se

at, in

se (2), also long sé, preposition "at, in" (VT43:30; compare the "locative prefix" se- possibly occurring in an early "Qenya" text, VT27:25)

airë

noun. sea

An archaic word for “sea” which fell out of use to due conflict with “holy” words like aira or airë; it was a noun form of primitive ✶gaı̯ră (PE17/27). The more common modern word for “sea” is ëar.

Conceptual Development: ᴹQ. aire “sea” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of ᴹ√AYAR (Ety/AY); it appeared beside a form ᴹQ. airen that might be a genitive form, or might be a longer form; see the entry on ᴹQ. airon for discussion.

airë

sea

airë (2) noun "sea" (the form airen is given, intended as a genitive singular when Tolkien wrote this; in LotR-style Quenya it would rather be a dative sg.) (AYAR/AIR; cf. airon)

váya

sea

váya noun "sea" (considered as "waters, motion"). The wording of the source indicates that Tolkien only tentatively considered such a word (PE17:33)

vëa

sea

vëa (3) noun "sea" (MC:213, 214, 216; possibly obsoleted by #1 and #2 above, though some argue that the initial element of the late names Vëantur and Vëandur [q.v.] could be vëa #3 rather than #2 (it can hardly be #1) . In any case, the normal word for "sea" in LotR-style Quenya seems to be ëar.) Inflected vëan "sea" (MC:220), vëar "in sea" (a "Qenya" locative in -r, MC:213), vëassë "on sea" (MC:220). Cf. also vëaciryo.

ëar

sea

ëar noun "sea" (AYAR/AIR [gives also dat. sg. ëaren],WJ:413; see Letters:386 for etymology). Not to be confused with the pl. form of the verb ëa "be, exist". Pl. ëari "seas" (FS, LR:47); Eär "the Great Sea" (cf. ëaron "ocean"), ablative Eärello "from the Great Sea", et Eärello "out of the Great Sea" (EO). Eärë noun "the open sea" (SD:305). Compound ëaruilë noun "seaweed" (UY). Found in proper names like Eärendil "Sea-friend", Eärendur masc. name, *"Sea-servant"; in effect a variant of Eärendil(Appendix A). Eärendur was also used ="(professional) mariner" (Letters:386).Fem. name Eärwen "Sea-maiden" (Silm); Eärrámë "Sea-wing", "Wings of the Sea", name of Tuor's ship (RAM, AYAR/AIR, SA)

airen

noun. sea

alcarondas

proper name. Castle of the Sea

The ship of Ar-Pharazôn (S/278). The language of the name is unclear, but many students of Tolkien believe it is Quenya, as its older name Aglarrâma seems to be Adûnaic. The name was glossed “Castle of the Sea”. However, the initial element of the name seems to be alcar “glory”, so it seems unlikely that this is a literal translation. The meaning of the second element of this name is unclear.

eälótë

proper name. *Sea Flower

A variant Quenya name of Eäredil’s ship appearing in only place (PM/143); the ship was usually called Vingilótë. This name is probably a compound of ëar “sea” and lótë “flower”.

eämbar

proper name. Sea-dwelling

The ship that the sea-loving Tar-Aldarion built to be his home (UT/176). This name may be a compound of ëar “sea” and -m(b)ár “home”.

eärendil

masculine name. Lover of the Sea

The great mariner who took the Silmaril of Beren to Valinórë, thereby instigating the Valar’s liberation of Beleriand and the final defeat of Morgoth (S/246). His name was a compound of ëar “sea” and the suffix -(n)dil “-friend, -lover” (SA/ëar, (n)dil).

Conceptual Development: This was one of the oldest and most important names in Tolkien’s legendarium. Tolkien admitted that the name was inspired by the Anglo-Saxon word éarendel “ray of light” (Let/150, 385). In fact, the first form of this name in the Lost Tales was ᴱQ. Earendel (LT1/13), often spelt Earendl in Tolkien’s early linguistic notes (QL/34, PE13/99). At this stage the name seems to derive from ᴱQ. earen (earend-) “eagle, eyrie” (QL/34), though the “dialectical form” Yarendl was archaically used for “mariner” (QL/105).

The name remained ᴹQ. Earendel in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/326) and up through Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/215, TI/99, WR/223 note #29). The name’s association with the Sea did not emerge until Tolkien wrote the (unfinished) “Notion Club Papers” story in the mid-1940s, at which point its form changed to ᴹQ. Earendil (SM/237, 241) and so remained thereafter.

eärrámë

proper name. Sea-wing

The ship of Tuor and Idril on which they sailed West to Valinor (S/245). Its name is a compound of ëar “sea” and ráma “wing”.

Conceptual Development: This name dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, where it first appeared as ᴱQ. Alqaráme “Swanwing”, revised to ᴱQ. Earáme with one “r”, translated “Eaglepinion” (LT2/254). The latter name was derived from ᴱQ. ea(r) “eagle” (GL/51), much like the contemporaneous name ᴱQ. Earendel.

The name remained Earáme “Eagle’s Pinion” or “Eagle’s Wing” through Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/149, 308; LR/143), but was sometimes changed to ᴹQ. Earráme “Sea-wing” (SM/155). It also appeared as Earrámë “Sea-wing” in The Etymologies (Ety/AY, RAM), as well as in the versions of The Silmarillion after that point.

eärwen

feminine name. *Sea-maiden

The daughter of Olwë and wife of Finarfin (S/60). Her name is a probably compound of ëar “sea” and the suffixal form -wen of vendë “maiden”.

váya

noun. ocean, sea, ocean, [stormy] sea

A word in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957 where Tolkien described váya as being “used of sea (as waters, motion)”, a derivative of √WAYA “blow, or be disturbed” (PE17/33). This note was crossed through, but a similar note appeared afterwards with a seemingly archaic word waya “ocean” (PE17/34).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, Tolkien had ᴱQ. Vai “Outer Ocean” (LT1/85), a word that also appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s as a derivative of ᴱ√VAẎA “enfold, wind about” (QL/100). The word ᴱQ. vea “sea” appeared in a number of poems Tolkien wrote in the late 1920s (MC/213-214, 216, 220; numerous references in PE16). ᴹQ. vea “sea” also appeared in the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s as a derivative of ᴹ✶vaı̯ā (PE21/8, 17), and as an element in the name ᴹQ. Veaneldar “Sea-elves” from the 1930s and possibly Q. Vëantur, a name in later writings for a ship captain in Númenor (UT/171).

In Silmarillion drafts of the 1930s Tolkien used ᴹQ. Vaiya for “Enfolding Ocean” (SM/236) or “Outer Sea” (LR/209). This word was mentioned in The Etymologies as wai(y)a/vai(y)a “envelope” that was used “especially of the Outer Sea or Air enfolding the world within the Ilurambar”, a derivative of ᴹ√WAY “enfold” (Ety/WAY). In the Ambarkanta of early 1930s Tolkien likewise said that the ordinary meaning vaiya was “fold, envelope”, meaning “Outer Sea” when used as a proper name (SM/241). In Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957, the similar word váya/waya was given a new etymology from the root √WAYA “blow” rather than “enfold” as noted above, along with other derivatives having to do with “wind” (PE17/33-34).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I think váya is its best form as an independent word meaning “ocean, sea”. Given its derivation from the root for “wind”, I think it refers mainly to rough or stormy seas. The name Vëantur may contained a reduced form of this word, and thus vëa- might be its form in compounds.

ëar

noun. sea, great sea, sea, great sea, [ᴹQ.] open sea; water

The most common Quenya word for “sea”, derived from the root √GAYAR (or sometimes √AYAR), where the vowel combination was the result of the frequent Quenya sound change whereby aya > ëa.

Conceptual Development: As an element in the name ᴱQ. Earendel, this word first appeared as ᴱQ. ea or ᴱQ. earen “eagle” (QL/34). But by the 1940s Tolkien changed the form and meaning of this name to ᴹQ. Earendil “Friend of the Sea” (SD/237), and the word ᴹQ. ear “sea” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of ᴹ√AYAR (Ety/AY). In The Notion Club Papers of the 1940s it had the form eare and the gloss “open sea” (SD/241, 305). The first appearance of the “sea” meaning of this word seems to be in a word-list associated with the Ambarkanta “Shape of the World” from the early 1930s, where ear had the glosses “water, sea” (SM/241), though in later writings only “sea” remained.

ëar-celumessen

in the flowing sea

The eighth line of the Markirya poem (MC/222). The first word is ëar “sea” followed by the locative plural of celumë “stream”, as suggested by Helge Fauskanger (AL/Markirya, QQ/celumë). This is more loosely translated as “flowing” in the poem itself, and fits the adjective/noun usage of the Early Qenya poem. A more literal translation would be “✱in sea-streams”.

Decomposition: Broken into its constituent elements, this phrase would be:

> ëar-celume-sse-n = “✱sea-stream-(locative)-(plural)”

ëar falastala

the sea surging

The tenth line of the Markirya poem (MC/222). The first word is ëar “sea” followed by the active-participle (“-ing”) of the verb falasta- “to surge”.

Decomposition: Broken into its constituent elements, this phrase would be:

> ëar falasta-la = “✱sea surg-ing”

ekkaia

place name. Outer Sea

The ocean that surrounded the world, translated “Outer Sea” (S/37).

Possible Etymology: The etymology of this name is unclear. Robert Ireland suggested that the name may be related to the root ᴹ√KHAYA “far, distant, remote”, which has a similar derivative ᴹQ. ekkaira, an intensive form of ᴹQ. haira “remote, far” (ATD/Ekkaia).

Helge Fauskanger instead suggested that it might be derived from ✶et-gaya = ✶et “out” + ✶gaya “sea”, the latter from √GAY(AR), the same root from which Q. ëar and S. gaear are derived (QQ/Ekkaia). This seems more plausible to me, since voiced stops unvoiced after voiceless stops and aspirates in Primitive Elvish (✶[tg] > ✶[tk]) and [[p|[tk] became [kk]]].

Conceptual Development: The concept of an ocean surrounding the world was an old idea in the cosmology of Tolkien’s legendarium. In the earliest Lost Tales, there were two outer regions of air and water: ᴱQ. Vaitya “Outermost Airs” and ᴱQ. Vai “Outer Ocean” (LT1/85), both from the root ᴱ√VAẎA “enfold” (QL/100). Both terms were later combined into ᴹQ. Vaiya “Enfolding Ocean, Outer Sea”, appearing in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/236; LR/209; Ety/WAY). Vaiya was later changed to Ekkaia in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (MR/157), as this late stage referring only to the ocean and not the air.

Alatairë

great sea

Alatairë place-name "Great Sea", name of the Western Ocean between Beleriand and Valinor, called Belegaer in Sindarin (ÁLAT, AYAR/AIR)

Ekkaia

out-sea

Ekkaia place-name, denoting the outer ocean: for *et-gaya "out-sea"? (Silm)

Rása

the sea

Rása noun "the Sea" (LT2:347; rather ëar in Tolkien's later Quenya)

Teler

sea-elf

Teler noun "sea-elf", pl. Teleri, general (partitive) pl. Telelli, the third tribe of the Eldar (TELES (MIS) ), also called Lindar.Teleri means "those at the end of the line, the hindmost", (WJ:382 cf. 371), derived from the stem tel- "finish, end, be last" (SA:tel-). The Lindar were so called because they lagged behind on the march from Cuiviénen. In early "Qenya", Teler, also Telellë, was defined "little elf" (LT1:267), but this is hardly a valid gloss in Tolkien's later Quenya.

falmar

sea-spirit, nymph

falmar, falmarin (falmarind- or simply falmarin- as in pl. falmarindi [or falmarini]) noun "sea-spirit, nymph" (PHAL/PHÁLAS)

falmari

collective name. Sea-elves, (lit.) Wave-folk

A name for the Teleri as Elves of the sea (S/53). It is an elaboration on falma “wave” (SA/falas) and its literal meaning is “Wave-folk” (PM/386).

Conceptual Development: Earlier Quenya words connecting the third tribe of Elves to the sea include ᴱQ. Solosimpe “Shore Piper” (LT1/50; QL/35, 85), ᴹQ. Solonyeldi “✱Surf Singers” (Ety/NYEL, SOL) and ᴹQ. Falanyel “✱Beach Singer” (Ety/PHAL).

haloisi

the sea (in storm)

haloisi noun "the sea (in storm)", cf. haloitë (LT1:254)

lingwilócë

fish-dragon, sea-serpent

lingwilócë ("k")noun "fish-dragon, sea-serpent" (LOK)

londë

noun. (land-locked) haven, (land-locked) haven; [ᴹQ.] road (in sea), fairway, entrance to harbour; gulf

A word for “haven”, most notably as an element in Alqualondë “Haven of the Swans” (S/61). In notes from the late 1960s it was derived from the (untranslated) root √LON (VT42/10).

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹQ. {londa >>} londe was glossed “road (in sea), fairway, {anchorage >>} entrance to harbour”, and derived from the root {ᴹ✶londā >>} ᴹ✶londē under the root ᴹ√LOD (Ety/LOD). In a 1942 note, [ᴹQ.] londe was glossed “gulf”, as opposed to [N.] lorn “haven” (TI/423).

oar

child of the sea, merchild

oar (2) noun "child of the sea, merchild" (LT1:263; hardly valid in Tolkien's later Quenya)

vëaciryo

of sea-ship

vëaciryo ("k") noun in genitive "of sea-ship", genitive of *vëacirya ("k")(MC:216; this is "Qenya"; see vëa # 2)

ó

the sea

†Ó noun "the sea" (poetic word, hardly valid in Tolkien's later Quenya) (LT1:263, there spelt Ô)

et eärello endorenna utúlien

Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come

First phrase @@@

eärenya

noun. Sea-day, *Thursday

eärnil

masculine name. *Lover of the Sea

The name of the 13th and 32nd kings of Gondor (LotR/1038), it is essentially a shorter form of Eärendil, with the same elements (SA/(n)dil).

eärnur

masculine name. *Servant of the Sea

The 33rd and final king of Gondor in the Third Age (LotR/1038). This name is essentially a shorter form of Eärendur, with the same elements.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts, Tolkien first considered using ᴹQ. Elessar for the name of the last king of Gondor before changing his name to Eärnur (WR/153).

celu

stream

celu _("k")_noun "stream" (LT1:257; rather celumë in LotR-style Quenya)

ëarina

adjective. of the sea

A neologism for “of the sea” appearing in ABNW (ABNW) from the early 2000s. It is simply an adjectival form of ëar “sea”.

airon

noun. ocean

An (archaic) word for “ocean”, an augmentative form of airë mentioned in a couple of later notes (PE17/27, 149). A more modern form is ëaron.

Conceptual Development: The form ᴹQ. airen appeared in parenthesis beside ᴹQ. aire “sea” in The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/AY). Helge Fauskanger suggested that it might be a genitive form (QQ/airë), but in notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1930s, aire “sea” >> airen (PE22/23 note #70), suggesting it is an alternate (augmentative?) form. If so, it is probably a precursor to airon.

ëarendur

noun. (professional) mariner

A word for a “(professional) mariner” as a compound of ëar “sea” and -(n)dur “servant” in a draft letter from 1967 (Let/386). The suffix -(n)dur is often used for those who work on something in a professional capacity; compare ornendur “tree-keep, forester, woodsman” (NM/20). Thus ëarendur refers to people who work on the sea as their job. This word may be contrasted with Eärendil “Lover of the Sea”.

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. yarendila “like a sailor” and ᴱQ. yarendilyon “sailor” based on ᴱQ. Yarendl, a dialectical variant of ᴱQ. Earendel often used to mean “mariner” (QL/105). In the 1910s, ᴱQ. Earendel was not yet derived from the word for “sea”, so this association must have come from the fame of Earendel as a sailor, not from the meaning of the name itself.

vëacirya

noun. sea-ship, *ocean-going ship

-wen

maiden

-wen "maiden" as suffix, a frequent ending in feminine names like Eärwen "Sea-maiden" (SA:wen). Early "Qenya" also has -wen, feminine patronymic "daughter of" (LT1:271, 273), but the patronymic ending seems to be -iel "-daughter" in Tolkien's later Quenya.

Vëandur

vigorous servant

Vëandur, masc. name (PM:191), either "Vigorous servant" or "Sea-servant" (= mariner; compare ëarendur, etymologically very similar if the Qenya form vëa "sea" was maintained in later Quenya). See vëa #1 and 2 and compare Vëantur.

Vëantur

vigorous lord

Vëantur, masc. name (UT:171), either "Vigorous lord" or "Sea-lord" (see vëa #1 and 2; those who prefer the translation *"Sea-lord" see this name as evidence that Tolkien maintained the Qenya noun vëa "sea" in later Quenya). Compare Vëandur.

celumë

stream, flow

celumë ("k")noun "stream, flow" (KEL, LT1:257); locative pl. celumessen ("k") in Markirya (ëar-celumessen is translated "in the flowing sea", lit. *"in sea-streams").

et

out

et prep. (and adv.?) "out", when followed by ablative "out of" (VT45:13) or literally "out from", as in EO: et Eärello "out of the Great Sea"; cf. also et sillumello "from this hour" in VT44:35. Et i pe/péti, untranslated phrase, perhaps "out of the mouth" (VT47:35). Prefixet- "forth, out" (ET), also in longer form ete- (as in etelehta, eteminya); verb ettuler "are coming forth" (ettul- = et + tul-). (SD:290; read probably *ettulir or continuative *ettúlar in Tolkien's later Quenya). The forms etemmë and etengwë (VT43:36) seem to incorporate pronominal suffixes for "us", hence ?"out of us", inclusive and exclusive respectively. The pronoun -mmë denoted plural inclusive "we" when this was written, though Tolkien would later make it dual exclusive instead (see -mmë). Second person forms are also given: etelyë, etellë ?"out of you", sg. and pl. respectively (Tolkien would later change the ending for pl. "you" from -llë to -ldë).

londa

path

[londa noun "path"], changed by Tolkien to londë noun "road (in sea)" (VT45:28)

londë

land-locked haven

londë noun "land-locked haven" (cf. #lóndië "harbourage"), "gulf" (TI:423). In Alqualondë "Swan-haven" (SA), "Haven of Swan" (VT45:28), Hirilondë ship-name "Haven-finder" (UT:192). In the Etymologies, londë is glossed "road (in sea), entrance to harbour" (LOD) and also "fairway" (VT45:28), i.e. a navigable channel for ships. In VT42:10, where the stem is given as LON rather than LOD, the gloss is simply "haven".

nór

land

nór noun "land" (stem nor-, PE17:106) this is land as opposed to water and sea (nor in Letters:308). Cf. nórë.

nór

noun. land

A term for “land” as in “(dry) land as opposed to the sea”, mentioned in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 (WJ/413) and again in notes from around 1968 (PE17/106-107).

Possible Etymology: In the Quendi and Eldar essay this term was derived from primitive ✶ndōro, but in the aforementioned 1968 notes Tolkien clarified that its stem form was nŏr-. This means it was probably derived from ancient ✱ndŏr-, where the long vowel in the uninflected form was inherited from the Common Eldarin subjective form ✱ndōr, a phenomenon also seen in words like nér (ner-) “man”. I prefer this second derivation, as it makes the independent word more distinct from the suffixal form -ndor or -nóre used in the names of countries.

ossë

masculine name. Ossë

One of the greatest of the Maia, master of the seas that wash the shores of Middle-earth (S/30). His Quenya name is derived from his name in Valarin: Val. Oš(o)šai “spuming, foaming” (WJ/400).

Conceptual Development: This name dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, when ᴱQ. Osse was derived from the root ᴱ√’O’O along with other words related to the sea (LT1A/Ossë, QL/70). In The Etymologies, the name ᴹQ. Osse was derived from the primitive root ᴹ√GOS “dread” (Ety/GOS), perhaps referring to the awe-inspiring nature of the sea. The later derivation of Q. ëar “sea” < √GAY(AR) “awe, dread” was similar (PM/363, WJ/400).

In a list of roots written around 1959-60, Tolkien derived Ossë from an otherwised unattested root OS “making a hissing foaming noise” (PE17/138). His Valarin name did not appear until the Quendi and Eldar essay from this same period (WJ/400).

tol

island, isle

tol noun "island, isle" (rising with sheer sides from the sea or from the river, SA:tol, VT47:26). In early "Qenya", the word was defined as "island, any rise standing alone in water, plain of green, etc" (LT1:269). The stem is toll-; the Etymologies as published in LR gives the pl. "tolle" (TOL2), but this is a misreading for tolli (see VT46:19 and compare LT1:85). The primitive form of tol is variously cited as ¤tolla (VT47:26) and ¤tollo (TOL2).

uinen

feminine name. Uinen

A Maia, Lady of the Seas (S/30). The meaning of this name is unclear, and it is probably adapted from her Valarin title like the name of her spouse Ossë (WJ/404).

Conceptual Development: The earliest form of her name was ᴱQ. Ówen, from the “Poetical and Mythological Words of Eldarissa” (PME/70). A similar word ᴱQ. ówen “mermaid” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon as a derivative of the root ᴱ√’O’O “Sea” (QL/70). This name also appeared the earliest Lost Tales, but was quickly replaced ᴱQ. Ónen (LT1/58, 61). At this early stage, G. Uinen was the Gnomish equivalent of her name (GL/74), but Uinen gradually supplanted Ónen in the writing of the Lost Tales (LT1/121, 130 note #6).

In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, her name in Quenya was also ᴹQ. Uinen, and this name appeared in The Etymologies alongside N. Uinen as a combination of the roots ᴹ√UY “seaweed” and ᴹ√NEN “water” (Ety/UY, NEN). At this stage, the genitive form of her name was given as ᴹQ. Uinenden (Ety/UY) implying a stem form of Uinend-, but Tolkien may have abandoned this form, as evidenced by the later name Q. Uinéniel “Daughter of Uinen” (Uinen + -iel). The idea that her name was derived from Valarin did not emerge until the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 (WJ/404).

Alcarondas

Alcarondas

The name is not easily translated, but it obviously doesn't mean "Castle of the Sea". It contains alcar "glory", and no recognizable element for the word "sea" which in Quenya is eär.

Eämbar

Eämbar

"Sea Home" in Quenya (from eär = "sea" and bar = "home").

ossë

Ossë

At least two explanations exist for the name Ossë. In The Etymologies, it is understood as the Qenya word osse ("terror"), deriving from the root GOS ("dread"). A later note pertaining to the name instead suggests it is a name of non-Elvish origin, deriving from Valarin Oš(o)šai ("spuming, foaming"). The same later note mentions that Ossë's Sindarin names were Yssion and Gaerys. In Eriol's Old English translations, Osse is referred to as Saefrea "Sea-ruler". However, this reflects his status as a Vala (Fréa) in the earlier Legendarium.

áya

noun. awe

Uinen

Uinen

Two explanations exist for the name Uinen. In The Etymologies, the first element came from a root UY-. Several other words under this lemma mean "seaweed", though the name Uinen itself is not explained. A later note pertaining to the name instead suggests it is a name of non-Elvish (Valarin) origin of unknown meaning. Christopher Tolkien has noted that Uinen contains the element nen ("water"). It is unknown if he had access to unpublished manuscripts by his father to corroborate this suggestion or if he speculated on the matter.

-ndor

land

-ndor, final element in compounds: "land" (Letters:308, UT:253)

-ssë

at

-ssë (1) locative ending (compare the preposition se, sé "at", q.v.); in Lóriendessë, lúmessë, máriessë, yalúmessë (q.v. for reference); pl. -ssen in yassen, lúmissen, mahalmassen, símaryassen, tarmenissen, q.v. Pronouns take the simple ending -ssë, even if the pronoun is plural by its meaning (messë "on us", VT44:12). The part. pl. (-lissë or -lissen) and dual (-tsë) locative endings are known from the Plotz letter only.

Telellë

little elf

Telellë noun "little elf" (also Teler); the Telelli are said to be "young Elves of all clans who dwelt in Kôr to perfect their arts of singing and poetry" (LT1:267; see Teler)

airon

ocean

airon noun "ocean" (PE17:27). Also ëaron, q.v.

ciryamo

mariner

ciryamo noun "mariner", nominative and genitive are identical since the noun already ends in -o, cf. Indis i-Ciryamo "the Mariner's Wife" (UT:8)

ciryamo

noun. mariner

A word for a “mariner” in the title Indis i·Ciryamo “The Mariner’s Wife” (UT/8), a combination of cirya “ship” with the agental suffix -mo.

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. veniel “mariner” as an elaboration of ᴱQ. vene “small boat” (QL/100).

falasta-

verb. to foam

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

lóna

island, remote land difficult to reach

lóna (2) noun "island, remote land difficult to reach" (LONO (AWA) ). Obsoleted by #1 above?

nóre

noun. land

nórë

land

nórë noun "land" (associated with a particular people) (WJ:413), "country, land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live, race, clan" (NŌ, NDOR, BAL), also used = "race, tribe, people" (SA:dôr, PE17:169; however, the normal word for "people" is lië). Early "Qenya" hasnórë "native land, nation, family, country" (in compounds -nor) (LT1:272)

solor

surf

solor noun "surf" (SOL); solor, solossë noun "surf, surge" (LT1:266)

solossë

surf, surge

solossë noun "surf, surge" (LT1:266); also solor

tier

path

tier is, besides the pl. form of tië "path" above, an ephemeral word for "so", abandoned by Tolkien in favour of tambë (VT43:17)

tië

path, course, line, direction, way

tië noun "path, course, line, direction, way" (TE3, VT47:11); pl. tier in Namárië(Nam, RGEO:67); tielyanna "upon your path" (UT:22 cf. 51; tie-lya-nna "path-your-upon")

vendë

maiden

vendë < wendë noun "maiden" (WEN/WENED, VT45:16), "virgin" (in Tolkien's translations of Catholic prayers where the reference is to Mary; see VT44:10, 18). The form Véndë in VT44:10 seems abnormal; normally Quenya does not have a long vowel in front of a consonant cluster.

waya

noun. ocean

wendë

noun. maiden

wilin

bird

wilin noun "bird" (LT1:273; if this "Qenya" word is to be used in LotR-style Quenya, it must not be confused with the 1st pers. aorist of the verb wil-.)

áya

awe

áya noun "awe" (PM:363)

ëaron

ocean

ëaron noun "ocean" (PE17:27), also airon. Cf. ëar.

sóla

noun. tide

azra

noun. sea

The Adûnaic word for “sea” (SD/429), appearing as azar in some early texts (SD/305). It is fully declined on SD/431.

pharaz

noun. sea

A draft word for “sea”, deleted and replaced with azar (SD/305), which later become azra. This word reappeared later with a different meaning: pharaz “gold”.

aglarrâma

proper name. Castle of the Sea

An earlier name for the ship Alcarondas, likely the Adûnaic equivalent of that name (SD/372, PM/156). Aglarrâma was glossed “Castle of the Sea”, but many students of Tolkien’s languages feel that this is unlikely to be a literal translation of the name. The first part of its Quenya name is Q. alcar “glory”, and the element Ad. aglar of its Adûnaic name may have the same meaning, possibly as a loan word from S. aglar. It is not clear what the last element of the name would mean. This analysis is all rather speculative, since it isn’t even clear what languages the names Aglarrâma and Alcarondas belong to.

azrubêl

masculine name. Sea-lover, Friend of the Sea

The Adûnaic name of Q. Eärendil, having a similar meaning “Friend of the Sea” (SD/359). The first element is the objective form of azra “sea” and the second is an agental-formation for the verb stem bêl- (PM/373). An earlier version of this name, Azrabêl, predates Tolkien’s invention the objective case for Adûnaic (SD/359).

Conceptual Development: The first Adûnaic name given to this character was Pharazîr (SD/305).

azra-zâin

noun. sea-lands, maritime regions

A noun given as an example of a genitive compound (SD/429), translated “sea-lands, maritime regions” (SD/435) but literally meaning “✱lands of the sea”.

pharazîr

masculine name. *Sea-lover

The first version of the Adûnaic name of Q. Eärendil (SD/305), quickly rejected and replaced by Azrabêl, later Azrubêl. Its rejected elements have the same meaning as Azrubêl. Interestingly, the suffix -zîr “-lover” reappeared in the later names Aphanuzîr and Nimruzîr, though as derivations of zîr- instead of iri-. The word pharaz also reappeared later with the meaning “gold”.

zâyan

noun. land

An Adûnaic word for “land” (SD/423). It has an irregular plural form zâin which is the result of the phonetic change (SD/423): [[pad|medial [w] and [j] vanished before [u] and [i]]]. Thus, the archaic plural changed from †zâyîn > zâîn > zâin.

Conceptual Development: In earlier names this word appeared as zen (SD/378, 385).

-zê

preposition. at

A prepositional suffix translated “at” (SD/429), but not appearing in any example sentences. It is perhaps a later repurposing of the draft-dative case suffix -s, since the other draft-cases became prepositional suffixes in later versions of the Adûnaic grammar: draft genitive -ō versus later preposition -ô “from”, draft instrumental -ma versus later preposition -mâ “with”.

thâni

noun. land

A noun translated “land” (SD/435) appearing in the Adûnaic names for the Blessed Realm: Amatthâni and thâni’nAmân. Its Primitive Adûnaic form was also ✶thāni, though its primitive was glossed “realm" (SD/420).

gaear

noun. sea

A word for “sea” variously attested as gaear (PE17/027; PM/363; WJ/400), gaer (PE17/27; PE17/149), and aear (Let/386; RGEO/65) in later writings. Of these, I prefer gaear for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, reduced to gaer in compounds.

Possible Etymology: The presence or absence of the initial g- depends on whether the word’s root is √AY(AR) (as it appears in The Etymologies and some later writings) or √GAY(AR) (as it appears in other later writings). See the entry of the root √GAY(AR) for a discussion of this vacillation. Similarly, the form gaer appears primarily as an element in compounds, and can be explained as a reduced form of gaear in that context. For these reasons, this entry uses gaear as the ordinary Sindarin word for “sea”. This has the additional advantage of disambiguating it from the adjective gaer “dreadful”.

Conceptual Development: This word appeared as N. oer or oear “sea” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, reflecting the Noldorin sound change of ai to oe (Ety/AY). However name for the “Great Sea” was N. {Belegar >>} Belegaer in the narratives of this period (LR/19), and the name N. Rhûnaer “Eastern Sea” appeared in draft Lord of the Rings maps from 1943 (TI/307). The element N. oer did appear in the day-of-the-week name N. Aroeren “✱Sea-day” in drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices, but this was revised to S. Oraeron (PM/130, 138).

aear

Sea

_n. _Sea, especially the Great (Western) Sea. Q. ear. nef aear, sí nef aearon lit. 'beyond the Sea, here beyond the Great Sea'. >> gaear, gaer

gaear

Sea

_n. _Sea, especially the Great (Western) Sea. Shorter form gaer. Q. ear. >> aear, gaer

gaer

Sea

_n._Sea, especially the Great (Western) Sea. Shorter form of gaear.Q. aire (obsolete). >> aear, gaear

aear

noun. sea

Tolkien changed this word several times, see gaear

aear

noun. sea

aer

noun. sea

Tolkien changed this word several times, see aear , gaear

gaear

noun. sea

gaer

noun. sea

gaer

noun. sea

Sea of Núrnen

Sea of Núrnen

Núrnen is glossed as "sad-water". Tolkien also suggested the form Nûrnen ("death, dead water"), and noted the related Sindarin word guru ("death"). The name is commonly understood to be Sindarin, consisting of the elements Nurn + nen ("water").

aerandir

masculine name. Sea-wanderer

A companion of Eärendil (S/248).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, his name was given as N. Airandir (LR/324), changed to Aerandir in revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/246).

Possible Etymology: The second element of this name is very likely S. randir “wanderer” (SA/ran), but the meaning of the initial element is unclear. Christopher Tolkien translated this name as “Sea-wanderer” in The Silmarillion index (SI/Aerandir). If correct, the initial element is probably some form of S. gaear “sea”. This is problematic, since in J.R.R. Tolkien’s late writings this word often (but not always) began with a g, which would have no reason to vanish in the initial position.

The Noldorin form of this name was Airandir. In The Etymologies, the Noldorin word for “sea” was N. oer (Ety/AY). Noldorin [oe] sometimes appeared as [ai] in names from earlier narratives. For example, compare (ᴱN.) Aiglir Angrin “Iron Mountains” from the 1920s and early 1930s (SM/220) to [N.] oeglir “range of mountain peaks” in The Etymologies (Ety/AYAK), and later still (S.) aeglir “line of peaks” (RC/11). Perhaps Tolkien originally intended this element to mean “sea”, updating it phonetically ([[n|[ai] revised to [ae]]]) in later Silmarillion revisions without considering a change in meaning.

Absent any further evidence, “Sea-wanderer” remains the best available translation.

belegaer

place name. Great Sea

Name of the “Great Sea” lying between Middle-earth and Valinor (S/37). This name is a compound of beleg “mighty” and gae(a)r “sea” (SA/beleg, gaer; PM/363).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name first appeared as N. Belegar (LR/14), soon revised to Belegaer (LR/19). In The Etymologies, it appeared as Belegoer (Ety/ÁLAT, AY, BEL), a reflection of Tolkien’s uncertainty on whether the diphthong [[n|[ai] became [oe] or [ae]]]. In the later Silmarillion revisions from the 1930s, he used Belegaer consistently following the [[n|revision of [oe] to [ae]]].

gaerdil

masculine name. *Sea-lover

Sindarin equivalent of Eärendil, also appearing as Gaerdil(i)on, Gaerdilnir amd Gaerennil (PE17/19, 27). This name contains gaer “sea” and the suffix -dil “friend, lover”.

tirith aear

place name. Sea-ward Tower

A tower in Dol Amroth mentioned in the preface to the Adventures of Tom Bombadil (TR/192), glossed “Sea-ward Tower”. It is a combination of tirith “watch” and either aear or gaear “sea” (lenited), so perhaps a more literal translation would be “Sea Watch”.

Aerandir

noun. sea-wanderer

aer, aear (“sea”) + randír (“wanderer, pilgrim”)

belegaer

noun. great sea

beleg (“great”) + (g)aer (“sea”)

nef aear, sí nef aearon

here ... beyond the Sea, beyond the wide and sundering Sea

oraeron

noun. Sea-day, *Thursday

aearon

noun. great sea, ocean

Tolkien changed this word several times, see gaearon

gaearon

noun. great sea, ocean

gaeron

noun. great sea, ocean

seron aearon

Sea-lover

tol

noun. island, (steep) isle rising with sheer sides from the sea or from a river

sîr

stream

_ n. _stream. >> Nanduhirion

aear

sea

aear (ocean); pl. aeair. The shorter form aer (for N oer) is maybe best avoided since it can be confused with aer "holy", unless the latter is actually a lenited form of gaer. Forms with g-, representing an alternative concept of the word for ”sea”: gaear (i **aear) (ocean), pl. gaeair (i ngaeair = i ñaeair) (PM:363), also gaer (i **aer, no distinct pl. form except with article: i ngaer = i ñaer), but homophones of the latter mean "reddish, copper-coloured, ruddy" and also "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy".

aear

sea

(ocean); pl. aeair. The shorter form aer (for N oer) is maybe best avoided since it can be confused with aer "holy", unless the latter is actually a lenited form of gaer. Forms with g-, representing an alternative concept of the word for ”sea”: gaear (i ’aear) (ocean), pl. gaeair (i ngaeair = i ñaeair) (PM:363), also gaer (i ’aer, no distinct pl. form except with article: i ngaer = i ñaer), but homophones of the latter mean "reddish, copper-coloured, ruddy" and also "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy".

limlug

noun. fish-dragon, sea-serpent

limlug

sea serpent

limlug (”fish-dragon”), pl. limlyg

limlug

sea serpent

limlug (”fish-dragon”), pl. limlyg

limlug

sea serpent

(”fish-dragon”), pl. limlyg

aearon

ocean

_n. _ocean. Augmentative form of _aear _Sea. Q. earon, airon. nef aear, sí nef aearon lit. 'beyond the Sea, here beyond the Great Sea'. >> aear

gaerys

masculine name. Ossë

A Sindarin name for Ossë, a combination of gaer “dreadful” and a reduction of his ancient Sindarin name †Yssi (WJ/400). Tolkien stated that this name “was more often used by the inland Teleri”, who viewed this Maia with more awe and fear. Otherwise he was known as Yssion.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, the Gnomish name of Ossë is G. Oth(a) (GL/18), perhaps derived from G. ô “sea” (GL/61). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, his Noldorin name is N. Aeros >> Oeros (Ety/GOS, EtyAC/GOS), perhaps a combination of N. oer “sea” and the root ᴹ√GOS “dread”.

celeth

stream

(noun) 1) celeth (i geleth, o cheleth), pl. celith (i chelith), 2) sirith (i hirith, o sirith) (flowing), no distinct pl. except with article (i sirith), 3) nên (water, lake, pool, waterland), construct nen, pl. nîn, 4) rant (watercourse, water-channel, lode, vein), pl. raint (idh raint), coll. pl. rannath.

celeth

stream

(i geleth, o cheleth), pl. celith (i chelith)

nên

stream

(water, lake, pool, waterland), construct nen, pl. nîn

rant

stream

(watercourse, water-channel, lode, vein), pl. raint (idh raint), coll. pl. rannath.

sirith

stream

(i hirith, o sirith) (flowing), no distinct pl. except with article (i sirith)

gaearon

ocean

_n. _ocean. Augmentative form of _gaear _Sea. Q. earon, airon. >> gaear

Aerandir

Aerandir

Aerandir is Sindarin, meaning "Sea-wanderer" (aer + randir). The name for the character appearing in an early manuscript was Airandir, a form later rejected by Tolkien.

aear

ocean

aear (sea), pl. aeair.

aear

ocean

(sea), pl. aeair.

belegaer

Belegaer

The name is Sindarin, and has the elements Beleg ("mighty") and aer, an element meaning "sea". The Quenya name of Belegaer, never used in primary writing, is Alatairë.

gaear

ocean

gaear (i **aear) (sea), pl. gaeair (i ngaeair** = i ñaeair).

gaear

ocean

(i ’aear) (sea), pl. gaeair (i ngaeair = i ñaeair).

limlug

fish-dragon

limlug (sea serpent), pl. limlyg

limlug

fish-dragon

limlug (sea serpent), pl. limlyg. FISH-WATCHER, see KINGFISHER

lond

noun. (land-locked) haven, (land-locked) haven; [N.] narrow path, strait, pass

A Sindarin word for “haven”, used for example in the names Forlond “North Haven” and Harlond “South Haven” (LotR/1050). In a document from the late 1960s, Tolkien gave this word as S. lond, lonn “haven” in keeping with his vacillation on whether final nd became nd in Sindarin monosyllables, and in this document he derived lond/lonn from the (untranslated) root √LON (VT42/10).

Conceptual Development: A precursor to this word from The Etymologies of the 1930s was N. lhonn “narrow path, strait, pass” derived from ᴹ✶londē under the root ᴹ√LOD (Ety/LOD). In The Etymologies, the word for “haven” as instead N. lhorn “narrow path, strait, pass” derived from the root ᴹ√LUR “be quiet, still, calm”; its full translation was “quiet water, anchorage, haven, harbour” (EtyAC/LUR). In Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s Tolkien said [N.] lorn meant “haven” (TI/423), and the North and South Havens were N. Forlorn and N. Harlorn (TI/301).

These were revised to Forlond and Harlond for the published version of The Lord of the Rings, by which point it seems l(h)orn “haven” was abandoned and lond meant only “haven” rather than “pass, strait”. The only exception seems to be its use in Aglon(d) “Narrow Pass” (SI/Aglon), but that name could be a remnant of earlier ideas.

falas

surf, line of

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

aew

noun. (small) bird

aewen

adjective. of birds

anwar

noun. awe

anwar

noun. awe

belegaer

noun. ocean

_ n. _ocean.

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

dôr

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

dôr

noun. land, land, [N.] region where certain people live, [ᴱN.] country; [G.] people of the land

gaer

ocean

_ n. _ocean.

gaeron

noun. ocean

_ n. _ocean.

gwen

noun. maiden

_n. _maiden. Q. wendē. >> gwend, gweneth

gwend

noun. maiden

_n. _maiden. Q. wendē. >> gwen, gweneth

gwend

noun. maiden, maiden, *young woman

A word for “maiden” or “✱young woman”, frequently appearing as suffixal -wen as an element in female names, derived from the root √WEN(ED) (PE17/191; Ety/WEN).

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, the word G. gwin meant “woman, female” and G. {gwen >>} gwennin was “girl” (GL/45). The former was derived from the root ᴱ√giu̯i which had to do with pregnancy, but the latter was derived from {ᴱ√gw̯ene >>} ᴱ√gu̯eđe. In the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon {ᴱ√WENE >>} ᴱ√GWENE was the basis of words like ᴱQ. ’wen(di) “maiden” (QL/103). In the Gnomish Lexicon Slips it seems G. gwin was also reassigned to the root ᴱ√(G)WENE [ᴱ√u̯enĭ-], derived from ᴱ✶u̯einā́, though possibly shifted or blended in meaning with an adjectival sense “womanly” (PE13/113).

In the Early Noldorin Grammar of the 1920s, Tolkien had ᴱN. uin “woman” (PE13/123), a form that also appeared with this gloss in contemporaneous Early Noldorin Word-lists as a replacement for deleted {gwind, gwinn} (PE13/146, 155). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Tolkien had N. gwend, gwenn “maiden” under the root ᴹ√WEN(ED) which he said was “often found in feminine names” (Ety/WEN). He noted that “since the [suffixed names] show no -d even in archaic spelling, they probably contain a form wen-”. Tolkien seems to have stuck with these forms thereafter.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would use this word for a young woman or adolescent girl, especially prior to marriage, but for female children I would use neth.

gwenneth

noun. maiden

A longer variant of gwend “maiden” appearing in notes on the Common Eldarin Article (CEA) from 1969 (PE23/136). It might be confused with (or related to) gweneth “maidenhood”.

iâ

noun. gulf

iâ

noun. abyss, void

lond

noun. narrow path or strait

lond

noun. entrance to harbour, land-locked haven

lonn

noun. narrow path or strait

lonn

noun. entrance to harbour, land-locked haven

lonn

noun. (land-locked) haven, (land-locked) haven; [N.] pass

na

preposition. at

prep. at (a point of time or place). Ai na vedui Dúnadan. Mae g'ovannen. 'Ah! At last, Dúnadan ! Well met !'.

yssi

masculine name. Ossë

Archaic Sindarin name of Q. Ossë, derived from the primitive name ✶Ossai (WJ/400). It was generally replaced by the more elaborate forms Gaerys or Yssion.

yssion

masculine name. Ossë

A Sindarin name of Q. Ossë, a combination of his archaic name †Yssi with the masculine suffix -on (WJ/400).

Teler

teler

(member of the Third Clan of the Elves) 1) Teler (i Deler), pl. Telir (i Thelir) or coll. pl. Tellerrim (PM:385). See REAR. 2) glinnel (i **linnel), pl. glinnil** (in glinnil), coll. pl. glinnellath.

aew

bird

(small bird) 1) aew. No distinct pl. form. 2) fileg, pl. filig; the form filigod appears as an alternative singular. or

aew

bird

. No distinct pl. form.

aewen

of birds

pl. aewin.

anwar

awe

anwar (pl. enwair if there is a pl.)

anwar

awe

(pl. enwair if there is a pl.)

bâd

pathway

(i vâd, construct bad) (beaten track), pl. baid (i maid).

bâr

land

(dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

cuen

small gull

cuen (i guen, o chuen) (petrel), pl. ?cuin (?i chuin) (VT45:24).

duinen

tide

: 1) (high tide) duinen (i dhuinen), pl. duinin (i nuinin). 2) (low tide) dannen (i nannen, o ndannen) (ebb), pl. dennin (i ndennin) (VT48:26). Notice the homophone dannen ”fallen” (but this past participle has different mutations).

dôr

land

1) dôr (i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413), 2) bâr (dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

dôr

land

(i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413)

e

out

e, ed (away, forth); also as adjectival prefix "outer" and preposition: (WJ:367)

e

out

ed (away, forth); also as adjectival prefix "outer" and preposition:

emlinn

yellowhammer

(= "yellow singer"); no distinct pl. form. Also emelin, no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. emelinnath. Adj.

falf

foam

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

faltha

foam

(i faltha, i falthar)

fileg

bird

pl. filig; the form filigod appears as an alternative singular.

fû Speculative

noun. path

A noun appearing only it is plural form fui “paths” in the name Fui ’Ngorthrim “Paths of the Dead” (RC/526). The most plausible singular form is ✱fû “path”.

gaearon

great ocean

(i ‘Aearon), pl. Gaearyn (i Ngaearyn = i Ñaearyn) if there is a pl.

gwend

maiden

gwend (i **wend, construct gwen) (friendship), pl. gwind (in gwind), coll. pl. gwennath**. Note: a homophone means ”bond, friendship”.

gwend

maiden

(i ’wend, construct gwen) (friendship), pl. gwind (in gwind), coll. pl. gwennath. Note: a homophone means ”bond, friendship”.

gwing

foam

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

iaw

gulf

(cleft, ravine), pl. ioe. Note: a homophone means ”corn”.

imrad

path

(between mountains, hills or through trackless forest) imrad (pass), pl. imraid.

imrad

path

(pass), pl. imraid.

iâ

gulf

1) iâ (chasm, void, abyss), pl. iai (LR:400, RS:437, Letters:383), 2) iaw (cleft, ravine), pl. ioe. Note: a homophone means ”corn”.

iâ

gulf

(chasm, void, abyss), pl. iai (LR:400, RS:437, Letters:383)

na

at

na (followed by lenition), with article nan (followed by ”mixed mutation”, according to David Salos reconstruction). The preposition has various meanings: ”with, by, near” and also ”to, toward, at; of”

na

at

(followed by lenition), with article nan (followed by ”mixed mutation”, according to David Salo’s reconstruction). The preposition has various meanings: ”with, by, near” and also ”to, toward, at; of”

nand

wide grassland

(construct nan) (valley), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath **(VT45:36);

pada

walk

(i bada, i phadar)

paen

small gull

1) *paen (i baen, o phaen) (petrel), no distinct pl. form except with article (i phaen). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” poen, VT45:24. 2) cuen (i guen, o chuen) (petrel), pl. ?cuin (?i chuin) (VT45:24)

parth

enclosed grassland

(i barth, o pharth) (field, sward), pl. perth (i pherth);

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”

râd

path

râd (track), construct rad, pl. raid (idh raidh).

râd

path

(track), construct rad, pl. raid (idh raidh).

toll

island

toll (i doll, o tholl, construct tol), pl. tyll (i thyll)

toll

island

(i doll, o tholl, construct tol), pl. tyll (i thyll)

uinen

uinen

in Sindarin as well

wen

maiden

, see MAIDEN. The final element -wen in names means ”girl, maiden, virgin”.

yssion

ossë

Gaerys (na ’Aerys), ✱Aeros (suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” Oeros, LR:359 s.v. GOS, GOTH)

oer

noun. sea

aer

noun. sea

oear

noun. sea

oear

noun. sea

oer

noun. sea

airlond

place name. (?sea-stead)

A name appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s with an unclear gloss, possibly “?swanstead” (EtyAC/LOD). According to Hostetter and Wynne, it seems to replace a rejected form oerlond, possibly glossed “?sea-stead”. It appears to be a combination of oer “sea” and the lenited form of lhonn “haven”. If the gloss “swanstead” is correct, it may be a variant form of Alflon and Alfobas.

cuen

noun. small gull, petrel, sea-bird

A noun appearing as cuen “small gull, petrel” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, a loan word from Ilk. cwên of the same meaning, derived from the primitive root ᴹ√KWǢ (EtyAC/KWǢ). Its Noldorin form N. poen had fallen out of use. It also appeared with the form cuén “a sea-bird” in notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1930s, again as a loan word from Ilkorin (PE22/32).

Neo-Sindarin: Since Ilkorin was no longer a part of Tolkien’s system of Elvish languages in the 1950s and 60s, this word is somewhat questionable, but I think it is worth retaining, reimagined as a loan word from a different language (probably a dialect of Nandorin).

lhimlug

noun. fish-dragon, sea-serpent

A noun appearing as N. lhimlug “fish-dragon, sea-serpent” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, a combination of N. lhim “fish” and N. lhûg “dragon” (Ety/LOK).

Neo-Sindarin: Since the unvoicing of initial liquids did not occur in Sindarin, many people adapt this word as ᴺS. limlug for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, as suggested in HSD (HSD).

aroeren

noun. Sea-day

belegoer

place name. Great Sea

airandir

masculine name. Sea-wanderer

rhûnaer

place name. Eastern Sea

toll

noun. island, (steep) isle rising with sheer sides from the sea or from a river

poen

noun. small gull, petrel

A noun for “small gull, petrel” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ᴹ✶kwǣnē under the root ᴹ√KWǢ, but it fell out of use and was replaced by N. cuen, a loan-word from Ilkorin (EtyAC/KWǢ).

aew

noun. (small) bird

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

emelin

noun. yellow bird, "yellow hammer"

emlin

noun. yellow bird, "yellow hammer"

emmelin

noun. yellow bird, "yellow hammer"

fileg

noun. small bird

filigod

noun. small bird

gwend

noun. maiden

gwenn

noun. maiden

gwenn

noun. maiden

ia

noun. gulf

ia

noun. abyss, void

ia

noun. gulf

lhonn

noun. narrow path or strait

lhonn

noun. entrance to harbour, land-locked haven

lond

noun. narrow path or strait

lond

noun. entrance to harbour, land-locked haven

lonn

noun. narrow path or strait

lonn

noun. entrance to harbour, land-locked haven

lonn

noun. path

râd

noun. path, track

uinen

feminine name. Uinen

Noldorin name of ᴹQ. Uinen from The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/NEN, UY) derived from the same primitive form ✱✶Uinendă, as indicated by ON. Uinenda and the Quenya stem-form Uindend-.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, her Gnomish name was G. Uinen (GL/74), while her usual Qenya name from this period was ᴱQ. Ónen (LT1/61).

ay(ar)

root. sea

gay(ar)

root. awe, dread; astound, make aghast; sea

In Tolkien’s later writings, the root for Elvish “sea” words seems to be √GAY(AR) or √AY(AR). The first hints of this root may be words from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s: G. ail/ᴱQ. ailo “lake, pool” and G. ailion/ᴱQ. ailin “lake” (GL/17), perhaps indicating a (hypothetical) early root ✱ᴱ√AYA(LA) “lake”. The last of these Early Qenya words also appeared in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon, but Tolkien gave its root only as “?” (QL/29). This early root might also be the basis for 1920s ᴱQ. ailin “shore” which appeared in the Oilima Markirya poem (MC/213).

The word ᴹQ. ailin “pool, lake” reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√AY, with its Noldorin form N. oel reflecting Noldorin rather than Gnomish phonology (Ety/AY). This root had an extended form ᴹ√AYAR “sea” from which Tolkien derived ᴹQ. ear and N. oer of the same meaning; among other things this extended root was the basis for a new etymology for the name ᴹQ. Earendil as “Friend of the Sea” used from the 1940s and forward (SD/241, 305); in earlier writings ᴱQ. Earendel was connected to ᴱQ. earen “(young) eagle” (QL/34).

The root √AY(AR) “sea” continued to appear in Tolkien’s later writings, for example in the second version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa from around 1950 (TQ2: PE18/97). However, Tolkien also considered alternate derivations of “sea” words from a new root √GAY(AR), for example changing √AY(AR) >> √GAY(AR) in etymological notes written between the 1st and 2nd editions of The Lord of the Rings (PE17/27). As opposed to √AY(AR) which meant simply “sea”, Tolkien also glossed √GAY(AR) as “astound, make aghast” (WJ/400) or “awe, dread” (PM/363) and it was the basis for other words such as S. gaer “awful, fearful” (WJ/400) as well as S. goe “terror, great fear”, Q. aica “fell, terrible, dire” and Q. aira “holy, sanctified” (PM/363). In this sense √GAYA may have been a replacement or a variant of √AYA(N) “blessed”.

Tolkien seems to have been unable to make up his mind between these two derivations, as reflected in an ongoing vacillation between S. gaear (PE17/27; PM/363; WJ/400) and aear (Let/386; RGEO/65) as the Sindarin word for “sea”. This word appeared in The Lord of the Rings in the phrase nef aear, sí nef aearon “here beyond the Sea, beyond the wide and sundering Sea”, but that does not resolve the question as the word in this phrase seems to be lenited, and hence would lose its initial g (if any). This vacillation continued late into Tolkien’s life: in the published corpus Tolkien derived “sea” words from √AYAR “sea” in a letter from 1967 (Let/386) and √GAYA “awe, dread” in The Shibboleth of Fëanor written in 1968 (PE/363).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin writing, I think it is best to use √GAY(AR) as the form for this root, though admittedly this does create problems for the etymologies of Q. ailin and S. ael “lake” (these would need to lean more heavily on their second ancient element: √LIN “pool”). It is not clear whether Tolkien always intended √GAY(AR) “awe, dread” and √AYA(N) “blessed” to coexist, though he did at least some of the time (for example on PE17/149). For purposes of Neo-Eldarin writing, I think it is best to assume they did coexist, with √AYA serving as the basis for “holy” words like Q. aira/S. aer “holy” and Q. Ainu, whereas √GAYA could serve as the basis for “awe, dread” words like Q. aica “fell, terrible, dire” and S. goe “terror, great fear”. Q. ëar/S. gaear “sea” would fall into the second group as a thing inspiring awe.

gayār

noun. sea, the terrifier

sīru

noun. stream

airō

noun. ocean

ndorē

noun. land

ndōro

noun. land

ossai

masculine name. Ossë

tollă

noun. island

gaiar

noun. Great Sea

dóri-

noun. land

Isolated from Lindórinan. The independent form of the word may differ; it is unclear where the i of the compound Lindórinan comes from. In the Etymologies, the Eldarin words for "land" are derived from a stem NDOR "dwell, stay, rest, abide" (LR:376).

No Nandorin word is there listed, but Sindarin dor is derived from primitive ndorê. Notice, however, that Tolkien many years later derived the Eldarin words for "land" from a stem DORO "dried up, hard, unyielding" (WJ:413). However, this later source does confirm that the Primitive Quendian form was ndorê, now thought to be formed by initial enrichment d > nd. This is defined as "the hard, dry land as opposed to water or bog", later developing the meaning "land in general as opposed to sea", and finally also "a land" as a particular region, "with more or less defined bounds".

Whether dóri- actually comes from ndorê is highly doubtful (this would rather yield *dora in Nandorin), but it must be derived from the same set of stems.