galad

radiance

1a _ n. _radiance. >> Galadriel, Gil-galad

galad

noun. light, radiance, glittering, reflection (from jewels, glass or polished metal, or water)

galad

light

_ n. _light, fire, brightness, shining. >> calad, Caras Galadon

galad

noun. radiance, glittering reflection; light, fire, brightness, shining; bliss, radiance, glittering reflection; light, fire, brightness, shining; bliss; [ᴱN.] dawn

A word for “radiance, glittering reflection” derived from primitive ✶ñ(g)alatā and the root √Ñ(G)AL “shine by reflection” (PM/347). Most notably it was an element in the names Galadriel and Gil-galad. In the latter name, since the ancient form began with ñg-, its mutated form was -galad rather than the more usual ’alad.

Conceptual Development: This word had a long and intricate history, and was intertwined with the shifting conceptions of various roots and names. It’s earliest iteration was G. {gâl(a) >>} gala “light, daylight” (GL/37), cognate to ᴱQ. kala of similar meaning, derived from the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44). Since ancient initial g- became k- in Early Qenya, is very likely the early root was actually ✱ᴱ√GALA. In early notes, Tolkien experimented with various alternate forms for this word such as gâl or gaul (GL/37; PE13/114), and in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had the word ᴱN. galad with the gloss “dawn” (PE13/144).

By the 1930s, Tolkien had revised the phonology of Quenya so that primitive initial g became ʒ and then vanished, but he wished to retain the kal-/gal- variation in “light” words, and so introduced a Noldorin-only variant ᴹ√GAL of the root ᴹ√KAL “shine” (Ety/GAL). In The Etymologies, Tolkien had both N. calad (Ety/KAL) and N. galad (EtyAC/GAL) for “light”, the former appearing in its mutated form as an element in the name N. Gil-galad “Starlight” (Ety/GIL).

S. calad continued to be the basis for the second element of S. Gil-galad in some later writings (PE17/50), but Tolkien began to have problems with another name from The Lord of the Rings, that is Galadriel. When Tolkien first introduced her name, it basically meant “Tree-lady” (TI/249), but this was no longer suitable for her more elevated role in the Legendarium, and in any case the proper Sindarin word for “tree” was galadh. In 1955 notes Tolkien considered making the initial element of her name mean “blessed” or “bliss” instead (NM/346).

In notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s Tolkien connected the names Gil-galad and Galadriel as sharing a common element meaning “light” and experimented with various derivatives of the roots √KAL and √GAL (PE17/50), but couldn’t contrive a satisfactory solution since the shared word would be mutated in Gil-Galad but unmutated in Galadriel. Eventually Tolkien resolved this quandary by introducing a new root √Ñ(G)AL in various notes from the late 1960s (PE17/59-60; NM/353) whose primitive form in Sindarin was strengthened ✶ñgalatā that would produce the correct result for both names. Tolkien discussed this new word at length in The Shibboleth of Fëanor from 1968:

> The name [Galadriel] was derived from the Common Eldarin stem ÑAL “shine by reflection”; ✱ñalatā “radiance, glittering reflection” (from jewels, glass or polished metals, or water) > Quenya ñalta, Telerin alata, Sindarin galad ... The whole = “maiden crowned with a garland of bright radiance” was given in reference to Galadriel’s hair. Galad occurs also in the epesse of Ereinion (“scion of kings”) by which he was chiefly remembered in legend, Gil-galad “star of radiance” (PM/347).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume (ñ)galad refers to radiant, glittering and reflected light, as opposed to S. calad (lit. = “shining”) which refers to direct light and the sources of such light, such as lamps and flames.

Cognates

• Q. nalta “radiance, glittering reflection” ✧ PM/347
• T. alata “radiance, glittering reflection” ✧ SA/kal

Derivations

• √GAL “light; shine, be bright” ✧ PE17/084
• ✶ñ(g)alatā “(reflected) radiance, glitter (of reflected light), glory” ✧ PM/347
  • √Ñ(G)AL “gleam, sheen, shine (by reflection)” ✧ NM/350; NM/353; PE17/059; PE17/169; PM/347
  • √GAL “light; shine, be bright” ✧ PE17/050
  • √KAL “light; shine, be bright, light; shine, be bright, [ᴱ√] shine golden” ✧ PE17/050

Element in

• S. Caras Galadhon “City of the Trees” ✧ PE17/084
• S. Galadriel “Glittering-garland” ✧ Let/425; NM/346; PE17/084; PM/347
• S. Gil-galad “Starlight, (lit.) Star of Radiance” ✧ Let/425; PE17/084; PM/347
• S. Malgalad “?yellow radiance”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√GAL > galad	[galata] > [galat] > [galad]	✧ PE17/084
✶ñalatā > galad	[ŋalatā] > [ŋgalatā] > [ŋgalata] > [galata] > [galat] > [galad]	✧ PM/347

galadh

noun. tree

galadh

tree

_n. Bot._tree, like oak (nordh) and beech. A galadh was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

galadh

tree

{ð} n. tree. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

galadh

noun. tree

The basic Sindarin word for “tree” (LotR/1113), derived from primitive ✶galadā and very well attested. This word dates back at least to The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. galadh “tree” appeared under the root ᴹ√GALAD (Ety/GALAD). See also orn “(tall) tree” of similar meaning.

Conceptual Development: Gnomish of the 1910s had some earlier version of this “tree” word: G. galdon >> alwen “tree” in the Name-list to the Fall of Gondolin (PE15/24) and archaic/poetic G. †alwen “tree” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/19), the latter probably from the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” that was the basis for ᴱQ. alda “tree” (QL/29).

Cognates

• Nan. galad “tree” ✧ MR/182; PE17/060
• Q. alda “tree, tree, [ᴱQ.] branch” ✧ Let/426; LotR/1113; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/063; PE17/136; PE17/153; PE17/153; RGEO/65; SA/alda; NM/352

Derivations

• ✶galadā “great plant, tree” ✧ Let/426; NM/349; NM/352; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/063; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153; UT/266
  • ᴹ√GALAD “tree”
  • ᴹ√GAL “grow, thrive” ✧ Ety/GALA
  • √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive” ✧ Let/426; PE17/025; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153

Element in

• S. Bregalad “Quickbeam; (lit.) Quick (Lively) Tree”
• S. Caras Galadhon “City of the Trees” ✧ Let/426; NM/352; SA/alda; UT/267
• S. Caras i-Ngelaidh “City of the Trees” ✧ PE17/060
• S. Galadhon
• S. galadhremmen “tree-meshed” ✧ PE17/136
• S. Galadhrim “Tree-people” ✧ Let/426; PE17/050; SA/alda; UT/267
• S. Galadlóriel “Golden Rain, (lit.) Golden Tree”
• S. Galador
• S. Galadriel “Glittering-garland” ✧ SA/kal; UT/267
• S. Galadwen
• S. Galathilion “White Tree”
• S. Gelennil “Lover of Trees”
• S. lais geledhion “leaves of trees” ✧ PE17/097
• S. o galadhremmin ennorath “from tree-tangled middle-lands” ✧ PE17/025
• S. Orgaladh “Day of the Tree, *Tuesday”
• S. Orgaladhad “Day of the Two Trees, *Tuesday”
• S. si loth a galadh lasto dîn “*here flower and tree listen [in] silence” ✧ LB/354

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ Let/426
✶galada > galað	[galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ NM/352
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/025
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/050
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/063
✶galadā > galaða > galað > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/135
✶galadā́ > galað	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/153
✶galadā > galað	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/153
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ UT/266

Variations

• galað ✧ MR/182; MR/470; NM/349; NM/352; PE17/060; PE17/153; PE17/153

calad

gerund noun. light

calad

noun. light

_ n. _light, fire, brightness, shining. >> galad

calad

noun. light, fire, brightness, shining, light, brightness, shining, fire

A noun for “light” derived from the root √KAL of similar meaning (PE17/50, 84), and appearing in the phrase Lacho calad! Drego morn! “Flame light! Flee night!” (UT/65). In one place it was glossed “light, fire, brightness, shining” (PE17/84), so it seems it could refer to any shining thing or source of light. For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would only use it in reference to “fire” as a source of illumination, not as a flame.

Conceptual Development: N. calad “light” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above (Ety/KAL). In this document it was the basis for the final element of the name N. Gil-galad, and this was true in some later writings as well (PE17/50), but Tolkien eventually decided the second element of Gil-galad was (ñ)galad “radiance”, an element also seen in the name of Galadriel (PM/347).

Derivations

• √KAL “light; shine, be bright, light; shine, be bright, [ᴱ√] shine golden” ✧ PE17/050; PE17/084

Element in

• S. Calben “*Light One”
• S. Caledhel “*Light Elf”
• ᴺS. Forchalad “aurora, (lit.) northern radiance”
• S. Gil-galad “Starlight, (lit.) Star of Radiance” ✧ PE17/050
• ᴺS. Harchalad “aurora, (lit.) southern radiance”
• S. Lacho calad! Drego morn! “Flame light! Flee night!” ✧ UT/065

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√KAL > calad	[kalata] > [kalat] > [kalad]	✧ PE17/050
√CAL > calad	[kalata] > [kalat] > [kalad]	✧ PE17/084

gala-

verb. to grow

Changes

• galad → galast ✧ PE17/132

Cognates

• Q. ala- “to plant, grow, to grow (of plants) [intr. and trans.], plant; *to thrive, flourish (of other creatures)” ✧ PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132; PE17/132

Derivations

• √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive”
• ✶galā- “to grow (of plants)” ✧ PE17/131
  • √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive” ✧ PE22/133

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶agālē > ãlē > aul	[agālē] > [agāle] > [agǭle] > [aɣǭle] > [aɣaule] > [aɣaul] > [aul]	✧ PE17/131

Variations

• galad ✧ PE17/132 (galad)

aglar

noun. radiance

_n. _radiance, glory. Q. alkar. >> aglareb

aglar

brilliance

n. brilliance, glory. Q. alkar. o menel aglar elenath ! lit. 'from Firmament glory of the stars !'. aglar an|i Pheriannath  'glory to all the Halflings'.

fael

noun. gleaming brilliance (of the sun)

malhorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

mallorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

minuial

noun. "morrowdim", the time near dawn, when the star fade

malthorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

orn

noun. (any large) tree

ril

brilliance

n. brilliance, esp. used of white radiation. >> mithril

lebethron

noun. a tree - its black wood was used by the woodwrights of Gondor

In the original manuscript, one of the earlier (rejected) form of this name was lebendron. Didier Willis proposed the etymology lebed+doron "finger-oak", actually a real tree name (Finger Oak or Quercus digitata)

orn

tree

(pl. yrn). Note: a homophone means ”tall”.

oron

noun. tree

n. Bot. tree. Also in compound -(o)rŏnō. >> orn

galad

radiance

1) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad) (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid), 2) glaw (i **law), pl. gloe (in gloe), 3) thîl; no distinct pl. form, coll. pl. ?thiliath**.

galad

radiance

(i ngalad = i ñalad) (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid)

galad

brilliance

(i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid)

galad

sunlight

1) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid). 2) glawar (i **lawar) (gold; radiance of the Golden Tree Laurelin), pl. glewair (in glewair**) (VT41:10)

galad

sunlight

(i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid).

galad

glittering reflection

galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid).

galad

glittering reflection

(i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid).

galad

reflection

(glittering reflection) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad) (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid)

galad

reflection

(i ngalad = i ñalad) (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid) **

galadh

tree

1) galadh (i **aladh), pl. gelaid (i ngelaidh = i ñelaidh) (Letters:426, SD:302). 2) orn (pl. yrn**). Note: a homophone means ”tall”.

galadh

tree

(i ’aladh), pl. gelaid (i ngelaidh = i ñelaidh) (Letters:426, SD:302).

calad

light

_(noun) _1) calad (i galad, o chalad), pl. celaid (i chelaid), 2) gaul (i **aul), pl. goel (i ngoel = i ñoel), coll. pl. golath. Note: A homophone means "wolf-howl", but has different mutations. 3) (bright light) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid). 4) gâl (gal-, -al in compounds, with article i **âl), pl. gail (i ngail = i ñail).

calad

light

(i galad, o chalad), pl. celaid (i chelaid), 2) gaul (i ’aul), pl. goel (i ngoel = i ñoel), coll. pl. golath. Note: A homophone means "wolf-howl", but has different mutations. 3) (bright light) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid). 4) gâl (gal-, -al in compounds, with article i ’âl), pl. gail (i ngail = i ñail).

galadhon

of or related to trees

(lenited ‘aladhon, pl. galadhoen). Archaic ✱galadhaun. The latter is based on David Salo’s analysis of the name Caras Galadhon; others have interpreted the last word as some kind of genitive plural, maybe influenced by Silvan Elvish.

galadhrim

people of the trees

(Elves of Lórien). Adj.

gail

light

(adjective) 1) gail (bright), lenited ngail, no distinct pl. form (VT45:18), 2) lim (clear, sparkling), no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means ”fish”.

gail

light

(bright), lenited ngail, no distinct pl. form (VT45:18)

glaw

radiance

(i ’law), pl. gloe (in gloe)

aglar

brilliance

1) aglar (glitter, glory), pl. eglair if there is a pl. 2) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid), 3) rill (construct ril) (flame, glittering reflected light), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

aglar

brilliance

(glitter, glory), pl. eglair if there is a pl.

glaur

golden light

(i ’laur), pl. gloer (in gloer).

glawar

sunlight

(i ’lawar) (gold, radiance of the Golden Tree Laurelin), pl. glewair (in glewair) if there is a pl. (VT41:10)

glawar

sunlight

glawar (i **lawar) (gold, radiance of the Golden Tree Laurelin), pl. glewair (in glewair**) if there is a pl. (VT41:10)

fael

gleaming brilliance

. No distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means "fair-minded, generous, just".

glóren

shining with golden light

(glórin-) (golden), lenited ’lóren; pl. glórin

minuial

dawn

minuial (i vinuial) (morrowdim, twilight), pl. minuiail (i minuiail)

minuial

dawn

(i vinuial) (morrowdim, twilight), pl. minuiail (i minuiail)

thîl

radiance

; no distinct pl. form, coll. pl. ?thiliath.

rill

brilliance

(construct ril) (flame, glittering reflected light), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

lim

light

(clear, sparkling), no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means ”fish”.

nothlir

family tree

(family line); no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath.

rill

light

(construct ril) (brilliance, flame), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

huorn

walking tree of fangorn

(i chuorn, o chuorn), pl. huyrn (i chuyrn).

lebethron

oak tree

.

toss

low-growing tree

(i** doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i** thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word. Specific trees, see