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).

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

A word for “end” attested in later writings as an element in the names Methed-en-Glad “End of the Wood” (UT/153) and possibly Methedras “Last Peak” of the Misty Mountains (LotR/429; RC/366). The word methed is clearly a noun in the first name, but Methedras might actually be the adjective [N.] methen “end” + ras(s) “peak” with nr > dhr, since Tolkien sometimes represented dhr as dr in drafts of The Lord of the Rings. Compare draft [N.] Caradras vs. published Caradhras.

methed

noun. end

methed

end

(i vethed), pl. methid (i methid). Isolated from the name Methedras, the last in a line of mountain peaks.

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.

medui

adjective. end

adj. end, final, last. Ai na vedui Dúnadan. Mae g'ovannen. 'Ah! At last, Dúnadan ! Well met !'. m > v after preposition.

lanc

sudden end

(sharp edge, sudden end, brink), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath.

manadh

final end

(i vanadh) (fate, fortune [usually = final bliss]), pl. menaidh (i menaidh).

meth

end

(i veth), pl. mith (i mith). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”last”.

methen

end

(adj.) methen (lenited vethen; pl. methin) (VT45:34)

methen

end

(lenited vethen; pl. methin) (VT45:34)

nass

sharp end

(point, angle, corner), construct nas, pl. nais.

tele

end

(i dele, o thele), pl. teli (i theli). In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was telei (LR:392 s.v. TELES).