Region between Doriath and the river Narog appearing on revisions to the Silmarillion map from the 1950s-60s, also labeled “Mid-Beleriand” (WJ/184). According to Christopher Tolkien, this name appears nowhere else (WJ/190 note #60). The meaning of this name does not match its gloss. David Salo suggested it might be a combination of meth “end”, the lenited form of sîr “river” with the dual suffix -ad (GS/384).
Sindarin
meth
noun/adjective. last, last; [N.] end
methiriad
place name. ?End of Two Rivers
methed
noun. end
This word is attested in later writings as an element in the names Methed-en-Glad “End of the Wood” and possibly Methedras “Last Peak” (of the Misty Mountains). The latter name first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s as N. Methen Amon and Methendol (TI/404), making it likely that methed is a revision from the earlier adjective N. methen (Ety/MET).
This new form likely changed from an adjective to a noun, since -ed/-ad is usually a gerundal suffix in Sindarin (forming nouns from verbs). This word is clearly a noun in the name Methed-en-Glad, and could also be a noun in Methedras (= “Peak of the End?”).
methedras
place name. Last Peak
Last peak of the Mist Mountains (LotR/429), explictly translated “Last Peak” in Tolkien’s “Unfinished Index” of The Lord of the Rings (RC/366). This name is a combination of methed “end” and ras(s) “horn”.
Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Methen Amon (TI/391), later revised to N. Methendol and finally N. Methedras (TI/404). These earlier forms clearly included the Noldorin adjective N. methen “end, final” (Ety/MET). It is possible that this is true of the initial appearance of N. Methedras as well (as suggested by Roman Rausch, EE/2.63), since phonetically the combination [[n|[nr] became [ðr]]], and Tolkien often represented [ð] as “d” in the Lord of the Rings drafts. For example, N. Caradras >> S. Caradhras underwent the same development.
Unlike Caradhras, however, Tolkien never revised this form to ✱✱Methedhras. This could have been an oversight, or Tolkien could have reconceived of the initial element as the noun methed “end” seen in Methed-en-Glad, as suggested above (and by David Salo, GS/384).
methed-en-glad
place name. End of the Wood
Methed-en-Glad
noun. end of wood
methed (“end”) + en (sing. gen. article) + glad (“wood”)
Methedras
noun. last peak
methed (“last”) + ras (“horn, mountain peak”) The original form of ras is probably rass with the final s dropped at the end of a polysyllable [HKF].
methed
noun. end
meth
end
(noun) 1) meth (i veth), pl. mith (i mith). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”last”. 2) (rear, hindmost part) tele (i dele, o thele), pl. teli (i theli). In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was telei (LR:392 s.v. TELES). 3) ( maybe primarily ”last point in line; last of a series of items”) #methed (i vethed), pl. methid (i methid). Isolated from the name Methedras, the last in a line of mountain peaks.
meth
end
(i veth), pl. mith (i mith). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”last”.
meth
last
(lenited veth, pl. mith). Note: the word is also used as a noun ”end”.
methed
end
(i vethed), pl. methid (i methid). Isolated from the name Methedras, the last in a line of mountain peaks.
methen
end
(adj.) methen (lenited vethen; pl. methin) (VT45:34)
methen
end
(lenited vethen; pl. methin) (VT45:34)
medui
last
(adjective) 1) medui (lenited vedui; no distinct pl. form), 2) meth (lenited veth, pl. mith). Note: the word is also used as a noun ”end”.
medui
adjective. end
adj. end, final, last. Ai na vedui Dúnadan. Mae g'ovannen. 'Ah! At last, Dúnadan ! Well met !'. m > v after preposition.
medui
adjective. last
men
noun. way, road
othlonn
noun. paved way
pâd
noun. way
rath
noun. course, riverbed
rath
noun. street (in a city)
tharbad
noun. cross-way
ŷr
noun. course
brona
last
(verb) 1) brona- (survive) (i vrona, i mronar), 2) dartha- (i dhartha, i narthar) (stay, wait, remain, endure) (VT45:8)
brona
last
(survive) (i vrona, i mronar)
dartha
last
(i dhartha, i narthar) (stay, wait, remain, endure) (VT45:8)
gaud
device
gaud (i **aud) (contrivance, machine), pl. goed (i ngoed = i ñoed), coll. pl. godath **
gaud
device
(i ’aud) (contrivance, machine), pl. goed (i ngoed = i ñoed), coll. pl. godath
lanc
sudden end
(sharp edge, sudden end, brink), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath.
lend
way
(journey), pl. lind, coll. pl. lennath. Note: a homophone means ”tuneful, sweet”
manadh
final end
(i vanadh) (fate, fortune [usually = final bliss]), pl. menaidh (i menaidh).
medui
last
(lenited vedui; no distinct pl. form)
mên
way
1) mên (i vên, construct men, in compounds -ven) (road), pl. mîn (i mîn), 2) lend (journey), pl. lind, coll. pl. lennath. Note: a homophone means ”tuneful, sweet”, 3) #pâd (construct pad), i bâd, pl. paid (i phaid). Isolated from Tharbad ”Crossroad”. 4) tê (i dê, o thê) (line), pl. tî (i thî), coll. pl. ?teath.
mên
way
(i vên, construct men, in compounds -ven) (road), pl. mîn (i mîn)
nass
sharp end
(point, angle, corner), construct nas, pl. nais.
penninor
last day of the year
(i benninor, o phenninor), pl. penninoer (i phenninoer). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” penninar (LR:400 s.v. YEN).
pâd
way
(construct pad), i bâd, pl. paid (i phaid). Isolated from Tharbad ”Crossroad”.
rath
course
rath (climb, climbing path, street, riverbed), pl. raist (idh raist) (UT:255)
rath
course
(climb, climbing path, street, riverbed), pl. raist (idh raist) (UT:255)
talphad
noun. footstep
tele
end
(i dele, o thele), pl. teli (i theli). In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was telei (LR:392 s.v. TELES).
tê
way
(i dê, o thê) (line), pl. tî (i thî), coll. pl. ?teath.
yr
course
; no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. yrath). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” iôr.
ŷr
course
*ŷr (construct yr; no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. yrath). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” iôr.
The noun N. meth “end” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, derived from ᴹ✶metta under the root ᴹ√MET of the same meaning and followed by an adjective form N. methen that was also glossed “end” (Ety/MET). This word later appeared as an element in the name Rochon Methestel “Rider of the Last Hope” (UT/313). It is therefore possible that meth shifted from a noun to an adjective, but its Quenya equivalent metta “ending, end” remained a noun in Tolkien’s later writings.
Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would avoid meth as an independent element, and would use the unambiguous noun form methed and adjective forms medui or [N.] methen. If you do use meth, you might use it as either an adjective or a noun, though it is more likely to be a noun.