A term for the Eldar who remained behind in Beleriand (WJ/365). In Quenya, it became a technical term, rarely used in everyday speech (WJ/374). It was originally derived from hecil “one lost or forsaken”, reformed to Hecel (pl. Heceldi) after the pattern of terms like Oärel (WJ/364).
Conceptual Development: A similar term Ecelli “The Forsaken” appeared in earlier writing (MR/169-170). Ecelli was in all cases replaced by other words: Alamanyar (MR/170) or Sindar (MR/175). Nevertheless, it was probably the precursor to Hecel.
Hecel ("k") (Heceld-, e.g. pl. Heceldi, WJ:371), noun with same meaning as hecil, q.v., but reformed to match Oarel, especially applied to the Eldar left in Beleriand. Helcelmar and Heceldamar *"Land of Forsaken Elves", the name used by the loremasters of Aman for Beleriand. (WJ:365)