saruman

masculine name. Saruman

The common name of the White Wizard, probably representative of his actual (unknown) Westron name in the way that “Frodo” represents the true Westron name Maura. As suggested by Christopher Tolkien, it is very likely based on a modernized form of Old English searu meaning “skill, cunning, cunning device” (UT/401 note #6). Hence in combination with “man” it is the equivalent of his Quenya/Sindarin names Q. Curumo and S. Curunír “Man of Skill” as pointed out by Hammond and Skull (RC/81).

Cognates

• S. Curunír “Man of Skill” ✧ LotRI/Saruman; SI/Saruman; UT/390; UTI/Saruman; PMI/Saruman

Element in

• Bs. Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búbhosh skai “Uglúk to the cesspool, sha! the dungfilth, the great Saruman-fool, skai; Uglúk to torture chamber with stinking Saruman-filth, dung-heap, skai” ✧ LotR/0445; PE17/079; PE17/079; PM/083

Saruman

Saruman

The name Saruman is a Mannish translation of Quenya Curumo, his original name in Valinor as a Maia; and Sindarin Curunír which is supposedly the same name (with the ending -ndîr "man"). All names mean "Skilled Man" (root curu "skill").[source?] Saruman is derived from Old English: the root word searu means "device, design, contrivance, art" and the whole name means "man of skill". His name among the Elves was Curunír Lân (lenited glân "white").[source?]