enedh

noun. centre, middle, centre, middle; [N.] core

The usual Sindarin/Noldorin word for “middle” is enedh derived from the root √ENED (UT/264; VT48/25; Ety/ÉNED). This is complicated by the fact that Tolkien wrote Enedwaith “Middle-region” on The Lord of the Rings map (LotR/1089; Let/224). It is my opinion that this use of d for dh originally reflected Tolkien’s normal representation of this letter Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s, for example 1940s N. Caradras and N. Fanuidol vs. later S. Caradhras and S. Fanuidhol.

Unlike those other representations of dh, Tolkien never corrected Enedwaith in the published texts, and in notes from the late 1960s he considered revising the “middle” to ened derived from √HENET (VT41/16). In other notes from this period he said Enedhwaith was misspelt ened (VT42/20), so I think ened < √HENET was likely a transient idea.

In compounds enedh is generally used as an adjective, such a lebenedh “middle finger” and Lond Daer Enedh “Great Middle Haven”. In The Etymologies this word was glossed “middle, centre” (Ety/ÉNED) and “core, centre” (Ety/NÉD), which makes me think it was a noun.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would treat enedh as a noun when used independently, and use [ᴺS.] enaidh as the adjective for “central, middle”.

ened

noun. core, centre, middle

While the word is written enedh in the Etymologies, it seems that Tolkien considered and reconsidered its form throughout his life. Late rough jottings (c. 1968), as well as the text of letter no. 168 and the fact that the toponym Enedwaith was never changed on the LotR map, seem to imply that ened is the (most) definitive form. See also the possibly related preposition ned , which has sometimes been suggested to mean "in" (while again a prefix nedh- is seen in the Etymologies)

ened

noun. centre

lond daer enedh

place name. Great Middle Haven

A longer name for Lond Daer, translated “Great Middle Haven” (UT/264), a combination of lond “haven”, daer “great” and enedh “middle”.

enedh

middle

enedh (core, center), pl. enidh

enedh

center

1. enedh (core, middle), pl. enidh, 2) nest (heart, core), pl. nist

enedh

core

1. enedh (middle, center), pl. enidh, 2) nest (heart, center), pl. nist

enedh

middle

(core, center), pl. enidh

enedh

center

(core, middle), pl. enidh

enedh

core

(middle, center), pl. enidh

nest

center

(heart, core), pl. nist

nest

core

(heart, center), pl. nist

enedh

noun. core, centre, middle

While the word is written enedh in the Etymologies, it seems that Tolkien considered and reconsidered its form throughout his life. Late rough jottings (c. 1968), as well as the text of letter no. 168 and the fact that the toponym Enedwaith was never changed on the LotR map, seem to imply that ened is the (most) definitive form. See also the possibly related preposition ned , which has sometimes been suggested to mean "in" (while again a prefix nedh- is seen in the Etymologies)

enedh

noun. centre, middle, core

ened

adjective. middle

henet

root. middle

endë

noun. centre, middle, centre, middle; [ᴹQ.] core

The word ᴹQ. ende first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, glossed either “middle, centre” (Ety/ÉNED) or “core, centre” (Ety/NÉD), and derived from the root ᴹ√ENED “middle” (Ety/ÉNED). In notes from late 1960s Tolkien had {ened >>} ente “centre”, which he clarified was “not used of emotions or thought only physical” (VT41/12). In this context it was derived from √HENET “middle” (VT41/16). But in other writings from the late 1960s, the word as again ende from √ENED “middle” (VT48/25), and I believe √HENET > ente was a transient idea.

Neo-Quenya: Base on its 1930s glosses and the meaning of 1960s ente, I believe ende is a noun referring to a physical centre.

endya

middle

endya > enya adj. "middle" (ÉNED)

endë

core, centre, middle

endë noun "core, centre, middle" (NÉD, EN, VT48:25)

endëa

middle

#endëa adj. "middle" in atendëa, q.v. Compare enya.

endëa

adjective. middle, middle, *average

An adjectival form of endë “middle” implied by Q. atendëa “double-middle” from the first edition of The Lord of the Rings (RC/728).

Neo-Quenya: In a Discord post from 2025-04-24, Delle suggested this adjective might mean “✱average” as well.

entë

center

entë (2) noun "center" (VT41:16; endë is perhaps to be preferred, see entya)

entë

noun. centre

enya

middle

enya < endya adj. "middle" (EN). Compare #endëa.

tólë

centre

tólë noun "centre" (LT1:269; the word endë is to be preferred in Tolkien's later Quenya)