finwë

masculine name. Finwë

The first lord of the Noldor (S/52). His name is an ancient compound of uncertain meaning. Its final element is the suffix -wë common in ancient names (PM/340). Its initial element is probably derived from the root √PHIN “clever, skillful” (PE17/17, Ety/PHIN), though it was sometimes affiliated with derivatives of the root √SPIN(ID) “fine thread, filament; hair” (PE17/17, 119) after it developed in Common Eldarin into phin- (PM/340).

His name appears as an element in the Quenya names of many of his children and grandchildren, either incorporated directly or alluded too via the element findë “hair” < √SPIN(ID), as in Findecáno (PM/345). In the Sindarin names of his descendants, the element S. fin also alluded to his name (VT41/10).

Conceptual Development: This name appears in the earliest Lost Tales in exactly the same form, though ᴱQ. Finwe was not at first the father of Feanor (LT1/115, 145). Christopher Tolkien suggested the earliest form of this name was derived from the root ᴱ√FINI “✱cunning” (LT1A/Finwë). In The Etymologies, the name ᴹQ. Finwe is given as an ancient combination of the roots ᴹ√PHIN and ᴹ√WEG (Ety/PHIN, WEG), basically the same as its later derivation.

Finwë

finwë

Finwë masc. name, apparently displaying the frequent ending -wë suffixed to a stem normally having to do with hair, but the name is obscure (see Tolkien's discussion in PM:340-341). Also in Etym (PHIN, WEG). According to VT46:9, Finwë was also the name of tengwa #10 in the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, but Tolkien would later call #10 formen instead.

nolofinwë

masculine name. Nolofinwë

The father name of Fingolfin, from which his Sindarin name was derived (MR/230, PM/344). It is a combination of the root √ÑGOL “wisdom” and his grandfathers name Finwë.

Conceptual Development: A possible precursor to this name appears in The Etymologies: ᴹQ. ngolfine “magical skill”, which seems to be the cognate (or primitive form) of N. Fingolfin (Ety/PHIN).

Finwë

Finwë

The name Finwë is said to be one of the oldest recorded names of the Eldar. It is not certain if Finwë had any clear meaning, but it can be analyzed as fin- (derived from Common Eldarin PHIN "hair") + -wë (suffix generally used for male names).

nelyafinwë

masculine name. Finwë third

The father-name of Maedhros, referring to the fact that he was third in the line of succession (PM/352). It is a combination of archaic †nelya “third” and the name of his grandfather Finwë. The short form of this name was Nelyo.

Nelyafinwë

finwë third

Nelyafinwë noun "Finwë third" (after the original Finwë and Curufinwë = Fëanor), masc. name; he was called Maedhros in Sindarin. Short Quenya name Nelyo. (PM:352)

curu

skill

curu noun "skill" in names like Curufinwë (q.v.) and Sindarin Curufin, Curunir. (SA; possibly the same as curo, curu- above but there was a word curu ["k"] in Tolkien's early "Qenya", glossed "magic, wizardry" [LT1:269]).

curu

noun. skill, skill; [ᴱQ.] magic, wizardry

@@@ more accurately what men would might “magic”, but to the Elves including what is to them ordinary skills such as mental communication and powers of foresight