emel

noun. mother

A word for “mother” in notes on Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, along with a diminutive form emelig (VT48/17 note #13). These forms were struck through and replaced by emig as the proper diminutive form from the root √EM (VT48/6), but that doesn’t necessarily invalidate emel = “mother”, which appeared elsewhere as (probably primitive) emel, emer in rough versions of these notes (VT48/19 note #16). These Sindarin forms are unusual in that the medial m did not become v, which means the primitive form was likely based on ✱emm- as suggested by Patrick Wynne (VT48/17 note #14).

Conceptual Development: G. amil “mother” appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s along with rejected forms {anwin, amril} and an archaic variant †amaith (GL/19). The forms {emaith >>} amaith appeared unglossed in Gnomish Lexicon Slips revising that document (PE13/109). In The Etymologies of the 1930s there was a form N. †emil for “mother” under the root ᴹ√AM of the same meaning, but Tolkien said this word was archaic, apparently replaced by N. naneth (Ety/AM¹; EtyAC/AM¹). With N. emil, the a became e via i-affection, but the medial m failing to become v requires an explanation similar to that of 1960s S. emel.

Neo-Sindarin: I generally prefer derivatives of the earlier root √AM for “mother” words in Quenya, but in the case of Sindarin, I find emel and emig from √EM to be better and more widely accepted.

emel

noun. mother

emmel

noun. mother

emeldir

feminine name. Manhearted, *Manly-mother

Wife of Barahir and mother of Beren, translated “Manhearted” (S/155). Patrick Wynne suggested that her name may be a combination of emel “mother” and dîr “man”, so literally meaning: “manly-mother” or “mother with manly courage” (VT48/17-18, note #14).

Emeldir

Emeldir

Patrick H. Wynne has suggested that Emeldir possibly consists of Sindarin emel ("mother") + dir ("man"), yielding a hypothetical translation "manly-mother" or "mother with manly courage" (close in meaning to her epithet the Manhearted).

emig

noun. [little] mother, *mommy

A diminutive word for “mother” in Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s (VT48/6), replacing a longer but rejected diminutive emelig (VT48/6). It is based on either emel “mother” or the primitive root √EM.

naneth

mother

naneth (pl. nenith). Hypocoristic form (”mom”) nana, pl. nenai (but this word is probably rarely pluralized). In a higher style also †emil. No distinct pl. form; coll. pl. emillath. Variant form emel (pl. emil), also spelt emmel (pl. emmil). (VT48:17)

naneth

mother

(pl. nenith). Hypocoristic form (”mom”) nana, pl. nenai (but this word is probably rarely pluralized). In a higher style also †emil. No distinct pl. form; coll. pl. emillath. Variant form emel (pl. emil), also spelt emmel (pl. emmil). (VT48:17)

emlinn

yellowhammer

(= "yellow singer"); no distinct pl. form. Also emelin, no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. emelinnath. Adj.

aew

noun. (small) bird

aewen

adjective. of birds

cidinn

?. [unglossed]

cinnog

?. [unglossed]

emig

noun. "litte mother"

emig

noun. index finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

madu

?. [unglossed]

maud

?. [unglossed]

aew

bird

(small bird) 1) aew. No distinct pl. form. 2) fileg, pl. filig; the form filigod appears as an alternative singular. or

aew

bird

. No distinct pl. form.

aewen

of birds

pl. aewin.

emig

little mother

(no distinct pl. form except with article: in emig). Also used (in children’s play) as a name for the index finger (VT48:6, 17)

fileg

bird

pl. filig; the form filigod appears as an alternative singular.