os

house, cottage

os (ost-) noun "house, cottage" (LT2:336; hardly valid in LotR-style Quenya writers may use coa or már)

ossë

masculine name. Ossë

One of the greatest of the Maia, master of the seas that wash the shores of Middle-earth (S/30). His Quenya name is derived from his name in Valarin: Val. Oš(o)šai “spuming, foaming” (WJ/400).

Conceptual Development: This name dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, when ᴱQ. Osse was derived from the root ᴱ√’O’O along with other words related to the sea (LT1A/Ossë, QL/70). In The Etymologies, the name ᴹQ. Osse was derived from the primitive root ᴹ√GOS “dread” (Ety/GOS), perhaps referring to the awe-inspiring nature of the sea. The later derivation of Q. ëar “sea” < √GAY(AR) “awe, dread” was similar (PM/363, WJ/400).

In a list of roots written around 1959-60, Tolkien derived Ossë from an otherwised unattested root OS “making a hissing foaming noise” (PE17/138). His Valarin name did not appear until the Quendi and Eldar essay from this same period (WJ/400).

osto

noun. fortress, stronghold, strong place, fortress, stronghold, strong place; [ᴹQ.] city, town with wall round

The best known Quenya word for “city”, but strictly speaking really a fortification or a stronghold (Ety/OS; MR/350; NM/228; PE22/124; WJ/414). The two were more or less synonymous, since in Middle-earth most cities were fortified. In theory osto might also be used of any large fortification, not just a fortified city, as was the case with its Sindarin cognate ost, but in most of the Quenya examples it was used in city-names.

Conceptual Development: Possible precursors include the words ᴱQ. os (ost-) {“dwelling, hamlet” >>} “cottage, house”, ᴱQ. osta {“walled tower” >>} “homestead”, and ᴱQ. ostar {“walled tower” >>} “township” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√OSO [’OSO] (QL/71). The contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME) had only the older glosses, but the forms began with h: ᴱQ. hos(t) “dwelling, hamlet”, ᴱQ. hosta/hostar “walled tower” (PME/71). Elsewhere in PME Tolkien said that osta was equivalent to ᴱQ. irin “town” (PME/43).

The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. osto “city, town with wall round” under the root ᴹ√OS “round, about” (Ety/OS). Notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1940s had osto “fort” (PE22/50 note #183), but in the Quenya Verbal System of the late 1940s Tolkien glossed this word as “city” in the phrase: tasse i·osto “there (is) the city” (PE22/124).

In Tolkien’s later writing this word was glossed “fortification” (NM/228), “a strong or fortified building or place” (MR/350), and “fortress or stronghold” (WJ/414). With some exceptions like the name Mandos, it appeared mainly as an element in the names of cities of Men, Elves or Dwarves, such as Armenelos, Formenos, and Túrosto. Note the reduction of the suffix to -os in longer compounds, but not in shorter compounds like Túrosto.

osto

strong or fortified building or place, strong place, fortress

osto (1) noun "a strong or fortified building or place, strong place, fortress" (MR:350, 471; WJ:414); "city, town with wall round" (OS, VT46:8)

ostoher

masculine name. *City Lord

The 7th king of Gondor (LotR/1038). His name seems to be a compound osto “city” and heru “lord”.

Conceptual Development: In the drafts of the Lord of the Rings appendices, Tolkien first gave his name as Ostohir, with a transient variation Ostonir (PM/197). Ostohir was a “mixed name” whose final element was Sindarin S. hîr “lord”, much like Ondohir which went through a similar conceptual development (PM/210). In the 2nd edition of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien changed it to the pure Quenya name Ostoher.

ostimë

noun. blend

A word for a “blend” appearing in notes associated with the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60, more specifically “the running together of two elements” (VT39/9). It appeared only in its plural form ostimi “blends”. In the context where it appeared, it referred to the blending of sounds in diphthongs and consonant clusters, but it probably can refer to other blends and mixes as well.

Ostoher

city-lord

Ostoher noun masc. name, *"City-lord" (Appendix A)

osamnar

diphthong

osamnar, noun a word for "diphthong" (actually plural "diphthongs", sg. #osamna?) which Tolkien in the late thirties (?) replaced by ocamna, q.v.

osellë

sister, [female] associate

osellë (þ) noun "sister, [female] associate" (THEL/THELES, WŌ). Cf. otorno.

ossa

wall and moat

ossa noun "wall and moat" (LT2:336)

ossë

terror

ossë noun "terror" (GOS/GOTH). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, ossë was also the name of a Tengwa similar in shape to Roman c, which in a full-vowel mode apparently had the value o. (VT45:15; in the Sindarin "Mode of Beleriand", exemplified in the LotR itself, this letter has the value a instead. Elsewhere in the Etymologies itself, this symbol is called Elwë (q.v.) and is assigned the value e.)

ossë

terror

Ossë noun name of a Maia, adopted and adapted from Valarin (WJ:400), though connected with the common noun ossë "terror" in Etym (GOS/GOTH)

osta

one seventh

osta (1) fraction "one seventh" (1/7). Also otosta, otsat. (VT48:11)

osta

homestead

osta (2) noun "homestead" (LT2:336)

ostar

township

ostar noun "township" (LT2:336)

ostimë

blend

ostimë (pl. ostimi is attested) noun "blend", in linguistics a term for a kind of "strengthened" elements within a stem, where a single sound has been expanded into two different elements while maintaining a unitary effect and significance: such as s- being turned into st-, or m being strengthened to mb. (VT39:9)

ostirion

fort

ostirion noun "fort" (TI:423)

osto

the gates of the sun

osto (2) noun "the gates of the Sun" (LT1:264; this "Qenya" word was probably obsoleted by # 1 above)

oswë

hip

oswë noun "hip" (QL:71). If this "Qenya" word is used in Tolkiens later Quenya (and no other term for "hip" seems available), one would have to assume that the s represents older þ (or it would have become z > r).

osco

cardinal. seven

osto

noun. city

Túrosto

gabilgathol

Túrosto place-name "Gabilgathol", a dwelling of the Dwarves (Sindarin Belegost; the names mean "Mickleburg", "Great Fortress"). Apparently túra + osto.

otosta

one seventh

otosta fraction "one seventh" (1/7). Also osta, otsat. (VT48:11)

otos

cardinal. seven

os

preposition. around, about, round

@@@ used in NQNT

ossë

Ossë

At least two explanations exist for the name Ossë. In The Etymologies, it is understood as the Qenya word osse ("terror"), deriving from the root GOS ("dread"). A later note pertaining to the name instead suggests it is a name of non-Elvish origin, deriving from Valarin Oš(o)šai ("spuming, foaming"). The same later note mentions that Ossë's Sindarin names were Yssion and Gaerys. In Eriol's Old English translations, Osse is referred to as Saefrea "Sea-ruler". However, this reflects his status as a Vala (Fréa) in the earlier Legendarium.

ospor

noun. chaff

A neologism for “chaff” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), probably a combination of the roots ᴹ√OS “around” and ᴹ√POR having to do with flour and meal, so literally something like “✱around grain”.

oswë

noun. hip

The word ᴱQ. oswe “hip” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√OSO whose other derivative was ᴱQ. oksa “joint” (QL/71).

Neo-Quenya: I’d retain the word ᴺQ. oswë “hip” for purposes of Neo-Quenya, but it cannot be derived from √OS any longer. I would assume it is derived from a √OTH, a variant of ᴹ√OS “round” (perhaps originally referring to the round joint), and hence archaically oþwe; compare [ᴹQ.] hiswa < ᴹ✶khithwa (Ety/KHIS).

ostimmir

noun. agate, (lit.) blend-jewel

A neologism for “agate” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), a combination of ostimë “blend” and mírë “jewel”.

oscaita-

verb. to surround, (lit.) around-lie

oscir-

verb. to circumcise, (lit.) around-cut

osquetië

noun. context

ostec-

verb. to describe

ostar

noun. community

ostomo

noun. citizen

osáma

adjective. common, joint, (lit.) together-having

@@@ Discord 2022-06-09

panda

enclosure

panda noun "enclosure" (PAD)

filiculumpe

noun. ostrich, (lit.) sparrow-camel

A neologism for “ostrich” coined by Dírheron on Discord in 2019, a combination of [ᴹQ.] filit (filik-) “sparrow” and [ᴱQ.] ulumpe “camel”, inspired by Latin “strúthiocamélus”.

Elwë

star-person

Elwë masc. name, *"Star-person" (PM:340, WJ:369, WEG, VT45:12). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, Elwë was also the name of a Tengwa similar in form to Roman c, which in a full-vowel mode denoted a (short) e. (VT45:17; in the Sindarin "Mode of Beleriand", exemplified in the LotR itself, this letter has the value a instead. Elsewhere in the Etymologies itself, this symbol is called Ossë [q.v.] and is assigned the value o.)

háno

noun. brother

A word for “brother” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √KHAN of the same meaning (VT47/14). It had a diminutive/affectionate variant hanno used as a play name for the middle finger in several places in these notes (VT47/12; VT48/6).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. toron “brother” from the root ᴹ√TOR (Ety/TOR), and the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. herendo “brother” from the early root ᴱ√HESE (QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

lairë

summer

lairë (1) noun "summer" (Letters:283, VT45:26), in the calendar of Imladris a precisely defined period of 72 days, but also used without any exact definition (Appendix D). Oiolairë "Eversummer", name of a tree (UT:167), see also Coron Oiolairë. Lairelossë noun *"Summer-snow", name of a tree (UT:167), perhaps with white flowers.

nésa

sister

nésa (Þ) noun "sister" (VT47:14); this form from a late source possibly replaces earlier seler and onórë, q.v.

nésa

noun. sister

A word for “sister” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √NETH of similar meaning (VT47/12, 14). It had a diminutive/affectionate variant nettë used as a play name for the fourth finger in several places in these notes (VT47/12; VT48/6), but I prefer to mainly use nettë for “(little) girl” in Neo-Quenya (VT47/10, 15, 33).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. seler “sister” from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES (Ety/THEL), and the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. heresse “sister” from the early root ᴱ√HESE (QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

otorno

brother, sworn brother, [male] associate

otorno noun "brother, sworn brother, [male] associate" (TOR, WŌ). Cf. osellë.

otsat

one seventh

otsat fraction "one seventh" (1/7). Also otosta, osta (VT48:11)

otso

cardinal. seven

otso cardinal "seven" (SA:sîr, OT/OTOS/OTOK, VT48:6); otsëa ordinal "seventh" (VT42:25)

rissë

cut

rissë noun? The word is not clearly glossed but apparently means "cut" or "cleft" (ravine), the cognate of the final element of Imladris, Sindarin name of Rivendell. (PE17:87)

samnar

diphthongs

samnar noun "diphthongs" (sg. #samna "diphthong"?) (SAM; in one text probably dating to late 1930s, Tolkien rejects "osamnar" as the word for "diphthong", introducing the form ocamna to replace it. See VT44:13-14.)

usquë

reek

usquë ("q")noun "reek" (USUK). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, usquë was also the name of tengwa #16, which at this conceptual stage had the value squ (VT46:20). Later, Tolkien would call this letter unquë, with the value nqu.

valariandë

place name. Beleriand

The genitive form Malariando “of Beleriand” was given as the Quenya translation of S. Beleriand appearing in linguistic notes from the 1950s (PE21/78). This form implies that primitively the initial form of this name began with mb-, but that concept is not well supported by other evidence. The lenited form of S. Beleriand consistently had an initial V- (VT50/18, LR/202), making Valariandë is a more probable Quenya form of this name.

Conceptual Development: The (ᴹQ) genitive form Valarianden appeared in an alternate title for the Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/202). In linguistic notes from the 1940s, this name appeared as Veleriande (PE22/126), but the use of e in this form means it is most likely a direct adapation of the Noldorin name.

indë

pronoun. yourselves

lairë

noun. summer

o(to)sta

fraction. one seventh

otso

cardinal. seven

ósanwë

noun. communication of thought, interchange of thought; (lit.) thinking together (dual)

sinilë

noun. topaz

A neologism for “topaz” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), which might be an elaboration of [ᴱQ.] sink “mineral”.

uomë

noun. community

Elenwë

star-person

Elenwë fem. name *"Star-person" (Silm)

Ellairë

summer

Ellairë alternative name of June (PM:135); evidently incorporating lairë "summer"; the el- part is probably an assimilated form of er-, an element meaning one or first, June being the first summer month.

arta

fort, fortress

arta (2) noun "fort, fortress" (GARAT under 3AR)

corima

round

corima _("k")_adj. "round" (LT1:257; rather corna in Tolkien's later Quenya)

corna

round, globed

corna ("k")adj. "round, globed" (KOR)

falasta-

to foam

falasta- vb. "to foam", participle falastala "foaming, surging" in Markirya

hanno

brother

hanno noun "brother" (a colloquial form, cf. háno), also used in children's play for "middle finger" (VT47:12, 14, VT48:4, 6)

háno

brother

háno noun "brother", colloquially also hanno (VT47:12, 14). It is unclear whether Tolkien, by introducing this form, abandoned the older (TLT) word toron (q.v.)

indo

house

indo (2) noun "house" (LT2:343), probably obsoleted by #1 above (in Tolkiens later Quenya, the word for "house" appears as coa).

indë

yourselves

indë "yourselves", 2nd person pl.. reflexive pronoun, e.g. *tirildë indë, "you watch yourselves". Indë is derived from earlier imde(VT47:37)

laire

noun. summer

malariandë

place name. Beleriand

mallë

street, road

mallë pl. maller noun"street, road" (MBAL, LR:47, 56, LT1:263, SD:310)

minassë

fort, city, with a citadel and central watch-tower

minassë noun "fort, city, with a citadel and central watch-tower" (VT42:24)

ocamna

diphthong

ocamna ("k")noun "diphthong" (VT44:13)

ocamnar

noun. diphthongs

diphthongs

ohlon

diphthong

ohlon (pl. ohloni is attested) noun "diphthong", used of both vocalic diphthongs and "consonantal diphthongs" like mb(VT39:9)

ohlon

noun. diphthong

onóro

brother

onóro noun "brother" (of blood-kinship) (TOR, NŌ (WŌ) )

onórë

sister

onórë noun "sister" (of blood-kin) (THEL/THELES, NŌ; both of these entries in the Etymologies as reproduced in LR have the reading "onóne", but the "Old Noldorin" cognate wanúre listed in the entry THEL/THELES seems to indicate that the Quenya word should be onórë; the letters n and r are easily confused in Tolkien's handwriting. There is no clear evidence for a feminine ending -në in Quenya, but -rë is relatively well attested; cf. for instance ontarë.) A later source gives the word for "sister" as nésa instead.

otsat

fraction. one seventh

rista

cut

rista (2) noun "cut" (RIS), cf. #1 above.

seler

sister

seler (þ) (sell-, as in pl. selli) noun "sister" (THEL/THELES). In a later source, the word nésa (q.v.) appears instead, leaving the conceptual status of seler uncertain.

toron

brother

toron (torn- as in pl. torni) noun "brother" (TOR; a later source gives háno, hanno [q.v.] as the word for "brother", leaving the status of toron uncertain)

coro

preposition. around

os

root. making a hissing foaming noise

A root appearing in a list of “sound words” from 1959-60, described as “making a hissing foaming noise” and serving as the basis for the name Q. Ossë (PE17/138). This is only one of many different etymologies for that name, and I think it probably represents a transient idea.

ossai

masculine name. Ossë

ostō

noun. fortress or stronghold

otos/otok

root. seven

Tolkien used similar Elvish words for “seven” for much of his life. The earliest derivation for this number appears in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where ᴱQ. otso “seven” is given under the root ᴱ√OTO “knock”, though the etymological relationship is unclear and Tolkien marked ᴱQ. otso with a “?”; the root also has the derivatives ᴱQ. otoke “beating of breasts, wailing” and ᴱQ. otto- “knock” (QL/71). G. odin “seven” from the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon is probably related (GL/62).

The “knock” sense may have lived on in roots like ᴹ√TON, ᴹ√TAM and √TOM (PE22/103; Ety/TAM; PE17/138), but in The Etymologies of the 1930s, words for “seven” were derived from the root ᴹ√OT with two distinct extensions ᴹ√OTOS and ᴹ√OTOK, producing respectively ᴹQ. otso and N. odog “seven” (Ety/OT). This primitive otos/otok variation reappeared in Tolkien’s writings on Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s (VT47/42; VT48/6), though at various points Tolkien considered deriving the Quenya word from ✶otok (VT47/42) and the Sindarin word from ✶otos (RC/384; VT42/25). In his later writings, Tolkien seems to have favored ✶otos as the “true” ancient root for seven, explaining S. odog as variant produced by analogy with other forms like eneg “six” after the final s was lost (VT42/25, 31 note #61).

otoso

ordinal. seven

tad

root. enclosure

khan

root. brother

A root for “brother” that Tolkien introduced in notes on finger-names from the late 1960s as a companion to √NETH “sister” (VT47/14, 26, 34). It conflicts with, and possibly replaces, earlier uses for √KHAN such as √KHAN “back” in notes from around 1959 serving as the basis for the prefix Q. han- in hanquenta “answer” (PE17/166). The root ᴹ√KHAN also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “understand, comprehend”, with various derivatives in both Quenya and Noldorin of similar meaning (Ety/KHAN).

It is unlikely that all these uses of √KHAN coexisted, but I think at a minimum both √KHAN “brother” and ᴹ√KHAN “understand, comprehend” should be retained for the purposes of Neo-Eldarin, as the latter has no good replacements in Tolkien’s later writing. As for hanquenta “answer”, it might be reinterpreted as “a saying providing understanding”, and so be derived from ᴹ√KHAN “understand”.

kor

root. round, round; [ᴱ√] be round, roll

This was the Elvish root for round things throughout Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴱ√KORO “be round, roll” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, and had Early Qenya and Gnomish derivatives like ᴱQ. korima “round” and G. corm “ring, circle, disc” (GL/26). ᴹ√KOR “round” reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives in both Quenya and Noldorin (Ety/KOR). √KOR “round” was also mentioned in etymological notes probably written in the early 1960s (PE17/184). Its derivatives like Q. corma “ring” (LotR/953) and S. cerin “(circular) mound” (LotR/350; RC/309) appeared regularly in Tolkien’s later writings.

imde

pronoun. yourselves

nēthā

noun. sister

pū

noun. ‽

skā

noun. ‽

skū

noun. ‽

sisti

root. ‽

os

preposition. *about

Osgiliath

Osgiliath

topon. -. >> Ostgiliath

Ostgiliath

Ostgiliath

topon. -. >> Osgiliath

ost

noun. fort, fortress, stronghold, citadel; fortified town; enclosure, fort, fortress, stronghold, citadel; (fortified) town, [N.] city; [orig.] [S.] enclosure, [G.] yard

osgiliath

place name. Citadel of the Stars

The old capital of Gondor, translated “Citadel of the Stars” (LotR/244) or “Fortress of the Stars” (RGEO/65, Let/426). This name is a combination of ost “fortress, city” and the class-plural of gil “star” (RC/232; SA/os(t), gil).

Conceptual Development: When this name first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, it was already N. Osgiliath “Fortress of the Stars” (TI/119).

ost-in-edhil

place name. Fortress of the Eldar

Home of the Noldor in Eriador during the Second Age, described as the “city of the Elves” (S/286) and translated by Christopher Tolkien as “Fortress of the Eldar” (SI/Ost-in-Edhil). This name is a combination of ost “fortress, city”, the plural in of the definite article i and the plural of Edhel “Elf” (SA/os(t), edhel).

ossir

place name. Seven-rivers

A shorter form of the name Ossiriand glossed “Seven-rivers” (LotR/469), a reduction of primitive otoso “seven” combined with sîr “river” (RC/384).

ossiriand

place name. Land of Seven Rivers

A region in eastern Beleriand translated Ossiriand glossed “Land of Seven Rivers” (S/94), a reduction of primitive otoso “seven” combined with sîr “river” and the suffix -ian(d) “-land” (RC/384).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name first appeared as Assariad (SM/133) and on early maps as Ossiriath “of the Seven Rivers” (SM/233), but was soon revised to N. Ossiriand “Land of Seven Streams” (SM/116), the form it retained thereafter. Later in the 1930s its gloss was changed to “Land of Seven Rivers” (LR/128).

Osgiliath

noun. city, fortress of stars

ost (“fortress”) + gîl (“star, bright spark”) + ath (collective plural suffix)

Ost-in-Edhi

noun. city, fortress of elves

ost (“fortress, city with wall around”) + in (pl. gen. article) + edhil (pl. of edhel “elf”)

os i veleglinn i edain agorer vi veleriann

*from the Great Song that men made in Beleriand

Ossiriand

noun. land of seven rivers

od (from odog, Q otso “seven”) + sîr (“river”) + and (commonly used suffix in the names of regions and countries)

Ossiriand

place name. 'Land of Seven Rivers'

topon. 'Land of Seven Rivers'.

ost

noun. city, town with wall round

ost

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

-os

suffix. augmentative suffix

Lossoth

noun. the Snowmen

os

about, around

(adv. prefix) #os- (as in osgar- ”cut around”

os

around, about

(adv. prefix) #os- (as in osgar- ”cut around”

os

about, around

(as in osgar- ”cut around”

os

around, about

(as in osgar- ”cut around”

ostor

noun. enclosure, circuit of walls, *town wall

ost

stronghold

(fortress, city), pl. yst (WJ:414). The word may appear as os- or oth- before certain consonants in compounds, e.g. Osgiliath ”Citadel (Fortress) of the Stars” (LotR), ostirion (fortress with a watchtower), Othram ”fortress-wall” (WR:288).

ost

fort, fortress

(city, stronghold), pl. yst (WJ:414). The word may appear as os- or oth- before certain consonants in compounds, e.g. Osgiliath ”Citadel (Fortress) of the Stars” (LotR), ostirion (q.v.), Othram ”fortress-wall” (WR:288).

ossend

 noun. "sabbath day; day of rest"

Sindarin adaptation of the Quenya neologism sendarë ("sabbath, day of rest"). Derived from the prefix or- ("day") and the word send (possibly meaning "rest"), with the form being reminiscent of other Sindarin weekdays (e.g., Oranor ("Sunday")).

osgar

amputate

osgar- (i osgar, in esgerir for archaic in ösgerir) (cut round). Also spelt oscar-.

osgar

amputate

(i osgar, in esgerir for archaic in ösgerir) (cut round). Also spelt oscar-.

osgar

cut round

osgar- (i osgar, in esgerir for archaic in ösgerir) (amputate). Also spelt oscar-.

osgar

cut round

(i osgar, in esgerir for archaic in ösgerir) (amputate). Also spelt oscar-.

osp

reek

(noun) osp (smoke), pl. ysp: _

osp

smoke

(noun) osp (reek), pl. ysp

ost

city

ost (pl. yst) (city/town with wall around).

ostirion

fortress with a watchtower

(pl. ostiryn).

ostirion

fortress with a watchtower

ostirion (pl. ostiryn).

ostirion

watchtower, fortress with a

ostirion (pl. ostiryn). The name of the city Minas Tirith may be interpreted as ”watchtower” or ”tower of guard”.

ostirion

watchtower, fortress with a

(pl. ostiryn). The name of the city Minas Tirith may be interpreted as ”watchtower” or ”tower of guard”.

osgaef

noun. surroundings, environs, milieu

osta-

verb. to surround with walls, build up, fortify, protect; to surround

ostol-

verb. to circumnavigate, come around

osp

reek

(smoke), pl. ysp

osp

smoke

(reek), pl. ysp

ost

city

(pl. yst) (city/town with wall around).

yssi

masculine name. Ossë

Archaic Sindarin name of Q. Ossë, derived from the primitive name ✶Ossai (WJ/400). It was generally replaced by the more elaborate forms Gaerys or Yssion.

gaerys

masculine name. Ossë

A Sindarin name for Ossë, a combination of gaer “dreadful” and a reduction of his ancient Sindarin name †Yssi (WJ/400). Tolkien stated that this name “was more often used by the inland Teleri”, who viewed this Maia with more awe and fear. Otherwise he was known as Yssion.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, the Gnomish name of Ossë is G. Oth(a) (GL/18), perhaps derived from G. ô “sea” (GL/61). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, his Noldorin name is N. Aeros >> Oeros (Ety/GOS, EtyAC/GOS), perhaps a combination of N. oer “sea” and the root ᴹ√GOS “dread”.

yssion

masculine name. Ossë

A Sindarin name of Q. Ossë, a combination of his archaic name †Yssi with the masculine suffix -on (WJ/400).

gost

terror

(i ngost = i ñost, o n’gost) (dread), pl. gyst (in gyst = i ñgyst).

noss

house

(family) 1) noss (construct nos, pl. nyss) (family, clan), 2) nost (pl. nyst) (family) (PM:360), 3) nothrim (family); no distinct pl. form (PM:360)

noss

house

(construct nos, pl. nyss) (family, clan)

ross

foam

(construct ros) (rain, dew, spray [of fall or fountain]), pl. ryss (idh ryss) (Letters:282). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”polished metal, glitter”

nost

house

(pl. nyst) (family) (PM:360)

cerin

noun. circular enclosure

Yssion

oss

Ë (a Maia) Yssion, Gaerys (na **Aerys**), *Aeros (suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” Oeros, LR:359 s.v. GOS, GOTH)

yssion

ossë

Gaerys (na ’Aerys), ✱Aeros (suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” Oeros, LR:359 s.v. GOS, GOTH)

cerin

circular enclosure

(i gerin, o cherin) (circular raised mound), no distinct pl. form except with article (i cherin).

pêl

enclosure

pêl (i bêl, construct pel) (fence, fenced field, garth), pl. peli (i pheli), the latter forms reflecting the stem pele- (root __, LR:380).

pêl

enclosure

(i bêl, construct pel) (fence, fenced field, garth), pl. peli (i pheli), the latter forms reflecting the stem pele- (root PEL(ES), LR:380).

-on

suffix. augmentative suffix

@@@ most clear in gaearon

hanar

noun. brother

A word for “brother” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √KHAN of the same meaning and replacing the archaic form of the word †hawn (VT47/14). Remnants of this archaic form can be seem in the diminutive/affectionate form honeg “[little] brother” (VT48/6); Tolkien considered and apparently rejected alternates of the diminutive: honig and hanig (VT47/14; VT48/17).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. tôr “brother” from the root ᴹ√TOR (Ety/TOR), and the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. hethos “brother” from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE] (GL/48-49; QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

nethel

noun. sister

A word for “sister” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √NETH of similar meaning and replacing the archaic form of the word †nîth (VT47/12, 14). The diminutive/affectionate form nethig “[little] sister” was used as a play name for the fourth finger (VT48/6); Tolkien considered an alternate diminutive netheg (VT47/14, 32) and also considered giving this diminutive an alternate meaning “little girl” (VT47/15, 33); see S. neth for discussion.

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. thêl “sister” from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES (Ety/THEL), and the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. hethir “sister” from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE] (GL/48; QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

garth

stronghold

1) garth (i **arth) (stronghold), pl. gerth (i ngerth = i ñerth), 2) ost (fortress, city), pl. yst (WJ:414). The word may appear as os- or oth- before certain consonants in compounds, e.g. Osgiliath ”Citadel (Fortress) of the Stars” (LotR), ostirion (fortress with a watchtower), Othram** ”fortress-wall” (WR:288).

garth

fort, fortress

1) garth (i **arth) (stronghold), pl. gerth (i ngerth = i ñerth), 2) ost (city, stronghold), pl. yst (WJ:414). The word may appear as os- or oth- before certain consonants in compounds, e.g. Osgiliath ”Citadel (Fortress) of the Stars” (LotR), ostirion (q.v.), Othram ”fortress-wall” (WR:288). 3) barad (fortress, tower) (i varad), pl. beraid (i meraid). Note: barad** is also an adjective "doomed", but this is derived from a stem in mb- and would have different mutations.

-oth

suffix. augmentative suffix

dolt

round knob

(i dholt) (boss), pl. dylt

gobel

village

(i ’obel) (enclosed dwelling, ”town”), pl. gebil (i ngebil = i ñebil). Archaic pl. ✱göbil.

goe

terror

1) goe (i **oe) (great fear), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ngoe = i ñoe), 2) gorgoroth (i ngorgoroth = i ñorgoroth, o n**gorgoroth) (deadly fear), pl. gergeryth (in gergeryth = i ñgergeryth). Archaic pl. *görgöryth. 3) gost (i ngost = i ñost, o n**gost) (dread), pl. gyst (in gyst** = i ñgyst).

othrad

street

1) *othrad (pl. ethraid for archaic öthraid). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” ostrad. 2) rath (climb, climbing path, course, riverbed), pl. raist (idh raist) (UT:255). 3)

othrad

street

(pl. ethraid for archaic öthraid). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” ostrad.

odog

cardinal. seven

covas

noun. community

Rest

noun. cut

anfangrim

noun. the Longbeards (a tribe of Dwarves)

anglennatha

verb. (he) will approach

avo

verb. don't!

Used as a negative adverb before an imperative: avo garo "don't do it!". Sometimes used as prefix: avgaro

avon

verb. I won't

cerin

noun. mound

cuio

verb. live!

dagorath

noun. all the battles

drúwaith

noun. the wilderness of the Drû-men (q.v.)

falathrim

noun. people of the Falas

galadhad

noun. the Two Trees of Valinor

goe

noun. terror, great fear

groga-

verb. to feel terror

hanar

noun. brother

hawn

noun. brother

hawn

noun. brother

honeg

noun. "litte brother"

Given as honig in VT/47:14, but see VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

honeg

noun. middle finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

Given as honig in VT/47:14, but see VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

laer

noun. summer

lammas

noun. account of tongues

lâf

verb. (he) licks

lôd

verb. (he) floats

neth

noun. sister

neth

noun. girl (in her teens, approaching the adult)

nethig

noun. "litte sister"

First given in the manuscript as netheg in VT/47:14-15, but see especially VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

nethig

noun. ring finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

First given in the manuscript as netheg in VT/47:14-15, but see especially VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

noro

verb. run! ride!

Untranslated in LotR, but written nora-lim and rendered as "ride on" in RS/196 (not a literal translation) and later translated as "run swift" in RC/195. A verb nor- is attested in the old Gnomish lexicon, PE/11:61, with the meaning "to run, roll"

nîth

noun. sister

nîth

noun. sister

odo

cardinal. seven

odo

cardinal. seven

odog

cardinal. seven

othrad

noun. street

othrond

noun. fortress or city in underground caves, underground stronghold

othronn

noun. fortress or city in underground caves, underground stronghold

pêd

verb. (he) says

rammas

noun. (great) wall

rath

noun. street

n. street.

rath

noun. street, street; [N.] course, river-bed

rista-

verb. to cut

rista-

verb. to rend, rip

rochirrim

noun. horse-lords, the people of Rohan

sennas

noun. guesthouse

tôl

verb. (he) comes

According to WJ/301, the expression tôl acharn "vengeance comes" was later changed to tûl acharn by Tolkien

ónen

noun. I gave

Written onen in some editions of LotR. In the Qenyaqetsa, Qenya anta- is marked as having an irregular past tense áne. Assuming the same sound-shifts as observed in other words, this would indeed lead to onen in Sindarin, see PE/12:31 and TT/14:48-49

Rest

cut

(noun) 1) rest (ravine, cleft), pl. rist (idh rist), 2) criss (i griss, o chriss, construct cris) (cleft, slash), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chriss)

adab

house

(building), pl. edaib. In ”Noldorin”, the plural was edeb.

barad

fort, fortress

(fortress, tower) (i varad), pl. beraid (i meraid). Note: barad is also an adjective "doomed", but this is derived from a stem in mb- and would have different mutations.

basgorn

round bread

(loaf) (i masgorn), pl. besgyrn (i mbesgyrn).

bâr

house

bâr (dwelling, home, family; land, earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

bâr

house

(dwelling, home, family; land, earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

car

house

(building, dwelling-place) 1) car or cardh (i gar[dh], o char[dh]) (building), pl. cerdh (i cherdh) or cair (i chair). Note: cardh also means "deed, feat". Therefore, the form car may be preferred for clarity. 2) adab (building), pl. edaib. In ”Noldorin”, the plural was edeb. 3)

car

house

or cardh (i gar[dh], o char[dh]) (building), pl. cerdh (i cherdh) or cair (i chair). Note: cardh also means "deed, feat". Therefore, the form car may be preferred for clarity.

corn

round

corn (circular, globed), lenited gorn, pl. cyrn. The word is also used as a noun "circle".

corn

round

(circular, globed), lenited gorn, pl. cyrn. The word is also used as a noun "circle".

criss

cut

(i griss, o chriss, construct cris) (cleft, slash), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chriss)

dúnedhel

beleriand, elf of

(i Núnedhel), pl. *Dúnedhil*** (i Ndúnedhil*) (WJ:378, 386)*

falf

foam

(breaker), pl. felf, coll. pl. falvath

faltha

foam

(i faltha, i falthar)

garth

stronghold

(i ’arth) (stronghold), pl. gerth (i ngerth = i ñerth)

garth

fort, fortress

(i ’arth) (stronghold), pl. gerth (i ngerth = i ñerth)

goe

terror

(i ’oe) (great fear), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ngoe = i ñoe)

gorgoroth

terror

(i ngorgoroth = i ñorgoroth, o n’gorgoroth) (deadly fear), pl. gergeryth (in gergeryth = i ñgergeryth). Archaic pl. ✱görgöryth.

groga

feel terror

(i ’roga, in grogar) (WJ:415)

gwador

sworn brother

(i ’wador), pl. gwedyr (in gwedyr). In ”N”, the pl. was gwedeir (LR:394 s.v. TOR)

gwing

foam

(i ’wing) (spindrift, spume, spray blown off wave-tops), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwing)

hanar

brother

1) hanar (i chanar, o chanar), pl. henair (i chenair) (VT47:14). A more archaic term is *haun (spelt ”hawn” in source) (i chaun, o chaun), pl. hoen (i choen), coll. pl. honath.

hanar

brother

(i chanar, o chanar), pl. henair (i chenair) (VT47:14). A more archaic term is ✱haun (spelt ”hawn” in source) (i chaun, o chaun), pl. hoen (i choen), coll. pl. honath.

honeg

little brother

(i choneg, o choneg), pl. honig (i chonig), also used as a play-name for the middle finger. (VT47:6, 16-17) 2) In older sources Tolkien listed different ”Noldorin” words for ”brother”: muindor (i vuindor), analogical pl. muindyr (i muindyr). Archaic/poetic †tôr (i** dôr, o thôr, construct tor), pl. teryn (i** theryn), coll. pl. toronath. In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was terein. 3) “Brother” in extended sense of “relative”: gwanur (i ’wanur) (kinsman, also kinswoman), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

laer

summer

laer (no distinct pl. form). Note: a homophone means ”song”.

laer

summer

(no distinct pl. form). Note:  a homophone means ”song”.

neth

sister

1) neth (also used = ”girl”). (VT47:14-16, 33; VT48:6), pl. nith. Notice the homophone neth ”young”. Also nîth (no distinct pl. form though the plural article with show pluarlity when the noun is definite: in nîth) (VT47:14). 2) gwathel (i **wathel), pl. gwethil (in gwethil). 3) muinthel (i vuinthel), pl. muinthil (i muinthil), more usual than the shorter form thêl (stem thele-), pl. theli. In “Noldorin”, the pl. was thelei** (LR:392 s.v. THEL).

nothrim

house

(family); no distinct pl. form (PM:360)

o

about

o (concerning), becoming o h- before a vowel, e.g. o hEdhil ”about/concerning Elves”. Read perhaps oh Edhil in Sindarin orthography.

o

about

(concerning), becoming o h- before a vowel, e.g. o hEdhil ”about/concerning Elves”. Read perhaps oh Edhil in Sindarin orthography.

odog

cardinal. seven

odog (also odo in Doriathrin Sindarin).

odog

seven

(also odo in Doriathrin Sindarin).

odothui

seventh

othui, also ochui (VT47:42)

othrad

noun. street

othronn

underground city or stronghold

(pl. ethrynn for archaic öthrynn) (fortress in a cave or caves). Cited in archaic form othrond in the sources (WJ:414, VT46:12)

othronn

underground stronghold or city

(pl. ethrynn for archaic öthrynn) (fortress in a cave or caves). Cited in archaic form othrond in the sources (WJ:414, VT46:12)

rath

street

(climb, climbing path, course, riverbed), pl. raist (idh raist) (UT:255).

rest

cut

(ravine, cleft), pl. rist (idh rist)

sennas

guesthouse

(i hennas), pl. sennais (i sennais), coll. pl. sennassath (RC:523)

ossiriandeb

proper name. Ossiriandeb

Name of the language of the Green Elves in Ossiriand (LR/189), a combination of that region name and the adjective suffix -eb. It also appeared with the suffix -ren (PE18/26).

Ossiriandren

noun. language of Ossiriand

language of Ossiriand

osforod

place name. Northburg

An earlier name for S. Fornost that appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/120, 129). It seems to be a combination of ost “city” and forod “north”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.17).

osp

noun. smoke

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “smoke”, cognate of ᴹQ. usqe “reek”, both derived from primitive ᴹ✶us(u)k-wē under the root ᴹ√USUK (Ety/USUK). In the phonetic development of ᴹ✶us(u)k-wē to N. osp, the ancient kw became p and then short u became o, developments typical of both Noldorin and Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, the cognate of ᴱQ. usqe was G. usc, usg, or usb “fog, mist” (GL/75), and in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon ᴱQ. usqe was glossed “fog” and derived from the root ᴱ√ṢQṢ (QL/98). In The Etymologies of the 1930s the meaning of the related words became “smoke“ or “reek” [probably in its Old English sense = “smoke”] as noted above (Ety/USUK), and in writings after the 1930s Q. usquë became “dusk” (PE18/100; PE19/84; PE21/71; PE22/51) but its Sindarin equivalent did not appear.

Neo-Sindarin: Despite the shift in meaning of its Quenya cognate to “dusk”, I would still use osp for “smoke” in Neo-Sindarin, since there are several other “dusk” words but no other good candidates for “smoke”.

ostechain

place name. Town Built Again, Newbold

A transient name for Osgiliath appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/424), a combination of ost “town” and echain “built again”.

os-

prefix. about

ost

noun. city, town (with wall round)

osgiliath

place name. Fortress of the Stars

ossiriand

place name. Land of Seven Rivers

osgar-

verb. to cut round, amputate

os-

prefix. about, around

osgar

verb. (he) cuts, amputates

osgar-

verb. to cut round, to amputate

osp

noun. reek, smoke

ossrond

noun. *underground city, fortress

ost

noun. city, town with wall round

ost

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

ostrad

noun. street

ostrad

noun. street

oeros

masculine name. Osse

cerin

noun. circular enclosure

gwador

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

gwathel

noun. [sworn] sister, associate [f.]

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “sister, associate”, the female equivalent of N. gwador “(sworn) brother, associate”, a combination of prefix N. gwa- “together” with the root ᴹ√THEL “sister” (Ety/THEL). It is used for metaphorical “sisters” by oath or association, and not by blood.

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.

o

preposition. about, concerning

The Etymologies state that h- is prefixed to the word following this preposition, when it begins with a vowel: o Hedhil "concerning the Elves". Some scholars consider that this rule is not valid in Sindarin, but that the preposition would perhaps become oh in such a case (hence oh Edhil, to be compared with ah in Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth)

thêl

noun. sister

A word for “sister” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES of the same meaning, with an irregular plural thelei (Ety/THEL). It had a more elaborate form muinthel, the equivalent of muindor “(dear) brother”, with an initial element muin “dear”.

Neo-Quenya: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word nethel for “sister” from the root √NETH (VT47/14). However, I think thêl and related words might be retained to mean a “metaphorical sister”, a close female associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as gwathel “[sworn] sister, associate”. In this paradigm, I would assume muinthel still refers to a sister by blood, with an added connotation of strong affection. I think it’s best to assume the irregular Noldorin plural pattern was reformed to the normal Sindarin plural thîl.

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.

othrond

noun. underground city, fortress

beleriand

place name. Beleriand

garth

noun. fort, fortress

minnastirith

place name. Watchtower

odog

cardinal. seven

rhest

noun. cut

blâb

verb. (he) flaps, beats

The Etymologies seem to list this word as a noun, but it is clearly the third person singular of the verb

car

noun. house, building

cardh

noun. house, building

cerin

noun. mound

corn

adjective. round, globed

garth

noun. fort, fortress

gobel

noun. walled house or village, town

gwathel

noun. sister, associate

lhammas

noun. account of tongues

lhâf

verb. (he) licks

lhôd

verb. (he) floats

loer

noun. summer

muindor

noun. brother

muindor

noun. brother

muinthel

noun. sister

muinthel

noun. sister

odog

cardinal. seven

orthor

verb. (he) masters, conquers

othrond

noun. fortress or city in underground caves, underground stronghold

rhest

noun. cut

rhista-

verb. to cut

rhista-

verb. to rend, rip

síla

verb. (he) shines white

sôg

verb. (he) drinks

thia

verb. it appears

thêl

noun. sister

tôg

verb. (he) leads, brings

tôl

verb. (he) comes

According to WJ/301, the expression tôl acharn "vengeance comes" was later changed to tûl acharn by Tolkien

tôr

noun. brother

The word muindor is more usual

otos

cardinal. seven

cava

noun. house

hanna

noun. brother

heculbar

place name. Beleriand

háno

noun. brother

néþa

noun. sister

hazad

noun. seven

A number translated as “seven”, appearing in the form hazad in the Lament of Akallabêth (SD/247), but in the form hazid in Lowdham’s Report (SD/427-8). Helge Fauskanger suggested (AL/Adûnaic) it may be related to the dwarvish word Khazâd “Dwarves”, who were divided into seven houses.

kadar

noun. city

A noun appearing only as an element in kadar-lâi “city folk” (SD/435).

zadan

noun. house

A noun translated “house” and fully declined as an example of a Strong I noun (SD/430).

gathol Reconstructed

noun. fortress