Quenya 

endë

noun. centre, middle, centre, middle; [ᴹQ.] core

Changes

  • enedente ✧ VT41/12

Cognates

  • S. enedh “centre, middle, centre, middle; [N.] core” ✧ VT48/25
  • T. ened “middle” ✧ VT48/25

Derivations

  • ENED “centre, middle; three” ✧ VT48/25

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ened/l > ende[enede] > [ende]✧ VT48/25

Variations

  • ente ✧ VT41/12
  • ened ✧ VT41/12 (ened)
  • ende ✧ VT48/25
Quenya [VT41/12; VT48/25] Group: Eldamo. Published by

enna

first

[enna adj. "first" (VT45:12)]

entë

noun. centre

Element in

  • Q. entya “central, middle”

esta

first

esta (2) adj. "first" (ESE/ESET); this entry was marked with a query. The word Yestarë (q.v.) "Beginning-day" in LotR suggests that Tolkien decided to change the stem in question to _YESE/YESET_. We could then read *yesta for esta (but later this became a noun "beginning" rather than an adj. "first", PE17:120) and also prefix a y to the other words derived from ESE/ESET (essë* > yessë, essëa > yessëa). Estanossë noun "the firstborn", read likewise Yestanossë** (*Yestanessi?) but in a later text, Tolkien used Minnónar (q.v.) for "the Firstborn" as a name of the Elves, and this form may be preferred. _(In the Etymologies as printed in LR, the word _Estanossë is cited as "Estanesse", but according to VT45:12, the second-to-last vowel is actually o in Tolkien's manuscript.)

imi

in

imi prep. "in"; see mi (VT43:30)

imi

preposition. in, in, [ᴱQ.] inside

inga

first

inga (2) adj. "first" (ING)

mi

in, within

mi prep. "in, within" (MI, VT27:20, VT44:18, 34, VT43:30; the latter source also mentions the variant imi); "in the" (Nam, RGEO:66; CO gives mi; the correct forms should evidently be mi = "in" and = mi i "in the"; VT49:35 also has with a long vowel, though the gloss is simply "in"). Used in PE17:71 (cf. 70) of people clad "in" various colours, e.g. mi mísë "in grey". Allative minna "to the inside, into" (MI), also mina (VT43:30). The forms mimmë and mingwë seem to incorporate pronominal suffixes for "us", hence ?"in us", inclusive and exclusive respectively. The pronoun -mmë denoted plural inclusive "we" when this was written, though Tolkien would later make it dual instead (see -mmë). Second person forms are also given: mil or milyë *"in you" (sg.), millë "in you" (pl.) (VT43:36). A special use of mi appears in the phrase Wendë mi Wenderon "Virgin of Virgins" (VT44:18); here mi appears superfluous to achieve the desired meaning, but this combination of singular noun + mi + plural genitive noun may be seen as a fixed idiom expressing that the initial noun represents the most prominent member of a class.

mi

preposition. in, in, [ᴹQ.] within

Cognates

  • S. mi “*in”

Derivations

  • “in, within” ✧ PE17/092; VT47/30
    • MI/IMI “in, within, [ᴹ√] inside” ✧ PE17/092; VT47/30
  • MI/IMI “in, within, [ᴹ√] inside” ✧ VT43/30

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
> [mi]✧ PE17/092
mi > imi[imi]✧ VT43/30
mi > mi[mi]✧ VT43/30
> [mi]✧ VT47/30

Variations

  • ✧ PE17/092; VT47/30
  • ✧ RGEO/58; VT49/35
  • imi ✧ VT43/30
  • mil ✧ VT43/30 (mil)
Quenya [LotR/0377; PE17/063; PE17/071; PE17/092; RGEO/58; UT/305; UT/317; VT43/13; VT43/30; VT43/36; VT44/18; VT44/34; VT47/30; VT49/35] Group: Eldamo. Published by

minya

first

minya adj. "first" (MINI) (cf. Minyatur, Minyon); "eminent, prominent" (VT42:24, 25). Minyar "Firsts", the original name of the Vanyar (or rather the direct Quenya descendant of the original Primitive Quendian name) (WJ:380)

setta

first

[setta, setya adj. "first" (possibly also "primary", but Tolkien's gloss was not certainly legible) (VT46:13)]

tólë

centre

tólë noun "centre" (LT1:269; the word endë is to be preferred in Tolkien's later Quenya)

Sindarin 

ned

noun. first, *one more; first; *during

This word replaced the preposition uin “of the” in the third version of the King’s Letter, appearing in the phrase nelchaenen ned Echuir “the thirty-first day of Stirring”. Both Carl Hostetter (VT31/30) and David Salo (SG/229) theorized that this replacement has a similar prepositional function, from either √NOT “count” or √NED “middle”. Fiona Jallings suggested it might be a temporal preposition, with sense “during” (FJNS/349).

On VT47/40, note 67, Patrick Wynne suggested that this word might be a cognate of the newly published Quenya word net(ë) “one more”. This theory is supported by the most likely interpretation of nelchaenen. This word seems to mean “thirtieth” rather than “thirty-first”, and Patrick Wynne suggested that nelchaenen ned means “thirtieth and one more” = “thirty-first”. I find this theory the most compelling, and use it here.

Element in

ned

preposition. (uncertain meaning) in, of (about time, e.g. giving a date)

[Another possible interpretation: "another, one more" (related to Q. net(e)), VT/47:40]

Sindarin [SD/129-31] Group: SINDICT. Published by

enedh

noun. centre, middle, centre, middle; [N.] core

@@@ Tolkien vacillated between enedh (< √ENED) and ened (perhaps < √ENET) in his later writings. In HSD/ened, it is suggested that ened is the likely “final” form based on Enedwaith as it appears in The Lord of the Rings and as discussed on Let/224. I prefer enedh for better compatibility with its Quenya cognate endë as in Q. enderi “middle-days” (LotR/1108, endë + “day”). If the Sindarin form were ened < √ENET, the corresponding Quenya form would instead be entë. Furthermore, in a general discussion of the uses of dh on VT42/20, Tolkien states that “Enedhwaith is misspelt”, possibly meaning that the normal spelling (Enedwaith) is not strictly correct.

Cognates

  • Q. endë “centre, middle, centre, middle; [ᴹQ.] core” ✧ VT48/25

Derivations

  • HENET “middle” ✧ VT41/16
  • ENED “centre, middle; three” ✧ VT48/25

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
HENET > ente > ened[ɣenet] > [enet] > [ened]✧ VT41/16
ened/l > eneð[ened] > [eneð]✧ VT48/25

Variations

  • Enedh ✧ UT/264
  • ened ✧ VT41/16
  • eneð ✧ VT48/25
Sindarin [UT/264; VT41/16; VT48/25] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ened

noun. centre

ne

in

ned (used of time in the source), possibly followed by hard mutation (SD:129)

ne

in, inside

(prefix) (mid-)

vi

in

(prep.) 1) vi (VT44:23), with article vin; 2) ne, ned (used of time in the source), possibly followed by hard mutation (SD:129); 3) , unstressed di (beneath, under) (VT45:37). Note: a homophone means ”bride, lady”.

erui

first

(single, alone). No distinct pl. form. Some would argue that Tolkien abandoned erui as a word for ”first”.

minui

first

1) minui (lenited vinui; no distinct pl. form), 2) mîn (lenited vîn; no distinct pl. form) (isolated, towering). Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the number ”one”; 3) erui (single, alone). No distinct pl. form. Some would argue that Tolkien abandoned erui as a word for ”first”.

main

ordinal. first, (only in the sense of) prime, chief, pre-eminent

Sindarin [VT/42:10, VT/42:25] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mein

ordinal. first, (only in the sense of) prime, chief, pre-eminent

Sindarin [VT/42:10, VT/42:25] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mein

ordinal. first

Cognates

  • Q. minya “first; eminent, prominent” ✧ VT42/10

min-

preposition. (in) between (referring to a gap, space, barrier or anything intervening between two other things)

Sindarin [Minhiriath LotR/Map, VT/47:11,14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

minui

ordinal. first

Sindarin [VT/42:10, VT/42:25] Group: SINDICT. Published by

minui

ordinal. first

Cognates

  • Q. minya “first; eminent, prominent” ✧ VT42/25
Sindarin [VT42/10; VT42/25] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mîn

preposition. (in) between (referring to a gap, space, barrier or anything intervening between two other things)

Sindarin [Minhiriath LotR/Map, VT/47:11,14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

vi

preposition. in

Sindarin [VT/44:21,27] Group: SINDICT. Published by

vi

preposition. in

in

unstressed di (beneath, under) (VT45:37). Note: a homophone means ”bride, lady”.

minui

first

(lenited vinui; no distinct pl. form)

mîn

first

(lenited vîn; no distinct pl. form) (isolated, towering). Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the number ”one”

vi

in

(VT44:23), with article vin

Telerin 

minya

ordinal. first

Cognates

  • Q. minya “first; eminent, prominent” ✧ VT42/25

Black Speech

ishi

preposition. in, inside

Usually placed after the noun in Black Speech, c.f. burzum-ishi (darkness-inside).

Black Speech [PE17/11] Published by

Primitive elvish

imi

root. in

minya

ordinal. first

Derivatives

  • S. main “prime, chief, pre-eminent” ✧ VT42/25
Primitive elvish [VT42/25] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

nedh-

prefix. in, inside, mid-

See also the preposition ned , and the noun ened for a discussion of this form

Noldorin [Ety/376] Group: SINDICT. Published by

di

preposition. in

Derivations

  • ᴹ√(N)DI “in” ✧ EtyAC/NDI

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√NDI/DI > di[ndi] > [di]✧ EtyAC/NDI
Noldorin [EtyAC/NDI] Group: Eldamo. Published by

edhen

adjective. first

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. enna “first” ✧ EtyAC/EDE

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶edenā “first” ✧ EtyAC/EDE
    • ᴹ√EDE(L) “precede, come forward, hence” ✧ EtyAC/EDE

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶edenā > eðen[edenā] > [edena] > [eðena] > [eðen]✧ EtyAC/EDE

Variations

  • eðen ✧ EtyAC/EDE (eðen)
Noldorin [EtyAC/EDE] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ereg

place name. First

Earlier name for the river S. Erui from Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, apparently a Noldorin word meaning ereg “first” (TI/312, WR/436).

Changes

  • EregErui “First” ✧ TI/312
  • EregErui ✧ WRI/Erui
Noldorin [TI/312; TII/Ereg; WR/436; WRI/Erui] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ereg

adjective. first

Element in

  • N. Ereg “First” ✧ TI/312

Elements

WordGloss
er“one, alone”
-eg“suffix for ordinal numbers”

Variations

  • Ereg ✧ TI/312

ne-

prefix. in

Derivations

  • ᴹ√NE “*in”

Element in

  • N. neledh- “*to go in, enter”
  • N. nestag- “to insert, stick in” ✧ Ety/STAK
  • ᴺS. nethan- “to inspire, kindle inside”
Noldorin [Ety/STAK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Qenya 

enna

adjective. first

Cognates

  • N. edhen “first” ✧ EtyAC/EDE

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶edenā “first” ✧ EtyAC/EDE
    • ᴹ√EDE(L) “precede, come forward, hence” ✧ EtyAC/EDE

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶edenā > enna[edenā] > [ednā] > [ennā] > [enna]✧ EtyAC/EDE

Variations

  • enna ✧ EtyAC/EDE (enna)

esta

adjective. first

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ESE(T) “precede (forward)” ✧ Ety/ESE; EtyAC/SET

Element in

  • ᴹQ. Estanosse “Firstborn” ✧ Ety/ESE (Estanosse); EtyAC/SET (Estanor/?Estannoss)

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ESE/ESET > esta[esta]✧ Ety/ESE
Qenya [Ety/ESE; EtyAC/SET] Group: Eldamo. Published by

inga

adjective. first

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ING “first, foremost” ✧ Ety/ING

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ING > inga[iŋga]✧ Ety/ING

minya

ordinal. first

Derivations

  • ᴹ√MIN “stand alone, stick out” ✧ Ety/MINI

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√MINI > minya[minja]✧ Ety/MINI

to

preposition. in

Element in

Middle Primitive Elvish

ned

root. NED

Middle Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

(e)ned

root. centre, middle

Changes

  • EN/ENEDÉNED ✧ Ety/ÉNED

Derivatives

  • ᴹQ. ende “centre, middle, core” ✧ Ety/ÉNED; Ety/NÉD
  • ᴹQ. enya “middle, *central, middle” ✧ Ety/ÉNED
  • N. enedh “centre, middle, core” ✧ Ety/ÉNED; Ety/NÉD
  • N. nedh- “mid-” ✧ Ety/NÉD
  • N. nest “?heart, core”

Element in

  • ᴹQ. Endien “Midyear (week)” ✧ Ety/YEN
  • ᴹQ. Endor “Middle-earth” ✧ Ety/NDOR

Variations

  • NÉD ✧ Ety/ÉNED; Ety/NÉD
  • ÉNED ✧ Ety/NDOR; Ety/YEN
  • EN/ENED ✧ EtyAC/ÉNED (EN/ENED)
  • NED ✧ EtyAC/NĒ̆ (NED)
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/ÉNED; Ety/NDOR; Ety/NÉD; Ety/YEN; EtyAC/ÉNED; EtyAC/NĒ̆] Group: Eldamo. Published by

(n)di

root. in

Derivatives

  • N. di “in” ✧ EtyAC/NDI

Variations

  • NDI/DI ✧ EtyAC/NDI
Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/NDI] Group: Eldamo. Published by

edenā

adjective. first

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EDE(L) “precede, come forward, hence” ✧ EtyAC/EDE

Derivatives

  • ᴹQ. enna “first” ✧ EtyAC/EDE
  • N. edhen “first” ✧ EtyAC/EDE
Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/EDE] Group: Eldamo. Published by

imi

root. in

Middle Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

settā

adjective. first

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ESE(T) “precede (forward)” ✧ EtyAC/SET

Derivatives

  • ᴹQ. essea “?primary” ✧ EtyAC/SET
  • N. seth “first, forth” ✧ EtyAC/SET
Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/SET] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

ba

preposition. in

Cognates

  • Eq. ve “as, like” ✧ GL/21

Variations

  • b- ✧ GL/21
  • bi- ✧ GL/21
  • b’ ✧ GL/21

bi

preposition. in

Element in

  • G. bin “into” ✧ GL/22 (bin)
  • G. bir “in, within, inside” ✧ GL/22 (bir)
Gnomish [GL/20; GL/22] Group: Eldamo. Published by

sectha

noun/adjective. centre

Early Primitive Elvish

root. in

Early Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

mekta

adjective. centre

Derivations

  • ᴱ√MEKE “*centre; aim” ✧ QL/060

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√MEKE > mekta[mektā] > [mekta]✧ QL/060
Early Quenya [QL/047; QL/060] Group: Eldamo. Published by

metl

noun. centre

Derivations

  • ᴱ√MEKE “*centre; aim” ✧ QL/060

Element in

  • Eq. mekilwa “central” ✧ QL/060

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√MEKE > metl[meklǝ] > [mekl] > [mekḷ] > [mekḷ] > [metḷ]✧ QL/060
Early Quenya [PME/060; QL/060] Group: Eldamo. Published by

minya

ordinal. first

Element in

Variations

  • minya ✧ PE14/051; PE14/082; PE14/084
Early Quenya [PE14/051; PE14/082; PE14/084] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tóle

noun. centre

Derivations

  • ᴱ√TOLO “*stick up” ✧ LT1A/Tol Eressëa; QL/094
    • ᴱ√TOŁᵂO “[unglossed]” ✧ PE12/016

Element in

  • Eq. tólea “central, middle” ✧ QL/094

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√TOLO > tōle[tōlē] > [tōle]✧ QL/094

Variations

  • tólë ✧ LT1A/Tol Eressëa
  • tōle ✧ QL/094
Early Quenya [LT1A/Tol Eressëa; QL/094] Group: Eldamo. Published by