kor

root. round, round; [ᴱ√] be round, roll

This was the Elvish root for round things throughout Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴱ√KORO “be round, roll” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, and had Early Qenya and Gnomish derivatives like ᴱQ. korima “round” and G. corm “ring, circle, disc” (GL/26). ᴹ√KOR “round” reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives in both Quenya and Noldorin (Ety/KOR). √KOR “round” was also mentioned in etymological notes probably written in the early 1960s (PE17/184). Its derivatives like Q. corma “ring” (LotR/953) and S. cerin “(circular) mound” (LotR/350; RC/309) appeared regularly in Tolkien’s later writings.

Derivatives

• ᴺQ. cornë “loaf”
• ᴺQ. coro “around”
• Q. coron “mound, mound; [ᴹQ] globe, ball”
• ᴺQ. corpë “skull”
• ᴺQ. coropë “skull”
• ᴺQ. corta- “to roll up, roll, pack”
• Q. corto “circle”
• S. cerin “circular mound, artificial hill, circular mound, artificial hill; [N.] round enclosure”
• S. cor “ring, circle”
• ᴺS. corob “skull”
• S. corod “circle”

Element in

• √SKOR “rough, marred, unequal or unsymmetrical in shape” ✧ PE17/184
• Q. coranar “(solar) year, (lit.) sun-round”
• Q. corma “ring”
• ᴺS. corf “ring (for fingers)”