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).

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)

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.

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.)

Elenwë

star-person

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

osto

noun. city

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”.

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.

yssion

masculine name. Ossë

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

yssion

ossë

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

goe

noun. terror, great fear

groga-

verb. to feel terror

ost

noun. city, town with wall round

ost

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

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).

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.

gost

terror

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

groga

feel terror

(i ’roga, in grogar) (WJ:415)

ost

city

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

ost

city

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

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)

teleg

noun. leg

A Neo-Sindarin word for “leg”, derived from the root ᴹ√TELEK “stalk, stem, leg” coined by Elaran in a Discord chat from 2018-08-29.

Conceptual Development: There is an attested Gnomish word for “leg”, G. bactha (GL/21), but its form is not suitable for Sindarin. There is also a Quenya word for “leg” Q. telco appearing later writings, which also means “stem” (PE17/122, LotR/1118). This Quenya word appears in The Etymologies of the 1930s with the gloss “leg”, where its Noldorin equivalent is given as N. telch “stem” (Ety/TÉLEK). It’s possible this word could also mean “leg” in Sindarin, but Tolkien had the opportunity to give it this gloss and chose not to.

Perhaps the Primitive Elvish words were something like ✶téleku “stem” and ✶telékō “leg”, with differing stress patterns. These two words would have blended in Quenya as telco, but would have remained distinct in Sindarin as telch “stem” and teleg “leg”. That’s the theory presented here.

Alternately, you might repurpose S. tâl “foot” to mean both “leg” and “foot” as happens in some real-world languages. This second option is partially supported by the word tad-dal “two-legged, ✱biped”, though the literal meaning of the word could actually be “✱two-footed”.

oeros

masculine name. Osse

ost

noun. city, town (with wall round)

ost

noun. city, town with wall round

ost

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

ossai

masculine name. Ossë

kadar

noun. city

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