or-

prefix. above, over

or

preposition/prefix. above, above; [G.] onto, on top, on

A preposition and prefix in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “above” and derived from the root ᴹ√ORO “up; rise; high” (Ety/ORO).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had adverb G. or “on, on top” which could be used as a preposition meaning “on, onto” (GL/63), clearly also derived from ᴱ√ORO. As a prefix, G. or- meant “on, onto, up, in addition to, etc.” (GL/62).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin I would only use or as an adverb/preposition/prefix for “above [not necessarily touching]”, while for “on [top of]” I would use S. po.

or

preposition. above, over

glor-

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

tôr

noun. brother

An (archaic) word for “brother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√TOR of the same meaning, with an irregular plural terein (Ety/TOR). In ordinary speech, it was replaced by muindor, with an initial element muin “dear”.

Neo-Sindarin: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word hanar for “brother” (VT47/14). However, I think †tôr and related words might be retained to mean a “metaphorical brother”, a close male associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as gwador “(sworn) brother, associate”. In this paradigm, I would assume muindor still refers to a brother by blood, with an added connotation of strong affection.

gathrod

noun. cave

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “cave”, apparently a combination of N. gath “cavern” and ᴹ√ROT “tunnel” (Ety/GAT(H)). Its initial element also appeared in the name N. Doriath “Land of the Cave”, but in later writings S. Doriath was redefined as “Land of the Fence” with final element S. iath “fence” (WJ/370), so N. gathrod “cave” was probably abandoned.

tuia-

verb. to sprout, spring

tuia-

verb. to swell

anna-

verb. to give

ant

noun. gift

ar-

prefix. day

ardh

noun. realm, region

brûn

adjective. old, that has long endured, or been established, or in use

car

noun. house, building

car(dh)

noun. house, house, *construction, structure

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s appearing as car or carð with the gloss “house” under the root ᴹ√KAR “make, build, construct” (Ety/KAR). Its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. kar (kard-) was glossed “building, house”.

Neo-Sindarin: Given the meaning of its root, I would use cardh for any kind of building-like construction or structure for purposes of Neo-Sindarin. For an ordinary “house” where people live, I would use S. bâr.

cardh

noun. house, building

coll

adjective. (golden) red

dalf

noun. palm of hand

ephel

noun. outer fence

fast

noun. shaggy hair

fela

noun. cave

gail

noun. bright light

gathrod

noun. cave

gobel

noun. walled house or village, town

gwador

noun. brother (especially used of those not brothers by blood, but sworn brothers or associates)

gwenn

noun. maiden

helch

noun. bitter cold

hortha-

verb. to urge on, speed

hûn

noun. heart (physical)

lhum

noun. shade

A word appearing as N. lhum “shade” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, derived from the root ᴹ√LUM, most notably an element in the name N. Hithlum (Ety/LUM). It was the cognate of ᴹQ. lumbe, and thus derived from primitive ✱lumbē, which explains why the final m survived as a reduction of mb.

Conceptual Development: The earliest iteration of this word was G. lôm {“pool, sl...” >>} “gloom, shade” from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, based on primitive ᴱ✶lou̯me (GL/54) and probably derived from the early root ᴱ√LOMO as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Hisilómë). In this early document, G. lum or glum was “a cloud” (GL/55), likely a derivative of ᴱ√LUVU for “✱dark weather” as also suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Luvier). In Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had ᴱN. {lom >>} lhom “shadow” (PE13/149). This became N. lhum “shade” in The Etymologies, as noted above.

Neo-Sindarin: In later writings, Hithlum was designated North Sindarin and its final element was based on a loan from Q. lómë “dusk”, with the m surviving only because it was from the North dialect (PE17/133; WJ/400). However, the root √LUM “shadow, darkness” also survived in later writings (PE17/168), so I think N. lhum “shade” can be salvaged, though if adapted to Neo-Sindarin it would need to become ᴺS. lum as suggested in HSD (HSD). Given the later use of Q. lumbo for “(dark) cloud”, I think the Gnomish sense G. lum “[dark] cloud” can be salvaged as well.

magl

noun. sword

The word megil (q.v.), probably introduced by the Ñoldor, was also used

magol

noun. sword

The word megil (q.v.), probably introduced by the Ñoldor, was also used

megil

noun. sword

The word was struck out in the Etymologies, but is well attested in late compounds such as Mormegil or Arvegil (with regular mutation). It is conceivably the Sindarinized form of Quenya makil, coexisting with magol (see tegil and tegol for a similar case)

meldir

noun. friend

meldis

noun. friend

muindor

noun. brother

muindor

noun. brother

mân

noun. departed spirit

mîdh

noun. dew

naru

adjective. red, [fiery] red

parf

noun. book

rhista-

verb. to cut

A verb appearing in its Noldorin-style infinitive form N. rhisto in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a cognate to ᴹQ. rista- “cut”, both derived from the root ᴹ√RIS (Ety/RIS). In the initial version of this root’s entry it appeared as risto derived from ON. rista- “rend, rip” (Ety/RIS). The original entry was not deleted, and it is not clear if its retention was an oversight or if Tolkien intended both meanings to coexist.

Neo-Sindarin: In Noldorin, an initial r unvoiced to rh, but this was not the case in Sindarin, so its Sindarin form is probably ᴺS. rista-, as suggested in HSD (HSD). I would further assume rista- can mean any of “cut, rend, rip”.

râd

noun. path, track

taur

adjective. mighty, vast, overwhelming, huge, awful, high, sublime

thafn

noun. post, wooden pillar

thora-

verb. to fence

tofn

adjective. lowlying, deep, low

tui

noun. a sprout, bud

tuiw

noun. a sprout, bud

ui

noun. envelope (especially of the Outer Sea or Air enfolding the world within the Ilurambar or world-walls)

úan

noun. monster

úan

noun. monster

*tlāta

adjective. sloping

ON. sloping

ad-

prefix. back, again, re-

aglareb

adjective. glorious

aglareb

adjective. glorious

ai

interjection. hail

alag

adjective. rushing, impetuous

amon

noun. hill, steep-sided mount

amon

noun. hill

annûn

noun. west, sunset

annûn

noun. west

ant

noun. gift

anw

adjective. male

A literal interpretation of the Etymologies would class this word as a noun, but David Salo notes that the punctuation in The Etymologies is not always reliable. Noldorin anw cannot be cognate to the Quenya noun hanu (3anû) because the final -u would drop. It must rather be cognate to the Quenya adjective hanwa (3anwâ) attested under the stem INI, where it is also stated that inw, corresponding to Quenya inya "female", has been remodelled after anw. The combination of these two entries, along with the phonological evidences, clearly indicates that anw is actually an adjective

anw

noun/adjective. male (person or animal)

A word appearing as N. anw in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ON. anu under the root ᴹ√ƷAN “male”, where its positioning makes it appear as if it was a cognate of ᴹQ. hanu “a male (man or animal)” (Ety/ƷAN). In the original version of this entry, it was simply glossed “male”, and was initially given as (deleted) {ganw} (EtyAC/ƷAN).

Conceptual Development: Precursors to this word include G. an “person” and G. anos “man” from the Gnomish Lexicon (GL/19).

Neo-Sindarin: Most Neo-Sindarin writers adapt this word as ᴺS. anu to better fit Sindarin’s phonology. In HSD (HSD), Didier Willis suggested (as originally proposed by David Salo) that this word is most likely an adjective, the cognate of adjective ᴹQ. hanwa “male” rather than the noun ᴹQ. hanu “a male (man or animal)”. This is because it is generally believed that final -u (as in ✶ʒanu) vanishes in Noldorin/Sindarin, while the final -wa (as in ✶ʒanwa) would have developed into -u (Noldorin -w). However, I think the evidence of the loss of final -u in Noldorin is ambiguous and in fact N. anw might be a counterexample, especially since the Old Noldorin form was anu; see the entry on how [[s|final [i], [u] generally vanished]] for further discussion.

In any case, I think anu “male” can be used as a both a noun and an adjective for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

ardh

noun. realm

atland

adjective. sloping, tilted

aur

noun. day, sunlight, morning

bór

masculine name. Faithful

calad

gerund noun. light

calad

noun. light

camland

noun. palm of hand

caran

adjective. red

caran

adjective. red

caras

noun. circular earthwall with dike

caras

noun. city (built above ground)

caron

adjective. red

dae

noun. shadow

daew

noun. shadow

dûn

noun. west

dûn

noun. west

elf

noun. friend

ephel

noun. outer fence, encircling fence

fela

noun. cave

findel

noun. (braided) hair

finnel

noun. (braided) hair

floss

noun. whispering or rustling sound

The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. thloss > floss “whispering or rustling sound” based on the root ᴹ√SLUS “whisper”, along with a variant N. thross based on the related root ᴹ√SRUS (Ety/SLUS). Both these nouns reflect the 1930s phonetic development of sl, sr > thr, thl, as well as initial thl > fl.

Neo-Sindarin: In Sindarin of 1950s and 60s initial sl, sr > lh, rh, so I would replace these 1930s nouns with ᴺS. lhoss “whispering or rustling sound”, as suggested in HSD (HSD).

Conceptual Development: Earlier words of similar meaning include G. cwithri “whisper” related to G. cwitha- “murmur, whisper” (GL/29) and G. rui “whisper” related to G. ruitha- “whisper, rustle” (GL/66), both from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s. Another possible precursor from the Gnomish Lexicon is G. suss “hush, sudden quiet” (GL/68).

gal-

prefix. light

galad

noun. light

galadh

noun. tree

galadh

noun. tree

glamhoth

noun. barbaric host of Orcs

glaur

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

glawar

noun. sunlight, radiance (of the golden tree Laurelin)

gloss

adjective. snow-white, dazzling-white

goer

adjective. red, copper-coloured, ruddy

gwath

noun. shade, shadow, dim light

gwath

noun. stain

gwath

noun. shade

gwend

noun. maiden

gwenn

noun. maiden

gwind

noun. pale blue

iaur

adjective. ancient, old, original

iaur

adjective. older, former

imlad

noun. deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides (but a flat habitable bottom)

ingem

adjective. old (of person, in mortal sense: decripit, suffering from old age)

New word coined by the Elves after meeting with Men

ista-

verb. to have knowledge

lamben

place name. Tongue

A transient name for the Naith in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, glossed “Tongue” (TI/280). It seems to be an elaboration or variant form of N. lham(b) “tongue”.

lhad

noun. plain

lham

noun. physical tongue

lham(b)

noun. tongue

lhamb

noun. physical tongue

lhaws

noun. hair ringlet

lhonn

noun. narrow path or strait

lhonn

noun. entrance to harbour, land-locked haven

lhum

noun. shade

lond

noun. narrow path or strait

lond

noun. entrance to harbour, land-locked haven

lonn

noun. narrow path or strait

lonn

noun. entrance to harbour, land-locked haven

lonn

noun. path

maethon

noun. sword

magol

noun. sword

megil

noun. sword

mellon

noun. friend

mellon

noun. friend

mid

adjective. grey

min

fraction. one (first of a series)

min

cardinal. one

mindon

noun. isolated hill, especially a hill with a watch tower

mindon

noun. tower

mith

adjective. (pale) grey

mith

adjective. grey

mîdh

noun. dew

naru

adjective. red

narw

adjective. red

orn

noun. (any large) tree

orn

noun. tree

ost

noun. city, town with wall round

ost

noun. citadel, fortress or stronghold, made or strenghtened by art

parf

noun. book

penninar

noun. last day of the year

rhim

noun. cold pool or lake (in mountains)

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s given as N. rhim “cold pool or lake (in mountains)” derived from the root ᴹ√RINGI “cold” (Ety/RINGI). This word is the final element of N. Mithrim “✱Grey Lake” in The Etymologies, but in later writings Tolkien explained this name differently, deriving the name from the Elves that lived around the lake, so it may have been abandoned.

Neo-Sindarin: If adapted to Neo-Sindarin, this word would be ᴺS. rim. Since √RINGI “cold” survived in later writings, this word may still be viable, though it would conflict with S. rim “host, a great number”.

rhing

adjective. cold

rhing

adjective. cold

rhitha-

verb. to jerk, twitch, snatch

rhond

noun. cave roof

rhond

noun. vaulted or arched roof, as seen from below (and usually not visible from outside), or a (large) hall of chamber so roofed

rhonn

noun. cave roof

rhonn

noun. vaulted or arched roof, as seen from below (and usually not visible from outside), or a (large) hall of chamber so roofed

rhîf

noun. edge, hem, border

rond

noun. cave

teitha-

verb. to write

thind

adjective. grey, pale

thinn

adjective. grey, pale

thond

noun. friend

thross

noun. whispering or rustling sound

tindu

noun. dusk, twilight, early night (without Moon)

tindu

noun. starry twilight

tinnu

noun. dusk, twilight, early night (without Moon)

tinnu

noun. starry twilight

tlaud

adjective. sloping

sloping

tlaud

adjective. sloping

tum

noun. deep valley, under or among hills

tund

noun. hill, mound

tunn

noun. hill, mound

tôr

noun. brother

The word muindor is more usual

ui

adverb. ever

ui

noun. envelope

A noun appearing as N. ui “envelope” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ON. uia < wōia [wǭia] < ᴹ✶wāyā under the root ᴹ√WAY of similar meaning (Ety/WAY). It was used “especially of the Outer Sea or Air enfolding the world within the Ilurambar or world-walls”. In Noldorin of the 1930s, it seems the normal development of ancient āy was ui, with the initial w vanishing before u: wāyā > wǭia > uia > ui.

Neo-Sindarin: In Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s it seems ancient āy became oe, as with goe < ✶gāyā (PM/363). As such the initial w- from ✶wāya would survive to become gw-. Indeed, Tolkien had ancient ✱wāya become gwoe in notes from around 1957 attempting to derive an etymology for gwae “wind” (PE17/34). As such, I would adapt this Noldorin word as ᴺS. gwoe “envelope” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin. I would use it in the more general sense of “a thing enveloping something else”, and not just limited to envelopes used for letters.

ulun

noun. monster, deformed and hideous creature

ulund

noun. monster, deformed and hideous creature