ross

noun. rain; spindrift, spray, foam, rain; spray, spindrift, foam

The best known Sindarin word for “rain” (MR/155; Ety/ROS¹), also used for “spindrift, spray” (PM/368) and “foam” (PE17/121), derived from the root √ROS (PM/368).

Conceptual Development: The earliest precursor to this word may be G. {nôs >>} G. noss or noth “rain” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/60), likely derived from the early root ᴱ√NOSO or ᴱ√NOTO which had Qenya derivatives of similar meaning (QL/67). The Etymologies of the 1930s instead had N. rhoss “rain” derived from the root ᴹ√ROS “distil, drip” (Ety/ROS¹), as seen in names from this period such as N. Celebros “Silver-rain” (Ety/ROS¹; LR/140), N. Silivros “Glimmering Rain” (Ety/ROS¹; LR/210), and N. Rauros “Rush-rain, Roar-rain” (TI/285).

In later writings Tolkien began to translate S. ross as “foam”, in names like S. Cair Andros “Ship of Long Foam” (LotR/1115; PM/371), S. Elros “Star-foam” (PM/349; Let/448) and S. Celebros “Foam-silver” (WJ/151). This word and its root gave Tolkien considerable difficulty, and in a 1968 essay labeled The Problem of Ros (PM/367-371), Tolkien first gave their meaning as “spray, spindrift”, but then explored the possibility that they were instead loan words from Bëorian. However, he was forced to abandon this line of reasoning when he remembered that S. Andros “Long-foam” has appeared in The Lord of the Rings appendices as a Sindarin word.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would use the noun ross mainly with the sense “rain”. I would use gwing for “foam, spindrift”. However, to preserve words like Cair Andros, I would also allow the use of ross for any more or less continuous “spray of water”, such as with waterfalls as indicated by the name Rauros “Roaring Spray” (RC/327).

ross

noun. foam

n. foam. >> hross

ross

adjective. red-haired, copper-coloured

ross

noun. rain

ross

adjective. red-haired, copper coloured (especially used of animals, as fox, red deer, etc.)

hross

noun. foam

n. foam. >> ross

ross

red-haired

ross (russet, copper-coloured, reddish), pl. ryss. _(PM:366, VT41:9) _Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

ross

glitter

†ross (polished metal), pl. ryss (idh ryss). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”.

ross

rain

ross (construct ros) (foam, 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”.

ross

polished metal

†ross (glitter), pl. ryss (idh ryss). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”. For concrete metals, see COPPER, GOLD, IRON, SILVER. Unidentified metals: 1) mithril (i vithril, no distinct pl. form except with article [i mithril], coll. pl. ?mithrillath). The description of mithril may seem to fit titanium. 2) galvorn (i **alvorn, pl. gelvyrn [in ngelvyrn**] if there is a pl.), a black metal made by the Dark Elf Eöl. (WJ:322)

ross

polished metal

†ross (glitter), pl. ryss (idh ryss). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”.

ross

reddish

ross (russet, copper-coloured, red-haired), pl. ryss. _(PM:366, VT41:9) Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter” )_

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”

ross

red-haired

(russet, copper-coloured, reddish), pl. ryss. (PM:366, VT41:9) Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

ross

copper-coloured

(russet, red-haired, reddish), pl. ryss. (PM:366, VT41:9) Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter”

ross

glitter

(polished metal), pl. ryss (idh ryss). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”.

ross

rain

(construct ros) (foam, 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”.

ross

polished metal

(glitter), pl. ryss (idh** ryss**). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”. For concrete metals, see

ross

dew

(construct ros) (foam, rain, 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”.

ross

spray

(construct ros) (foam, rain, dew), pl. ryss (idh ryss). (Letters:282) Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

ross

noun. polished metal

ross

reddish

(russet, copper-coloured, red-haired), pl. ryss. (PM:366, VT41:9) Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter” )

rhoss

whisper

(?i thross or ?i ross* – the lenition product of **rh***- is uncertain; construct rhos) (rustling sound), pl. rhyss (?idh ryss). – Suggested S form of ”N” thross**.

rhoss

rustling sound

(?i thross or ?i ross* – the lenition product of **rh***- is uncertain; construct rhos) (whisper), pl. rhyss (?idh ryss). – Suggested S form of ”N” thross**.

gaer

copper-coloured

1) gaer (red, reddish, ruddy); lenited aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea". 2) ross (russet, red-haired, reddish), pl. ryss. _(PM:366, VT41:9) _Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter”

gwing

foam

1) gwing (i **wing) (spindrift, spume, spray blown off wave-tops), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwing), 2) ross (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”, 3) falf (breaker), pl. felf, coll. pl. falvath**

gwing

spray

1) (blown off wave-tops) gwing (i **wing) (foam, spindrift, spume), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwing); 2) (of fall or fountain) ross (construct ros) (foam, rain, dew), pl. ryss (idh ryss**). (Letters:282) Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

mîdh

dew

1) mîdh (i vîdh, construct midh), no distinct form in pl. except with article (i mîdh), 2) ross (construct ros) (foam, rain, 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”.

galenas

noun. pipe-weed (leaf) or "westmansweed", a variety of Nicotiana

mîdh

noun. dew

dew

mîdh

noun. dew, dew, *moisture, damp(ness); [ᴱN.] mist, drizzle

A Sindarin word for “dew” given as míð in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) from the 1950s as a derivative of ✶mizdē “drizzle” (PE19/101), illustrating how [[os|[z] vanished before [d] lengthening preceding vowel]] in (Old) Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: N. mîdh “dew” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the same derivation as given above (Ety/MIZD), though Tolkien first wrote its gloss as “fine rain” (EtyAC/MIZD). This deleted gloss seems to be a remnant of ᴱN. midh “mist, drizzle” from Early Noldorin Word-lists, but there its primitive form was ᴱ✶míye (PE13/150).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would extend the meaning of this word to include “✱moisture, damp(ness)” in general, especially as the result of a previous rain.

raud

noun. metal

raud

noun. metal

A noun appearing as N. rhaud “metal” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√RAUTĀ of the same meaning (Ety/RAUTĀ). In that document, it was the basis for the second element of the names Finrod, Angrod and Damrod. In Tolkien’s later writings the second element of these names were based on S. raud “noble” instead. This 1930s “metal” word might reappear in Rodëol “metal of Eöl” in drafts of the Silmarillion from the 1950s, since in Sindarin initial r did not become rh as it did in Noldorin. For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I think it best to stick to [N.] tinc “metal”

rust

noun. copper

rust

noun. copper

A noun for “copper” in notes from the late 1960s based on the root √(u)rus (VT41/10).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. tăm “copper” (GL/69), clearly the cognate of ᴱQ. tambe “copper, bronze” under the early root ᴱ√TAMA “beat; smelt, forge” in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon (QL/88).

rustui

adjective. of copper

rustui

adjective. copper, copper, *of copper, like copper

An adjectival form of rust “copper” in notes from the late 1960s (VT41/10).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. tambin “of copper” and G. tambrin “like copper”, both based on G. tăm “copper” (GL/69).

aglar

glitter

aglar (brilliance, glory), pl. eglair if there is a pl.

aglar

glitter

(brilliance, glory), pl. eglair if there is a pl.

eilia

rain

(vb.) eilia-, impersonal 3rd singular uil "it rains". (In ”Noldorin”, the impersonal form was "oeil" = öil, later eil.)

eilia

rain

impersonal 3rd singular uil "it rains". (In ”Noldorin”, the impersonal form was "oeil" = öil, later eil.)

falf

foam

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

faltha

foam

(i faltha, i falthar)

faltha

foam

(verb) faltha- (i faltha, i falthar)

gaer

copper-coloured

(red, reddish, ruddy); lenited ’aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea".

galvorn

copper, gold,  iron, silver

(i** ’alvorn, pl. gelvyrn [in ngelvyrn*] if there is a pl.), a black metal made by the Dark Elf Eöl. (WJ:322)*

gwing

foam

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

gwing

spray

(i ’wing) (foam, spindrift, spume), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwing)

lhoss

whisper

(?i thloss or ?i loss [the lenition product of lh is uncertain], construct lhos), pl. lhyss (?i lyss). – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thloss, floss.

mithril

copper, gold,  iron, silver

(i** vithril, no distinct pl. form except with article [i** mithril], coll. pl. ?mithrillath). The description of mithril may seem to fit titanium.

mîdh

dew

(i vîdh, construct midh), no distinct form in pl. except with article (i mîdh)

rust

copper

rust, pl. ryst (idh ryst) if there is a pl. Possibly also ?urun (pl. yryn if there is a pl.).

rust

copper

pl. ryst (idh ryst) if there is a pl.  Possibly also ?urun (pl. yryn if there is a pl.).

tinc

metal

tinc (i dinc, o thinc), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thinc), coll. pl. tingath. The word rhaud “metal” occurring in the Etymologies would normally be ”updated” to Sindarin in the form raud, but since raud appears with different meanings in later sources (see

tinc

metal

(i** dinc, o thinc), no distinct pl. form except with article (i** thinc), coll. pl. tingath. The word rhaud** “metal” occurring in the Etymologies would normally be ”updated” to Sindarin in the form raud, but since raud** appears with different meanings in later sources (see

tinc

eminent

should at least be preferred for clarity).

urun

noun. copper

A neologism for “copper” created by David Salo in his book Gateway to Sindarin based on the root √URUN (GS/292). I would use attested rust “copper” instead.

rhoss

noun. polished metal

An archaic noun for “polished metal” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√RUS “flash, glitter of metal” that was “chiefly found in names” like N. Maidhros “Pale-glitter” (Ety/RUS). In Tolkien’s later writings the second element of Maedhros or Maedros was S. ross “red-haired”, so this 1930s word was probably abandoned. However there is a hint Tolkien may have still been considering it in the gloss “Star-glitter” for the name Elros from the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 (WJ/414); elsewhere Elros was usually translated “Star-foam” (Let/448; PM/349).

Neo-Sindarin: If you do decide to use this word, it should be adapted as ᴺS. ross “polished metal” since in Noldorin of the 1930s initial r unvoiced to rh, but this was not the case for Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s.

rhoss

noun. rain

rhoss

noun. rain

falf

noun. foam, breaker

faltha-

verb. to foam

mîdh

noun. dew

mîdh

noun. dew

rhaud

noun. metal

rhaud

noun. metal

tinc

noun. metal

tinc

noun. metal

A word for “metal” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√TINKŌ of the same meaning (Ety/TINKŌ).

Conceptual Development: A possible precursor is G. sinc “metal” from the Gnomish Lexicon (GL/67), a cognate of ᴱQ. sink “mineral, gem, metal” under the early root ᴱ√SINI “pale blue” in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon (QL/83). For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I prefer to use ᴺS. sinc for “✱mineral”.

rin

dew

rin noun "dew" (LT1:265; rather rossë in LotR-style Quenya)

russa

adjective. red-haired

alca-

verb. glitter

glitter

falasta-

verb. to foam

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

fallë

foam

fallë noun "foam" (PHAL/PHÁLAS)

lussa-

verb. to whisper

lussa- vb. "to whisper" (SLUS/SRUS). Since Tolkien eventually decided that roots in sl- yield Quenya words in hl- (though this was pronounced l- in late Exilic Quenya), it may be that the spelling *hlussa- is to be preferred.

mirilya-

verb. glitter

mirilya- vb. "glitter" (MBIRIL)

rauta

metal

rauta noun "metal" [meaning changed by Tolkien from "copper"]. Notice that in the LotR, the word for metal is given as tinco. (RAUTĀ)

rotsë

pipe

rotsë noun "pipe" (LT2:347); pl. rotser (?) in Narqelion? (Cf. QL:xiv)

russa

red-haired

russa adj. "red-haired" (VT41:10)

simpa

pipe, flute

simpa noun "pipe, flute" (LT1:266)

simpina

pipe, flute

simpina noun "pipe, flute" (LT1:266)

tambë

copper

tambë (2) noun "copper" (LT1:250; this is "Qenya"; see urus for a later word for "copper")

tampë

copper

tampë noun "copper" (LT1:268; in LotR-style Quenya tampë is [also?] the past tense of tap- "stop, block")

timpinë

spray

timpinë noun "spray" (LT1:268)

tinco

metal

tinco noun "metal" (TINKŌ), also name of tengwa #1 (Appendix E, there spelt "tinco", but "tinko" in Etym); tincotéma noun "t-series", dental series, first column of the Tengwar system (Appendix E)

tinco

noun. metal

A word for “metal” in Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings as the name of tengwa #1 [1] and the tincotéma series of tengwar. ᴹQ. tinko “metal” first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√TINKŌ of the same meaning (Ety/TINKŌ). It also appeared in notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1930s and 40s (PE22/22, 50, 61), already the name of tengwa #1 and its corresponding series.

Conceptual Development: A possible precursor is ᴱQ. sink (sinq-) “mineral, gem, metal” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√SINI “pale blue” (QL/83). Hints of this earlier word can be seen in ✶sinkitamo >> sintamo “[metal] smith” in notes from the late 1960s.

ulo

noun. rain

ulo

noun. rain

A noun for “rain” in Late Notes on Verbs from 1969 given as {ulla >>} ulo in the phrase ulo úva “rain (unwelcome) is coming”, clearly related to the impersonal verb ul- “to rain” appearing in its future form on the same page: uluva “it will rain” (PE22/167).

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, the noun for “rain” was ᴱQ. úqil, likewise related to the contemporaneous verb ᴱQ. uqin “it rains” (QL/98).

urus

copper

urus (urust-) noun "copper" (VT41:10)

urus

noun. copper

A noun for “copper” in notes from the late 1960s based on the root √(u)rus (VT41/10).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. tambe “copper, bronze” under the early root ᴱ√TAMA “beat; smelt, forge” in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon (QL/88).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would retain ᴺQ. tambë with the meaning of “bronze”, but would use the later word urus for “copper”.

winga

foam, spray

winga noun "foam, spray" (Markirya). Also wingë.

wingë

foam, crest of wave, crest

wingë noun "foam, crest of wave, crest" (WIG); "foam, spindrift" (LT1:273). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, wingë was also the name of tengwa #24, which letter Tolkien would later call wilya > vilya instead. - Also winga (so in Markirya).

russā

adjective. red-haired, copper-coloured

urun

root. copper

urus

noun. copper