Primitive elvish

rip

root. *strip, stripe, rim

ris

root. cut, cleave, cut, cleave; [ᴹ√] slash, rip

This root first appeared as ᴹ√RIS “slash, rip” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with the derivative N. risto “rend, rip” (Ety/RIS¹). Tolkien then created a new entry for ᴹ√RIS without deleting the prior entry, with derivatives like ᴹQ. rista/N. rhest “a cut” and ᴹQ. rista-/N. rhista- “cut” (Ety/RIS²); this seems to reflect a conceptual shift of “slash, rip” >> “cut”. Indeed, the root √RIS reappeared in Tolkien’s later writings with the gloss “cut” (PE17/87). Christopher Tolkien gave this root the gloss “cleave” in the Silmarillion Appendix (SA/ris).

Primitive elvish [PE17/087; PE17/182; SA/ris] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kiris

root. cleave, cleave, [ᴹ√] cut, [ᴱ√] split

Primitive elvish [SA/ris] Group: Eldamo. Published by

teg

root. line

Tolkien used a number of similar roots as the basis for “line” words throughout his life. The earliest of these appeared in the Qenya Lexicon as ᴱ√TEHE [teχe] “pull” (gloss marked with a “?” by Tolkien) with derivatives like ᴱQ. tea “straight”, ᴱQ. telya “attractive; importunate”, and ᴱQ. tie “line, direction, route, road” (QL/90), the last of these surviving more or less unchanged all the way into the published version of The Lord of the Rings (LotR/377). The early root ᴱ√TEHE also had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. “mark, line; track; path”, G. or tion “straight”, and G. tîr “honest; esteem, regard, honour”, originally “straight, upright” (GL/69, 71). Primitive ᴱ✶tegna > ᴱQ. tína/ᴱN. tain “straight” from Early Noldorin Word-lists from the 1920s may represent a shift in the form of the root to ✱ᴱ√TEGE (PE13/153, 165).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s the root appeared as {ᴹ√TEƷ >>} ᴹ√TEÑ “line, direction” with derivatives like ᴹQ. tie/N. “line, way” and ᴹQ. téra/N. tîr “straight, right” (Ety/TEƷ, TEÑ). In the Outline of Phonology Tolkien gave √TEG “line”, whereas √TEÑ was given as the basis for Q. tenna “a thought, notion, idea” and thus clearly with a different meaning; see the entry √TEÑ for further discussion. In any case it is clear that Tolkien considered various ancient velar consonants for the second consonant of this root, all ultimately vanishing in the child languages with similar vocalic effects: 1910s teχ-, 1920s teg-, 1930s {teʒ- >>} teñ- and 1950s teg-.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I would assume this root was √TEƷ in order to preserve the validity of the word téma “series”. This is because Tolkien kept vacillating on the development of gm, but usually had gm > ngw, so that teg-mā > tengwa, not téma.

Primitive elvish [PE19/097] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Quenya 

ripta-

verb. to cut in strips, tear up; to stripe, mark in parallel lines; to flay, flog

rip-

verb. to scratch

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

alaco

rush, rushing flight, wild wind

alaco ("k")noun "rush, rushing flight, wild wind" (VT45:5 cf. ÁLAK)

cir-

verb. to cut, to cut, [ᴱQ.] cleave; *to sail

@@@ Helge Fauskanger suggested that it means “sail” in Markirya: (QQ/círa).

Quenya [MC/221; WJ/365; WJ/368] Group: Eldamo. Published by

cirissë

slash, gash

cirissë ("k")noun "slash, gash" (KIRIS; the glosses "cleft" and maybe ?"crevasse" occurred in deleted material, VT45:23)

hyar-

cleave

#hyar- vb. "cleave" (1st pers. aorist hyarin "I cleave") (SYAD). Pa.t. probably *hyandë since the R of hyar- was originally D; cf. rer- "sow", pa.t. rendë, from the root RED.

hyar-

verb. cleave

Quenya [PE 22:102] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

milya

soft, gentle, weak

milya (1) adj. "soft, gentle, weak" (VT45:34)

milyar

noun. soft

soft [sonants]

Quenya [PE 18:30] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

miquelis

soft, sweet kiss

miquelis (miquelis(s)-) noun "soft, sweet kiss" (PE16:96)

mussë

soft

mussë adj. "soft" (VT:39:17), also used as a noun (perhaps primarily in the pl. form mussi) with the same meaning as mussë tengwi, see below. (VT39:17)

mussë

adjective. soft

narca-

to rend

narca- ("k")vb. "to rend" (NÁRAK; the form "narki" in LR is a misreading for narka; see VT45:37)

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)

rista

cut

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

nyas-

verb. to scratch

Noldorin 

rista-

verb. to rend, rip

Noldorin [Ety/RIS¹] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rhista-

verb. to rend, rip

Noldorin [Ety/384, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

thrib-

verb. to scratch

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

rhest

noun. cut

Noldorin [Ety/RIS²] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rhista-

verb. to cut

Noldorin [Ety/RIS²] Group: Eldamo. Published by

had-

verb. to hurl, to hurl, *fling; [G.] throw at, aim at

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

narcha-

verb. to rend

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

moe

adjective. soft

Noldorin [Ety/371] Group: SINDICT. Published by

narcha-

verb. to rend

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

osgar-

verb. to cut round, to amputate

Noldorin [Ety/379] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rhest

noun. cut

Noldorin [Ety/384, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rhista-

verb. to cut

Noldorin [Ety/384, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

noun. line, way

Noldorin [Ety/391] Group: SINDICT. Published by

noun. line, row

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

Sindarin 

rista-

verb. to rend, rip

Sindarin [Ety/384, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rista-

verb. to cut; to rend, rip

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

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)

criss

slash

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

lîr

line

1) lîr (row), no distinct pl. form, but coll. pl. líriath. 2) (i dê, o thê) (way), pl. (i thî), coll. pl. ?teath, 3) (i dî, o thî) (row), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thî), coll. pl. tíath.

mae

soft

mae (lenited vae; no distinct pl. form). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” moe. Note: a homophone is the adverb mae = ”well”.

narcha

rend

narcha- (i narcha, in narchar)

raw

rush

(noun, roaring noise) 1) raw (pl. roe, idh roe)

rib

rush

(verb) rib- (i rîb, idh ribir) (fly, fling)

Rest

noun. cut

Sindarin [Ety/384, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lîr

noun. line, line, [N.] row

rista-

verb. to cut

Sindarin [Ety/384, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

criss

slash

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

criss

cut

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

falas

line of surf

(pl. felais) (beach, shore, coast, strand, foaming shore; the word was especially used of the western seaboard of Beleriand). *(VT42:15)*****

lîr

line

(row), no distinct pl. form, but coll. pl. líriath.

mae

soft

(lenited vae; no distinct pl. form). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” moe. Note: a homophone is the adverb mae = ”well”.

narcha

rend

(i narcha, in narchar)

nothlir

family line

(family tree); no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath.

raw

rush

(pl. roe, idh roe)

rest

cut

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

rhib-

verb. to scratch

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

rib

rush

(i rîb, idh ribir) (fly, fling)

taeg

boundary line

(i daeg, o thaeg) (limit, boundary), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thaeg).

tilias

line of peaks

(i** dilias, o thilias), pl. tiliais (i** thiliais), coll. pl. tiliassath.

line

(i dê, o thê) (way), pl. (i thî), coll. pl. ?teath

line

(i**, o thî) (row), no distinct pl. form except with article (i** thî), coll. pl. tíath.


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!

Middle Primitive Elvish

rip

root. rush, fly, fling, hurl

A root in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “rush, fly, fling” with derivatives like ᴹQ. rimpa “rushing, flying” and N. rhib- “to flow like a (?torrent)”, the latter an element in the name N. Rhimdath “Rushdown” (Ety/RIP). This river name appeared in early maps from Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/205), but the river was unlabeled in the published version of The Lord of the Rings. As for the root ᴹ√RIP, it reappeared with the gloss “fling, hurl (of something long like an arrow, spear, shaft)” in a rejected list of roots from Quenya Verbal System of the 1940s, having a single derivative in the past form ᴹQ. rimpe “hurled” (PE22/127 note #141). In this list ᴹ√RIP appeared immediately above the root ᴹ√KHAT “hurl”, which also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/KHAT).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is better to use the better-known root ᴹ√KHAT for “hurl, fling”, which derivatives like Q. hatal “spear” as late as the 1960s. If ᴹ√RIP is used, it is probably best to give it the meaning of its derivatives from The Etymologies: “rush, fly”.

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/RIP; PE22/127] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ris

root. slash, rip

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KIRIS; Ety/RIS¹; Ety/RIS²; EtyAC/KIR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

skel

root. *strip

An unglossed root in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives like ᴹQ. helda/N. hell “naked”, ᴹQ. helma “skin, fell” and N. helf “fur” (Ety/SKEL). The root was initially given as ᴹ√SKAL, and various forms had a >> e after ᴹ√SKAL >> ᴹ√SKEL (EtyAC/SKEL).

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/SKAL¹; Ety/SKEL; EtyAC/SKEL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rista-

verb. cut

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/RIS²] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kiris

root. cut

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KIRIS; Ety/RIS²; EtyAC/KIR; EtyAC/KIRIS] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kir

root. cleave

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KIR; EtyAC/KIR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

ripta-

verb. to cut in strips, tear up; to stripe, mark in parallel lines; to flay, flog

Early Quenya [QL/080] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rípe

noun. line, margin, bank of stream, edging of grass, border

Early Quenya [QL/080] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mark

noun. ripe juice, sap, ooze, moisture

A word in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “ripe juice, sap, ooze, moisture” and derived from the early root ᴱ√MṚKṚ (QL/63).

Early Quenya [QL/063] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mirmila

adjective. rippling

A word in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “rippling”, an adjectival form of ᴱQ. mirmile “ripple of laughter” (QL/61). Its use in the phrase ᴱQ. miru mirmila “✱wine rippling” indicates it could be applied to liquids.

Early Quenya [QL/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

marin(a)

adjective. ripe, mature

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

mirmile

noun. ripple of laughter

Early Quenya [QL/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

maswa

adjective. soft, cooked, ripe

A word appearing as ᴱQ. {maksa “soft, cooked, done” >>} maswa “soft, cooked, ripe” in the Qenya Lexicon under the early root ᴱ√M(B)ASA “cook, bake” (QL/59).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya I would use the passive participle maxaina “cooked” from the verb ᴱQ. maksa- “cook”.

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

feng-

verb. to cut

Early Quenya [QL/038] Group: Eldamo. Published by

halis

noun. rush

Early Quenya [QL/039] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nyasa-

verb. to scratch

Early Quenya [QL/068] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vilki-

verb. to cut

Early Quenya [QL/101] Group: Eldamo. Published by

haliske

noun. rush

Early Primitive Elvish

ripi

root. a rim

The root ᴱ√RIPI appeared unglossed in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s beside variant ᴱ√RIMI with which it was confused (QL/80). The Gnomish form of the root ᴱ√rib appeared in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon with the gloss “a rim” compared to G. raim “edge, border-line” (GL/64), so perhaps ᴱ√RIPI = “rim” and ᴱ√RIMI = “border”. In the Qenya Lexicon this root had derivatives like ᴱQ. rípe “line, margin, bank of stream, edging of grass, border” and ᴱQ. ripta- “to cut in strips, tear up; stripe, mark in parallel lines; flay, flog” (QL/80), and in the Gnomish Lexicon derivatives like G. raib “scored, striped”, G. rib “shore” (also with meaning identical to G. rim “a stripe, line; border, fringe”), and G. ribin “striped, edged” (GL/64-65). The last of these words had a rarer form G. rimin of the same meaning, so it seems the semantics of the two roots were quite intermingled.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin I think it is worth positing a Neo-Root ᴺ√RIP to salvage early “strip” and “stripe” words, even though it would conflict with the later root ᴹ√RIP “rush, fly, fling”.

Early Primitive Elvish [GL/64; QL/080] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mara

root. ripe, yellow

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “ripe, yellow”, a variant of ᴱ√MALA “yellow” (QL/59). It had derivatives like ᴱQ. marin(a)/G. mar(o)n “ripe” and ᴱQ. marin/G. maros “ripe fruit” (QL/59; GL/56). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing; one sign of its abandonment is the change of “orange” from ᴱQ. kulmarin (kul- + marin) to ᴹQ. kuluma (QL/49; Ety/KUL).

Early Primitive Elvish [QL/059; QL/063] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ḷqḷ

root. rend

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s given as ᴱ√(U)ḶQ(U)Ḷ and glossed “rend”, having what appears to be unglossed verb forms ᴱQ. ulqin “✱I rend” and alqe “✱rended [past]” as derivatives (QL/97). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

Early Primitive Elvish [QL/097] Group: Eldamo. Published by

faka Speculative

root. cut

A hypothetical early root to explain words in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s such as G. fag- “cut” and G. fanc “cut” (GL/33). It might be related to ᴱ√FḶKḶ “cleave, hew”. There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

Early Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

rip-

verb. to hurl

rista

noun. cut

rista-

verb. to cut

narka-

verb. to rend

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

Old Noldorin 

rista-

verb. rend, rip

Old Noldorin [Ety/RIS¹] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

maros

noun. ripe fruit

A word for a “ripe fruit” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/56), the equivalent of ᴱQ. marin “(ripe) fruit” under the early root ᴱ√MARA “ripe, yellow” (QL/59. 63).

mar(o)n

adjective. ripe

fag-

verb. to cut

fagin

adjective. cut

fanc

noun. cut

Early Noldorin

marn

adjective. ?ripe

Early Noldorin [PE13/150] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwag

adjective. soft

Early Noldorin [PE13/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

noun. line

Early Noldorin [PE13/121; PE13/154] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

rest

noun. cut

A noun meaning “a cut” derived from the root ᴹ√RIS (Ety/RIS²). Its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. rista suggests a primitive form ✱✶ristā, where the [i] became [e] due to Ilkorin a-affection, as noted by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Ilkorin/rest).

Doriathrin [Ety/RIS²] Group: Eldamo. Published by