attached with a dot in i·yulmar "the cups" (VT48:11), I·Eldanyárë "the History of the Elves" (LR:199), i·arya *"the best" (PE17:57), directly prefixed with no hyphen or dot in icilyanna = i cilyanna in SD:247, also ihyarma "the left hand" in VT49:22 (but i hyarma in other versions of the same text).

ingwë

masculine name. Chief

Lord of the first tribe of the Elves and the high king of Elvenkind (S/52, 62). His name is ancient and its original meaning is unclear, but it is sometimes translated as “Chief”, and is interpreted as a combination of the root √ING “first, foremost” and the suffix -wë common in ancient names (PM/340).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this character was first named ᴱQ. Ing, but this was soon changed to ᴱQ. Inwe (LT1/22). The form become ᴹQ. Ingwe in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/13, LR/214), and the derivation for Ingwë discussed above had already emerged in The Etymologies (Ety/ING, WEG).

lambë

tongue, language

lambë noun "tongue, language" (the usual word for 'language' in non-technical use) (WJ:368, 394, ÑGAL/ÑGALAM), "the language or dialect of a particular country or people...never used for 'language' in general, but only for particular forms of speech" (VT39:15); also name of tengwa #27 (Appendix E). (In early "Qenya", lambë was defined as "tongue" of body, but also of land, or even = "speech" [LT2:339]. In LotR-style Quenya lambë only means "tongue = speech", whereas the word for a physical tongue is lamba.) Lambë Valarinwa "Valarin tongue" (WJ:397), lambë Quendion "the language of the Elves" (PM:395), Lambengolmor pl. noun "Loremasters of Tongues", a school founded by Fëanor (WJ:396); sg. #Lambengolmo. Spelt Lambeñgolmor in VT48:6.

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)

nyárë

tale, saga, history

nyárë noun "tale, saga, history". Compounded in Eldanyárë "History of the Elves", lumenyárë "history, chronological account" (NAR2, LR:199). Compare nyarië, nyarna.

quenta

tale

quenta ("q")noun "tale" (KWET), "narrative, story" (VT39:16); Quenta Silmarillion "the Story/Tale of the Silmarils", also Quenta Eldalien "History of the Elves" (SD:303), notice "Qenya" genitive in -n in the latter title. Quenta is also translated "account", as in Valaquenta "Account of the Valar".

sinda

grey

sinda (þ) adj. "grey" (PE17:72); nominal pl. Sindar used = "Grey-elves", lit. *"Grey ones"; see WJ:375. Gen. pl. Sindaron in WJ:369. With general meaning "grey" also in Sindacollo > Singollo "Grey-cloak, Thingol" (SA:thin(d), PE17:72; see also sindë, Sindicollo);†sindanórië "grey land", ablative sindanóriello "from/out of a grey country" (Nam); the reference is to a "mythical region of shadows lying at outer feet of the Mountains of Valinor" (PE17:72). However, other sources give sindë (q.v.) as the Quenya word for "grey"; perhaps sinda came to mean primarily "Grey-elf" as a noun. Derived adjective Sindarin "Grey-elven", normally used as a noun to refer to the Grey-elven language. (Appendix F)

urco

orc

urco ("k"), stem *urcu- and pl. urqui, noun: an old word used in the lore of the Blessed Realm for anything that caused fear to the Elves during the March; by the Exiled Noldor the word was recognized as the cognate of Sindarin orch and used to mean "Orc". The Sindarin-influenced form orco was also used. (WJ:390)

vanima

beautiful, fair

vanima adj. "beautiful, fair" (BAN, VT39:14) (glossed "proper, right, fair" in early "Qenya", LT1:272, though a later source says the word is used "only of living things, especially Elves and Men", PE17:150); nominal pl. vanimar "beautiful ones", partitive pl. genitive vanimálion, translated "of beautiful children", but literally meaning *"of [some] beautiful ones") (LotR3:VI ch. 6, translated in Letters:308). Arwen vanimalda "Beautiful Arwen", literally "Arwen your beauty" (see -lda for reference; changed to Arwen vanimelda in the second edition of LotR; see vanimelda).

úamanyar

those not of aman

Úamanyar noun "those not of Aman" (sg. Úamanya, PE17:143), Elves who did not reach the Blessed Realm (but did leave Cuiviénen with the intention of going there) = Heceldi _(WJ:371). Also Úmanyar and fuller Úmaneldi. (WJ:373)_. Also called Lembi, q.v.

elen

noun. star

The most common Quenya word for “star”, mentioned very frequently, derived from an extended form ✶elen of the root √EL “behold” (PE17/67; WJ/360, 362). Its usual plural form is eleni, but it has an archaic plural †eldi sometimes used in verse, the result of the Ancient Quenya sound whereby [[aq|[ln] became [ld]]] after the ancient plural underwent the Quenya syncope, ✶elenī > AQ. elni; its normal modern plural form eleni was actually a reformation from the singular (PE17/57, 151; WJ/362).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, though in the original entry for the root ᴹ√EL Tolkien said it was poetical and gave variants ellen and elena (Ety/EL).

i

article. the

laica

adjective. green

sinda

adjective. grey

The best known Quenya word for “grey” and an element in a number of names. It is also used as a noun Sinda “Grey Elf”. Tolkien sometimes used a variant form sindë for “grey” (WJ/384; PE17/141; Ety/THIN); see that entry for details.

#turco

chief

#turco (1) noun "chief" (isolated from Turcomund "chief bull", Letters:423). Turco, masc. name, see Turcafinwë.

Aino

god

Aino noun "god", within Tolkien's mythos a synonym of Ainu (but since Aino is basically only a personalized form of aina "holy", hence "holy one", it could be used as a general word for "god") (PE15:72)

Moriquen(de)

noun. dark elf

dark elf

Quende#

noun. Elf

Elf

Quenderin

noun. Quendian

Quendian, name of all Elf-tongues

Quenderin

adjective. Quendian

Quendian

Quenderinwa

adjective. Quendian

Quendian

Sindel

grey-elf

Sindel (þ) (Sindeld-, as in pl. Sindeldi) noun "Grey-elf" = Sinda pl. Sindar, but less common (WJ:384)

Teler

sea-elf

Teler noun "sea-elf", pl. Teleri, general (partitive) pl. Telelli, the third tribe of the Eldar (TELES (MIS) ), also called Lindar.Teleri means "those at the end of the line, the hindmost", (WJ:382 cf. 371), derived from the stem tel- "finish, end, be last" (SA:tel-). The Lindar were so called because they lagged behind on the march from Cuiviénen. In early "Qenya", Teler, also Telellë, was defined "little elf" (LT1:267), but this is hardly a valid gloss in Tolkien's later Quenya.

ainima

blessed, holy (of things)

ainima adj. "blessed, holy (of things)" (PE17:149)

almárëa

blessed

almárëa adj. "blessed". In a deleted entry in Etym, the gloss provided was "bless", but this would seem to be a mistake, since the word does not look like a verb. Another deleted entry agrees with the retained entry GALA that almárëa means "blessed" (GALA, VT45:5, 14)

amanya

blessed

amanya adj. "blessed" (VT49:39, 41)

calwa

beautiful

calwa ("k") adj. "beautiful" (LT1:254)

elen

star

elen noun "star" (SA:êl, elen, EL, VT49:39); pl. eleni (occasionally in verse: eldi) (WJ:362, PE17:127); partitive pl. elelli for elenli (PE17:127), gen. pl. elenion in the phrase Elenion Ancalima "brightest of stars" (LotR2:IV ch. 9; see Letters:385 for translation); elen atta "two stars" (VT49:44), genitive elen atto "of two stars" (VT49:45), eleni neldë "three stars", archaic elenion neldë = "of stars three". Genitive "of 3 stars" = elenion neldë (for archaic elenion neldëo) (VT49:45). Allative elenna "starwards" used as name of Númenor _(Silm; see Elenna)_; ablative pl. elenillor "from stars" in Markirya. **Nai elen siluva ***"may a star shine", VT49:38.

elena

of the stars

elena adj. "of the stars" (SA:êl, elen); also elenya

ezel

green

ezel, ezella adj. "green" (in Vanyarin Quenya only). Adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399)

ezel(la)

adjective. green

hanuvoitë

male

hanuvoitë adj.? "male" (prob. adj. rather than noun; the word as such is not clearly glossed, but connects with hanu "a male") (INI)

hanwa

male

hanwa noun "male" (INI)

hiswa

grey

hiswa (þ) adj. "grey" (KHIS/KHITH, Narqelion)

hróva

dark, dark brown

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

héra

chief, principal

héra adj. "chief, principal" (KHER)

hísië

mist, mistiness

hísië (þ) noun "mist, mistiness" (Nam, SA:hîth, PE17:73), also hísë.

hísë

mist, fog

hísë (þ) (stem #hísi- because of the primitive form ¤khīthi, cf. hísilanya, Hísilómë) (1) noun "mist, fog" (KHIS/KHITH). According to VT45:22, hísë is also the name of Tengwa #11 in the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, but Tolkien would later call #11 harma/aha instead.

hísë

noun. mist, mist, [ᴹQ.] fog, [ᴱQ.] haze; dusk; bleared

A word for “mist” appearing as an element in several names. It is not directly attested in Tolkien’s later writings, but ᴹQ. híse “mist, fog” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶khīthi, indicating a stem form of hísi- [†híþi-] (Ety/KHIS). Its continued appearance in words like Q. Hísilómë “Land of Mist” (S/118) and Q. hísilanya “mist thread” (PE17/60) indicates its ongoing validity.

Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. hīse appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√HISI alongside a variant ᴱQ. histe, but there it was glossed “dusk” (QL/40). In drafts of the Oilima Markirya written circa 1930 it was glossed “haze” (PE16/62) or “mist” (PE16/75; MC/221), but in the final 1931 iteration of the poem it appeared only in the very-loosely translated phrase ᴱQ. úri nienaite híse “a bleared sun”, perhaps literally “✱sun [with a] tearful mist” (MC/214). In the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s it was “mist” (PE21/32) and in The Etymologies of the late 1930s “mist, fog” as noted above, so Tolkien seems to have stuck with the meaning “mist” thereafter.

in

article. the

laica

green

laica (1) adj. "green" (in older sources laiqua) (Letters:282, PE17:159). Laicolassë (laica + #olassë) "green-foliage" (PE17:46), Quenya cognate of Sindarin Laegolas (dialectal form Legolas); compare olassië. Adj. laicalassë "green as leaves", literally "green-leaf" (PE17:56).

laiqua

green

laiqua ("q")adj. "green" (LÁYAK, LT1:267, MC:214), "Qenya" pl. laiquali ("q")(MC:216). Occurs in the phrase laiqua'ondoisen ("q") "green-rocks-upon" (MC:221; this is "Qenya"), Laiqualassë ("q") masc. name "Legolas" (Greenleaf) (LT1:267). Used as noun in the phrase mi laiqua of somebody clad "in green" (PE17:71). In later material, the word for "green" appears as laica, and the cognate of Legolas is said to be Laicolassë, q.v. (PE17:56)

laiqua

adjective. green

lamba

tongue

lamba (1) noun "tongue" (physical tongue, while lambë = "language") (WJ:394, LAB; according to VT45:25, Tolkien first wrote lambe, but as noted, this alternative form is rather used for "tongue" in the sense of "language")

lambe

noun. tongue

lára

blessed

[lára (3) adj. "blessed", also lárëa (VT45:26)]

lómëar

child of gloom

lómëar noun "child of gloom" (pl. evidently Lómëarni) (LT1:255, 259)

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).

lúrëa

dark, overcast

lúrëa adj. "dark, overcast" (LT1:259)

mairëa

beautiful

mairëa adj. "beautiful" (of things made by art) (PE17:163). An alternative (and peculiar) form "mairia" is also implied in the source.

manaitë

blessed

manaitë adj. "blessed" (VT49:41, 42)

manaquenta

blessed

manaquenta adj. "blessed" (VT44:10; see manquë, manquenta)

manna

blessed

manna adj. "blessed" (also mána, q.v.) (VT43:30, VT45:32, VT49:41)

manquë

blessed

manquë, manquenta adj. "blessed" (VT44:10-11; it cannot be ruled out that manquë spelt manque in the source is simply an uncompleted form of manquenta. Whatever the case, Tolkien decided to use the form manaquenta instead, q.v.)

massa

bread

#massa noun "bread" (massamma "our bread", VT43:18); massánië "breadgiver", used as a title of the highest woman among any Elvish people, since she had the keeping and gift of the coimas (lembas). Also simply translated "Lady" (PM:404)

massa

noun. bread

A word for “bread” appearing as massa (VT43/12) or massë (PE17/52) in Tolkien’s later writings, most notably as an element in Q. massánië “breadgiver” (PM/404). It was in competition with, and possibly replaced, the word masta “bread”. The distinction between the two was discussed in notes from 1960s (PE17/52):

> Assume a Primitive Eldarin derivation ✱mbassē “(baked) bread”. The other derivatives were ✱mbasta with short final, an infinitive or verbal noun formation denoting a single action of the stem .. and ✱mbazdā denoting the passive result of the action, and when used substantivally a single product of this: mbazda would thus mean baked or a baked thing ... In Quenya we have masse “bread” as a material, and masta “a cake or loaf” (zd > st).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya I prefer to use massa as the typical word for “bread” rather than massë, to avoid conflict with other words like [ᴹQ.] masse “where”. I would also use masta as a more general word for baked goods, including bread but also other baked things like cakes and loafs.

massë

bread

massë noun "bread" (as a material), variant of massa, q.v. (PE17:52). Notice that *massë has also been extrapolated as a question-word "where?"

massë

noun. bread

masta

noun. bread

miruvor

mead

miruvor, full form miruvórë noun "mead", "a special wine or cordial"; possessive miruvóreva "of mead" (Nam, RGEO:66; WJ:399).In the "Qenya Lexicon", miruvórë was defined "nectar, drink of the Valar" (LT1:261).

mista

grey

mista adj. "grey"; see lassemista

mista

adjective. grey

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).

morĭ

adjective. dark

PQ. dark

mána

blessed

mána 1) adj. "blessed" (FS); also manna, q.v. 2) noun "any good thing or fortunate thing; a boon or blessing, a grace, being esp. used of some thing/person/event that helps or amends an evil or difficulty. (Cf. frequent ejaculation on receiving aid in trouble: yé mána (ma) = what a blessing, what a good thing!)" (VT49:41)

mírya

beautiful

mírya adj. "beautiful" (of work of art only) (PE17:165)

mísë

grey

mísë (þ, cf. Sindarin mith-) adj. "grey" (used as noun of grey clothes in the phrase mi mísë of someone clad "in grey"). The underlying stem refers a paler or whiter "grey" than sinda, making mísë "a luminous grey" (PE17:71-72)

móri

dark

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

noldo

noun. Noldo

Noldo, Gnome

nulla

dark, dusky, obscure

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

nyarna

tale, saga

nyarna noun "tale, saga" (NAR2), compounded in nyarmamaitar noun "storyteller" (PE17:163), literally *"tale-artist" (see maitar).

núla

dark, occult, mysterious

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

orco

orc

orco ("k") noun "Orc", pl. orcor or orqui (WJ:390, ÓROK; pl. Orcor also in WJ:12, MR:74, 194). If the pl. form orqui is preferred, the word should be assigned the stem-form orcu-. Early "Qenya" has orc ("k") (orqu-) ("q") "monster, demon" (LT1:264; in LotR-style Quenya, no word can end in -rc.)

quendë

elf

quendë noun "Elf", the little-used analogical sg. of Quendi, q.v. (KWEN(ED), WJ:361)

quenelya†

adjective. Quendian

Quendian

quentaro

noun. speaker

speaker, reciter, minstrel

quetil

tongue, language

quetil ("q")noun "tongue, language" (KWET)

sindë

grey, pale or silvery grey

sindë (þ) adj. "grey, pale or silvery grey" (the Vanyarin dialect preserves the older form þindë) (WJ:384, THIN; in SA:thin(d) the form given is sinda, cf. also sindanóriello "from a grey country" in Namárië. Sindë and sinda_ are apparently variants of the same word.) _Stem sindi-, given the primitive form ¤thindi; cf. Sindicollo (q.v.)

turco

noun. chief

ulca

adjective. dark

dark, gloomy, sinister

vanima

adjective. beautiful

wenya

green, yellow-green, fresh

wenya adj. "green, yellow-green, fresh" (GWEN), apparently "fair, beautiful" ("probably originally "fresh, fair, unblemished especially of beauty of youth") in a later deleted note (PE17:191).

yén

noun. Elvish long year (144 solar years)

él

star

†él noun "star", pl. éli given (WJ:362, EL)

él

noun. star

An archaic or poetic word for star (WJ/362), somewhat common in compounds but in ordinary speech typically appearing as elen. It was derived directly from the primitive root √EL “behold”, the basis for other star words (PM/340; WJ/360).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as poetical ᴹQ. él “star” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above, though in this document the root ᴹ√EL meant “star” (Ety/EL), a common gloss for the root in later writings as well.

ílë

star

ílë noun "star" (LT1:269; rather elen, él in LotR-style Quenya.)

úmanyar

those not of aman

Úmanyar pl. noun "those not of Aman", Eldar that did not reach Aman, sc. Sindar and Nandor _(SA:mān). _Sg. #Úmanya.Also Úamanyar.

aino

noun. god

Edhelrim

noun. elves

edhel, eledh (“elf”) + rim (collective plural ending)

El(d)rim

noun. elves

el(d) (from CE *eldā- connected or concerned with the stars) + rim (collective plural suffix) Ll-r in secondary contact > ldr, later again simplified.

eledhrim

noun. elves

>> Edhelrim

eledhrim

noun. Elves

elen (“elf”) + rim (collective plural suffix) Dhr is < n-r in secondary contact.

laegel

proper name. Green-elves

A Sindarin term for the Green Elves (WJ/385), a combination of laeg “green” and †Ell “Elf”.

dúnellir

noun. West-Elves

pl1. n. #West-Elves. >> dúneglir

eledh

used for all elves

pl1. elidh, pl2. eledhrim {ð}_ n. _used for all elves. Form obsolete as specific 'tribal' or general, except as element in certain proper-names.Q. elda.

teleir

it became current as a general term to distinguish the Sindar from either the Noldor or the Dark-Elves

pl1. telir, pl2. teleriath, telerwaith _ n. _it became current as a general term to distinguish the Sindar (and usually also the Nandor) from either the Noldor or the Dark-Elves.

(G)ódhellim

noun. deep, wise elves (gnomes)

g (probably taken from Golodh “Noldor”) + ódhel (“deep elf”) + rim (collective plural suffix)

Eglador

noun. land of the Elves (Doriath)

eglan (“elf, Falathrim”) + (n-)dor (“land, dwelling place”)

Emyn Eglain

noun. mountains of forsaken elves

emyn (pl. of amon “hill”) + eglain (pl. of eglan “a forsaken”)

Laegrim (Laegel(d)rim)

noun. green elves

laeg (“fresh and green”) + rim (collective plural suffix)

Ost-in-Edhi

noun. city, fortress of elves

ost (“fortress, city with wall around”) + in (pl. gen. article) + edhil (pl. of edhel “elf”)

abonnen

noun/adjective. man, one born later than the Elves, a human being (elvish name for men)

avar

noun. the Avari, Elves who refused the invitation of the Valar

This plural name was known to the loremasters, but went out of daily use at the time of the Exile

calben

noun. all Elves but the Avari

danwaith

noun. the Nandor (a tribe of Elves)

denwaith

noun. the Nandor (a tribe of Elves), the people of Denwe

edhellen

adjective. elvish, of the Elves

egladhrim

noun. "The Forsaken", Elves of the Falathrim

eglath

noun. "The Forsaken", Elves of the Falathrim

galadhrim

noun. Elves of Lothlórien

galadhrim

noun. wood elves of Lórien

galadh (“tree”) + rim (collective plural suffix)

golodhrim

noun. Deep Elves, Gnomes

golodhrim

noun. Noldor elves

Golodh (“Noldor”) + rim (collective plural suffix)

gódhellim

noun. "Deep Elves" or "Gnomes", the Wise Folk

hithlain

noun. mist-thread (a substance used by the Elves of Lothlórien to make strong ropes)

iathrim

noun. Elves of Doriath

laegeldrim

noun. the people of the Green Elves

laegrim

noun. the people of the Green Elves

lembas

noun. journey bread made by the Elves

mithrim

noun. grey elves

mith (“grey”) + rim (collective plural suffix)

tawarwaith

noun. Silvan elves

telerrim

noun. the Teleri, a tribe of Elves

urug

noun. "bogey", anything that caused fear to the Elves, any dubious shape or shadow, or prowling creature

ódhellim

noun. Deep Elves or Gnomes, the Wise Folk

edhellen

adjective. Elvish

_ adj. _Elvish. annon edhellen edro hi ammen! 'Elvish gate open now for us'. >> edhel

mimp

cardinal. eleven

mimp

cardinal. eleven

_ card. _eleven. Q. minque. >> imp. This gloss was rejected.

minib

cardinal. eleven

minib

cardinal. eleven

Emyn Eglain

place name. Hills of the Forsaken (Elves)

The name Emyn Eglain means "Hills of the Forsaken (Elves)" in Sindarin, from emyn ("hill") and Eglain ("the Forsaken"). The name Eglamar is, as noted by Christopher Tolkien, "one of the oldest names in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium" (for other applications, cf. Eglamar (disambiguation)).

gwanwel

noun. Elves that left Beleriand for Aman (lit. "the departed")

pl. gwenwil; cf. Q vanwa >> gwanwen

gwanwen

noun. Elves that left Beleriand for Aman (lit. "the departed")

pl. gwenwin; cf. Q vanwa >> gwanwel

tawarwaith

silvan elves

Tawarwaith (lit. ”Forest-people”)

tawarwaith

silvan elves

(lit. ”Forest-people”)

aredhel

proper name. Noble Elf

A term for the “Noble Elves”, the Sindar and Noldor, with the variant form Aerel (PE17/139, 141) and draft forms Edaeron, Edaerel, Aeriel (PE17/140). It is a combination of the prefix ar(a)- “noble” and Edhel “Elf”, with its variant using Ell “Elf” instead.

edhel

noun. Elf

_ n. _Elf, a general name for all the Elves (since the name Quendi had gone out of use in Sindarin). Probably related to or connected with Q. Elda. >> edhellen

laegel

noun. green elf

laeg (“fresh and green”) + el (from stem éled- “starfolk, elves”)

tawarwaith

place name. Forest People

A term for the Silvan Elves (UT/256), a combination of tawar “forest” and the lenited form of gwaith “people”.

edhellen

elvish

edhellen (of language apparently = ”Sindarin”), pl. edhellin

minib

cardinal. eleven

minib (VT48:6-8)

edhel

Elf

pl1. edhil, pl2. edhellim {ð} _n. _Elf. A name used by the Sindar for themselves, characterizing other varieties by an adjective or prefix. >> Aredhel, Thinnedhel

Eru

god

(the One) #Eru, isolated from Eruchín** **"children of the One" (= Elves and Men; sg. *Eruchen).

Teler

teler

(member of the Third Clan of the Elves) 1) Teler (i Deler), pl. Telir (i Thelir) or coll. pl. Tellerrim (PM:385). See REAR. 2) glinnel (i **linnel), pl. glinnil** (in glinnil), coll. pl. glinnellath.

eru

god

isolated from Eruchín "children of the One" (= Elves and Men; sg. ✱Eruchen).

laegel

green-elf

pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK: *Lhoebenidh* or *Lhoebelidh*. The Green-elves of Beleriand were also called Lindel (pl. Lindil), also Lindedhel (pl. Lindedhil)  *(WJ:385)*.

edhel

noun. Elf

ell

noun. Elf

i

article. the

@@@ enclytic Dagor-nuin-Giliath vs. Dagor-nui-Ngiliath

golodh

noldo

(one of the Noldor) Golodh (i **Ngolodh = i Ñolodh, o N**golodh = o Ñgolodh), pl. Gelydh (in Gelydh = i Ñgelydh), coll. pl. Golodhrim. While Golodh is the actual Sindarin cognate of Quenya Noldo, the Noldor themselves apparently found this form unpleasing (WJ:379) and preferred the word Gódhel (i **Ódhel), pl. Gódhil (i Ngódhil = i Ñódhil), coll. pl. Gódhellim. Also Ódhel, pl. Ódhil, coll. pl. Ódhelllim** (WJ:364, 378-9). Adj.

golodh

noldo

(i Ngolodh = i Ñolodh, o N’golodh = o Ñgolodh), pl. *Gelydh* (*in Gelydh* = i Ñgelydh), coll. pl. Golodhrim. While Golodh is the actual Sindarin cognate of Quenya Noldo, the Noldor themselves apparently found this form unpleasing (WJ:379) and preferred the word Gódhel (i ’Ódhel), pl. *Gódhil*** (i Ngódhil = i Ñódhil), coll. pl. **Gódhellim. Also Ódhel, pl. Ódhil, coll. pl. Ódhelllim (WJ:364, 378-9). Adj.

Teler

noun. an Elf, one of the Teleri

Thend

Grey-Elf

pl2. thendrim, thennath n. #Grey-Elf. Tolkien notes that in the plural forms "The e is analogical from (rare) sg. thend" (PE17:141).

abonnen

noun/adjective. born later, born after

anu

adjective. male

A literal interpretation of the Etymologies would class this word as a noun, but David Salo notes that the punctuation in The Etymologies is not always reliable. Noldorin anw cannot be cognate to the Quenya noun hanu (3anû) because the final -u would drop. It must rather be cognate to the Quenya adjective hanwa (3anwâ) attested under the stem INI, where it is also stated that inw, corresponding to Quenya inya "female", has been remodelled after anw. The combination of these two entries, along with the phonological evidences, clearly indicates that anw is actually an adjective

aredhel

feminine name. Noble Elf

The commonly known name of Turgon’s sister (S/60) and mother of Maeglin (S/133). Her name is a compound of ar(a)- “noble” and Edhel “Elf”, and thus: “Noble Elf” (WJ/318). She was also (less commonly) known by the sobriquet Ar-Feiniel “White Lady” (S/60).

Conceptual Development: This character dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, first appearing as G. Isfin (LT2/165). At this early stage, her name meant “Snow-locks” or “Exceeding-cunning” (LTA2/Isfin). Tolkien kept this name for a long time, and it appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s as N. Isfin, a compound of N. ist “knowledge” and ON. phinya “skillful”, so: “✱Skillful Knowledge” (Ety/IS, Ety/PHIN).

Over time, this name lost any linguistic significance, until Tolkien became dissatisfied with it. Tolkien experimented with various alternate forms, first Íreth (MR/182), briefly Rodwen “High Virgin Noble” (WJ/317), and later either Aredhel or Ar-Feiniel (WJ/317). In the published version of The Silmarillion, Christopher Tolkien used both of the last two names, but elsewhere he admitted that the two names were in competition to replace Isfin, and that Aredhel seems to have been his father’s final choice (WJ/318).

To avoid the issue, this entry assumes that both Aredhel or Ar-Feiniel were sobriquets and that Íreth was her “true” Sindarin name, derived from her given name Q. Írissë. See S. Íreth for further discussion.

avar

noun. refuser

This plural name was known to the loremasters, but went out of daily use at the time of the Exile

avar

proper name. Refuser

bain

adjective. beautiful, fair

bain

beautiful

_ adj. _beautiful. Q. vanya.

bas(t)

noun. bread

This was the word for “bread” in Sindarin and its conceptual precursors for much of Tolkien’s life, derived from the equally long-lived root √MBAS “bake”. The word dates all the way back to the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s where G. bast “bread” was derived from the early root ᴱ√M(B)ASA “cook, bake” (GL/22). ᴱN. bast “bread” reappeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/138) and appeared again as N. bast “bread” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√MBAS “knead” (Ety/MBAS).

It appeared without a final t in the Sindarin version of the Lord’s Prayer from the 1950s: anno ammen sír imbas ilaurui vín “give us this day our daily bread” (VT44/21). However the t was restored in the phrase penim vast “we have no bread” from around 1959 (PE17/144). The late vacillations on the presence and absence of t are likely connected to Tolkien challenges with the derivation of lembas; see that entry for discussion. Likewise, the mutated forms mbas vs. vast indicate some late uncertainty on whether the primitive form began with mb- or b-.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume the normal form was bast “bread” from ancient mbasta, so that lenited forms show m(b)-. However, I would assume there is a variant bas(s) [< ✶mbassē] that appears occasionally in compounds like lembas.

bass

noun. bread

In the Etymologies, the word for "bread" is given as bast , Quenya masta, but it seems that Tolkien later changed his mind and updated the word to bass, as shown in Quenya massánie, Sindarin besain, besoneth "bread-giver", and in the mutated form (i)mbas (apparently prefixed with the article). These latter Sindarin forms are however dubious, as we would rather have expected bessain (as a regular cognate of Quenya massánie) and bassoneth (without i-affection), and possibly a different mutation pattern after the article

bassoneth

noun. bread-giver

See bass for a discussion regarding this word

besain

noun. bread-giver

See bass for a discussion regarding this word

besoneth

noun. bread-giver

See bass for a discussion regarding this word

bessain

noun. bread-giver

See bass for a discussion regarding this word

calben

noun. Elf of the Great Journey (lit. "light person")

calen

adjective. green

calen

green

(galen) _ adj. _green (fresh, vigorous). galen after a sg. noun. Q. kălina (lit. illumined) sunny, light.

dúath

adjective. dark

_ adj. _dark, black shadow.

dúnedhel

noun. Elf of the West, Elf of Beleriand (including Noldor and Sindar)

dúnelleth

noun. West-Elf

fem. n. #West-Elf. >> -eth

dúnellon

noun. West-Elf

pl1. dúnellyn masc. n. #West-Elf. >> -on

dúnelt

West-Elf

pl1. dúnilt, pl2. dúneldhrim {ð} n. #West-Elf. >> dúnel

dûr

adjective. dark, sombre

dûr

dark

_ adj. _dark, gloomy, 'hellish'.

edhel

noun. Elf

edhel

Elf

{ð} _n. _Elf.

edhel

Elf

d _ n. _Elf. Q. elda.

edhelharn

noun. elf-stone

el

star

n. star.

eledh

noun. Elf

elen

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath _n._star. Its collective plural (pl2.) designates 'the (host of all the) stars, (all) the (visible) stars of the firmament'. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni. o menel aglar elenath ! lit. 'from Firmament glory of the stars !'. >> êl

elen

noun. star

elen

noun. Elf

ell

noun. elf

n. elf, esp. [?in ?the ?South]. Noldorin form.

elleth

noun. elf-maid

ellon

noun. elf

elvellon

noun. elf-friend

gil

noun. star, bright spark

In The Etymologies (Ety/358, corrected by VT/45:15), this word was given as geil , plural gîl. However, later in LotR/E and RGEO/73, Tolkien seems to consider gil as a singular (with no hints in the sources of what the plural would be, besides the collective plural giliath )

gil-

noun. star

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

gill

noun. star

glaer

noun. tale, [N.] long lay, narrative poem, [S.] tale, song

glamhoth

noun. barbaric host of Orcs

glamog

noun. an Orc, "a yelling one"

glinnel

noun. Elf, one of the Teleri

golodh

noun. "Deep Elf" or "Gnome", one of the Wise Folk

gódhel

noun. "Deep Elf" or "Gnome", one of the Wise Folk

hithren

adjective. grey

_ adj. _grey. >> thind

hithren

adjective. grey

hîth

noun. mist, fog

hîth

noun. mist

The Sindarin word for “mist”, an element in many names, derived from the root √KHITH of the same meaning (SA/hîth; PE17/73).

Conceptual Development: N. hîth “mist” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above (Ety/KHIS), though when Tolkien first defined the word, he first wrote (and then deleted) the gloss “fog” (EtyAC/KHIS). In The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road, Christopher Tolkien wrote hith (LR/364), but Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne confirmed that the actual form was hîth in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (VT45/22).

i

definite article. the

i

definite article. who

i

the

pl1. in _ art. _the.

lachend

noun. Deep Elf (Sindarin name for the Ñoldor)

lachenn

noun. Deep Elf (Sindarin name for the Ñoldor)

laeb

adjective. green

_ adj. _green. A theoretical equivalent to Q. laiqua but that did not exist in Sindarin.

laeg

green

_ adj. _green. >> Legolas

laeg

adjective. green

_ adj. _green (of leaves, herbage). Q. laika.

laegel

noun. a Green Elf

lam

noun. physical tongue

lam

tongue

_ n. _tongue. Q. lambe. >> lammen

miniel

noun. an Elf, one of the Vanyar

mith

adjective. (pale) grey

mith

grey

adj. grey, light grey. >> Mithrandir, mithril

mithren

adjective. grey

mithren

adjective. grey

mithrim

mithrim

mithrim

noun. grey cold lake

mith (“grey”) + rimb (“cold pool or lake”)

mornedhel

noun. Dark-Elf

mornedhel

proper name. Dark-elf

A Sindarin term for the Avari, a combination of morn “dark” and Edhel “Elf” (WJ/377), also appearing as Moredhel (PE17/140-141).

narn

noun. a tale or a saga, that is told in verse to be spoken and not sung

narn

noun. tale, tale, [N.] saga

noll

noun. Noldo

orch

Orc

pl1. yrch, pl2. orchoth** ** n. Orc. Nand. ūriſ.

orchoth

noun. the Orcs (as a race)

penedh

noun. Elf

thenn

Grey-Elf

pl1. thinn n. Grey-Elf. Q. thinda, sinda. The form thinn is given with a dagger, indicating an archaic or poetical form.

thennes

noun. Grey-Elf

fem. n. Grey-Elf. >> -es

thenneth

noun. Grey-Elf

fem. n. Grey-Elf. >> -eth

thennon

noun. Grey-Elf

pl1. thennyn masc. n. Grey-Elf. Note the rule on the same page stating that the ending was "after n -or". >> -on

thennor

noun. Grey-Elf

pl1. thennyr masc. n. Grey-Elf.

thin

adjective. grey

adj. grey. Q. sinda. >> thind, Thingol, thinn

thind

adjective. grey, pale

thind

adjective. grey

adj. grey. Q. sinda. >> thin, Thingol, thinn

thind

adjective. grey

_ adj. _grey. Obsolete except in names as Thingol. >> hithren

thind

adjective. grey, grey, [N.] pale

if from þindā, why no a-affection? @@@

thind

Grey-Elf

pl2. thindrim n. #Grey-Elf.

thindeth

noun. Grey-Elf

fem. n. #Grey-Elf. >> -eth

thindon

noun. Grey-Elf

masc. n. #Grey-Elf. >> -on

thinedh

noun. Grey-Elf

{ð} fem. n. #Grey-Elf. >> -eth

thinidh

Grey-Elf

pl2. thinidhrim {ð} n. #Grey-Elf.

thinidhes

noun. Grey-Elf

{ð} fem. n. #Grey-Elf.

thinn

adjective. grey

adj. grey. Q. sinda. >> thin, thind, Thingol

thinn

adjective. grey

_adj. _grey. Q. sinde.

thinn

adjective. grey

urug

noun. Orc (rarely used)

êl

noun. star (little used except in verses)

êl

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath** ** n. star. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni, pl2. elelli. >> elen

êl

noun. star

A Sindarin word for “star” that is largely archaic and poetic, and is mainly used as element in names like Elrond (Let/281; WJ/363; Ety/EL); the more usual word for “star” in ordinary speech was gil (RGEO/65). However, the collective form elenath is still used in common speech to refer to the entire host of stars (WJ/363). The plural of êl is elin, as this word was derived from ancient ✶elen, and the final n that was lost in the singular was preserved in the plural. In some cases Tolkien posited a restored analogical singular elen from the plural form (PE17/24, 67, 139), but this isn’t in keeping with the notion that the word was archaic, so I would ignore this for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: This word and its root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. el “star” was derived from the root ᴹ√EL of similar meaning, but was “only [used] in names” (Ety/EL). It seems Tolkien introduced the root to give a new etymology for names like N. Elrond and N. Elwing, which initially appeared under the root ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” (Ety/ƷEL).

ódhel

noun. Deep Elf or Gnome, one of the Wise Folk

Eglador

place name. Land of the Forsaken

Probably meaning 'Land of the Forsaken', Eglador was the name of the land of Doriath before it was protected by the Girdle of Melian.

aenor

noun. god

A neologism for “a god” opposed to “God” (Eru), based on Gnomish ain. A direct adaptation of the Gnomish form would be aen, but that conflicts with aen “should be”; Fiona Jallings suggested the extended form aenor in a Discord chat in August 2019.

an

to the, for the

(for) + i (the).

anu

male

(adj.) *anu, analogical pl. eny. (Archaic anw, pl. ?einw)

anu

male

analogical pl. eny. (Archaic anw, pl. ?einw)

anu

noun/adjective. male (person or animal)

avar

non-eldarin elf

pl. Evair, also called

bain

beautiful

bain (fair). Lenited vain. No distinct pl. form.

bain

beautiful

(fair). Lenited vain. No distinct pl. form.

bass

bread

bass (i mass, o mbass, construct bas), pl. bais (i mbais). The sg. form with article "imbas" in VT44:23 may be seen as archaic Sindarin, for later *i mas(s) as suggested here. In ”Noldorin”, the word for "bread" was bast (LR:372 s.v. MBAS), but otherwise it would have the same mutations.

bass

bread

(i mass, o mbass, construct bas), pl. bais (i mbais). The sg. form with article "imbas" in VT44:23 may be seen as archaic Sindarin, for later ✱i mas(s) as suggested here. – In ”Noldorin”, the word for "bread" was bast (LR:372 s.v. MBAS), but otherwise it would have the same mutations.

calben

elf of the great journey

(i galben, o chalben), pl. celbin (i chelbin).

calen

green

1) (etymologically "bright") calen (lenited galen), pl. celin (attested in lenited form in the name Pinnath **Gelin, "Green Ridges"). 2) laeg (fresh), no distinct pl. form. (Note: a homophone means ”keen, sharp, acute”.) In the Woodland dialect lêg, whence leg- in the name Legolas** ”Greenleaf” (Lettters:282, 386).

calen

green

(lenited galen), pl. celin (attested in lenited form in the name Pinnath Gelin, "Green Ridges").

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.

dúath

dark shadow

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

dúnedhel

elf of beleriand

(i Núnedhel), pl. *Dúnedhil*** (i Ndúnedhil*). (WJ:378, 386)*

dûr

dark

dûr (sombre), lenited dhûr, pl. duir

dûr

dark

(sombre), lenited dhûr, pl. duir

edhel

elf

edhel (pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). _(WJ:363, 377-78; _the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > Elrim_ _may also occur). But since elin also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.

edhel

elf

(pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). (WJ:363, 377-78; the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > *Elrim*** may also occur). But since elin** also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.

edhelharn

elf-stone

(pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).

elleth

elf-woman

(pl. ellith) (WJ:363-64, 377)

ellon

elf-man

(pl. ellyn)

elvellon

elf-friend

(pl. elvellyn, coll. pl. elvellonnath (WJ:412);

en

of the

e-, genitival article, mostly only used in the singular (in the plural, in or i + nasal mutation is used), though infrequently en is used in the pl. as well. Followed by ”mixed mutation” according to David Salo’s reconstructions.

eru

noun. God

galadhrim

Galadhrim

Galadhrim is a Sindarin name meaning "Tree-people". The name consists of galadh ("tree") + rim(b) ("great number"). See also LotR (50th) p. 341. In the first edition of The Lord of the Rings, Galadhrim was spelt Galadrim. In later editions, this was emended to the former, which Tolkien had decided was the correct Sindarin form.

gilion

of stars

(lenited ngilion; pl. gilioen). Archaic ✱giliaun.

golodhren

of the noldor, noldorin

*(WJ:318; Christopher Tolkien found the ”last letters illigible”, but the context might suggest Golodhrin as a pl. adj. ”Noldorin (ones)”. Lenited Ngolodhren = Ñolodhren*.

graurim

dark people

(VT45:16);

graw

dark

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

graw

dark

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

guldur

dark sorcery

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

gwanwel

elf of aman

(”departed” Elf), pl. gwenwil (in gwenwil), coll. pl. gwanwellath. (WJ:378) Also gwanwen; see

gîl

star

gîl (i ngîl = i ñîl, o n**gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath** (RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

gîl

star

(i ngîl = i ñîl, o n’gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath **(RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. **elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

hithlain

mist-thread

name of a fiber made in Lórien.

hîth

mist

hîth (i chîth) (fog), no distinct pl. form, not even with article (i chîth).

hîth

mist

(i chîth) (fog), no distinct pl. form, not even with article (i chîth).

i

the

: Singular i (+ soft mutation), basically in in the plural, but often loses the n which is then replaced by nasal mutation of the next consonant (e.g. i thîw ”the letters”, compare tîw ”letters”). In this wordlist it is assumed that in becomes idh before a word in r-, as general patterns would seem to suggest. The articles are also used as relative pronouns ”who, which, that” (see THAT). Apparently ”the” sometimes appears as a suffix -n added to a preposition, e.g. be**<u>n</u>** ”according to <u>the</u>”. This suffix is followed by ”mixed mutation” according to David Salos reconstructions.

i

the

(+ soft mutation), basically in in the plural, but often loses the n which is then replaced by nasal mutation of the next consonant (e.g. i thîw ”the letters”, compare tîw ”letters”). In this wordlist it is assumed that in becomes idh before a word in r-, as general patterns would seem to suggest. – The articles are also used as relative pronouns ”who, which, that” (see

laeg

green

(fresh), no distinct pl. form. (Note: a homophone means ”keen, sharp, acute”.) In the Woodland dialect lêg, whence leg- in the name Legolas ”Greenleaf” (Lettters:282, 386). 

laegel

green-elf

laegel, pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. _LÁ

laegel

green-elf

laegel, pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to imply that Tolkien had abandoned the ”Noldorin” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. _LÁ

lam

tongue

(both body-part and = ”dialect, language”) lam (pl. laim, coll. pl. lammath). (WJ:394, 416) Not: lam is also used = ”echo, voice, echoing voice”.

lam

tongue

(pl. laim, coll. pl. lammath). (WJ:394, 416) Not: lam is also used = ”echo, voice, echoing voice”.

lammas

account of tongues

lammen

my tongue

.

lasgalen

leaf-green

(pl. lesgelin).

lefn

elf left behind

pl. lifn.

lembas

way-bread, journey-bread

pl. lembais.

main

chief

(adj.) main (lenited vain; pl. mîn) (prime, prominent) (VT45:15)

main

chief

(lenited vain; pl. mîn) (prime, prominent) (VT45:15)

miniel

first elf

(i Viniel), pl. Mínil (i Mínil), coll. pl. Miniellath. (WJ:383)

mith

wet mist

(i vith) (white fog), 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

grey

(lenited vith; no distinct pl. form). David Salo would read mîth with a long vowel. Note: a homophone means ”white fog, wet mist”.

mithren

grey

1) *mithren (lenited vithren, pl. mithrin). 2) thind (pale); no distinct pl. form. 3) (pale grey) mith (lenited vith; no distinct pl. form). David Salo would read mîth with a long vowel. Note: a homophone means ”white fog, wet mist”.

mithren

grey

(lenited vithren, pl. mithrin).

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)

mornedhel

dark elf

Mornedhel (i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: Mernedhil. (WJ:409). Also Duredhel (i Dhuredhel), pl. Duredhil (i Núredhil), also called Durion (i Dhurion), *"dark son", pl. Duryn (i Nuryn), coll. pl. Durionnath.

mornedhel

dark elf

Mornedhel (i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: ?Mernedhil. (WJ:409) Another term for ”Dark Elf” is Dúredhel (i Dhúredhel), pl. Dúredhil (i Núredhil).

mornedhel

dark elf

(i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: Mernedhil. (WJ:409). Also Duredhel (i Dhuredhel), pl. Duredhil (i Núredhil), also called Durion (i Dhurion), ✱"dark son", pl. Duryn (i Nuryn), coll. pl. Durionnath.

mornedhel

dark elf

(i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: ?Mernedhil. **(WJ:409) Another term for ”Dark Elf” is Dúredhel (i Dhúredhel), pl. Dúredhil (i Núredhil**).

môr

dark

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

môr

dark

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

n

that

added to a preposition, e.g. ben ”according to the”.  This suffix is followed by ”mixed mutation” according to David Salo’s reconstructions.

narn

tale

1) narn (saga; versified tale to be spoken rather than sung), pl. nern**; 2) pent (i bent, o phent) (story), pl. pint (i phint), coll. pl. pennath; 3) trenarn (i drenarn, o threnarn) (account), pl. trenern (i threnern); 4) gwanod (i **wanod) (number), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd).

narn

tale

(saga; versified tale to be spoken rather than sung), pl. *nern***; 2) pent (i** bent, o phent) (story), pl. pint (i** phint), coll. pl. pennath; 3) trenarn (i** drenarn, o threnarn) (account), pl. trenern (i** threnern); 4) gwanod (i ’wanod) (number), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd**).

orch

orc

orch (pl. yrch**, archaic †yrchy, coll. pl. orchoth). (RGEO:66, Names:171, Letters:178, MR:195; WJ:390-91, VT46:7). Other terms: 1) urug (monster, bogey), pl. yryg, 2) glamog (i **lamog), pl. glemyg (in glemyg) (WJ:391), 3) ”

peredhel

half-elf

(pl. peredhil) (PM:256, 348).

send

grey-elf

#send (i hend, o send, construct sen) _(probably a term only used by the Noldor, borrowed from Quenya Sinda)_, pl. sind (i sind), coll. pl. Sendrim.

send

grey-elf

(i hend, o send, construct sen) (probably a term only used by the Noldor, borrowed from Quenya Sinda), pl. sind (i sind), coll. pl. Sendrim (the only attested form).

thind

grey

(pale); no distinct pl. form.

uin

from the, of the

.

lhoebelidh

proper name. Green-elves

Noldorin equivalent of ᴹQ. Laiqendi “Green-elves” appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, a combination of N. lhoeb “fresh” (cognate of ᴹQ. laiqa “green”) and the plural of N. Eledh “Elf” (Ety/LÁYAK). It also appeared in the variant form Lhoebenidh.

Conceptual Development: In an early form of this entry, it appeared as Lhebenidh or Lhebelidh (EtyAC/LÁYAK).

lhevon

proper name. Elves remaining behind

Noldorin equivalent of ᴹQ. Lembi appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, probably derived from the same primitive form ᴹ✶lebnā (Ety/LEB).

golodhrim

noun. Deep Elves, Gnomes

goren

adjective. dead (of elves)

dureledh

proper name. Dark-elf

A Noldorin name for the Dark Elves appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/DOƷ), also appearing as Duveledh in the entry for the root ᴹ√MOR (Ety/MOR). The latter may be a mistake since a miswritten “r” might appear as a “v”; another word Durion appears beside Duveledh, which supports it being a misreading for “r”. It is a combination of dûr “dark” and Eledh “Elf”.

durion

proper name. Dark-elf

A Noldorin name for the Dark Elves appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/DOƷ, MOR), a combination of dûr “dark” and a variant of the agental suffix -(r)on. According to Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne, in one entry this form replaced an element duil- which was part of some kind of etymological definition, but the writing is obscured (EtyAC/MOR).

anw

noun/adjective. male (person or animal)

A word appearing as N. anw in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ON. anu under the root ᴹ√ƷAN “male”, where its positioning makes it appear as if it was a cognate of ᴹQ. hanu “a male (man or animal)” (Ety/ƷAN). In the original version of this entry, it was simply glossed “male”, and was initially given as (deleted) {ganw} (EtyAC/ƷAN).

Conceptual Development: Precursors to this word include G. an “person” and G. anos “man” from the Gnomish Lexicon (GL/19).

Neo-Sindarin: Most Neo-Sindarin writers adapt this word as ᴺS. anu to better fit Sindarin’s phonology. In HSD (HSD), Didier Willis suggested (as originally proposed by David Salo) that this word is most likely an adjective, the cognate of adjective ᴹQ. hanwa “male” rather than the noun ᴹQ. hanu “a male (man or animal)”. This is because it is generally believed that final -u (as in ✶ʒanu) vanishes in Noldorin/Sindarin, while the final -wa (as in ✶ʒanwa) would have developed into -u (Noldorin -w). However, I think the evidence of the loss of final -u in Noldorin is ambiguous and in fact N. anw might be a counterexample, especially since the Old Noldorin form was anu; see the entry on how [[s|final [i], [u] generally vanished]] for further discussion.

In any case, I think anu “male” can be used as a both a noun and an adjective for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

dân

noun. Green-elf

anw

adjective. male

A literal interpretation of the Etymologies would class this word as a noun, but David Salo notes that the punctuation in The Etymologies is not always reliable. Noldorin anw cannot be cognate to the Quenya noun hanu (3anû) because the final -u would drop. It must rather be cognate to the Quenya adjective hanwa (3anwâ) attested under the stem INI, where it is also stated that inw, corresponding to Quenya inya "female", has been remodelled after anw. The combination of these two entries, along with the phonological evidences, clearly indicates that anw is actually an adjective

bast

noun. bread

bast

noun. bread

bein

adjective. beautiful, fair

calen

adjective. green

doll

adjective. dark, dusky, obscure

dolt

adjective. dark, dusky, obscure

dûr

adjective. dark, sombre

dûr

adjective. dark

edhel

noun. Elf

el

noun. star

geil

noun. star, bright spark

geil

noun. star

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

glamhoth

noun. barbaric host of Orcs

golodh

noun. "Deep Elf" or "Gnome", one of the Wise Folk

gwanod

noun. tale, number

hith

noun. mist, fog

hîth

noun. mist

i

definite article. the

i

definite article. who

i

article. the

lamben

place name. Tongue

A transient name for the Naith in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, glossed “Tongue” (TI/280). It seems to be an elaboration or variant form of N. lham(b) “tongue”.

lham

noun. physical tongue

lham(b)

noun. tongue

lhamb

noun. physical tongue

mid

adjective. grey

mith

adjective. (pale) grey

mith

adjective. grey

morbenn

proper name. Dark Elf

narn

noun. a tale or a saga, that is told in verse to be spoken and not sung

penedh

noun. Elf

penn

noun. Elf

pent

noun. tale

thind

adjective. grey, pale

thinn

adjective. grey, pale

calapendi

collective name. Light-elves

moripendi

collective name. Dark-elves

hecello

proper name. those [Elves] left in Beleriand

minipë

cardinal. eleven

vania

noun. Vanya

elen

noun. star

ella

noun/adjective. Elf

ello

noun. Elf

goldo

noun. Noldo

él

noun. star

oazel

proper name. Eldar who had come to Aman, Elves who left Middle-earth for Aman

ezel(la)

adjective. green

Danas

noun. Green-elves, Nandor

In Etym derived from the stem DAN (LR:353), simply defined as an "element found in names of the Green-elves", and tentatively compared to NDAN "back" (since the Nandor "turned back" and did not complete the march to the Sea). Tolkien's later view on the derivation of the name of the Green-elves, as set down in WJ:412, is that the stem dan- and its strengthened form ndan- do indeed have a similar meaning: these forms have to do with "the reversal of an action, so as to undo or nullify its effect", and a primitive form ndandô, "one who goes back on his word or decision", is suggested. However, it seems unlikely that the Nandor would have called themselves by such a name, and indeed Tolkien in WJ:385 states that "this people still called themselves by the old clan-name Lindai [= Quenya Lindar], which had at that time taken the form Lindi in their tongue". It may be, then, that Tolkien had rejected the idea that the Nandor called themselves Danas. - As for the ending -as, it is probably to be compared to the Sindarin class plural ending -ath; indeed a Sindarin ("Noldorin") form Danath evidently closely corresponding to Danas is given in LR:353.

galadrim

noun. Elves of Lothlórien

Note: "The Galadrim were 'Tree-people' (though the formation is Sindarin, + S [rim] = Q rimbë, great number) = true Sindarin galadhrim."

urc

noun. Orc

pl. yrc. In the Etymologies, the primitive form of this word is given as órku (defined as "goblin"), derived from an undefined stem ÓROK (LR:379).

This stem may be understood as a vowel-prefixed variant of the stem ROK "horse", assuming that this originally referred to the steed of the monstrous "dark Rider upon his wild horse" that haunted the Elves by Cuiviénen, assuming that the stem ROK was originally associated with Melkor's creatures. However, Tolkien later derived the Elvish words for "Orc" from a stem RUKU having to do with fear (WJ:389) and listed tentative primitive forms: urku, uruku, urkô. Since primitive final -u is lost in Nandorin (cf. Utum from Utubnu), the forms urku and uruku would evidently be capable of yielding Green-elven urc (while urkô would rather come out as *urca; cf. golda "Noldo" from ñgolodô). The plural form yrc clearly shows umlaut caused by the lost Primitive Quendian plural ending -î; cf. the umlaut caused by the primitive adjectival ending -i, primitive lugni "blue" yielding lygn.

lego

adjective. green

cwenda

noun. elf

A doubtful word according to Tolkien's later conception; in the branch of Eldarin that Nandorin belongs to, primitive KW became P far back in Elvish linguistic history [WJ:375 cf. 407 note 5]. This was not a problem in Tolkien's earlier conception, in which the Danians came from the host of the Noldor, not the Teleri [see PM:76; the idea of the Nandor being of Noldorin origin also occurs in VT47:29]. In his later version of Nandorin, the word cwenda is probably best ignored; simply emending it to *penda would produce a clash with primitive pendâ "sloping" [cf. WJ:375].

In the Etymologies, Tolkien derived cwenda from kwenedê "elf" (stem KWEN(ED) of similar meaning, LR:366; as for the shift of original final -ê to Nandorin -â, compare hrassa "precipice" from khrassê). But later the primitive word that yielded Quenya Quende was reconstructed as kwende (WJ:360).

No certain example shows how original short final -e comes out in Nandorin, so we cannot say whether kwende is also capable of yielding cwenda, ignoring the question of kw failing to become p.

edel

noun. Elda, High-elf

Stated in the Etymologies to be derived from a stem ÉLED (LR:356), defined as "Star-folk"; Tolkien points out that Doriathrin and Danian used a "transposed" form, clearly referring to the sounds L and D changing place. In Etym the development is apparently meant to be eledâ (this primitive form is explicitly given in Letters:281) > edela > edel. Later Tolkien reconstructed the primitive form of Quenya Elda as eldâ (WJ:360); whether this could regularly yield Nandorin edel is doubtful, unless final -ld metathesized to -dl and a vowel developed to break up this final cluster.

In Etym, Tolkien first gave the Nandorin form as elda, then changed it. *Eledâ could not yield elda, since final -â is regularly lost in Nandorin. Since in this word we do not see loss of the second of two identical vowels (compare golda), we must conclude that final -a was lost before this could happen.

golda

adjective. noldo

The primitive form of Quenya Noldo (and hence also Nandorin golda) is given in WJ:364, 380 as ñgolodô. This example demonstrates that in Nandorin, like in Quenya, the second of two identical vowels in adjacent syllables is lost in words that had another syllable following the lost vowel. This word alone provides a clear example of the change of primitive final _-ô to -a_. The form golda also suggests that in Nandorin as in Sindarin, the original initial nasalized stops ñg, nd, mb were simplified to g, d, b, though examples for d and b are lacking in our very small corpus. The stems involved are found in LR:377: ÑGOL "wise" and the extended form ÑGOLOD "one of the wise folk". Ñgolodô is thus either formed from ÑGOL by ómataina (suffixed base-vowel), suffixed D and the nominal (often masculine or agental) ending -ô, alternatively simply the longer ending -dô (of similar meaning) suffixed to the ómataina-form of the stem ÑGOL (sc. ñgolo-).

ūriʃ

noun. orcs

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).

banya

adjective. beautiful

elen

noun. star

etlā-ndŏrē

place name. Eglador

khith

root. mist, mist, [ᴹ√] fog

This root and its variants were the basis for “mist” words for much of Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴱ√HISI with derivatives like ᴱQ. híse “dusk” and ᴱQ. hiswa “dim, fading” (QL/40), and as an element in ᴱQ. Hisilóme which was glossed “Shadowy Twilights” in the earliest Lost Tales (LT1/112). Thus the early root might have meant “✱dusk, dimness, shadow”. The root was probably also an element in the Gnomish equivalent Hithlum from this period (GL/20), perhaps the result of the sound change whereby [[g|[s] became [θ] before [l]]] in Gnomish.

The sense “haze” and “mist” for ᴱQ. híse first appeared in drafts of the Oilima Markirya poem (PE16/62, 75). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gave this root as ᴹ√KHITH with variant ᴹ√KHIS and the gloss “mist, fog”; ᴹ√KHIS was listed first but all the actual derivatives were from ᴹ√KHITH (Ety/KHIS). The root appeared again in Notes on Galadriel’s Song from the late 1950s or early 1960s as √KHIΘ “mist” (NGS, PE17/73).

Tolkien’s continued use of Q. Hísilómë and (Northern) S. Hithlum throughout his life testifies to the enduring nature of this root, though it seems to have shifted in sense from 1910s “✱shadow” to 1930s “mist”, and from s to th.

laikā

adjective. green

mith

root. grey

Tolkien introduced the root ᴹ√MITH in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a blending of ᴹ√MIS “✱wet” and ᴹ√KHITH “mist, fog”, with the derivative N. mith “white fog, wet mist” as in N. Mithrim “✱Mist Lake” (Ety/MITH, RINGI; EtyAC/MITH). As a later addition to this entry Tolkien wrote the adjective N. mith “grey”, and that was the more common use of this word in Tolkien’s later writings. In a 1955 letter to David Masson Tolkien specified that “usage suggests that MIÞ- is paler and whiter, a luminous grey” (PE17/72).

mornā

adjective. dark

n-uĕg

suffix. male

stin

root. grey

thindi

adjective. grey

thindā

adjective. grey

thini

adjective. grey

wonā

adjective. male

ēl

noun. star

du Reconstructed

root. dark

búrz

adjective. dark

búrz

adjective. dark