Quenya 

rossë

fine rain, dew

rossë noun "fine rain, dew" (ROS1, PM:371)

rossë

noun. rain; foam, (fine) rain; [ᴹQ.] dew; *spray, [Q.] foam

An element meaning “foam” (or perhaps “✱spray”) in the name Q. Elerossë “Star Foam” cognate of S. Elros in notes from the late 1960s (PM/349), or “rain” in the name of the waterfall Q. Raurossë “Roaring-rain” cognate of S. Rauros in notes probably from the 1950s (PE19/99). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Tolkien gave ᴹQ. rosse “fine rain, dew” as a derivative of the root ᴹ√ROS “distil, drip” (Ety/ROS¹).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would assume this word means a light rain or a continuous spray of water, or the remnants of such water in the form of dew, in other words any persistent collection of small droplets of water either in the air or on the ground, for example from light rain, morning dew or falling mist off a waterfall. This seems to be in keeping with most of its attested glosses.

For more ordinary or heavier rain, I’d use ulo instead, or for a drizzle I’d use mistë, and would reserve rossë only for a light mist-like rain. For a floating mist or fog, I’d use hísë or (if thicker) hiswe. Thus of precipitation, I’d have ulo > mistë > rossë > hísë in decreasing ranks of density, where hísë “mist” is light and/or cold enough not to longer fall. But I think rossë can refer to “already fallen” droplets in the form of dew as well.

Derivations

  • rossē “dew, spray (of fall or fountain)”
    • ROS “spindrift, spray, spindrift, spray; [ᴹ√] distil, drip”

Element in

Variations

  • ros(se) ✧ PE19/099 (ros(se))
Quenya [PE19/099; PM/349] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mistë

fine rain

mistë noun "fine rain" (MIZD, VT45:35)

rin

dew

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

ulo

noun. rain

Quenya [PE 22:167] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

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).

Changes

  • ullaulo “rain” ✧ PE22/167

Derivations

  • UL “pour (out), flow, pour (out), flow, [ᴱ√] flow fast”

Element in

  • Q. ulo úva “rain (unwelcome) is coming/threatens” ✧ PE22/167
  • ᴺQ. ulutelme “umbrella, rainshade”

Variations

  • ulla ✧ PE22/167 (ulla)

timpë

fine rain

timpë noun "fine rain" (LT1:268, Narqelion)

Sindarin 

ross

noun. rain

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

mîdh

noun. dew

dew

Sindarin [PE 19:101] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

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.

Derivations

  • mizdē “drizzle” ✧ PE19/101
    • MIZDI “*fine rain, dew”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
mizdē > míð[mizdē] > [mizde] > [mīde] > [mīðe] > [mīð]✧ PE19/101

Variations

  • míð ✧ PE19/101
Sindarin [PE19/101] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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

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

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”.

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”.

mîdh

dew

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

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.)

Nandorin 

meord

noun. fine rain

Primitive form given as mizdê, derived from a stem MIZD (LR:373) that is not defined, but Christopher Tolkien is undoubtedly right in observing that the stems MISK (yielding words for "wet") and MITH (yielding words for "wet mist" and "grey") are probably meant to be related to MIZD. The ending seen in mizdê seems in this case to denote a substance. While final sometimes becomes -a in Green-elven, it has here been lost; see beorn for some thoughts about this. This word alone shows eo from i, but cf. eo from e in beorn.

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (LR:373)] < MIZD. Published by

Primitive elvish

rossē

noun. dew, spray (of fall or fountain)

Derivations

  • ROS “spindrift, spray, spindrift, spray; [ᴹ√] distil, drip”

Derivatives

  • Q. rossë “rain; foam, (fine) rain; [ᴹQ.] dew; *spray, [Q.] foam”
  • S. ross “rain; spindrift, spray, foam, rain; spray, spindrift, foam”

Element in

  • S. Elros “Star-foam” ✧ Let/282
Primitive elvish [Let/282] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

rhoss

noun. rain

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

rhoss

noun. rain

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. rosse “fine rain, dew” ✧ Ety/ROS¹

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ROS “distil, drip” ✧ Ety/ROS¹

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ROS¹ > rhoss[rosse] > [ross] > [r̥oss]✧ Ety/ROS¹

Variations

  • rhoss ✧ Ety/ROS¹
Noldorin [Ety/ROS¹] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mîdh

noun. dew

Noldorin [Ety/373] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mîdh

noun. dew

Changes

  • mídhmídh “fine rain” ✧ Ety/MIZD

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. miste “fine rain” ✧ Ety/MIZD

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶mizdē ✧ Ety/MIZD
    • ᴹ√MIZDI “*fine rain, dew” ✧ Ety/MIZD

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶mizdē > mídh[mizdē] > [mizde] > [mīde] > [mīðe] > [mīð]✧ Ety/MIZD

Variations

  • mídh ✧ Ety/MIZD; EtyAC/MIZD (mídh)
Noldorin [Ety/MIZD; EtyAC/MIZD] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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!

Qenya 

rosse

noun. fine rain, dew

Cognates

  • N. rhoss “rain” ✧ Ety/ROS¹

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ROS “distil, drip” ✧ Ety/ROS¹

Element in

  • ᴹQ. Silmerosse “Glimmering Rain” ✧ Ety/ROS¹

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ROS¹ > rosse[rosse]✧ Ety/ROS¹

miste

noun. fine rain

Cognates

  • N. mîdh “dew” ✧ Ety/MIZD
  • Ilk. mîd “moisture” ✧ Ety/MIZD
  • Dan. meord “fine rain” ✧ Ety/MIZD

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶mizdē ✧ Ety/MIZD
    • ᴹ√MIZDI “*fine rain, dew” ✧ Ety/MIZD

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶mizdē > miste[mizdē] > [mistē] > [miste]✧ Ety/MIZD
Qenya [Ety/MIZD; EtyAC/MISK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Ossriandric

meord

noun. fine rain

A noun glossed “fine rain” that developed from primitive ᴹ✶mizdē (Ety/MIZD). It is clear than the [[dan|[z] became [r]]] and then the [[dan|[i] broke into the diphthong [eo] before the liquid [r]]], though it probably first became [iu] before being lowered to [eo].

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. miste “fine rain” ✧ Ety/MIZD

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶mizdē ✧ Ety/MIZD
    • ᴹ√MIZDI “*fine rain, dew” ✧ Ety/MIZD

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶mizdē > meord[mizdē] > [mirdē] > [meordē] > [meord]✧ Ety/MIZD
Ossriandric [Ety/MIZD] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

noss

noun. rain

Changes

  • nôsnoss ✧ GL/61

Derivations

  • ᴱ√NOSO “*damp, wet”

Variations

  • noss ✧ GL/61
  • noth ✧ GL/61
  • nôs ✧ GL/61 (nôs)

drim

noun. dew

A word for “dew” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/30), probably related to the early root ᴱ√RIŊI given its derivative ᴱQ. rin (ring-) “dew” (QL/80).

Cognates

  • Eq. rin “dew”

Derivations

noth

noun. rain

uch

noun. rain

A noun for “rain” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s derived from primitive ᴱ✶ukko (GL/74), probably based on the early root ᴱ√UQU “wet” which had derivatives like ᴱQ. ukku “rainbow” (QL/98).

Derivations

  • ᴱ✶ukko “rain” ✧ GL/74
    • ᴱ√UQU “wet”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ✶ukko > uch[ukko] > [ukk] > [uxx] > [ux]✧ GL/74

Early Primitive Elvish

ukko

noun. rain

Derivations

  • ᴱ√UQU “wet”

Derivatives

  • G. uch “rain” ✧ GL/74
Early Primitive Elvish [GL/74] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

nóte

noun. dew

A noun appearing as ᴱQ. nōte “dew” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√NOSO (QL/67), and as ᴱQ. nóte “dew” in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/68). It also appeared as ᴱQ. nōtē­ in the Early Noldorin Grammar of the 1920s as a cognate of ᴱN. nûd “wet” (PE13/122).

Cognates

  • En. nûd “wet” ✧ PE13/122

Derivations

  • ᴱ√NOSO “*damp, wet” ✧ QL/067

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√NOTO > nōte[nōtē] > [nōte]✧ QL/067

Variations

  • nōtē- ✧ PE13/122
  • nōte ✧ PME/068; QL/067
Early Quenya [PE13/122; PME/068; QL/067] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rin

noun. dew

A word for “dew” in Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√RIŊI (QL/80).

Cognates

Derivations

  • ᴱ√RIŊI “*cold” ✧ QL/080

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√RIŊI > rin[riŋg] > [rin]✧ QL/080

Variations

  • rin ✧ LT1A/Ringil; QL/080
Early Quenya [LT1A/Ringil; QL/080] Group: Eldamo. Published by

uqis

noun. rain

úqil

noun. rain

Cognates

  • G. ubri “rainfall, rain”

Derivations

  • ᴱ√UQU “wet” ✧ QL/098

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√UQU > uqist-[ukʷist] > [ukʷis]✧ QL/098

Variations

  • uqist- ✧ QL/098
  • ūqil ✧ QL/098
Early Quenya [QL/098] Group: Eldamo. Published by

timpe

noun. fine rain

A noun for “fine rain” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s from the early root ᴱ√TIPI (QL/92), also mentioned in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/92).

Derivations

  • ᴱ√TIPI “*spray” ✧ LT1A/Timpinen; QL/092

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√TIPI > timpe[timpē] > [timpe]✧ QL/092

Variations

  • timpë ✧ LT1A/Timpinen
Early Quenya [LT1A/Timpinen; PME/092; QL/092; VT40/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by