A Sindarin term for the Vala (PE17/33), appearing in its plural form S. Rodyn as one of the days of the week (LotR/1110) and also in the Sindarin name for Valinor: Dor-Rodyn (MR/200). It is derived from the prefixal form rod- of raud “noble” (PE17/118, 186). Its final element might be the augmentative suffix -on, perhaps literally meaning “✱Most Noble”. It could also be the agental suffix -on, as suggested by David Salo (GS/283), but that suffix is usually masculine (WJ/400), whereas Rodon seems to apply to all Valar.
Sindarin
rodon
noun. Vala, divinity
rodon
'One of the High'
rodon
noun. Vala
Element in
Elements
Word Gloss raud “noble, eminent; lofty, high, tall; excellent” -on “augmentative suffix”
balan
noun. Vala, Vala, [N.] Power, God
At one point (Let/427), Tolkien stated that the plural form Belain (and presumably its singular Balan) did not exist in Sindarin and its derivative Orbelain “Vala-day” was a phonetic translation of Q. Valanya. Elsewhere, though, Balan is well attested as a Sindarin word.
Cognates
- Q. Vala “(Angelic) Power, ‘God’, Authority, (Angelic) Power, Authority, God” ✧ PE17/048; SA/val
Derivations
Element in
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶Balaniā > Belain [balanjā] > [balanja] > [balania] > [belenia] > [beleni] > [belein] > [belain] ✧ Let/427
balan
Vala
pl1. Belain** ** n. Vala.
rodon
vala
1) Rodon (pl. Rodyn, coll. pl. Rodonnath), 2) Balan (i Valan), pl. Belain (i Melain). In ”Noldorin”, the pl. form used with the article was "iMbelain" (LR:365 s.v. KIRIK).
rodon
vala
(pl. Rodyn, coll. pl. Rodonnath)
bâl
divinity
bâl (i vâl, construct bal), pl. bail (divine power). Note: the word can also be used as an adj. "divine".
bâl
divinity
(i vâl, construct bal), pl. bail (divine power). Note: the word can also be used as an adj. "divine".
balan
vala
(i Valan), pl. Belain (i Melain). In ”Noldorin”, the pl. form used with the article was "iMbelain" (LR:365 s.v. KIRIK).
pl1. Rodyn n. 'One of the High', Vala. (Q. pl1.?) Artor. >> arod, raud