Primitive elvish

nes

root. feminity (apart from sex)

nes-

adjective. sweet smelling

Primitive elvish [PE17/100] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nesī/nese

suffix. a person of female nature

Primitive elvish [PE17/190] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nes

root. give to feed; feed, pasture; graze

neth

root. (young) woman, female person; sister; fresh, lively, merry, (young) woman, female person; sister; fresh, lively, merry; [ᴹ√] young

This root had a variety of meanings over Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴹ√NETH “young” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with various Quenya and Noldorin derivatives of similar meaning, the most notable being the name ᴹQ. Nessa (Ety/NETH). In rough notes probably from around 1959, Tolkien redefined √NETH or √NES to mean “feminity apart from sex”, contrasted with √WEG or √WEƷ for masculinity, but he abandoned this line of reasoning deciding that √ simply meant “person” independent of gender (PE17/189-190).

In notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, Tolkien again redefined √NETH, this time as the basis for Elvish “sister” words, either specifically meaning “sister” (VT47/12, 26, 34), meaning “(young) woman” (VT47/15, 32, 39) or perhaps “fresh, lively, merry” (VT47/32), the last of these probably a callback to its 1930s meaning “young”. In notes from 1959-60, however, the name Q. Nessa was disconnected from the root √NETH, derived instead from ✶Neresā meaning “she that has manlike valour or strength” (WJ/416).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is best for √NETH to retain its essential 1930s meaning “young, fresh, lively”, but with an association to young women as described in Tolkien’s notes from the 1960s, and thus by extension “sister” as named from the perspective of the parents.

Primitive elvish [PE17/167; PE17/190; VT47/12; VT47/15; VT47/26; VT47/32; VT47/34; VT47/39] Group: Eldamo. Published by

win

root. young, young, [ᴹ√] new, fresh

Tolkien used a similar set of Elvish roots for “youth” and “freshness” for many years. The earliest of these was primitive guı̯u̯ or gu̯iu̯ [ᴱ√GWIWI] in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like G. gui “just, just now, only just, already”, G. guin “recent, fresh”, and G. gwioth “youth” (GL/42). This root reappeared as ᴹ√WIR “new, fresh, young” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with variants ᴹ√ and ᴹ√WIN and derivatives ᴹQ. vírie “youth” and ᴹQ. virya “fresh” (EtyAC/WIR). The ᴹ√WIN variant had derivatives ᴹQ. vinya/N. gwîn “young”. Tolkien considered, but rejected, deriving these from strengthened ᴹ√GWIN instead, producing (also rejected) ᴹQ. winya/N. bîn (EtyAC/GWIN).

Q. vinya appeared in quite a few later names with the gloss “young” or “new”, but the Sindarin form became S. gwain as in S. Narwain “January, ✱(lit.) New Fire” (LotR/1110) and S. Iarwain “Old-young” (LotR/1114; RC/128). In Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959, both were given as derivatives of √WIN “young” along with Q. víne/S. gwîn “youth”, though the Sindarin word for “young” was given as (archaic?) gwein (PE17/191). Also related are various words for “baby” from 1968 notes such Q. †wine/S. gwinig “little-one, baby” (VT48/6). In these notes primitive wini was glossed “little” but this was deleted (VT47/26), making it likely that the earlier senses “young, new” were restored for √WIN.

As for the 1930s root ᴹ√WIR, it might have survived as an element in the month names Q. Víressë/S. Gwirith “April” (LotR/1110), perhaps meaning “✱freshness”.

Primitive elvish [PE17/191; VT47/26] Group: Eldamo. Published by

neresā

feminine name. she that has manlike valour or strength

Primitive elvish [WJ/416] Group: Eldamo. Published by

maita-

verb. to feed

Primitive elvish [PE18/095] Group: Eldamo. Published by

matyā-

verb. to feed

Primitive elvish [PE22/135] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ndē̆r

noun. man

Primitive elvish [PE19/102] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Quenya 

nessanië

feminine name. Nessanië

Older sister of Hallacar, known only from a genealogy chart on UT/210. Her name seems to be an elaboration on the name of the Vala Nessa.

nessamelda

nessa-beloved

nessamelda adj. "Nessa-beloved", name of a tree (UT:167)

nessamelda

noun. species of tree in Númenor, (lit.) beloved of Nessa

Name of a species of tree in Númenor (UT/167), a combination of Nessa and melda “beloved”.

Quenya [UT/167; UTI/nessamelda] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nes-

sweet smelling

nes- ?verb/?root "sweet smelling" (PE17:100); cf. Nísimaldar

nesë

[person of] female [nature]

nesë (apparently with stem nesi-) (Þ) noun "[person of] female [nature]" (PE17:190)

nessa

feminine name. she that has manlike valour or strength

Spouse of Tulkas and one of the Valier (S/29). Her name was most likely an adaptation of her Valarin title (WJ/404), though some interpreted it as a development from ancient ✶Neresā meaning “she that has manlike valour or strength” (WJ/416).

Conceptual Development: Her name ᴱQ. Nessa had already appeared in the earliest Lost Tales (LT1/75), though its derivation and meaning at this early stage is unclear. In The Etymologies, the name ᴹQ. Nessa appeared as a derivative of the root ᴹ√NETH “young” (Ety/NETH). The derivation above did not appeared until the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60.

Quenya [MRI/Nessa; SI/Nessa; WJ/404; WJ/416; WJI/Nessa] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Nessaron

[day] of the younger [gods]

Nessaron noun *"[Day] of the younger [gods]", sc. Ossë, Oromë and Tulkas (in Tolkien's earlier conception, Ossë was a "god" or Vala). (LEP/LEPEN/LEPEK)

nessa

young

nessa adj. "young" (NETH), alsoNessa as name of a Valië, the spouse of Tulkas (adopted and adapted from Valarin, or an archaic Elvish formation: WJ:404 vs. 416). Also called Indis, "bride" (NETH, NI1). The fem. name Nessanië (UT:210) would seem to incorporate Nessa's name; the second element could mean "tear" (nië), but since Nessa is not normally associated with sorrow, this #nië is perhaps rather a variant of "female" (compare Tintanië as a variant of Tintallë).

nesselë

pasture, pasturage

nesselë noun "pasture, pasturage" (QL:65)

nessima

youthful

nessima adj. "youthful" (NETH)

nessë

youth

nessë noun "youth"; also nésë (NETH)

nesta

one ninth

nesta fraction "one ninth" (1/9), also neresta, nersat (VT48:11)

nésë

youth

nésë (Þ) noun "youth", also nessë (NETH). Not to be confused with nésë "he was"; see #1.

nes

noun. food, feed, fodder

nessa

Nessa

Nessa ([ˈnesːa]) is a Quenya name meaning "young".

Quenya [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

nessanië

Nessanië

The meaning of Nessanië's name is not entirely clear, but appears to be derived from the Quenya name of the Valië Nessa.

Quenya [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

nessë

noun. past tense, (lit.) nē-ness

An archaic term for the “past tense”, a neologism coined by Röandil on 2023-08-10 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), an abstract noun based on the ancient past element ✶. In modern Quenya it would be vanwalussë.

nessornë

noun. sapling

A neologism for “sapling” created by Petri Tikka and Ales Bican in PPQ (PPQ) from the early 2000s, a combination of [ᴹQ.] nessa “young” and ornë “tree”.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

nesta-

verb. to heal

A neologism for “to heal” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), the equivalent of [N.] nesta- “to heal”. I would use the attested verb Q. hasa- (haþa-) “to treat medically, help cure” instead (PE22/166).

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

nestando

noun. healer, physician

A neologism for “healer, physician” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), an elaboration of [N.] nesta- “to heal”. I would use the attested nouns Q. asarta [aþarta] or Q. asar(o) [aþar(o)] “doctor, leech” instead (PE22/166).

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

nesselë

noun. pasture, mead[ow]; pasturage

nesta-

verb. to graze, pasture, give to feed, feed

nestië

noun. (act of) feeding

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

hausta

noun. nest

A neologism for “nest” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), based on ᴹ✶khau̯-stā “rest-ing”.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

Valatári

vala-queen

Valatári noun "Vala-queen" (BAL; this entry of the Etymologies states that Vala has no feminine form except this compound, but Silm gives Valië as a feminine form). The word Valatári is apparently also the unchanged plural form, so used in this quote: "The Valatári were Varda, Yavanna, Nienna, Vana, Vaire, Este, Nessa, Uinen" (BAL; Tolkien later reclassified Uinen as a Maia, not a Valatári/Valië). Notice that the plural form of Valatar would apparently also be *Valatári.

laisi

youth, vigour, new life

laisi, laito noun "youth, vigour, new life" (LT1:267; rather vië or nésë, nessë in Tolkien's later Quenya)

neresta

one ninth

neresta fraction "one ninth" (1/9), also nesta, nersat. (VT48:11)

nersat

one ninth

nersat fraction "one ninth" (1/9), also neresta, nesta (VT48:11)

órë

heart

órë (1) noun "heart" (inner mind), also name of tengwa #21 (Appendix E), "premonition" (VT41:13), "nearest equivalent of 'heart' in our application to feelings, or emotions (courage, fear, hope, pity, etc.)" (VT41:13). The órë apparently defines a person's personality, cf. the description of Galadriel in PM:337, that "there dwelt in her the noble and generous spirit (órë) of the Vanyar". Órenya "my heart" (VT41:11).

matya-

verb. to feed

A neologism for “to feed” coin by Damien Bador as a straightforward derivative of the attested primitive verb ✶matyā- of the same meaning (PE22/135). I would distinguish it from ᴺQ. nesta- “to graze, pasture, (give to) feed” used for feeding farm animals, whereas matya- can be used for feeding anyone.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

narassë

noun. pasture

A neologism for “pasture” created by Boris Shapiro in PPQ (PPQ) from the early 2000s, based on N. nadhras of the same meaning. I prefer instead to retain the early noun ᴱQ. nessele “pasture, mead[ow]; pasturage” for this purpose.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

ne(re)sta

fraction. one ninth

elwen

heart

elwen noun "heart" (LT1:255; rather hón or enda in LotR-style Quenya)

enda

heart

enda noun "heart", but not referring to the physical organ; it literally means "centre" (cf. endë) and refers to the fëa (soul) or sáma (mind) itself. (VT39:32)

endë

core, centre, middle

endë noun "core, centre, middle" (NÉD, EN, VT48:25)

entë

center

entë (2) noun "center" (VT41:16; endë is perhaps to be preferred, see entya)

hón

heart

hón noun "heart" (physical) (KHŌ-N); hon-maren "heart of the house", a fire (LR:63, 73; this is "Qenya" with genitive in -en, not -o as in LotR-style Quenya read *hon-maro?)

indo

heart, mood

indo (1) noun "heart, mood" (ID), "state" (perhaps especially state of mind, given the other glosses) (VT39:23), "mind, region/range of thought, mood" (PE17:155, 179), "inner thought, in fea as exhibited in character or [?personality]" (PE17:189). In another post-LotR source, indo is translated "resolve" or "will", the state of mind leading directly to action (VT41:13). Indo is thus "the mind in its purposing faculty, the will" (VT41:17). Indo-ninya,a word occurring in Fíriels Song, translated "my heart" (see ninya). In the compound indemma "mind-picture", the first element would seem to be indo.

lér

man

**lér noun "man" (NI1; hypothetical Q form of PQ dēr; the form actually used in Quenya was nér)

matl

food

matl noun "food"; read *matil in LotR-style Quenya (in which language final syllabic -l becomes -il) (QL:59); however, the word matso from a later source may be preferred.

matso

food

matso noun "food" (PE16:141)

matta

noun. food

Quenya [PE 22:136] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

matta

noun. food

A noun for “food” from the Common Eldarin: Verb Structure (EVS2) of the early 1950s, derived from primitive ✶matnā, originally an ancient adjective meaning “eaten” (PE22/136).

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s the word for “food” was ᴱQ. matl under the early root ᴱ√MATA (QL/59). This became ᴱQ. {masta} >> matso in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/141). In EVS2 the word was originally manna “food”, but this was struck through and replaced by matta (PE22/136 note #36), which likely reflects Tolkien’s shift in the phonetic developments of primitive tn, so that tn became tt rather than nn as it did in Tolkien’s earlier writings (PE19/85 and note #79).

Neo-Quenya: I find the phonetic developments associated with the above sound change to be problematic for various reasons. Therefore, I prefer to assume the primitive form of this word was an ancient noun: ✱mattā.

miruvor

mead

miruvor, full form miruvórë noun "mead", "a special wine or cordial"; possessive miruvóreva "of mead" (Nam, RGEO:66; WJ:399).In the "Qenya Lexicon", miruvórë was defined "nectar, drink of the Valar" (LT1:261).

mitta-

insert

mitta- (1) vb. "insert" (VT43:30)

mitta-

verb. to insert, to insert; [ᴹQ.] to come in, [ᴱQ.] enter

nersat

fraction. one ninth

ná-

verb. to be, to be, [ᴱQ.] exist

Quenya [LotR/0377; Minor-Doc/1955-CT; PE17/057; PE17/058; PE17/059; PE17/074; PE17/090; PE17/093; PE17/126; PE17/162; PE22/154; PE22/158; PE22/166; PE22/167; PE22/168; RGEO/58; RGEO/59; RGEO/60; VT42/33; VT42/34; VT43/13; VT43/14; VT43/15; VT43/16; VT43/23; VT43/30; VT43/34; VT44/34; VT49/09; VT49/10; VT49/19; VT49/23; VT49/27; VT49/28; VT49/29; VT49/30] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nér

man

nér (1) (ner-, as in pl. neri) noun "man" (adult male elf, mortal, or of other speaking race) (MR:213, VT49:17, DER, NDER, NI1, VT45:9; see also WJ:393)

nér

noun. man

Quenya [PE 22:124] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

vinya

young

vinya (1) adj. "young" (VT46:22, VT47:26, PE17:191) or "new" (cf. compounds Vinyamar, Vinyarië below; cf. also winya "new, fresh, young" in a deleted entry in the Etymologies, VT45:16; there the word was first written as vinya.) Vinya "the Young", original name of the isle of Númenor among its own people (SD:332).

vinyarë

noun. youth, youth, *young adulthood

vëo

man

vëo noun "man" (WEG; etymologically connected to vëa "manly, vigorous"; the more neutral word for "man" is nér. According to VT46:21, Tolkien indicated that vëo is an archaic or poetic word.) Tolkien at a later point defined the word as "living creature" (PE17:189). Cf. variant wëo, q.v.

vínë

youth

vínë noun "youth" (probably as abstract) (VT47:26, PE17:191)

vínë

noun. youth, youth, *childhood

Quenya [PE17/191; VT47/26] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vírië

youth

vírië noun "youth" (as abstract) (VT46:22)

Sindarin 

ness

noun. headland, *headland; [G.] (water) meadow; long grass

An element appearing in the name Taras-ness for the headlands below the mountain Taras (UT/28), a promonotory sticking out over the water. The actual meaning of ness is unclear.

Conceptual Development: Superficially this word resembles G. ness “water meadow; long grass” from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/60) which was probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√NESE “give to feed; feed, pasture; graze” (QL/66). Given its Early Qenya cognate ᴱQ. nesse “(green) fodder, herb, grass”, it is likely that “long grass” is the original sense of G. ness, and “water meadow” is an extrapolated meaning.

Neo-Sindarin: If the headland of Taras-ness was used for grazing, the two words might still be related. I would thus retain the Gnomish meanings “meadow; long grass” for this Sindarin word, since we have no other good “meadow” word in Sindarin.

Sindarin [UT/028; UTI/Taras] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nesta

heal

#nesta- (i nesta, in nestar), only attested as a derived noun (gerund):

nesta

heal

(i nesta, in nestar), only attested as a derived noun (gerund):

nestad

healing

(pl. nestaid if there is a pl.) Adj.

nestad

healing

nestad (pl. nestaid if there is a pl.) Adj.

nestadren

healing

pl. nestedrin

nestadren

of (related to) healing

nestadren, pl. nestedrin

nestag

insert

nestag- (i nestag, in nestegir) (stick in), pa.t. nestanc

nestag

insert

(i nestag, in nestegir) (stick in), pa.t. nestanc

nestag

stick in

(i nestag, in nestegir) (insert), pa.t. nestanc

nestag

stick in

nestag- (i nestag, in nestegir) (insert), pa.t. nestanc

nest

center

(heart, core), pl. nist

nest

heart

(core, center), pl. nist. Also notice the prefix - apparently meaning ”heart”..

nest

core

(heart, center), pl. nist

aedh

noun. nest

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

neth

nessa

Neth, also called Díneth ”the young bride” (na Nineth)

neth

nessa

also called Díneth ”the young bride” (na Nineth)

oetha-

verb. to lay eggs, nest

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

dess

young woman

(i ness, o ndess, constuct des), pl. diss (i ndiss)

enedh

center

1) enedh (core, middle), pl. enidh, 2) nest (heart, core), pl. nist

enedh

core

1) enedh (middle, center), pl. enidh, 2) nest (heart, center), pl. nist

hûn

heart

1) (physical heart) hûn (i chûn, o chûn, construct hun), pl. huin (i chuin), 2) (inner mind) gûr (i **ûr, construct gur), pl. guir (i nguir = i ñuir). Note: A homophone means ”death”, but has different mutations. (VT41:11). 3) ind (inner thought, mind, meaning), no distinct pl. form;, coll. pl. innath. 4) nest (core, center), pl. nist. Also notice the prefix hû**- apparently meaning ”heart”..

Dúnadan

noun. Man of the west, Númenórean

Sindarin [LotR/I:XII, WJ/378, S/390] dûn+adan. Group: SINDICT. Published by

adan

noun. man, one of the Second People (elvish name for men)

Sindarin [LotR/A(v), S/427, PM/324, WJ/387, Letters/282] Q. atan. Group: SINDICT. Published by

adanadar

noun. man, one of the Fathers of Men

Sindarin [MR/373] adan+adar. Group: SINDICT. Published by

adanath

noun. men

Sindarin [MR/373] Group: SINDICT. Published by

drúadan

noun. wild man, one of the Woses

Sindarin [UT/385] drû+adan. Group: SINDICT. Published by

drû

noun. wild man, Wose, Púkel-Man

In PE/11:31, an older Gnomish word drû, drui meant "wood, forest", and in PE/13:142, the early Noldorin word drú was assigned the meaning "dark". Drû pl. Drúin later came to be used for the name of the Woses, with other derivatives (Drúadan, etc.). "Wose" is actually the modernization of an Anglo-Saxon word wasa only found in the compound wudu-wasa "wild man of the woods", cf. UT/385 sq. In the drafts of the "Ride of the Rohirrim" in WR/343-346, the Woses first appeared as "the dark men of Eilenach". Though internally said to derive from drughu in their own tongue, Tolkien's choice for the Sindarin name of the Woses was apparently influenced by earlier meanings assigned to this word

Sindarin [UT/385] MS *druγ, Dr druγu. Group: SINDICT. Published by

dîr

noun. man, man, [N.] adult male; agental suffix

A word for “man” as a male person, attested only as an element in compounds or as (archaic?) ndir (PE17/60). This word likely refers to male individuals of all races including Elves, Men, Dwarves and so forth, much like its Quenya cognate Q. nér. This word must have been derived from the primitive subjective form ✶ndēr of the root √N(D)ER “male person”, where the ancient long ē became ī, and the initial cluster nd- became d-, though the ancient cluster would still be reflected in mutated forms, such as in i nîr “the man” rather than ✱✱i dhîr.

Conceptual Development: Perhaps the earliest precursor to this word is (archaic) G. †drio “hero, warrior” with variants driw, driodweg and driothweg, a cognate of ᴱQ. nēr (GL/22). This Gnomish word was derived from primitive ᴱ✶n’reu̯, where the initial nr- became dr-. At this early stage, the root was unstrengthened ᴱ√NERE (QL/65), as reflected in (archaic) ᴱN. nîr “hero, prince, warrior-elf” in the Early Noldorin Dictionary of the 1920s (PE13/164).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s the root became ᴹ√DER “adult male, man” of any speaking race and the derived form was N. dîr (Ety/DER). However, in this document Tolkien said:

> EN †dîr surviving chiefly in proper names (as Diriel older Dirghel [GYEL], Haldir, Brandir) and as agental ending (as ceredir “doer, maker”) ... In ordinary use EN has benn [for “man”] (properly = “husband”).

Thus in the scenario described in The Etymologies, dîr “man” was archaic and used only as an element in names or as a suffix. In ordinary speech it was replaced by N. benn, which used to mean “husband” but now meant “man”, while the word for “husband” became N. hervenn (Ety/BES). It is unlikely Tolkien imagined this exact scenario in later Sindarin, however, since the 1930s root for benn was ᴹ√BES “wed”, but by the 1960s the root for husband/wife/marry words had become √BER.

Neo-Sindarin: Since the status of N. benn is questionable given ᴹ√BES >> √BER, many Neo-Sindarin writers prefer to use S. ✱dîr as the Sindarin word for man. I am of the opinion that both dîr and benn are acceptable for “man, male person”. This is because I prefer to retain ᴹ√BES as the root for “marry, wed”, since it is the best basis for attested husband/wife words in (Neo) Sindarin.

Sindarin [PE17/060] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ened

noun. core, centre, middle

While the word is written enedh in the Etymologies, it seems that Tolkien considered and reconsidered its form throughout his life. Late rough jottings (c. 1968), as well as the text of letter no. 168 and the fact that the toponym Enedwaith was never changed on the LotR map, seem to imply that ened is the (most) definitive form. See also the possibly related preposition ned , which has sometimes been suggested to mean "in" (while again a prefix nedh- is seen in the Etymologies)

Sindarin [Ety/356, Ety/376, UT/450, Letters/224, VT/41:12,] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwein

adjective. young

adj. young. Q. vinya. >> gwîn

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:191] < WIN young. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gwein

adjective. young

gwîn

noun. youth

n. youth. Q. víne. >> gwein

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:191] < WIN young. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gwîn

noun. youth

Sindarin [PE17/191] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gûr

noun. heart (in the moral sense), counsel

Sindarin [VT/41:11,15] Group: SINDICT. Published by

na-

verb. to be

Sindarin [VT44/22; VT44/24; VT50/23] Group: Eldamo. Published by

adan

man

(pl. Edain; the coll. pl. Adanath is attested). The word Adan came to be used primarily of a member of the Three Houses of the Edain, not of the mortal race of Men in general.

bôr

trusty man

(boron-) (i vôr, construct bor) (steadfast man, faithful vassal), pl. *b**ŷr* for older beryn, i meryn (archaic böryn, i möryn). In ”Noldorin”, the older pl. forms were berein, beren.

cast

headland

cast (i gast, o chast) (cape), pl. caist (i chaist)

cast

headland

cast (i gast, o chast) (cape), pl. caist (i chaist);

cast

headland

(i gast, o chast) (cape), pl. caist (i chaist)

curunír

man of craft

(i gurunír, o churunír) (wizard), no distinct pl. form except with article (i churunír), coll. pl. ?curuníriath.

dîr

man

1) (adult male of any speaking race) dîr (dír-, also agentive ending -dir or -nir; with article, i nîr, hard mutation as in o ndîr), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndîr); coll. pl. díriath. Also benn (i venn, construct ben), pl. binn (i minn). The latter is in archaic language used = "husband" (the etymological meaning). The ending -we in names may also express ”being, man, person”. 2) (mortal human as opposed to Elf) Adan (pl. Edain; the coll. pl. Adanath is attested). The word Adan came to be used primarily of a member of the Three Houses of the Edain, not of the mortal race of Men in general.

dîr

man

(dír-, also agentive ending -dir or -nir; with article, i nîr, hard mutation as in o ndîr), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndîr); coll. pl. díriath. Also benn (i venn, construct ben), pl. binn (i minn). The latter is in archaic language used = "husband" (the etymological meaning). The ending -we in names may also express ”being, man, person”.

dúnadan

man of the west

(i Núnadan), pl. Dúnedain (i Ndúnedain) (WJ:378, 386).

enedh

center

(core, middle), pl. enidh

enedh

core

(middle, center), pl. enidh

firion

mortal man

(pl. firyn).

gwineb

adjective. youthful

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

gûr

heart

(i ’ûr, construct gur), pl. guir (i nguir = i ñuir). Note: A homophone means ”death”, but has different mutations. (VT41:11).

hûn

heart

(i chûn, o chûn, construct hun), pl. huin (i chuin)

ind

heart

(inner thought, mind, meaning), no distinct pl. form;, coll. pl. innath.

mann

food

mann (i vann, construct man), pl. main (i main) (VT45:35).

mann

noun. food

mann

food

(i vann, construct man), pl. main (i main) (VT45:35).

math

noun. food

media-

verb. to feed

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2019 specifically for Eldamo, the Sindarin derivative of ✶matyā- “feed” (PE22/135).

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

nadhor

pasture

nadhor (analogical pl. nedhyr), also nadhras (pl. nedhrais, coll. pl. nadhrassath)

nadhor

pasture

(analogical pl. nedhyr), also nadhras (pl. nedhrais, coll. pl. nadhrassath)

nasta

stick

(verb) nasta- (i nasta, in nastar) (point, prick, thrust);

nasta

stick

(i nasta, in nastar) (point, prick, thrust);

neth

young

neth (pl. nith). A homophone is the noun ”sister, girl”.

neth

young

(pl. nith). A homophone is the noun ”sister, girl”.

nîth

youth

(construct nith; no distinct pl. form)

rhavan

wild man

(?i thravan or ?i ravanthe lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhevain (?idh revain) (WJ:219). – The following terms apparently apply to ”men” of any speaking race:

salph

liquid food

(i halph, o salph) (soup, broth), pl. seilph (if the word goes like alph ”swan”), with article i seilph.

thalion

dauntless man

(hero), pl. thelyn. Also used as an adj. ”dauntless, steadfast, strong”. 

Noldorin 

nesta-

verb. to heal

A verb implied by N. nestad “healing” in Bair Nestad “Houses of Healing” from Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s (WR/380).

nestad

noun. healing

A noun for “healing” in Bair Nestad “Houses of Healing” from Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s, along with a variant form nestedrui (WR/380).

nest

noun. ?heart, core

nestag-

verb. to insert, stick in

Noldorin [Ety/STAK; EtyAC/NĒ̆] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nesta-

verb. to heal

Noldorin [nestad WR/379-380] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nesta

noun. ?heart, core

nestad

gerund noun. healing

Noldorin [WR/379-80] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nestadren

adjective. healing

Noldorin [WR/380] nestad+-ren. Group: SINDICT. Published by

nestag-

verb. to insert, stick in

Noldorin [Ety/388] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nestegi

nestegi

The word derives from Old Noldorin nestak- ("insert, stick in"), from root STAK.

Noldorin [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

dineth

feminine name. Nessa

A Noldorin name for Nessa appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, it is simply dineth “bride” used as a name (Ety/Nι, NETH, EtyAC/NDIS).

Noldorin [Ety/NETH; Ety/Nι; EtyAC/NDIS; EtyAC/NIS] Group: Eldamo. Published by

neth

feminine name. Nessa

Noldorin equivalent of ᴹQ. Nessa appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, derived from the same primitive root ᴹ√NETH (Ety/NETH, Nι). Given its Quenya form, the primitive form of this name might have been ✱✶netthā.

Noldorin [Ety/NETH; Ety/Nι] Group: Eldamo. Published by

neth

adjective. young

irregular, compare: tathor @@@

Noldorin [Ety/NETH; Ety/Nι; EtyAC/NIS] Group: Eldamo. Published by

aes

noun. cooked food, meat

Noldorin [Ety/349] Group: SINDICT. Published by

benn

noun. man, male

Noldorin [Ety/352, VT/45:9] "husband". Group: SINDICT. Published by

dîr

noun. man, referring to an adult male (elf, mortal, or of any other speaking race)

Noldorin [Ety/354, Ety/352] Group: SINDICT. Published by

enedh

noun. core, centre, middle

While the word is written enedh in the Etymologies, it seems that Tolkien considered and reconsidered its form throughout his life. Late rough jottings (c. 1968), as well as the text of letter no. 168 and the fact that the toponym Enedwaith was never changed on the LotR map, seem to imply that ened is the (most) definitive form. See also the possibly related preposition ned , which has sometimes been suggested to mean "in" (while again a prefix nedh- is seen in the Etymologies)

Noldorin [Ety/356, Ety/376, UT/450, Letters/224, VT/41:12,] Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodrim

noun. Northmen

Noldorin [Ety/392] forod+rim. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodwaith

noun. Northmen

Noldorin [Ety/382, Ety/398, X/EI] forod+gwaith. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodwaith

noun. the lands of the North

Noldorin [Ety/382, Ety/398, X/EI] forod+gwaith. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodweith

noun. Northmen

Noldorin [Ety/382, Ety/398, X/EI] forod+gwaith. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodweith

noun. the lands of the North

Noldorin [Ety/382, Ety/398, X/EI] forod+gwaith. Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwîn

adjective. young

Noldorin [EtyAC/GWIN; EtyAC/WIR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hûn

noun. heart (physical)

Noldorin [Ety/364] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mann

noun. food

The earliest word for “food” in precursors to the Sindarin language was G. môs “food (of men)” (GL/56, 58), probably based on the early root ᴱ√M(B)ASA “cook, bake” (QL/59). This became ᴱN. math “food” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s, appearing only in its lenited form vath as an element in ᴱN. orvath “foodless” (PE13/155). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had N. mann “food” as a derivative of primitive ᴹ✶matna under the root ᴹ√MAT “eat”, but the version of the entry where this form appeared was struck out (EtyAC/MAT). The primitive form ✶matnā “food” did reappear in the early 1950s, however (PE22/136).

Neo-Sindarin: Of the above, I prefer ᴺS. math for “food”. I first saw math proposed as the Neo-Sindarin word for “food” in a list of neologisms by Elaran on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) from 2018. I prefer math because I tend to assume Q. matta is derived from ✱mattā rather than ✶matnā to avoid certain phonological difficulties; see that entry for discussion. If you are not concerned with those difficulties, ᴺS. mann “food” is also viable.

Noldorin [EtyAC/MAT] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nadhor

noun. pasture

Noldorin [Ety/374] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nadhor

noun. pasture

A noun for “pasture” in The Etymologies of the 1930s given as naðor and derived from the root ᴹ√NAD (Ety/NAD).

nadhras

noun. pasture

Noldorin [Ety/374] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nadhras

noun. pasture

A noun for “pasture” in The Etymologies of the 1930s given as naðras and derived from the root ᴹ√NAD (Ety/NAD).

neth

adjective. young

Noldorin [Ety/377] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nethra

noun. ?heart, core

nîth

noun. youth

Noldorin [Ety/377] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nîth

noun. youth

Noldorin [Ety/NETH] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Nandorin 

beorn

noun. man

The shift of e to eo is strange and has no direct parallels, but compare eo from i in meord "fine rain" (< primitive mizdê). Normally final becomes in Nandorin (see golda), but here it is simply lost instead of producing *beorna. C.f. meord the other word where we might have expected to see a final -a (in that case from ); it may be that final vowels are lost in words that would otherwise come to have more than two syllables. - The shift of primitive s to r in besnô > beorn may be ascribed primarily to the blending with ber(n)ô, but r from z is seen in meord < mizdê; perhaps the s of besnô first became z and then r. Such developments are common in Quenya.

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (LR:352)] besnô "blend with" ber(n)ô "valiant man, warrior". 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!

Early Quenya

nes

noun. food, feed, fodder

A word appearing as ᴱQ. nes (nest-) “food, feed, fodder” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√NESE “(give to feed); pasture” (QL/66).

Neo-Quenya: I think this word is salvageable as ᴺQ. nes (nest-) for purposes of Neo-Quenya as a derivative of the salvaged Neo-Root ᴺ√NES.

Early Quenya [QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nes

noun. mead, valley, land

A noun given as archaic ᴱQ. †nes (ness-) “mead, valley, land” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the root ᴱ√NEŘE [NEÐE], but Tolkien indicated it should be transferred to ᴱ√NESE, which is a much more plausible root for this word (QL/66).

Early Quenya [PME/066; QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nessa

feminine name. Nessa

Early Quenya [LBI/Nessa; LT1A/Nessa; LT1I/Nessa; LT2I/Nessa; PE14/014] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nesta-

verb. to feed

The verb ᴱQ. nesta- “feed” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√NESE “give to feed; feed, pasture; graze” (QL/66). It has past forms nēse and nesse, indicating a close relationship to the verb ᴱQ. nese- “graze, pasture, give to feed, feed” from the same root, which likely would have had the same or similar past-tense forms.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would combine both these early verbs into ᴺQ. nesta- “to graze, pasture, give to feed, feed”, derived from the Neo-Root ᴺ√NES.

Early Quenya [QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nessele

noun. pasture, mead; pasturage

The noun ᴱQ. nessele appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with the gloss “pasture, mead; also = pasturage”, a derivative of the early root ᴱ√NESE “give to feed; feed, pasture; graze” (QL/66). It was also mentioned in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa with the gloss “pasture” (PME/66).

Neo-Quenya: I would retain this word as ᴺQ. nesselë “pasture, mead[ow]; pasturage” for purposes of Neo-Quenya, derived from the Neo-Root ᴺ√NES.

Early Quenya [PME/066; QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nese-

verb. to graze, pasture, give to feed, feed

A verb in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “graze, pasture, give to feed, feed”, a derivative of the early root ᴱ√NESE “give to feed; feed, pasture; graze” (QL/66).

Early Quenya [QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nessaran

proper name. Thursday

Name of the second Thursday in the Valinorean fortnight (PE14/22), a combination of the name of the goddess Nessa and sana “day”, with the last s dissimilating to r.

Early Quenya [PE14/022] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nesse

noun. (green) fodder, herb, grass

A noun in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “(green) fodder, herb, grass” under the early root ᴱ√NESE (QL/66). In the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa it was glossed “green fodder” (PME/66).

Early Quenya [PME/066; QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nesta

noun. (act of) feeding

The noun ᴱQ. nesta “(act of) feeding” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√NESE (QL/66).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d instead use the gerund ᴺQ. nestië of the verb ᴺQ. nesta- “(give to) feed”.

Early Quenya [QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

e-

verb. to be

Early Quenya [PE14/051; PE14/054; PE14/057; PE16/062; PE16/066; PE16/140; PE16/141; PE16/143] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elben

noun. heart

elwen

noun. heart

A word appearing as ᴱQ. Elben “heart” in the Name-list to the Fall of Gondolin of the 1910s (LT2/202; PE15/23), but as ᴱQ. Elwen “heart” in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon under the early root ᴱ√LEFE (QL/35, 52). These words were connected to the character G. Elfrith who vanished from later versions of the Legendarium.

Early Quenya [LT1A/Ilverin; LT2/202; PE15/23; QL/035; QL/052] Group: Eldamo. Published by

enga

noun. mead

A noun in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “mead” in the sense “✱meadow”, a derivative of ᴱ√EŊE (QL/36).

Early Quenya [QL/036] Group: Eldamo. Published by

falassien

proper name. Thursday

Name of Thursday in the seven-day week of the Elves (otsola) in an early word list (PE14/21). The day was related to the sea and was probably derived from falas(se) “shore”.

Early Quenya [PE14/021] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hon

noun. heart

Early Quenya [PE13/149; PE13/162; PE15/32; PE16/137; QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

honde

noun. heart

hondo

noun. heart

huest(y)a

adjective. one ninth

Early Quenya [PE14/051; PE14/084] Group: Eldamo. Published by

huesto

fraction. one ninth

Early Quenya [PE14/051; PE14/084] Group: Eldamo. Published by

huetto

fraction. one ninth

huetya

adjective. one ninth

kana

adjective. young

Early Quenya [GL/37] Group: Eldamo. Published by

londa

noun. heart

matl

noun. food

Early Quenya [QL/059] Group: Eldamo. Published by

matso

noun. food

Early Quenya [PE16/141] Group: Eldamo. Published by

poldosan

proper name. Thursday

Alternate name of the first Thursday in the Valinorean fortnight (PE14/22), a combination of poldor “strength” and sana “day”.

Early Quenya [PE14/022] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tulkassan

proper name. Thursday

Name of the first Thursday in the Valinorean fortnight (PE14/22), a combination of the name of the god Tulkas and sana “day”.

Early Quenya [PE14/022] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ó-

verb. to be

Early Quenya [QL/069] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

nese

root. give to feed; feed, pasture; graze

A root given as ᴱ√NESE “give to feed; feed, pasture, etc.; graze” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, with derivatives like ᴱQ. nesse “herb, grass, fodder”, ᴱQ. nesta- “feed” and ᴱQ. nes (ness-) “mead, valley, land”, the last of these transferred from ᴱ√NEŘE (QL/66). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon it had derivatives like G. nesta- “put to grass, graze, pasture, feed”, G. nethron “herd”, and G. ness “water meadow, long grass” (GL/60). The later word S. ness “headland” (UT/28) might be a remnant of G. ness.

Neo-Eldarin: I think this may be used as a Neo-Root ᴺ√NES in order to salvage various early words for “feed” and “pasture”. In earlier versions of this lexicon, I used to recommend √NAD for pasture words as suggested by Boris Shapiro in PPQ, but The Nature of Middle-earth published in 2021 revealed that the gloss for this root was “hollow” (NM/351), making it less suitable for pasture words.

Early Primitive Elvish [QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ai-idh

noun. nest

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/17] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwiwi

root. *young

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/42] Group: Eldamo. Published by

χilþē

noun. youth

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/49] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gana Speculative

root. young

A hypothetical early root that would explain words appearing in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s such as ᴱQ. kana and G. gân “young” (GL/37). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writings.

Early Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

nesta-

verb. to put to grass, graze, pasture, feed

A verb in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “put to grass, graze, pasture, feed” (GL/60), clearly a derivative of the early root ᴱ√NESE “give to feed; feed, pasture; graze” (QL/66).

ness

noun. water meadow; long grass

aidha

noun. nest

The word G. aidha “a nest” appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s derived from primitive ᴱ✶ai-idh (GL/17). Immediately above it, G. aivor was glossed “nest” but this gloss was crossed out (see that entry for discussion). Elsewhere in the Gnomish Lexicon, Tolkien gave G. end “birds nest” from primitive ᴱ✶aı̯·ind, but this entry was deleted (GL/32).

Neo-Sindarin: I’d adapt this word as ᴺS. aedh “nest” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, related to S. aew “bird”, since the primitive diphthong ai becoming the ae in Sindarin. Its primitive form might be ✱ai̯[w]dē.

uitha-

verb. to lay eggs, nest

A verb appearing as G. uitha- “lay eggs, nest” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/74), likely derived from the early root ᴱ√OHO [OΧO] which was the basis for ᴱQ. ohte “egg” in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon (QL/69). This verb probably represents the vocalization of ancient χ to i before th], after which the resulting oi became ui; compare G. fuitha- “hide” < ᴱ√foχo (GL/36).

Neo-Sindarin: I would adapt this verb as ᴺS. oetha- for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, based on the Neo-Root ᴺ√OKH “egg”, since a similar vocalization of χ occurred in Sindarin, but the resulting oi became oe.

nethron

noun. herd

A noun appearing as {nestor >>} nethron “herd” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, clearly derived from the early root ᴱ√NESE “give to feed; feed, pasture; graze” (QL/66) with sr becoming thr.

Neo-Sindarin: The suffix -(r)on is mostly an agental suffix in later Sindarin, so I would adapt this word as ᴺS. nethor “herd, flock” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin from the Neo-Root ᴺ√NES and primitive ✱nes-rē; compare [N.] tathor < ᴹ✶tathrē.

elf

noun. heart

Gnomish [GL/32; LT2/202; PE15/23] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ganos

noun. youth

ganothrin

adjective. youthful

gwiog

adjective. young

gwion

adjective. young

gwioth

noun. youth

gwiw

adjective. young

gân

adjective. young

honn

noun. heart

ilf

noun. heart

Gnomish [GL/49; GL/50; LT1A/Ilverin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

man

masculine name. Man

Gnomish [GL/18; GL/20; GL/43; GL/56; GL/68; LT1A/Manwë; PE13/104; PE15/26] Group: Eldamo. Published by

masgar

noun. pasture

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “pasture” (GL/56), perhaps a combination of G. mast “feed” and G. gar “place”.

na-

verb. to be

Gnomish [GG/09; GL/58] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

nessaron

proper name. *Day of the Younger Gods

Another name for the 5th day of the Valian 5-day week, the genitive plural of nessa “young,” collectively referring to the younger gods Osse, Orome and Tulkas (Ety/LEP).

nessa

feminine name. *Young

Qenya [Ety/NETH; Ety/Nι; LRI/Nessa; SMI/Nessa] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nessa

adjective. young

nesse

noun. youth

nessima

adjective. youthful

nése

noun. youth

atan

noun. Man

ná-

verb. to be

Qenya [Ety/N²; PE22/096] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nér

noun. man, adult male

Qenya [Ety/DER; Ety/NDER; Ety/NĒR; Ety/Nι; Ety/WEG; EtyAC/NĒR; PE21/16; PE21/17; PE21/19; PE21/20; PE21/21; PE21/52; PE21/60; PE21/62; PE21/65; PE21/69; PE22/120; PE22/124] Group: Eldamo. Published by

veo

noun. man

Qenya [Ety/WEG; EtyAC/WEG] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vírie

noun. youth

ye-

verb. to be

Qenya [LR/072; PE22/011; PE22/107; PE22/115; PE22/117; PE22/119; PE22/120; PE22/123] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

nestak-

verb. to insert, stick in

Old Noldorin [Ety/STAK; EtyAC/NĒ̆] Group: Eldamo. Published by

benno

noun. man

Old Noldorin [Ety/BES] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

neth

root. young

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/LEP; Ety/NETH; Ety/Nι; EtyAC/NIS] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nethrā

adjective. young

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/NETH] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dēr

noun. man

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/NDER; Ety/Nι; EtyAC/NDER; PE18/035; PE21/55; PE21/58; PE21/60; PE21/64; PE21/65; PE21/69] Group: Eldamo. Published by

eʒ-

verb. to be

Middle Primitive Elvish [PE22/122] Group: Eldamo. Published by

khōn

noun. heart

Middle Primitive Elvish [PE21/55; PE21/64; PE21/66] Group: Eldamo. Published by

maita-

verb. to feed

Middle Primitive Elvish [PE18/046] Group: Eldamo. Published by

matna

noun. food

Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/MAT] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nēthē

noun. youth

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/NETH] Group: Eldamo. Published by

root. to be

Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/YĒ; PE18/060; PE18/084; PE22/123] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ē

root. to be

Middle Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

ī

root. to be

Middle Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

lhonn

noun. heart

Early Noldorin [PE13/147; PE13/149; PE13/156; PE13/162] Group: Eldamo. Published by

math

noun. food

Early Noldorin [PE13/155] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Ossriandric

beorn

noun. man

A noun for “man” that developed from the blending of primitive ᴹ✶besnō “man” and ᴹ✶berō “valiant man, warrior” > ber(n)ō (Ety/BER, BES). The simplest explanation is that ᴹ✶besnō > beznō > bernō, where first the [[dan|[s] voiced to [z] before the nasal [n]]] and then the resulting [[dan|[z] becoming [r]]]. The similarity of this word to ᴹ✶berō could have led it to develop into ber(n)ō as well. From there, the [[dan|[e] broke into the diphthong [eo] before the liquid [r]]] and then the final vowel vanished.

Ossriandric [Ety/BER; Ety/BES] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Edain

bar

noun. man