lalorn

noun. elm-tree

lalwen

noun. elm-tree

galan

elm

pl1. gelain _ n. Bot. _elm. . This gloss was rejected.

alaf

noun. elm

_ n. Bot. _elm. Q. albe.

alaf

noun. elm

The Sindarin word for “elm” appearing in notes from 1959, derived from the root √ALAB of similar meaning (PE17/153).

Conceptual Development: Tolkien used similar “elm” words for much of his life. The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. lalm or larm “an elm, elm-wood” along with a more elaborate form G. {lalmin >>} lalmir “an elm tree” (GL/52). These were clearly cognates to ᴱQ. alalme “elm (tree)” under the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29). Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s had an unrelated form ᴱN. {aulin >>} ólin “elm” (PE13/151). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien reverted to N. lalf or N. lalven “elm-tree” under the root ᴹ√ÁLAM of the same meaning (Ety/ÁLAM). This root had a variant ᴹ√LÁLAM, under which Tolkien had N. lhalwen or lhalorn “elm-tree” (Ety/LÁLAM).

Neo-Sindarin: In theory the 1930s “elm” words might be used with some adaptations like ᴺS. lalorn for N. lhalorn, but I’d simply stick to the 1959 “elm” word alaf for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Cognates

• Q. alvë “elm” ✧ PE17/153

Derivations

• √ALAB “elm” ✧ PE17/153

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√ALAB > alaf	[alab] > [alav]	✧ PE17/153

lalorn

noun. elm-tree

lalven

elm tree

(also spelt lalwen), pl. lelvin (lelwin). Alternative form lalorn (pl. lelyrn), also short form lalf (pl. lelf according to LR:348 s.v. ÁLAM; David Salo would read Sindarin leilf to go with eilph ”swan”).