The proper word for first in Sindarin was minui
Sindarin
erui
adjective. single, alone
erui
adjective. first (incorrect use by the Gondorians)
erui
place name. Erui
A river in Gondor. It seems to be a combination of er “one” with the adjective suffix -ui, but in notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor Tolkien stated that: “it cannot be used for ‘first’ ... er was not used in counting series: it meant ‘one, single, alone’” (VT42/10). Tolkien further indicated it was not the usual adjective for “alone”, which was ereb, but it nevertheless got its name because it was short and swift and the only major Gondorian river without a tributary. Perhaps it was a pseudo-Sindarin name, assembled by less knowledgable Gondorians like the region name Arnen.
Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Ereg “First” (TI/312, WR/436).
Element in
- S. Ethraid Erui “Crossings of Erui”
Elements
Word Gloss er “one, alone” -ui “-ful, having quality, adjective suffix; possibility, suitability [as verbal suffix], *-able”
er
adjective. single
er-
prefix. alone, one
mein
ordinal. first, (only in the sense of) prime, chief, pre-eminent
mein
ordinal. first
Cognates
- Q. minya “first; eminent, prominent” ✧ VT42/10
minui
ordinal. first
minui
ordinal. first
Cognates
- Q. minya “first; eminent, prominent” ✧ VT42/25
ned
noun. first, *one more; first; *during
This word replaced the preposition uin “of the” in the third version of the King’s Letter, appearing in the phrase nelchaenen ned Echuir “the thirty-first day of Stirring”. Both Carl Hostetter (VT31/30) and David Salo (SG/229) theorized that this replacement has a similar prepositional function, from either √NOT “count” or √NED “middle”. Fiona Jallings suggested it might be a temporal preposition, with sense “during” (FJNS/349).
On VT47/40, note 67, Patrick Wynne suggested that this word might be a cognate of the newly published Quenya word net(ë) “one more”. This theory is supported by the most likely interpretation of nelchaenen. This word seems to mean “thirtieth” rather than “thirty-first”, and Patrick Wynne suggested that nelchaenen ned means “thirtieth and one more” = “thirty-first”. I find this theory the most compelling, and use it here.
Element in
- S. a Pherhael ar am Meril suilad uin aran o Minas Tirith nelchaenen ned Echuir “to Samwise and Rose the King’s greeting from Minas Tirith, the thirty-first day of Stirring” ✧ SD/129
- ᴺS. neman “when, (lit.) during what”
main
ordinal. first, (only in the sense of) prime, chief, pre-eminent
minai
adjective. single, distinct, unique
erui
first
(single, alone). No distinct pl. form. Some would argue that Tolkien abandoned erui as a word for ”first”.
erui
alone
erui (first, single). No distinct pl. form. Also eriol (pl. erioel); archaic *eriaul.
erui
alone
(first, single). No distinct pl. form. Also eriol (pl. erioel); archaic ✱eriaul.
erui
single
erui (first, alone). No distinct pl. form. 3) minai (distinct, unique), lenited vinai; pl. mini
erui
single
(first, alone). No distinct pl. form. 3) minai (distinct, unique), lenited vinai; pl. mini**
er
alone
(adjectival prefix) er- (one, lone)
er
alone
(one, lone)
er
single
1) er (pl. ir) (VT48:6), 2)
er
single
(pl. ir) (VT48:6)
minui
first
1) minui (lenited vinui; no distinct pl. form), 2) mîn (lenited vîn; no distinct pl. form) (isolated, towering). Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the number ”one”; 3) erui (single, alone). No distinct pl. form. Some would argue that Tolkien abandoned erui as a word for ”first”.
minui
first
(lenited vinui; no distinct pl. form)
mîn
first
(lenited vîn; no distinct pl. form) (isolated, towering). Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the number ”one”
The proper word for first in Sindarin was minui