Primitive elvish

gwen

root. fair, beautiful; (probably originally) fresh, fair, unblemished (especially of beauty of youth)

This root appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives having to do with freshness and greenness, as in ᴹQ. wenya “green, yellow-green, fresh” and Ilk. gwên “greenness”. In that document it was also the basis for N. bein “fair, beautiful” by way of blending with ᴹ√BAN “beautiful”. In the entry for ᴹ√GWEN Tolkien said it needed to be distinguished from ᴹ√WEN(ED) “maiden”, but in the entry for ᴹ√WEN(ED) he said maiden words needed to be transferred to ᴹ√GWEN (Ety/WEN).

This connection between “fresh” and “maiden” reappeared in notes from 1959, where √GWEN was given with gloss “fair, beautiful (probably originally fresh, fair, unblemished especially of beauty of youth)” as this basis for “maiden” words (PE17/191). But Tolkien soon rejected this notion and reverted back to √WEN(ED); this may be a reflection of Tolkien’s ongoing vacillation between Q. wende versus vende as the proper Quenya word for “maiden”; wende (which seems to be his preference) would be better supported by an ancient root beginning with gw-, but that would also invalidate the Sindarin form gwend “maiden” (not ✱✱bend).

Tolkien seems to have given up on √GWEN for maiden words, and the sense “fresh” seems to have been reassigned to the root √KEW in later notes (VT48/7), so √GWEN may have been abandoned completely.

Primitive elvish [PE17/191] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwenyā

adjective. fair, beautiful

Primitive elvish [PE17/191] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwen

root. fresh, *green, fair, unblemished, beautiful

@@@ might still be valid for Quenya derivations in the Etymologies

Primitive elvish Group: Neologism. Published by

laikā

adjective. green

Primitive elvish [Let/282] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alkwā

noun. swan

Primitive elvish [NM/378; PE18/100; UT/265; VT42/07] Group: Eldamo. Published by

bani

adjective. fair

Primitive elvish [PE17/057] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kelus

noun. brook

Primitive elvish [PE21/71] Group: Eldamo. Published by

khan

root. brother

A root for “brother” that Tolkien introduced in notes on finger-names from the late 1960s as a companion to √NETH “sister” (VT47/14, 26, 34). It conflicts with, and possibly replaces, earlier uses for √KHAN such as √KHAN “back” in notes from around 1959 serving as the basis for the prefix Q. han- in hanquenta “answer” (PE17/166). The root ᴹ√KHAN also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “understand, comprehend”, with various derivatives in both Quenya and Noldorin of similar meaning (Ety/KHAN).

It is unlikely that all these uses of √KHAN coexisted, but I think at a minimum both √KHAN “brother” and ᴹ√KHAN “understand, comprehend” should be retained for the purposes of Neo-Eldarin, as the latter has no good replacements in Tolkien’s later writing. As for hanquenta “answer”, it might be reinterpreted as “a saying providing understanding”, and so be derived from ᴹ√KHAN “understand”.

Primitive elvish [VT47/14; VT47/26; VT47/34] Group: Eldamo. Published by

khaw

root. big

Primitive elvish [PE17/115; PE17/157] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nis

root. woman

This root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹ√NIS “woman”, an extension of ᴹ√ “female” (Ety/NIS). It also had a strengthened form ᴹ√NDIS, unglossed but apparently meaning “bride” based on its derivatives ᴹQ. indis/N. dîs of that meaning (Ety/NDIS). Unstrengthened ᴹ√NIS seems to have survived only in Quenya as the basis for ᴹQ. nis (niss-) “woman”, but this word was also blended with ✱ndis-sē to produce a longer form nisse of the same meaning.

In Tolkien’s later writings, both short Q. nís and longer nissë appeared as words for “woman” (MR/213; VT47/33) and Q. indis reappeared as well, though glossed “wife” (UT/8). As primitive forms, both unstrengthened √nis (VT47/33) and strengthened ✶ndī̆s “woman” also appeared in later writings, the latter given as the feminine equivalent of ✶[[p|n[d]ēr]] “man” (PE19/102).

Primitive elvish [VT47/18; VT47/33] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wanyā

adjective. fair

Primitive elvish [WJ/380; WJ/383] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ñgurū

noun. death

Primitive elvish [PE17/087] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Sindarin 

gwen

noun. maiden

_n. _maiden. Q. wendē. >> gwend, gweneth

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:191] < WEN-ED girl, virgin, maiden. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gwenedhel

proper name. Gwenedhel

gwenedhel

gwenedhel

{ð} n. >> edhel

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:140] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gwend

noun. maiden, maiden, *young woman

A word for “maiden” or “✱young woman”, frequently appearing as suffixal -wen as an element in female names, derived from the root √WEN(ED) (PE17/191; Ety/WEN).

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, the word G. gwin meant “woman, female” and G. {gwen >>} gwennin was “girl” (GL/45). The former was derived from the root ᴱ√giu̯i which had to do with pregnancy, but the latter was derived from {ᴱ√gw̯ene >>} ᴱ√gu̯eđe. In the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon {ᴱ√WENE >>} ᴱ√GWENE was the basis of words like ᴱQ. ’wen(di) “maiden” (QL/103). In the Gnomish Lexicon Slips it seems G. gwin was also reassigned to the root ᴱ√(G)WENE [ᴱ√u̯enĭ-], derived from ᴱ✶u̯einā́, though possibly shifted or blended in meaning with an adjectival sense “womanly” (PE13/113).

In the Early Noldorin Grammar of the 1920s, Tolkien had ᴱN. uin “woman” (PE13/123), a form that also appeared with this gloss in contemporaneous Early Noldorin Word-lists as a replacement for deleted {gwind, gwinn} (PE13/146, 155). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Tolkien had N. gwend, gwenn “maiden” under the root ᴹ√WEN(ED) which he said was “often found in feminine names” (Ety/WEN). He noted that “since the [suffixed names] show no -d even in archaic spelling, they probably contain a form wen-”. Tolkien seems to have stuck with these forms thereafter.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would use this word for a young woman or adolescent girl, especially prior to marriage, but for female children I would use neth.

Sindarin [PE17/191] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwend

noun. maiden

_n. _maiden. Q. wendē. >> gwen, gweneth

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:191] < WEN-ED girl, virgin, maiden. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gweneth

noun. maidenhood

_n. _maidenhood. Q. wendele. >> gwen, gwend

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:191] < WEN-ED girl, virgin, maiden. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gweneth

noun. maidenhood, maidenhood, [N.] virginity

A noun meaning “maidenhood” (PE17/191) or “virginity” (Ety/WEN), an abstract noun formation from gwend “maiden”.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, the word for “maidenhood” was {gwendithli >>} G. gwenithli, an elaboration of {gwendi >>} G. gwethli “maiden, little girl” (GL/45).

Sindarin [PE17/191] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwenyn

noun. twins

Sindarin [PM/353, PM/365] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanwen

adjective. departed, departed, *gone, lost [to time], past

gwanwen

proper name. Departed

A term the Sindar used for the Elves who left Beleriand for Aman, derived from the same root as Q. vanwa: √WĀ/AWA (WJ/366, 378). Another variation was Gwanwel (WJ/378), perhaps incorporating †Ell “Elf”.

Sindarin [WJ/378; WJI/Gwanwen] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwen

pronoun. us (inclusive)

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

wen

maiden

, see MAIDEN. The final element -wen in names means ”girl, maiden, virgin”.

gwend

noun. friendship

gwend (i 'wend, construct gwen) (bond), pl. gwind (in gwind), coll. pl. gwennath. Note: a homophone means ”maiden”.

gwend

friendship

(i ’wend, construct gwen) (bond), pl. gwind (in gwind), coll. pl. gwennath. Note: a homophone means ”maiden”.

gwend

maiden

gwend (i **wend, construct gwen) (friendship), pl. gwind (in gwind), coll. pl. gwennath**. Note: a homophone means ”bond, friendship”.

gwend

maiden

(i ’wend, construct gwen) (friendship), pl. gwind (in gwind), coll. pl. gwennath. Note: a homophone means ”bond, friendship”.

gwendren

adjective. maidenly, girlish

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2018 specifically for Eldamo as an adjectival form of S. gwend “maiden”, serving as a replacement for G. gwenniniol of the same meaning (GL/45).

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

gweneth

virginity

gweneth (i **weneth), pl. gwenith (in gwenith**) if there is a pl.

gweneth

virginity

(i ’weneth), pl. gwenith (in gwenith) if there is a pl.

gwenig

little baby

(i ’wenig, no distinct pl. form except with article: in gwenig). Also used (in children’s play) as a name of the little finger. (VT47:6, 16-17)

gwenig

little baby

gwenig (i **wenig, no distinct pl. form except with article: in gwenig**). Also used (in childrens play) as a name of the little finger. (VT47:6, 16-17)

gwenig

little baby

gwenig (i **wenig, no distinct pl. form except with article: in gwenig**). Also used (in childrens play) as a name of the little finger. (VT48:6, 16-17)

gwenyn

pair of twins

gwenyn (PM:353, 365)

gwennod

noun. elder tree; elderberry, *(lit.) maiden berry

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

gwenwi

noun. past, past tense

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

gwenyn

pair of twins

(PM:353, 365)

gwenyn

pair of twins

(PM:353, 365)

gwanwen

departed

1) (past participle) gwanwen (lenited wanwen; pl. gwenwin), also as noun: a ”departed” one, one of the Elves of Aman: Gwanwen (i **Wanwen), pl. Gwenwin (in Gwenwin) (WJ:378), 2) gwann (dead), lenited wann; pl. gwain**;

gwanwen

departed

(lenited ’wanwen; pl. gwenwin), also as noun: a ”departed” one, one of the Elves of Aman: Gwanwen (i ’Wanwen), pl. Gwenwin (in Gwenwin) (WJ:378)

calen

adjective. green

Sindarin [Ety/362, S/429, Letters/282, RC/349, VT/42:19] Etym. "bright-coloured". Group: SINDICT. Published by

calen

green

(galen) _ adj. _green (fresh, vigorous). galen after a sg. noun. Q. kălina (lit. illumined) sunny, light.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:77:153] < GAL. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

laeb

adjective. green

_ adj. _green. A theoretical equivalent to Q. laiqua but that did not exist in Sindarin.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:153] < _laiqua_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

laeg

green

_ adj. _green. >> Legolas

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:84] < _laikā_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

laeg

adjective. green

_ adj. _green (of leaves, herbage). Q. laika.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:159] < LAY. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

calen

green

1) (etymologically "bright") calen (lenited galen), pl. celin (attested in lenited form in the name Pinnath **Gelin, "Green Ridges"). 2) laeg (fresh), no distinct pl. form. (Note: a homophone means ”keen, sharp, acute”.) In the Woodland dialect lêg, whence leg- in the name Legolas** ”Greenleaf” (Lettters:282, 386).

calen

green

(lenited galen), pl. celin (attested in lenited form in the name Pinnath Gelin, "Green Ridges").

laeg

green

(fresh), no distinct pl. form. (Note: a homophone means ”keen, sharp, acute”.) In the Woodland dialect lêg, whence leg- in the name Legolas ”Greenleaf” (Lettters:282, 386). 

gwêdh

chain

(i ’wêdh, construct gwedh), pl. gwîdh (in gwîdh), 3) (ditto) nûd (construct nud, pl. nuid). 4) (the ”bond” of friendship) gwend (i ’wend, construct gwen) (friendship), pl. gwind (in gwind), coll. pl. gwennath. Note: a homophone means ”maiden”.

gwanath

death

1) (act of dying) gwanath (i **wanath), pl. gwenaith (in gwenaith), 2) (act of dying, especially the ”death” of Elves by fading or weariness) gwanu (i **wanu), analogical pl. gweny (in gweny). Archaic gwanw (LR:397 s.v. WAN), hence coll. pl. ?gwanwath. Other words (rather referring to Death as a state or abstract): 3) gûr (i ngûr = i ñûr, o n**gûr = o ñgûr, construct gur), pl. guir (in guir = i ñguir), 4) gurth (i ngurth = i ñurth, o n**gurth = o ñgurth), pl. gyrth (in gyrth = i ñgyrth), 5) guruth (i nguruth = i ñuruth, o n**guruth = o ñguruth), pl. gyryth (in gyryth** = i ñgyryth)

gwanath

death

(i ’wanath), pl. gwenaith (in gwenaith)

gwanod

number

(noun) gwanod (i **wanod) (tale), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd**),

gwanod

number

(i ’wanod) (tale), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd)

gwanu

death

(i ’wanu), analogical pl. gweny (in gweny). Archaic gwanw (LR:397 s.v. WAN), hence coll. pl. ?gwanwath. Other words (rather referring to Death as a state or abstract):

gwanur

kinsman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanur

kinsman, kinswoman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanur

kinswoman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanwel

elf of aman

(”departed” Elf), pl. gwenwil (in gwenwil), coll. pl. gwanwellath. (WJ:378) Also gwanwen; see

gwanûn

pair of twins

1) gwanûn (in gwanûn) (WJ:367). Also gwanur (in gwanur) (LotR Appendix A). Note: a homophone of gwanur means ”brother; kinsman or kinswoman” 2) gwanur (in gwanur), also gwanûn (in gwanûn) (WJ:367), 3) gwenyn (PM:353, 365)

gwedh

bind

*gwedh- (i **wêdh, in gwedhir), pa.t. gwedhant, in older language also gwend**. In LR:397 s.v.

gwedh

bind

(i ’wêdh, in gwedhir), pa.t. gwedhant, in older language also gwend. In LR:397 s.v.

honeg

little brother

(i choneg, o choneg), pl. honig (i chonig), also used as a play-name for the middle finger. (VT47:6, 16-17) 2) In older sources Tolkien listed different ”Noldorin” words for ”brother”: muindor (i vuindor), analogical pl. muindyr (i muindyr). Archaic/poetic †tôr (i** dôr, o thôr, construct tor), pl. teryn (i** theryn), coll. pl. toronath. In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was terein. 3) “Brother” in extended sense of “relative”: gwanur (i ’wanur) (kinsman, also kinswoman), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

narn

tale

1) narn (saga; versified tale to be spoken rather than sung), pl. nern**; 2) pent (i bent, o phent) (story), pl. pint (i phint), coll. pl. pennath; 3) trenarn (i drenarn, o threnarn) (account), pl. trenern (i threnern); 4) gwanod (i **wanod) (number), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd).

narn

tale

(saga; versified tale to be spoken rather than sung), pl. *nern***; 2) pent (i** bent, o phent) (story), pl. pint (i** phint), coll. pl. pennath; 3) trenarn (i** drenarn, o threnarn) (account), pl. trenern (i** threnern); 4) gwanod (i ’wanod) (number), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd**).

edhel

noun. Elf

Sindarin [LRI/Edhil; PE17/045; PE17/097; PE17/139; PE17/141; PE17/151; PE17/152; PM/346; RC/780; RGEO/62; SA/edhel; SA/êl; SI/Sindar; UT/255; UT/318; UTI/Edhelrim; WJ/364; WJ/377; WJ/378; WJI/Edhel] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Nûrnen

place name. Death

_ topon. _Death, dead water. >> guru

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:87] < _ngurū nenda_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

adaneth

noun. (mortal) woman

Sindarin [MR/349] adan+-eth. Group: SINDICT. Published by

alph

noun. swan

Sindarin [Ety/348, S/427, LotR/E, VT/42:6-7, X/PH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

alph

noun. swan

n. Zoo. swan.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:100] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

alph

noun. swan

The Sindarin noun for “swan” derived from primitive ✶alkwā (NM/378; UT/265; Ety/ÁLAK), where first the [[at|ancient [kw] became [p]]] and then the [[os|[lp] became [lf] (spelled lph)]].

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, this word appeared as {alcwi >>} alfa (GL/18), which is perhaps the moment that Tolkien decided that labialized velars became labials in the Sindarin branch of Elvish (though in Gnomish this sound change applied only medially). In Gnomish Lexicon Slips modifying this document, the word became alf (PE13/109), and Tolkien stuck with this form thereafter, though eventually revising the spelling to alph once he decide that final [f] was spelled ph. In The Etymologies of the 1930s, N. alf “swan” appeared under the root ᴹ√ALAK “rushing” (Ety/ÁLAK).

Sindarin [LotR/1114; NM/378; PE17/100; SA/alqua; UT/265; VT42/07] Group: Eldamo. Published by

arwen

noun. noble woman

Sindarin [Arwen (name) LotR] ar-+gwend. Group: SINDICT. Published by

bain

fair

_ adj. _fair, good, blessed, wholesome, favourable, without evil/bad element, not dangerous, evil or hostile. bân or bain << bân pl. bain. >> bân

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:150] < BAN beauty, with implication that it is due to _lack of fault_ or _blemish_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

bess

noun. (young) woman

Sindarin [Ety/352, SD/129-31] Group: SINDICT. Published by

bess

noun. wife

Sindarin [Ety/352, SD/129-31] Group: SINDICT. Published by

bân

adjective. fair

_ adj. _fair, good, wholesome, favourable, not dangerous, evil or hostile. bân or bain << bân pl. bain. >> bain

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:150] < BAN beauty, with implication that it is due to _lack of fault_ or _blemish_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

cîw

adjective. fresh, new

Sindarin [VT/48:7-8] Group: SINDICT. Published by

eledh

noun. Elf

Sindarin [Let/281; PE17/139; PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/142; SA/êl; UTI/Edhelrim; UTI/Haudh-en-Elleth; WJ/363; WJ/377; WJI/Elen] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elen

noun. Elf

ell

noun. Elf

Sindarin [Let/281; PE17/141; PE17/142; PE17/152; VT50/15; VT50/19; VT50/23; WJ/363; WJ/364; WJ/377; WJ/412] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fael

adjective. fair minded, just, generous

Sindarin [PM/352] Etym. "having a good fëa". Group: SINDICT. Published by

glaer

noun. tale, [N.] long lay, narrative poem, [S.] tale, song

Sindarin [S/209; WJ/160] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gurth

noun. death

Sindarin [S/432, UT/39, UT/54] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gurth

noun. death

The usual Sindarin word for “death”, derived from the root √ÑGUR of similar meaning (UT/39; Ety/ÑGUR).

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/43), anchored by well established names like Gurthang or Gurtholf(in), the name of Túrin’s sword. Tolkien experimented with various alternate forms over the years, such as G. urthu (GG/14), G. gurthu (GL/43), ᴱN. gurdh (PE13/146) and N. guruth (Ety/ÑGUR), but kept coming back to gurth as the basic form.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would use this word for death in general and especially violent death, as opposed to the more euphemistic [N.] gwanath or gwanu “death”, more literally “departure”.

Sindarin [SA/gurth; UT/039] Group: Eldamo. Published by

guru

noun. death

_ n. _death. guru << gûru.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:87] < _ngur(u)_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

guru

noun. death, death (abstract)

A Sindarin word for “death” derived from primitive ✶ñgurū (PE17/87), unusual in that its primitive ancient vowel u did not vanish. In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had variant forms [N.] gûr and gurw “death” marked with a “?”, both derived from Old Noldorin nguru and indicating some uncertainty on the exact phonetic developments (EtyAC/ÑGUR). Elsewhere in The Etymologies Tolkien said that [N.] guru was “Death as state or abstract”, as opposed to [N.] gwanw or gwanath for the “act of dying” (Ety/GWAN).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume guru was for death as an abstraction or principle, and for the death of individuals I would use either gurth or gwanu/gwanath; see those entries for discussion.

Sindarin [PE17/087] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwae-

verb. to go, depart

This highly irregular verb appeared in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 as the Sindarin equivalent of Q. auta- “go (away), depart”, itself very irregular, both verbs derived from the invertible root √WĀ/AWA (PE17/148). The Sindarin verb has a present tense form gwaen “I go” and past forms 1st. sg. anwen “✱I went” and 3rd. sg. anu/awn “✱he/she went”, with these past forms apparently based on an ancient nasal-infixed strong past ✶anwē (from which the archaic Q. strong past †anwe “went” was derived). It has two more forms gwanu/gwawn. These seem to be the equivalent of Q. vanwa “lost” < ✶wanwā.

The present tense form gwaen “I go” is especially peculiar. Compare this to the more regular present tenses cewin “I taste” < kawin(e) (PE22/152) and galon “I grow” < galān(e) (PE17/131). I think the likeliest explanation is that gwaen is derived from an ancient aorist form wa-i-nĭ, with ai becoming ae as was usual of Sindarin’s phonetic developments. If so, the presents of this verb would be based on √WA and the pasts based on √AW.

A final twist is that in the note from DLN Tolkien mentions u-intrusion, a sound change parallel to the more common i-intrusion, whereby a final u moved before a preceding consonant. The forms awn and gwawn are thus the u-intruded results of anu and gwanu. This u-intrusion would not occur in forms with further suffixes, like anwen “I went”.

A probably related form gwanwen “departed” appears in the Quendi and Eldar (Q&E) essay from 1959-60 (WJ/378). This could be an independent adjective, but could also be a passive participle of gwae- (or some variant of it), possibly a strengthened or elaborated form of gwanu/gwawn. Note that Q&E also states that:

> The only normal derivative [of AWA] is the preposition o, the usual word for ‘from, of’. None of the forms of the element ✱awa are found as a prefix in S, probably because they became like or the same as the products of ✱, ✱wo (WJ/366).

Some people believe this indicates that Tolkien rejected other derivatives like gwae-, but since Q&E also contains gwanwen, I think this statement only applies to direct derivatives of AWA, as opposed to gwae- and gwanwen which are derived from the inverted root WĀ.

Neo-Sindarin: How to handle this verb in the context of Neo-Sindarin is unclear. Given the extreme irregularity of this verb, it is tempting to discard it. Unfortunately, we have no other attested Sindarin verbs for “to depart”. Furthermore, common verbs like “go” tend to be irregular in many languages (such as English as “go” vs. “went”), so it makes sense the same would be true of Sindarin. As such, I propose the following conjugation for this verb (hat tip to Gilruin for most of this paradigm; he suggested much better forms than my original ideas):

  • Present tense ✱gwae “go” < primitive ✶gwa-ĭ, with inflections added to this form: gwaen “I go”, ✱gwael “you go”, etc.

  • Past tense awn “went” < ✶anwē with u-intrusion. Inflected forms are based on non-intruded anw-: anwen “I went”, ✱anwel “you went”, etc.

  • Past/passive participle gwanwen “departed”, an elaboration of the older (archaic?) perfective participle gwanu/gwawn.

  • Future ✱gwatha “will go”, ✱gwathon “I will go”, < ✶wa-thā, wa-thā-nĭ.

  • Gerund ✱gwaed (< ✶wa-itā) and active participle ✱gwaul (< ✶wa-ālā) “departing”.

  • Imperative ✱gwaw “go!” < ✶wa-ā, as with baw “don’t!” < ✶ (WJ/371-2).

Finally, this verb means “go” specifically in the sense “depart”, that is: “go away”. For “go (generally and in any direction)”, use the verb men-.

If you dislike this irregularity of gwae- or you believe that Tolkien’s note in Q&E (see above) indicates this verb was rejected along with (most) Sindarin derivatives of AWA, then the neologism haena- “to leave, depart” gives an alternative verb.

Sindarin [PE17/148; WJ/378] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwain

adjective. fair

adj. fair. . This gloss was rejected.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:140] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gwana

noun/adjective. fair

gwanu

noun. death (act of dying, not death as a state or abstract)

Sindarin [Ety/397, X/W] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanunig

noun. a twin (one of a pair of twins)

Sindarin [WJ/367] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanunig

noun. twin

Sindarin [LotR/1054; PE17/116; PM/353; PM/365; PMI/Ambarussa; WJ/367] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwanûn

noun. a pair of twins

Sindarin [WJ/367] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanûr

noun. pair of twins

n. pair of twins.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:116] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gwân

adjective. fair

_ adj. _fair, pale.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:165] < _gwan_ < GWAN pale, fair. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

hanar

noun. brother

Sindarin [VT/47:14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

hanar

noun. brother

A word for “brother” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √KHAN of the same meaning and replacing the archaic form of the word †hawn (VT47/14). Remnants of this archaic form can be seem in the diminutive/affectionate form honeg “[little] brother” (VT48/6); Tolkien considered and apparently rejected alternates of the diminutive: honig and hanig (VT47/14; VT48/17).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. tôr “brother” from the root ᴹ√TOR (Ety/TOR), and the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. hethos “brother” from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE] (GL/48-49; QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

hawn

noun. brother

Sindarin [VT/47:14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

hawn

noun. brother

honeg

noun. "litte brother"

Given as honig in VT/47:14, but see VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

honeg

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

Given as honig in VT/47:14, but see VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

Sindarin [VT/48:6,16-17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lae

noun. great number

Sindarin [VT/45:27, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

laeb

adjective. fresh

Sindarin [Ety/368, VT/45:26, X/OE, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

laeg

adjective. "viridis", fresh and green

Seldom used (replaced by calen )

Sindarin [Letters/282, Letters/382] Group: SINDICT. Published by

laes

noun. babe

Sindarin [Ety/367, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

laew

adjective. fresh

_ adj. _fresh.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:159] < LAY. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

laew

adjective. fresh

Sindarin [PE17/159] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lhind

adjective. fine, slender

Sindarin [Ety/386, X/LH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lind

adjective. fair

narn

noun. a tale or a saga, that is told in verse to be spoken and not sung

Sindarin [Ety/374, WJ/313, MR/373, S/412] OS *narna, CE *nʲarnâ "told". Group: SINDICT. Published by

narn

noun. tale, tale, [N.] saga

Sindarin [MR/373; MR/471; S/198; SI/Narn i Hîn Húrin; UT/057; UT/146; WJ/313] Group: Eldamo. Published by

penedh

noun. Elf

Sindarin [PE17/140; PE17/141] Group: Eldamo. Published by

adaneth

mortal woman

(pl. edenith), also firieth (pl. firith).

alph

swan

alph (pl. eilph)

alph

swan

(pl. eilph)

avar

non-eldarin elf

pl. Evair, also called

bain

fair

bain (beautiful). Lenited vain. No distinct pl. form.

bain

fair

(beautiful). Lenited vain. No distinct pl. form.

bess

woman

bess (i vess, construct bes) (wife), pl. biss (i miss). The word etymologically means ”wife”, but the meaning was generalized.

bess

woman

(i vess, construct bes) (wife), pl. biss (i miss). The word etymologically means ”wife”, but the meaning was generalized.

brand

fine

1) brand (high, lofty, noble), lenited vrand, pl. braind, 2) trîw (lenited drîw; no distinct pl. form) (slender) , 3) *lhind (slender), lenited ?thlind or ?lind (the lenition product of lh is uncertain); no distinct pl. form. Sugggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlind.

brand

fine

(high, lofty, noble), lenited vrand, pl. braind

calben

elf of the great journey

(i galben, o chalben), pl. celbin (i chelbin).

cîw

fresh

1) cîw (lenited gîw; no distinct pl. form) (new), 2) laeb (no distinct pl. form). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” lhoeb (LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK) 3) laeg (green), no distinct pl. form. (Note: a homophone means ”keen, sharp, acute”.) In the Woodland dialect lêg, whence leg- in the name Legolas ”Greenleaf” (Lettters:282, 386).

dess

young woman

(i ness, o ndess, constuct des), pl. diss (i ndiss).

dilith

noun. friendship

@@@ Discord 2023-03-06

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

dúnedhel

elf of beleriand

(i Núnedhel), pl. *Dúnedhil*** (i Ndúnedhil*). (WJ:378, 386)*

edhel

elf

(pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). (WJ:363, 377-78; the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > *Elrim*** may also occur). But since elin** also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.

edhelharn

elf-stone

(pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).

elleth

elf-woman

(pl. ellith) (WJ:363-64, 377)

ellon

elf-man

(pl. ellyn)

elvellon

elf-friend

(pl. elvellyn, coll. pl. elvellonnath (WJ:412);

gurth

death

(i ngurth = i ñurth, o n’gurth = o ñgurth), pl. gyrth (in gyrth = i ñgyrth)

guruth

death

(i nguruth = i ñuruth, o n’guruth = o ñguruth), pl. gyryth (in gyryth = i ñgyryth)

gwador

sworn brother

(i ’wador), pl. gwedyr (in gwedyr). In ”N”, the pl. was gwedeir (LR:394 s.v. TOR)

gwaedh

bond

1) (a ”bond” of loyalty) gwaedh (i **waedh) (troth, compact, oath), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaedh**), 2) _(apparently referring to physical ”bonds”, cf.

gwaedh

bond

(i ’waedh)  (troth, compact, oath), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaedh)

gwaith

troop of able-bodied men

(i ’waith) (manhood, manpower, host, regiment, people, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

gwann

departed

(dead), lenited ’wann; pl. gwain

gwanunig

twin

gwanunig (i **wanunig**), a singular formed from:

gwanunig

twin

(i ’wanunig), a singular formed from:

gwanur

pair of twins

(in gwanur), also gwanûn (in gwanûn) (WJ:367)

gwanûn

pair of twins

(in gwanûn) (WJ:367). Also gwanur (in gwanur) (LotR Appendix A). Note: a homophone of gwanur means ”brother; kinsman or kinswoman”

gûr

death

(i ngûr = i ñûr, o n’gûr = o ñgûr, construct gur), pl. guir (in guir = i ñguir)

hanar

brother

1) hanar (i chanar, o chanar), pl. henair (i chenair) (VT47:14). A more archaic term is *haun (spelt ”hawn” in source) (i chaun, o chaun), pl. hoen (i choen), coll. pl. honath.

hanar

brother

(i chanar, o chanar), pl. henair (i chenair) (VT47:14). A more archaic term is ✱haun (spelt ”hawn” in source) (i chaun, o chaun), pl. hoen (i choen), coll. pl. honath.

iell

girl

1) iell (-iel) (daughter, maid), pl. ill; 2) sell (i hell) (daughter, maid), pl. sill (i sill), coll. pl. sellath. 3) (girl in her teens, approaching the adult) neth (also used = ”sister”), pl. nith (VT47:14-16, 33; VT48:6). Notice the homophone neth ”young”. The final element -wen in names means ”girl, maiden, virgin”.

iell

girl

(-iel) (daughter, maid), pl. ill

laegel

green-elf

pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK: *Lhoebenidh* or *Lhoebelidh*. The Green-elves of Beleriand were also called Lindel (pl. Lindil), also Lindedhel (pl. Lindedhil)  *(WJ:385)*.

laes

babe

laes (no distinct pl. form);

laes

noun. babe

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

laes

babe

(no distinct pl. form);

lasgalen

leaf-green

(pl. lesgelin).

lefn

elf left behind

pl. lifn.

lhind

fine

(slender), lenited ?thlind or ?lind (the lenition product of lh is uncertain); no distinct pl. form. Sugggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlind.

lhê

fine thread

(?i thlê or ?i lêthe lenition product of lh is uncertain) (spider filament), pl. lhî (?i lî). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlê.

miniel

first elf

(i Viniel), pl. Mínil (i Mínil), coll. pl. Miniellath. (WJ:383)

mornedhel

dark elf

(i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: ?Mernedhil. **(WJ:409) Another term for ”Dark Elf” is Dúredhel (i Dhúredhel), pl. Dúredhil (i Núredhil**).

mân

departed spirit

(i vân, construct man), pl. main (i main)

nedia

number

(verb) *nedia- (reckon, count) (i nedia, in nediar). Cited in archaic form ”noedia” = nödia- (LR:378 s.v. NOT).

nedia

number

(reckon, count) (i nedia, in nediar). Cited in archaic form ”noedia” = nödia- (LR:378 s.v. NOT).

neth

girl

(also used = ”sister”), pl. nith (VT47:14-16, 33; VT48:6). Notice the homophone neth ”young”. – The final element -wen in names means ”girl, maiden, virgin”.

nod

bind

nod- (i nôd, i nedir) (tie), pa.t. likely *nunt since the root is __ (LR:378).

nod

bind

(i nôd, i nedir) (tie), pa.t. likely ✱nunt since the root is NUT (LR:378).

noth

noun. number

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

pen

pronoun. us (inclusive)

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

peredhel

half-elf

(pl. peredhil) (PM:256, 348).

rim

great number

(crowd, host), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rim), coll. pl. rimmath. Note: a homophone means ”cold pool or lake”.

sell

girl

(i hell) (daughter, maid), pl. sill (i sill), coll. pl. sellath.

send

grey-elf

(i hend, o send, construct sen) (probably a term only used by the Noldor, borrowed from Quenya Sinda), pl. sind (i sind), coll. pl. Sendrim (the only attested form).

tess

fine pierced hole

(i dess, construct tes), pl. tiss (i thiss). Older ters (VT46:18).

trîw

fine

(lenited drîw; no distinct pl. form) (slender)

Noldorin 

gwend

noun. bond, friendship

gwenn

noun. maiden

gweneth

noun. virginity

gwend

noun. bond, friendship

Noldorin [Ety/397-398, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwend

noun. maiden

Noldorin [Ety/398, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gweneth

noun. virginity

Noldorin [Ety/398] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwenn

noun. maiden

Noldorin [Ety/398, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

calen

adjective. green

Noldorin [Ety/362, S/429, Letters/282, RC/349, VT/42:19] Etym. "bright-coloured". Group: SINDICT. Published by

bein

adjective. fair, beautiful

Noldorin [Ety/BAN; Ety/GWEN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alf

noun. swan

Noldorin [Ety/348, S/427, LotR/E, VT/42:6-7, X/PH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

alf

noun. swan

Noldorin [Ety/ÁLAK; Ety/KHOP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

bess

noun. (young) woman

Noldorin [Ety/352, SD/129-31] Group: SINDICT. Published by

bess

noun. wife

Noldorin [Ety/352, SD/129-31] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dess

noun. young woman

Noldorin [Ety/375] Group: SINDICT. Published by

noun. woman, lady

Noldorin [Ety/352, Ety/354] Group: SINDICT. Published by

guruth

noun. death

Noldorin [Ety/377] Group: SINDICT. Published by

guruth

noun. death

Noldorin [Ety/ÑGUR; RS/186] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwador

noun. brother (especially used of those not brothers by blood, but sworn brothers or associates)

Noldorin [Ety/394] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwaedh

noun. bond, troth, compact, oath

Noldorin [Ety/397] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanath

noun. death (act of dying, not death as a state or abstract)

Noldorin [Ety/397] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwann

adjective. departed, dead

Noldorin [Ety/397] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanod

noun. tale, number

Noldorin [Ety/378] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanur

noun. a pair of twins

Noldorin [Ety/378, Ety/392, VT/46:6, LotR/A(iv)] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanur

noun. brother or kinsman, kinswoman

Noldorin [Ety/378, Ety/392, VT/46:6, LotR/A(iv)] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanw

noun. death (act of dying, not death as a state or abstract)

Noldorin [Ety/397, X/W] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwedh

noun. bond

Noldorin [Ety/397] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwedh

noun. bond

Noldorin [Ety/WED; PE22/032] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwedh-

verb. to bind

Noldorin [Ety/397, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwedh-

verb. to bind

gûr

noun. death

Noldorin [Ety/377] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhae

noun. great number

Noldorin [VT/45:27, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhaeb

adjective. fresh

Noldorin [Ety/368, VT/45:26, X/OE, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhaes

noun. babe

Noldorin [Ety/367, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhaes

noun. babe

A noun appearing as N. lhaes “babe” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√LAP (Ety/KEM).

Neo-Sindarin: This word is sometimes adapted to Neo-Sindarin as ᴺS. laes, for example in HSD (HSD). This updated form is the usual revision of the voiceless initial lh of Noldorin to voiced l in Sindarin. However, this is not the only phonological difficulty in this word. For example, there is some evidence that in Sindarin, the vocalization of spirantalized p is to u rather than i, suggesting ᴺS. ✱laus. There is also evidence that voiceless stops didn’t vocalize before s in Sindarin, but rather became simple spirants, as in ach “neck” < aks, suggesting instead ✱laph. In this case, I think it is best to avoid all these complexities and just use the 1968 word S. gwinig for “baby”.

lhoeb

adjective. fresh

Noldorin [Ety/368, VT/45:26, X/OE, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhoeb

adjective. fresh

Noldorin [Ety/LÁYAK; EtyAC/LÁYAK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

muindor

noun. brother

Noldorin [Ety/394] muin+tôr. Group: SINDICT. Published by

muindor

noun. brother

narn

noun. a tale or a saga, that is told in verse to be spoken and not sung

Noldorin [Ety/374, WJ/313, MR/373, S/412] OS *narna, CE *nʲarnâ "told". Group: SINDICT. Published by

nûd

noun. bond

penedh

noun. Elf

Noldorin [Ety/KWEN(ED); EtyAC/SET] Group: Eldamo. Published by

penn

noun. Elf

Noldorin [EtyAC/MOR; PE22/067] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pent

noun. tale

Noldorin [Ety/366] Group: SINDICT. Published by

thlind

adjective. fine, slender

Noldorin [Ety/386, X/LH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

thlinn

adjective. fine, slender

Noldorin [Ety/386, X/LH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

trîw

adjective. fine, slender

Noldorin [Ety/392] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tôr

noun. brother

The word muindor is more usual

Noldorin [Ety/394, X/Z] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tôr

noun. brother

An (archaic) word for “brother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√TOR of the same meaning, with an irregular plural terein (Ety/TOR). In ordinary speech, it was replaced by muindor, with an initial element muin “dear”.

Neo-Sindarin: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word hanar for “brother” (VT47/14). However, I think †tôr and related words might be retained to mean a “metaphorical brother”, a close male associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as gwador “(sworn) brother, associate”. In this paradigm, I would assume muindor still refers to a brother by blood, with an added connotation of strong affection.

Quenya 

-wen

maiden

-wen "maiden" as suffix, a frequent ending in feminine names like Eärwen "Sea-maiden" (SA:wen). Early "Qenya" also has -wen, feminine patronymic "daughter of" (LT1:271, 273), but the patronymic ending seems to be -iel "-daughter" in Tolkien's later Quenya.

ezel

green

ezel, ezella adj. "green" (in Vanyarin Quenya only). Adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399)

ezel(la)

adjective. green

laica

green

laica (1) adj. "green" (in older sources laiqua) (Letters:282, PE17:159). Laicolassë (laica + #olassë) "green-foliage" (PE17:46), Quenya cognate of Sindarin Laegolas (dialectal form Legolas); compare olassië. Adj. laicalassë "green as leaves", literally "green-leaf" (PE17:56).

laica

adjective. green

Quenya [Let/282; PE17/056; PE17/084; PE17/159] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laiqua

green

laiqua ("q")adj. "green" (LÁYAK, LT1:267, MC:214), "Qenya" pl. laiquali ("q")(MC:216). Occurs in the phrase laiqua'ondoisen ("q") "green-rocks-upon" (MC:221; this is "Qenya"), Laiqualassë ("q") masc. name "Legolas" (Greenleaf) (LT1:267). Used as noun in the phrase mi laiqua of somebody clad "in green" (PE17:71). In later material, the word for "green" appears as laica, and the cognate of Legolas is said to be Laicolassë, q.v. (PE17:56)

laiqua

adjective. green

Quenya [PE17/071; PE17/084; PE17/153] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wenya

green, yellow-green, fresh

wenya adj. "green, yellow-green, fresh" (GWEN), apparently "fair, beautiful" ("probably originally "fresh, fair, unblemished especially of beauty of youth") in a later deleted note (PE17:191).

vendelë

noun. maidenhood

A word appearing as wendele “maidenhood” in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959, an abstract noun formation from wendë “maiden” (PE17/191). In modern Quenya spelling and pronunciation it would be ✱vendelë.

Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. ’wendele had the same form and meaning in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, the only difference being the ’ indicating the loss of initial g from the early root ᴱ√GWENE (QL/103).

wenya

adjective. fair, beautiful

-ima

fair

-ima adjectival suffix. Sometimes it is used to derive simple adjectives, like vanima "fair" or calima "bright"; it can also take on the meaning "-able" (PE17:68), as in mátima "edible" (mat- "eat"), nótima "countable" (not- "count") and (with a negative prefix) úquétima "unspeakable" (from quet- "speak"). Note that the stem-vowel is normally lengthened in the derivatives where -ima means "-able", though this fails to occur in cenima "visible" (q.v., but contrast hraicénima, q.v.) and also before a consonant cluster as in úfantima "not concealable" (PE17:176). "X-ima" may mean "apt to X" (when the ending is added to an intransitive verbal stem), as in Fírimar "mortals", literally "those apt to die" (WJ:387). The adj. úfantima "not concealable" (PE17:176) also appears as úfantuma (PE17:180), indicating the existence of a variant ending -uma (possibly used to derive adjectives with a "bad" meaning; compare the ending *-unqua next to -inqua, q.v.)

Lindissë

woman

Lindissë fem.name, perhaps lin- (root of words having to do with song/music) + (n)dissë "woman" (see nís). (UT:210)

alima

fair, good

alima adj. "fair, good" (also alya) (PE17:146)

alqua

noun. swan

swan

Quenya [PE 18:100] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

alqua

swan

alqua noun "swan" _(ÁLAK [there spelt _alqa, as in LT1:249/LT2:335], SA:alqua, UT:265, VT42:7). The alternative form alquë ("q") mentioned in early material (LT1:249) may or may not be valid in LotR-style Quenya.

alqua

noun. swan

The Quenya noun for “swan” derived from primitive ✶alkwā (NM/378; PE18/100; UT/265; Ety/ÁLAK).

Conceptual Development: The word ᴱQ. alqa dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where it was a derivative of the early root ᴱ√ḶKḶ (QL/30), though it had a variant form alqe in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon (GL/18). Other than this one exception, Tolkien stuck with alqua throughout his life. In The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹQ. alqa “swan” appeared under the root ᴹ√ALAK “rushing” (Ety/ÁLAK).

Quenya [NM/378; PE18/100; SA/alqua; UT/265; VT42/07] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alya

fair, good

alya (1) adj. "fair, good" (PE17:146), "prosperous, rich, abundant, blessed" (GALA). In a deleted entry in Etym, the glosses provided were "rich, blessed"; another deleted entry defined alya as "rich, prosperous, blessed". (GALA, [ÁLAM], VT42:32, 45:5, 14)

céva

fresh, new

céva ("k")adj. "fresh, new" (VT48:7, 8)

effírië

death

#effírië noun "death" (isolated from effíriemmo "of our death"). A verbal stem *effir- "expire, die" seems to be implied. (VT43:34)

effírië

noun. death

hanno

brother

hanno noun "brother" (a colloquial form, cf. háno), also used in children's play for "middle finger" (VT47:12, 14, VT48:4, 6)

helmë

friendship

[helmë noun "friendship" (VT46:3)]

háno

brother

háno noun "brother", colloquially also hanno (VT47:12, 14). It is unclear whether Tolkien, by introducing this form, abandoned the older (TLT) word toron (q.v.)

háno

noun. brother

A word for “brother” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √KHAN of the same meaning (VT47/14). It had a diminutive/affectionate variant hanno used as a play name for the middle finger in several places in these notes (VT47/12; VT48/6).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. toron “brother” from the root ᴹ√TOR (Ety/TOR), and the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. herendo “brother” from the early root ᴱ√HESE (QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

höa

adjective. big, large

@@@ used in NQNT

lapsë

babe

lapsë noun "babe" (LAP)

linda

fair, beautiful

linda adj. "fair, beautiful" (of sound) (SLIN, LIND; VT45:27), "soft, gentle, light" (PE16:96), "beautiful, sweet, melodious of sound" (PE17:150); for Linda as a noun, see Lindar.

molda

adjective. big, large

naxa

noun. bond

bond, fetter

Quenya [PE 19:101] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

nellë

brook

nellë noun "brook" (NEN)

nettë

girl, daughter

nettë (stem *netti-, given the primitive form listed in VT47:17) noun "girl, daughter" (but also "sister", see below), also used as a play-name of the "fourth finger" or "fourth toe" (VT47:10, VT48:6), in two-hand play also used for the numeral "nine" (nettë is conceived as being related to nertë, q.v.) Nettë is also defined as "sister" or "girl approaching the adult" (VT47:16, VT49:25), "girl/daughter" (VT47:15-16); it may be that "sister" was Tolkien's final decision on the meaning (VT48:4, 22) - The related word nésa seems like a less ambiguous translation of "sister".

nilmë

friendship

nilmë noun "friendship" (NIL/NDIL)

nissë

woman

nissë noun "woman" (NDIS-SĒ/SĀ, NI1, NIS, VT47:33); see nís. Note: nissë could apparently also mean "in me", the locative form of the 1st person pronoun ni, q.v.

nissë

noun. woman

nuru

death, death

nuru, Nuru noun "death, Death" _(ÑGUR). This represents earlier ñuru (VT46:4) _and should be spelt accordingly in Tengwar writing. When personalized, Nuru refers to Mandos. Cf. Nurufantur.

nyarna

tale, saga

nyarna noun "tale, saga" (NAR2), compounded in nyarmamaitar noun "storyteller" (PE17:163), literally *"tale-artist" (see maitar).

nyárë

tale, saga, history

nyárë noun "tale, saga, history". Compounded in Eldanyárë "History of the Elves", lumenyárë "history, chronological account" (NAR2, LR:199). Compare nyarië, nyarna.

woman, female

(2) noun "woman, female" (NI1, INI (NĒR ) ). Not to be confused with as a stressed form of the pronoun ni "I".

nína

woman

#nína (gen.pl. nínaron attested) noun "woman" (VT43:31; this word, as well as some other experimental forms listed in the same source, seem ephemeral: several sources agree that the Quenya word for "woman" is nís, nis [q.v.])

nís

woman

nís (niss-, as in pl. nissi) noun "woman" _(MR:213. The Etymologies gives _nis (or nissë), pl. nissi: see the stems NDIS-SĒ/SĀ, NI1, NIS (NĒR), VT46:4; compare VT47:33. In Tolkien's Quenya rendering of Hail Mary, the plural nísi occurs instead of nissi; this form is curious, since nísi would be expected to turn into *nízi, *_níri** (VT43:31). VT47:33 suggests that Tolkien at one point considered _niþ- as the older form of the stem, which etymology would solve this problem (since s from older þ does not become z > r). Even so, the MR forms, nís with stem niss-, may be preferred. - Compare †, #nína, nisto, Lindissë.

nís

noun. woman

The usual Quenya word for “woman” or more exactly a “female person” of any race, in later writings appearing as both nís (MR/213, 226, 229) and nisse (VT47/18, 33). Even in the cases where its singular was nís, its plural form was given as nissi, indicating a stem form of niss-. In rough notes from 1968 Tolkien said “The monosyllabic nouns (especially those with only one stem-consonant) were a small dwindling class often replaced by strengthened forms (as nis- was [by] nisse)” (VT47/18).

Thus it seems the ancient form was ✱nis- from the root √NIS, which like its male counterpart Q. nér “man” inherited a long vowel from the ancient subjective form ✱nīs. But the voiceless s was felt to be intrinsic to word, and it was thus strengthened to niss- in inflected forms to avoid the sound changes associated with an isolated s. From this a longer form nisse was generalized. In practice I think either form can be used, with singular nís being preserved by analogy with nér. However, I think inflected forms are probably all based on nisse, such as genitive nisseo “of a woman” rather than ✱✱nisso.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had both ᴹQ. nis and nisse “woman” derived the root ᴹ√NIS, with plural nissi in both cases (Ety/NIS, NDIS). He explained this variation as follows: “nis was a blend of old nīs (nisen) and the elab[orated] form ✱nis-sē” (EtyAC/Nι). Hence it is was essentially the same as the scenario described above, but in the 1930s the long vowel in ancient nīs did not survive in the later short form nis.

In Quenya prayers of the 1950s, Tolkien experimented with some alternate plural forms nínaron [genitive plural] >> nísi [ordinary plural] (VT43/26-29, 31), the former apparently representing a variant singular form ✱nína, but in later writings plural nissi was restored.

Quenya [MR/213; MR/226; MR/229; MR/471; VT43/31; VT47/18; VT47/33] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nótë

number

nótë noun "number" (NOT)

nútë

bond, knot

nútë noun "bond, knot" (NUT)

onóro

brother

onóro noun "brother" (of blood-kinship) (TOR, NŌ (WŌ) )

otorno

brother, sworn brother, [male] associate

otorno noun "brother, sworn brother, [male] associate" (TOR, WŌ). Cf. osellë.

polda

big

polda adj. "big" (PE17:115), "strong, burly" (POL/POLOD)

polda

adjective. big, big; [ᴹQ.] strong, burly; [ᴱQ.] mighty, powerful

quenta

tale

quenta ("q")noun "tale" (KWET), "narrative, story" (VT39:16); Quenta Silmarillion "the Story/Tale of the Silmarils", also Quenta Eldalien "History of the Elves" (SD:303), notice "Qenya" genitive in -n in the latter title. Quenta is also translated "account", as in Valaquenta "Account of the Valar".

tereva

fine, acute

tereva adj. "fine, acute" (TER/TERES), "piercing"_ (LT1:255; though glossed "fine, acute" in the Etymologies, the stem _TER is defined as "pierce")

toron

brother

toron (torn- as in pl. torni) noun "brother" (TOR; a later source gives háno, hanno [q.v.] as the word for "brother", leaving the status of toron uncertain)

túra

big, great

túra adj. "big, great" (PE17:115), related to words for power and apparently referring to a more abstract greatness than words like haura "huge". Cf. taura, túrëa. Apparently initial element of Túrosto.

urdu

death

urdu noun "death" (LT2:342; rather nuru in Tolkien's later Quenya)

urtu

noun. death

vanya

fair

vanya (1) adj. "fair" (FS), "beautiful" (BAN), a word referring to beauty that is "due to lack of fault, or blemish" (PE17:150), hence Arda Vanya as an alternative to Arda Alahasta for "Arda Unmarred" (ibid., compare MR:254). Nominal pl. Vanyar "the Fair", the first clan of the Eldar; the original meaning of this stem was "pale, light-coloured, not brown or dark" (WJ:382, 383, stem given as WAN), "properly = white complexion and blonde hair" (PE17:154, stem given as GWAN); stems BAN vs. WAN discussed, see PE17:150.

vanë

fair

vanë adj. "fair" (LT1:272; in Tolkien's later Quenya rather vanya)

vanë

adjective. fair, fair, [ᴱQ.] lovely

ve

pronoun. us (inclusive)

Quenya [PE17/130; PE22/167; VT49/14; VT49/51] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vendë

maiden

vendë < wendë noun "maiden" (WEN/WENED, VT45:16), "virgin" (in Tolkien's translations of Catholic prayers where the reference is to Mary; see VT44:10, 18). The form Véndë in VT44:10 seems abnormal; normally Quenya does not have a long vowel in front of a consonant cluster.

venessë

virginity

venessë noun "virginity" (WEN/WENED)

vi

pronoun. us (inclusive)

virya

fresh

virya (1) adj. "fresh" (VT46:22)

vénë

virginity

vénë < wénë noun "virginity" (WEN/WENED); in one source vénë also appears with the concrete meaning "virgin" (VT44:10), but this is normally vendë, wendë instead.

vénëa

maidenly, virginal

*vénëa* adj. "maidenly, virginal" (VT44:10; the source has véne' alcarë "virginal glory", the first word possibly representing an adjective vénëa** the final vowel of which has been elided since the next word begins in the same vowel.)

vérë

bond, troth, compact, oath

vérë (1) noun "bond, troth, compact, oath" (WED)

wenci

woman, maiden

wenci ("k") noun, apparently a diminutive form of the stem wēn- "woman, maiden". It is possible that this is meant to be Common Eldarin rather than Quenya; if so the Quenya form would be *wencë (compare nercë "little man") (VT48:18)

wendelë

maidenhood

wendelë noun "maidenhood" (LT1:271, PE17:191)

wendelë

noun. maidenhood

wendë

noun. maiden

wentë

brook

wentë noun "brook" (GL:46)

wénë

virginity

wénë > vénë noun "virginity" (WEN/WENED)

yelmë

friendship

[yelmë] (2) noun (not glossed; the etymology may suggest *"friendship") (YEL, struck out)

Quendya 

ezel(la)

adjective. green

Nandorin 

lego

adjective. green

Nandorin [Let/282; PE17/153] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ealc

noun. swan

Primitive form given as alk-wâ, derived from a stem ÁLAK "rushing" (LR:348); alk-wâ would seem to be an adjectival formation (ending -wâ), so the primitive word probably had the same meaning as the stem: "rushing", later used as a noun "rushing (one)" and applied to an animal. According to Tolkien's later conception, kw should probably have come out as p rather than c in Nandorin; see cwenda.

Primitive a becoming ea is a strange shift with no direct parallels even where it might have been expected, but compare eo from i in meord (and from e in beorn), as well as ie from a in sciella. Perhaps we are to understand that the liquids l, r trigger such changes in a preceeding vowel, but then we might expect for instance *ealm instead of alm as the word for "elm-tree".

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (LR:348)] < ÁLAK. Published by

Adûnaic

agan

noun. death

A noun for “death” attested both as an independent word (SD/426) and in the compound agannâlô “death-shadow” (SD/247).

Adûnaic [SD/247; SD/312; SD/426] Group: Eldamo. Published by

agân

masculine name. Death

The masculine personification of agan “death” (SD/426). This could be the Adûnaic name for Mandos.

kali

noun. woman

A noun translated “woman” (SD/434).

nithil

noun. girl

A noun translated “girl” and fully declined as an example of a feminine Strong I noun (SD/430). It is also used as an example of feminine nouns that use the suffix -i in their objective inflection as opposed to the usual -u: nithli (SD/431). Though not explicitly stated, nithli is also an example of the variant objective-with-syncope syntax discussed on SD/435. Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne suggested (AAD/21) it may be related to the Elvish root √NETH “young”.

Adûnaic [SD/427; SD/431; SD/436] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Telerin 

alpa

noun. swan

ella

noun/adjective. Elf

Telerin [WJ/362; WJ/364; WJ/375; WJI/Eldar] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ello

noun. Elf

Telerin [WJ/362; WJ/364; WJ/373; WJ/375; WJ/376; WJI/Eldar] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hanna

noun. brother

háno

noun. brother


Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Middle Primitive Elvish

gwen

root. *fresh, green

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/GWEN; Ety/WEN; EtyAC/GWIN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wen-

noun. girl

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/WEN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wen(ed)

root. maiden

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/BAN; Ety/GWEN; Ety/WEN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wed

root. bind

A root in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “bind” with derivatives like ᴹQ. vére/N. gwaedh “bond, troth, compact, oath” and ᴹQ. vesta-/N. gwesta- “swear”, though Tolkien deleted Quenya derivatives of this root beginning with ves- saying they fell out of use due to conflict with ᴹ√BES “wed” (Ety/WED). This root might be a later iteration of the hypothetical early root ✱ᴱ√FEDE indicated by words in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s like G. fedhin “bound by agreement; ally, friend” and G. fedhra- “unite in a band” (GL/34), but the 1910s and 1930s forms are rather dissimilar so it is hard to say.

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/WED; Ety/WEN; Ety/WŌ] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alkwā

noun. swan

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/ÁLAK; PE18/050] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kwen(ed)

root. Elf

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KWEN(ED); PE18/034; PE18/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kwenedē

noun. Elf

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KWEN(ED); PE19/057; PE19/059; PE21/25; PE21/69] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kwentā

noun. tale

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KWET] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laikwā

adjective. fresh

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/LAIK; Ety/LÁYAK; EtyAC/LÁYAK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

layak

root. *fresh, green

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/LAIK; Ety/LÁYAK; EtyAC/LAYA] Group: Eldamo. Published by

noun. number

Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/LI; PE21/19] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nenle

noun. brook

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/NEN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nis

root. woman

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/DER; Ety/NDIS; Ety/Nι; Ety/NIS; EtyAC/NDIS; PE21/55] Group: Eldamo. Published by

noun. woman

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/NĒR; EtyAC/NDIS; PE21/55] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nī̆s

noun. woman

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/NĒR; PE21/55; PE21/64] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rap

root. bind

A root in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “bind” but without derivatives (EtyAC/RAP). The element S. raph (“?rope”) in S. Udalraph “Stirrupless” (“?without (U-) foot-rope”) might be related (UT/313).

Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/RAP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tor

root. brother

Tolkien gave this root in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹ√TOR “brother” with derivatives like ᴹQ. toron and N. tôr of the same meaning (Ety/TOR). Hints of the roots continued use appear in the 1959 term Q. melotorni “love-brothers” for close male friends (NM/20). In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien gave Q. háno and S. hanar as the words for “brother”, both from the root √KHAN. Nevertheless, I think it is worth retaining ᴹ√TOR to represent more abstract notions of “brotherhood” for the purposes of Neo-Eldarin, for “metaphorical” brothers as opposed to Q. háno/S. hanar for brothers by blood.

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR; Ety/WŌ] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wanwē

noun. death

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/WAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wedā

noun. bond

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/WED] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ñel

root. friendship

A rejected root for “friendship” in The Etymologies of the 1930s (EtyAC/ÑEL), apparently replaced by ᴹ√N(D)IL.

Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/ÑEL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

gwen

noun. girl

A noun for “girl” derived from primitive ᴹ✶wen- (Ety/WEN). Here the [[ilk|initial [w] became [gw]]].

Doriathrin [Ety/WEN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwene

adjective. green

An adjective for “green” derived from the root ᴹ√GWEN (Ety/GWEN). Its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. wenya suggests its primitive form was ✱✶gwenyā [gwenjā]. If so, it is an example of how, after [[ilk|final [a] was lost]], the [[ilk|final [j] became [i]]] and then became [e], as suggested by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Ilkorin/gwene).

Doriathrin [Ety/GWEN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alch

noun. swan

An Ilkorin word for “swan” derived from primitive ᴹ✶alkwā (Ety/ÁLAK). This word is a good example of how voiceless stops became spirants after liquids and voiceless stops in Ilkorin.

Doriathrin [Ety/ÁLAK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

cwend

noun. Elf

A Doriathrin noun meaning “Elf” derived from primitive ᴹ✶kwenedē (EtyAC/KWEN(ED)), an example of the Ilkorin syncope.

Conceptual Development: This word is nearly identical to earlier Gnomish Cwenn “Elf” before Tolkien revised the phonological history of the Noldorin language so that [[on|[kw] became [p]]].

Doriathrin [EtyAC/KWEN(ED)] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwedh

noun. bond

A noun meaning “bond” derived from primitive ᴹ✶wedā (Ety/WED). Here the [[ilk|initial [w] became [gw]]], and the [[ilk|[d] spirantalized to [ð]]].

Doriathrin [Ety/WED] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laf

noun. babe

A rejected Doriathrin noun for “babe” developed from the root ᴹ√LAP (EtyAC/LAP). Its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. lapse suggests a primitive form of ✱✶lapsē, but elsewhere a [[ilk|medial [ps] became [ss]]] in Ilkorin, as with tuss < ᴹ✶tupsē.

Doriathrin [EtyAC/LAP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

gwenninûr

feminine name. Gwenninûr

Another name for the Sun Maiden ᴱQ. Urwen(di) (Arien) in the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s (GL/18), possibly a combination of gwennin “girl” with the root URU having to do with the Sun.

gwenniniol

adjective. maiden(ly), girlish

A word in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s appearing as {gwend(r)iol >>} gwenniniol “maiden (aj.), maidenly, girlish”, an adjectival form of {gwen >>} G. gwennin “girl” (GL/45).

gwenedh

adjective. womanly?

An unglossed feminine adjective appearing in Gnomish Lexicon Slips from the 1910s as {gwinedh >>} gwenedh with pl. gwinidh; it is of unclear meaning, perhaps “✱womanly” (PE13/118).

gwent

noun. brook, small river

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s given as G. gwent “brook, small river” with an apparent variant gwed, both derivatives ᴱ√gu̯et (GL/46).

gwen(n)

adjective. big, large; fine

gwennin

noun. girl

gwenithli

noun. maidenhood

gwent

adjective. big, large; fine

laib

adjective. green

Gnomish [GL/39; GL/52; LT1A/Tári-Laisi; PE15/28] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwethli

noun. maiden, little girl

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s given as G. {gwendi >>} gwethli “maiden, little girl”, derived from the root {ᴱ√gw̯ene >>} ᴱ√gu̯eđe, more specifically from primitive ᴱ✶gu̯eđeþlī (GL/45).

gwedheling

feminine name. Gwedheling

Gnomish [GL/45; LBI/Gwendeling; LBI/Gwenethlin; LT1A/Wendelin; LT2/049; LT2/050; LT2/051; LT2/119; LT2/244; LT2A/Gwedheling; LT2I/Gwedheling; LT2I/Gwendeling; LT2I/Gwenethlin; LT2I/Gwenniel; SMI/Gwedheling; SMI/Gwendelin; WJI/Gwendelin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

cwent

noun. tale, saying

Gnomish [GG/11; GG/12; GL/28; LT2A/Tôn a Gwedrin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwedhweg

adjective. meandering, twisting, winding, intricate

alf

noun. swan

alfa

noun. swan

Gnomish [GL/18; GL/67; LT1A/Alqaluntë; PE13/109] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alfuil(in)

noun. swan

Gnomish [GL/19; PE13/109] Group: Eldamo. Published by

brag

adjective. fresh

cwenn

noun. Elf

Gnomish [GL/28; GL/32; PE13/099; PE14/009] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ged nôsa u

kinsman

Gnomish [GL/38; GL/61] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gethli

noun. friendship

gurth(u)

noun. death

Gnomish [GG/13; GG/14; GL/41; GL/43; GL/44; LT2A/Gurtholfin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwed-

verb. to wind, turn, bend (intr.)

hethos

noun. brother

A word for “brother” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, a masculinized form of G. heth “brother or sister, ✱sibling”, along with several (archaic?) variant forms {hethweg >>} hethwig, hestron, and hethron (GL/48-49). It was ultimately derived from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE?] (QL/40).

nern

noun. brook

A noun glossed “brook” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, a derivative of ᴱ√nere (GL/60).

nosied

noun. kinsman

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “kinsman”, a combination of G. nôs “birthday” and G. ged “†kinsman” (GL/61), hence probably “kinsman by birth”. In one place it appeared in the form nosged, but this was deleted and replaced by nosied (GL/38).

Gnomish [GL/38; GL/61] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nîr

noun. woman

silwin

noun. swan

A word for “swan” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/67), probably related to ᴱQ. siloine of the same meaning (QL/83).

tathn

noun. number

Gnomish [GL/69; LT2A/Nínin-Udathriol] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

gwennian

place name. Gwennian

Early Noldorin [PE13/155] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwenn

noun. Elf

Early Noldorin [PE13/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwannen

adjective. ?beautiful

Early Noldorin [PE13/122] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwanwen

noun. swan

A word for “swan” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/146, 159), perhaps related to ᴱN. gwant “✱beautiful”.

Early Noldorin [PE13/146; PE13/159] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lhaiw

adjective. green

Early Noldorin [PE13/148] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alf

noun. swan

Early Noldorin [PE13/136; PE13/159] Group: Eldamo. Published by

egol

noun. elf

gurdh

noun. death

Early Noldorin [LB/028; PE13/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwant

noun/adjective. ?beautiful

Early Noldorin [PE13/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

idhel

noun. elf

ileth

noun. elf

nain

noun. woman

Early Noldorin [PE13/123] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nath

noun. number

noth

noun. number

Early Noldorin [PE13/148; PE13/150; PE13/151; PE13/155] Group: Eldamo. Published by

uidhol

noun. elf

uigol

noun. elf

uin

noun. woman

Early Noldorin [PE13/123; PE13/146; PE13/155] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

gwene

root. *large, wide

A root in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, with the derivatives like G. gwen(n) “big, large; fine” and G. Bladorwen “Wide Earth, Mother Earth” (GL/23, 45), thus probably meaning “✱large, wide”. The name Bladorwen did not survive in the Legendarium and there are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/45] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwene

root. *maiden; woman

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/45; LT1A/Urwen; PE13/118; QL/103] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwendi Reconstructed

noun. Gwendi

Early Primitive Elvish [PE13/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gu̯eđeþlī

noun. maiden, little girl

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/45] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alchwa

noun. swan

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/18; LT1A/Alqaluntë; PE13/109] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hotho

root. bind

Early Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

m(b)ṇðṇ

root. bind

Early Primitive Elvish [PME/058; QL/058; QL/063] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rese

root. kinsman

Early Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

reðe

root. kinsman

The form reðe was a root added under ᴱ√RESE [REÞE] “aid, support” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, with derivatives of ᴱ√RESE having to do with “kinship” reassigned to reðe, such as ᴱQ. renda “related, of the same kin or clan” and ᴱQ. resse “kinswoman, cousin” (QL/79). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon Tolkien had a similar set of words likewise derived from distinct reth- vs. redh-, with the latter most likely being the basis for words like G. redhin “related” and G. ress “cousin (f.), relative” (GL/65). The root was given as RESE- “kinsman” in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/79), but the addition of reðe may be later than that document.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is worth positing a Neo-Root ᴺ√RE(N)D to preserve these early kinship and cousin words, for which we have no later alternatives. It might be considered a variant of later root √RED “scatter, sow” (Ety/RED; PE19/91) and thus applied only to more distant kin.

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/65; PME/079; QL/079] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

laika

adjective. green

laiqa

adjective. green

Early Quenya [GL/39; LT1A/Tári-Laisi; MC/214; MC/216; MC/221; PE14/083; PE15/28; PE16/056; PE16/062; PE16/065; PE16/072; PE16/074; PE16/077; PE16/100; PE16/104; PE16/139; PME/052; QL/052; VT40/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wente

noun. brook, small river

A noun given the cognate of G. gwent “brook, small river” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s as a derivative of the root ᴱ√gu̯et (GL/46). Tolkien seems to have revised the primitive form to u̯et and the Qenya form to vente.

Early Quenya [GL/46] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qen

noun. Elf

Early Quenya [GL/32; LRI/Qendi; LT1/235; LT1I/Qendi; PE13/099; PE13/146; PE14/009; QL/092; SM/013; SM/168] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wendele

noun. maidenhood

Early Quenya [LT1A/Urwen; QL/103] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alqa

noun. swan

Early Quenya [GL/18; LT1A/Alqaluntë; LT2A/Alqarámë; PE13/136; PE13/159; QL/030] Group: Eldamo. Published by

alqe

noun. swan

anai

noun. woman

A noun in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s form “woman” with variants anai and anî, a feminine form ᴱQ. anu “a male” (QL/31).

Early Quenya [QL/031] Group: Eldamo. Published by

anî

noun. woman

hepe-

verb. to bind

Early Quenya [PE14/056; PME/040; QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

herendo

noun. brother

A word for “brother” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with numerous variants: herendo or herēro, hestaner, and hesta(noi)nu, all based on the early root ᴱ√HESE that was the basis for “brother” and “sister” words (QL/40). Of these Tolkien said herendo/herēro was the “ordinary word”, and herendo appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/40).

Early Quenya [PME/040; QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

heréro

noun. brother

hestaner

noun. brother

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hestanoinu

noun. brother

hestanu

noun. brother

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hetl

noun. bond

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kalwa

adjective. fair, beautiful

Early Quenya [LT1A/Galmir; PME/044; QL/044] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lim-

verb. to bind

Early Quenya [PE15/32; QL/054] Group: Eldamo. Published by

loite

adjective. fresh

Early Quenya [QL/041; QL/052] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mella

noun. girl

A word for “girl” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√MELE “love”, but Tolkien marked it with a “?” (QL/60). The same word did appear in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa, however (PME/60).

Early Quenya [PME/060; QL/060] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nyar

noun. tale, saying

Early Quenya [PME/068; QL/068] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nyara

noun. tale

Early Quenya [QL/068] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nyél

noun. woman

A word for “woman” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s with stem form nyel-, as indicated by its accusative nyela (PE16/135). Its etymology is unclear; Patrick Wynne and Christopher Gilson suggested it might be connected to the early root ᴱ√NYEHE “weep” or later root ᴹ√NYEL “ring, sing”, but these both feel like stretches to me.

Early Quenya [PE16/135] Group: Eldamo. Published by

noun. woman

Early Quenya [GL/60] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qalume

noun. death

Early Quenya [QL/076] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qende

noun. Elf

siloine

noun. swan

A word for “swan” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s appearing under the early root ᴱ√SILI (QL/83).

Early Quenya [QL/083] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tanta

noun. number

Early Quenya [QL/090] Group: Eldamo. Published by

urdu

noun. death

Early Quenya [GL/43; LT2A/Gurtholfin; QL/104] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vanta

adjective. ?beautiful

Early Quenya [PE16/142] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vente

noun. brook, small river

wenda

noun. brook

A noun given as ’wenda “brook” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the root ᴱ√GWEÐE (QL/103).

Early Quenya [QL/103] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wende

noun. maiden

Early Quenya [MC/215; PE16/090; PE16/092] Group: Eldamo. Published by

yunga

noun. twin

Early Quenya [PE14/077; PE15/78] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

laiqa

adjective. green

venesse

noun. virginity

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “virginity”, an abstract noun form of ᴹQ. véne which seems to mean “girl” or “maiden”, both appearing under the root ᴹ√WEN-ED “maiden” (Ety/WEN).

véne

noun. girl

alqa

noun. swan

aman

noun. bond

Qenya [PE21/33; PE21/34] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elda

noun. Elf

Qenya [Ety/ELED; EtyAC/EDE; LR/072; LR/169; LR/181; LR/197; LR/212; LR/218; LRI/Eldar; PE18/024; PE21/57; PE22/124; PE22/125; SD/401; SDI2/Eldar; SDI2/Eledâi; SDI2/Nimrî; SMI/Eldar; VT27/07] Group: Eldamo. Published by

helme

noun. friendship

lapse

noun. babe

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “babe” derived from the root ᴹ√LAP (Ety/LAP). The root was unglossed in The Etymologies, but in notes both before and after the 1930s this root had glosses like “enfold” and “fold”, so perhaps lapse meant something like “✱swaddled one”; hat-tip to Lokyt for this suggestion.

nelle

noun. brook, brook, *stream

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “brook” derived from primitive ᴹ✶nenle (Ety/NEN), where the ancient nl became ll (PE19/47).

nilme

noun. friendship

nis

noun. woman

Qenya [Ety/NDIS; Ety/Nι; Ety/NIS; EtyAC/NDIS; EtyAC/Nι; EtyAC/NIS; PE21/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nisse

noun. woman

nuru

noun. death, death [abstract]

A word for “death” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√ÑGUR, where Tolkien said its personification was Mandos (Ety/ÑGUR). Tolkien also use this word as “death” in the phrase ᴹQ. núruhuine méne lumna “death-shadow on-us is-heavy” (LR/47, 56; SD/310).

Conceptual Development: A possible precursor to this word is ᴱQ. urdu “death” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√GWṚÐṚ “die” (QL/104), given as a cognate to G. gurthu in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon (GL/43). A variant of this form seems to have been briefly restored in Quenya prayers from the 1950s as incomplete urtulm..., probably Q. urtu with a possessive suffix, but this was quickly replaced by Q. fírië “death” (VT43/27, 34).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use the word nuru for death as an abstract force or concept (Death), as opposed to the death of individuals which would be fírie (if natural or peaceful) or [ᴹQ.] qualme (if undesired or painful). This is the way its cognate [N.] guru was used (Ety/WAN).

Qenya [Ety/ÑGUR; EtyAC/ÑGUR; LR/047; LR/056; SD/310] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nóte

noun. number

qen

noun. Elf

Qenya [PE21/19; PE21/25] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qende

noun. Elf

Qenya [Ety/KWEN(ED); LR/119; LR/168; LR/212; LRI/Qendi; MRI/Quendi; PE18/023; PE21/69; SM/085; SM/086; SMI/Quendi; TII/Qendi] Group: Eldamo. Published by

toron

noun. brother

A noun for “brother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√TOR of the same meaning, with a somewhat irregular plural torni (Ety/TOR). Its stem form is torn-, since with most inflected forms the Quenya syncope comes into play and the second o is lost.

Neo-Quenya: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word háno for “brother” (VT47/14). However, I think toron might be retained to mean a “metaphorical brother”, a close male associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as melotorni “love-brother, ✱close male friend” or ᴹQ. otorno “sworn brother”. In this sense, háno would be limited to biological relationships, but toron would refer to brotherly (or brother-like) affection.

Qenya [Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vanima

adjective. fair

virya

adjective. fresh

Ossriandric

cwenda

noun. Elf

A noun for “Elf” developed from primitive ᴹ✶kwenedē (Ety/KWEN(ED)). It is an example of the Danian syncope, with second unstressed [e] vanishing after the identical vowel. It is also one of the Danian words for which a long final vowel developed into short final [a].

Ossriandric [Ety/KWEN(ED)] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ealc

noun. swan

A noun for “swan” that developed from primitive ᴹ✶alkwā (Ety/ÁLAK). It is an example of how [[dan|[w] vanished after medial velars in Ossiriandic]] and of how [[dan|[a] broke into the diphthong [ea] before the liquid [l]]].

Ossriandric [Ety/ÁLAK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

edel

noun. Elf

A noun for “Elf” derived from primitive ᴹ✶edel-, an inversion of the primitive root ᴹ√ELED (Ety/ELED). Unlike most similar Danian nouns, it did not undergo the Danian syncope and retained its second vowel. One possible explanation is that the primitive form of this noun ended in a short vowel, ✱✶edelă, and this short final vowel vanished before the period of the syncope, preventing it from occurring in this word. Helge Fauskanger originally suggested a theory much like this one (AL-Nandorin/edel).

Conceptual Development: In an earlier version of this entry, the Danian word for Elf was given as Elda (Ety/ELED).

Ossriandric [Ety/ELED] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

alpha

noun. swan

Old Noldorin [Ety/ÁLAK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ngurtu

noun. death

Old Noldorin [Ety/ÑGUR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nguru

noun. death

Old Noldorin [Ety/ÑGUR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

noun. woman

Old Noldorin [Ety/Nι; EtyAC/NDIS; EtyAC/Nι; EtyAC/NIS] Group: Eldamo. Published by

toron

noun. brother

Old Noldorin [Ety/TOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wanūro

noun. kinsman

Old Noldorin [Ety/NŌ; Ety/TOR; EtyAC/NŌ; EtyAC/TOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wator

noun. brother

Old Noldorin [Ety/TOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

weda

noun. bond

Old Noldorin [Ety/WED] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wende

noun. maiden

Old Noldorin [Ety/BAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Telerin

alpa

noun. swan

Middle Telerin [Ety/ÁLAK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Westron

tung

noun. big

Westron [PM/053; PM/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Ancient telerin

alpa

noun. swan

Ancient telerin [VT42/07] Group: Eldamo. Published by