star

root. *stiff, [ᴹ√] stiff

The root ᴹ√STAR “stiff” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives like ᴹQ. sara/N. thâr “stiff grass” and N. tharn “sapless, stiff, rigid, withered” (Ety/STAR). It had an extended variant ᴹ√STARAN serving as the basis for Ilk. thrôn “stiff, hard” in Ilk. Belthronding (Ety/STARAN). The root √STAR reappeared unglossed in Common Eldarin: Verb Structure of the early 1950s as a verbal root to illustrate certain patterns in the formation of perfect tenses; as such it may not be a “real” appearance of the root (PE22/133).

elen

noun. star

ēl

noun. star

el

root. lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky

Tolkien introduced ᴹ√EL as the basis for Elvish star-words in The Etymologies of the 1930s at the same time as he devised a new etymology for the words for “Elf” as the “Star-Folk” using an extended form of this root ᴹ√ELED (Ety/EL, ELED). The extended root √ELED seems to have survived at least up until around 1950, where it appear among list of examples of roots for Elvish tribal names, with deleted variant √EDEL (PE18/84). But later on the extended form seems to have fallen away, at least as the basis for Elf-words, being replaced in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 by the root √DEL “walk, go, proceed, travel” and its Quenya-only variant √LED.

In the Quendi and Eldar essay, the words for “Elf” were recontextualized as a blend of the senses “star” and “departure”, referring to Elves both as the people of the stars and the specific group of the Eldar as those Elves who left for Aman (WJ/362-3). In these same notes Tolkien said that ele originated first as an interjection meaning “lo!, behold!”, as uttered when the Elves first beheld the stars (WJ/360). In this sense, it might have been a partial restoration of a (hypothetical) early root ✱ᴱ√ELE used for various words of wonderment and “otherness” in the 1910s and 20s; see that entry for details.

eledā

noun. star-folk, of the stars

elen-barathī

noun. star-queen

eled

root. *Star-Folk, Elf

elendīl

masculine name. Star-lover

thillu, thilnu

verb. shine out, appear (of star)

anār

noun. Sun

-sta

suffix. land, *part, *part; [ᴹQ.] close grouping, land

A collective suffix appearing in words like quentasta “historical account” = “any particular arrangement (by some author) of a series of records or evidences” (VT39/16). In 1998 Carl Hostetter suggested it was connected to the Sindarin class plural suffix -ath (VT39/20 note #27), a suggestion that was confirmed by the 2013 publication of Primitive Quendian Structure (written by Tolkien in 1936), which had -tta, -sta being Quenya suffixes for “close grouping” connected to the Ilkorin and Noldorin class plural -ath, both vaguely related to duals (PE21/57).

However, the root √SAT also meant “space, place; divide, mark off” (VT42/19) or “divide, apportion”, and as such -sta sometimes meant “part” as in fraction words like nel(d)esta “one third”, or in names of the regions within Númenor such as Orrostar “Eastlands” or Forostar “Northlands” (UT/165), more literally “✱East-parts” and “✱North-parts”. Compare also asta “month” = “year-part” (LotR/1108; VT48/11). That means the suffix -sta sometimes means “collection” and sometimes means “division”, depending on context.

Conceptual Development: Fraction words in the 1920s used ᴱQ. -sto or -nto (PE14/51, 84).

-tar

suffix. honorific

elen

noun. star

The most common Quenya word for “star”, mentioned very frequently, derived from an extended form ✶elen of the root √EL “behold” (PE17/67; WJ/360, 362). Its usual plural form is eleni, but it has an archaic plural †eldi sometimes used in verse, the result of the Ancient Quenya sound whereby [[aq|[ln] became [ld]]] after the ancient plural underwent the Quenya syncope, ✶elenī > AQ. elni; its normal modern plural form eleni was actually a reformation from the singular (PE17/57, 151; WJ/362).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, though in the original entry for the root ᴹ√EL Tolkien said it was poetical and gave variants ellen and elena (Ety/EL).

él Archaic

noun. star

An archaic or poetic word for star (WJ/362), somewhat common in compounds but in ordinary speech typically appearing as elen. It was derived directly from the primitive root √EL “behold”, the basis for other star words (PM/340; WJ/360).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as poetical ᴹQ. él “star” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above, though in this document the root ᴹ√EL meant “star” (Ety/EL), a common gloss for the root in later writings as well.

elen

star

elen noun "star" (SA:êl, elen, EL, VT49:39); pl. eleni (occasionally in verse: eldi) (WJ:362, PE17:127); partitive pl. elelli for elenli (PE17:127), gen. pl. elenion in the phrase Elenion Ancalima "brightest of stars" (LotR2:IV ch. 9; see Letters:385 for translation); elen atta "two stars" (VT49:44), genitive elen atto "of two stars" (VT49:45), eleni neldë "three stars", archaic elenion neldë = "of stars three". Genitive "of 3 stars" = elenion neldë (for archaic elenion neldëo) (VT49:45). Allative elenna "starwards" used as name of Númenor _(Silm; see Elenna)_; ablative pl. elenillor "from stars" in Markirya. **Nai elen siluva ***"may a star shine", VT49:38.

él

star

†él noun "star", pl. éli given (WJ:362, EL)

ílë

star

ílë noun "star" (LT1:269; rather elen, él in LotR-style Quenya.)

carnil

proper name. *Red Star

The name of a red star (SI/Carnil), possibly Mars (MR/435), it is perhaps a compound of carnë (carni-) “red” and †él “star”. Alternately, it could be a simple consonant expansion: carni-l; hat-tip to Vyacheslav Stepanov for this suggestion.

elatan

masculine name. *Star Man

The husband of Silmarien and father of Valandil, ancestor of the kings of Gondor and Arnor (UT/173). His name seems to be a compound of él “star” and Atan “Man”.

elda

noun. Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk

The most common Quenya word for “Elf”. Its literal meaning is “one of the Star-folk” (WJ/374), a name given to them by Oromë (S/49) and derived from the same primitive root √EL as Q. elen “star”. Strictly speaking, this term excludes the Avari who chose not to journey to Valinor, so that the proper term for all of Elvenkind is Q. Quendë “one of the Elven race”. The Elves of the West rarely encountered the Avari, however, so that term Elda was ordinarily broad enough to describe all Elves.

Conceptual Development: This word dates back to the earliest stages of Tolkien’s languages. At its first appearance, ᴱQ. Elda was glossed “a beach-fay” (QL/35), but was soon extended to describe all Elves (LT1/113). In Tolkien’s earliest writings the word was not given a clear etymology. In the Lhammas “Account of Tongues” from the 1930s (LR/168-180), Tolkien gave ᴹQ. Elda the sense of “one who departed” (LR/169), as opposed to the ᴹQ. Lembi “Lingerers” who remained behind (precursors of the Avari). With this sense, Elda was derived from ᴹ√LED “go, fare, travel” (Ety/LED).

Tolkien soon revised the etymology of Elda so that it was derived instead from ᴹ√ELED “star-folk” (Ety/ELED). In some later writings, he considered both etymologies of this word to be valid, so that Elda was blending of both “star-folk” (from √EL) and Q. Eldo “marcher” (from √LED or √DEL), as discussed in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 and elsewhere (WJ/362-3, PE17/139). However, the sense “star-folk” is probably better known.

In some notes from 1957, Tolkien considered deriving this word from a variant root √DEL “fair” so that its meaning would be “the fair” (PE17/151), but this seems to have been a transient idea.

elemmacil

masculine name. *Star Sword

The captain of the gates of Gondolin who confronted Tuor (UT/45). His name is most likely a compound of elen “star” and macil “sword”, with the n assimilated to the m.

elemmírë

proper name. Elven-gem, Star-gem

The name of a star (S/48), possibly Mercury (MR/435). It was also the name of the Vanyarin elf of unknown gender who composed the Aldudénië (S/76). This name is a compound of elen “star” and mírë “jewel, gem” (SA/mîr, PE19/96), with the n assimilated to the m.

Conceptual Development: When this name first appeared, it was Elemírë with only a single m (MR/100). It also appeared in some places with a short i (MR/435).

elendil

masculine name. Elf-friend, Star-lover

Tar-Elendil was the fourth ruler of Númenor (UTI/219). Many centuries later a second, more famous, Elendil became the leader of the Men of the West against Sauron at the end of the Second Age and was considered the first king of Gondor and Arnor (LotR/1037). This name is attributed two different meanings: “Elf-friend” and “Star-lover” (WJ/410). The first interpretation was common among Men, and was derived from the ancient associations between Elda “Elf” and †él “star”. Properly speaking, though, his name was a compound of elen “star” and the suffix -(n)dil “lover”, so “Star-lover” is a better interpretation in proper Quenya. The proper Quenya for “Elf-friend” would be Eldandil.

Conceptual Development: In the very first draft of the tale of the Fall of Númenor, this character was named N. Agaldor > N. Amroth (LR/12, 31). When this character first appeared in the “Lost Road”, his name was ᴹQ. Herendil “Fortune’s Friend” and his father was called ᴹQ. Elendil (LR/57). In “The Notion Club Papers”, the character was given the Adûnaic name Ad. Nimruzân >> Nimruzîr “Elf-friend” (SD/389-90), and his contemporaneous Quenya name also shifted to ᴹQ. Elendil (SD/356). His father became ᴹQ. Amardil, later Q. Amandil.

The earlier character Ælfwine might be consider a precursor to Elendil, at least in the meaning of his name: “Elf-friend”. Therefore, the Early Qenya name ᴱQ. Eldairon of Ælfwine could be considered a precursor to the name Elendil (LT2/313).

elendur

masculine name. *Star-servant

Eldest son of Isildur (S/295, UT/271) and also the 9th king of Arnor (LotR/1038). This name is probably a compound elen “star” and the suffix -(n)dur “-servant”.

elentir

proper name. *Star-gazer

In one version of the tale of the last days of Númenor, he was the brother of Amandil and first love of Tar-Míriel (PM/159-160). His name may be a compound elen “star” and -tir “-gazer”, as in palantír “far-gazer”.

elentári

feminine name. Queen of the Stars, Star-queen

A title of Varda as the maker of the stars (LotR/377, S/48), a compound elen “star” and tári “queen”.

Conceptual Development: In the first name list of the Valar from the 1910s, Varda’s title was ᴱQ. Tinwetári beside the variant Tinwevarni (PE14/14), using the earlier word tinwe for “star” (LT1A/Tinwetári). It was the first of these forms, Tinwetári, that appeared in the earliest Lost Tales along with the gloss “Queen of Stars” (LT1/100), and it also appeared in the Qenya and Gnomish Lexicons from the 1910s (QL/102; GL/18).

The name retained the form ᴹQ. Tinwetári in the first Silmarillion drafts from the beginning of the 1930s (SM/82, SM/286) and this name also appeared in The Etymologies (Ety/TĀ). In Silmarillion drafts from the mid-30s, the name was changed to ᴹQ. Tinwerontar (LR/200, 216) and the same change was made in The Etymologies (Ety/TIN), perhaps with the genitive plural tinweron of tinwe “star”. The name was soon revised to ᴹQ. Elentári (LR/216, Ety/EL), and the name retained this form thereafter.

elerossë

masculine name. Star Foam

The Quenya name of S. Elros (PM/349), a compound of elen “star” and rossë “dew”. The final -n of elen was assimilated to the r, which also happened in the names Elerondo and Elerrína.

elestirnë

feminine name. Star-brow

Tar-Elestirnë “Lady of the Star-brow” was the name given to Erendis when she became the queen of Númenor (UT/184). The initial element of this name is probably elen “star”. The second element -stirnë “brow” is probably related to the primitive form stīrē “face” (VT41/10) seen in the name Carnistir. The final -n of elen was probably assimilated to the s, which also happened in the name Elessar.

elostirion

place name. *Star Fort

The tallest of the white towers on the Emyn Beraid (S/292, UT/411 note #2). This name may be a compound of él “star” and [ᴹQ.] ostirion “fort”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, ᴹQ. Elostirion was a transient replacement for Osgiliath (TI/423, WR/81).

luinil

proper name. *Blue Star

The name of a blue star (S/48, SI/Luinil), possibly Neptune (MR/435). This name is perhaps a compound of luinë (luini-) “blue” and †él “star”. Alternately, it could be a simple consonant expansion: luini-l; hat-tip to Vyacheslav Stepanov for this suggestion.

tintallë

feminine name. (Star) Kindler

A title of Varda as maker of the stars (LotR/377). The first element of this name is the verb tinta- “to kindle” (SA/tin, MR/388), and the second element is the feminine agental suffix -llë (PE17/69).

Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Tintalle appears in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/200, 212), as well as in The Etymologies (Ety/TIN). In The Etymologies, the variant form ᴹQ. Tintánie “star-maker, star-making” also appeared (Ety/TIN, TAN; EtyAC/TAN), which seems to be a combination of the roots ᴹ√TIN “sparkle” and ᴹ√TAN “make” with the abstract noun ending ᴹQ. -ie; this name did not appear in the narratives, however.

In Notes on Galadriel’s Song (NGS) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien considered and rejected the root √TAN “construct” as an element in the name Tintallë (PE17/69). After this rejection, he decided that the final element -lle was a feminine agental suffix, but this unfortunately clashed with the contemporaneous 2nd-plural pronominal suffix -llë “you”. Tolkien considered changing Varda’s title to Tintalde to avoid this conflict (PE17/69). In later writings, he revised the 2nd-plural pronoun to -ldë instead (VT49/16, 51), which allowed Tintallë to stand unchanged.

tinwë

noun. spark, [apparent] star

A word that technically means “spark”, but was often applied to stars as well (PE17/66, RGEO/61), derived from the root √TIN “spark(le)” (MR/388; PE17/22).

Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. tinwe was used for “star” all the way back in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where it was also derived from the root ᴱ√TINI “twinkle” (QL/92). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it appeared as ᴹQ. tinwe “spark (star)” with the primitive form ᴹ✶tinmē under the root ᴹ√TIN “sparkle, emit slender (silver pale) beams” (Ety/TIN); the gloss was corrected from “sparkle (star)” to “spark (star)” by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (EtyAC/TIN). The word and its derivation appeared numerous times in Tolkien’s later writings, making it exceptionally stable in his mind.

Elatan

star-man

Elatan, masc. name *"Star-man", cf. atan (UT:210)

Elemmírë

star-jewel

Elemmírë noun *"Star-jewel" (elen + míre, notice assimilation nm > mm), name of a star/planet (possibly Mercury, MR:435, where the spelling used is Elemmirë); also name of an Elf. (SA:mîr)

Elenarda

star-kingdom

Elenarda place-name "Star-kingdom", upper sky (3AR). Deleted material in the Etymologies defined elenarda as "star-realm", "upper air or sky" (VT45:16). Compare elen, (h)arda.

Elendil

star-friend

Elendil masc. name"Star-friend", "Lover or student of stars", applied to those devoted to astronomical lore. However, when the Edain used this name they intended it to mean "Elf-friend", confusing elen "star" and elda "elf" (WJ:410). (This idea that the name was misapplied seems to be late; Tolken earlier interpreted the name as an ancient compound Eled + ndil so that the meaning really was "Elf-friend"; see Letters:386. See also NIL/NDIL in the Etymologies, where Elendil is equated with "Ælfwine", Elf-friend.) Allative Elendilenna "to Elendil" (PM:401); Elendil Vorondo genitive of Elendil Voronda "Elendil the Steadfast" _(CO) Pl. Elendili the Númenórean Elf-friends (Silm)_; the variant Elendilli in SD:403 would seem to presuppose a stem-form Elendill- not attested elsewhere. Tar-Elendil a Númenorean king, UT:210.

Elendur

star-servant

Elendur masc. name, "Star-servant", probably intended to mean "Elf-servant"; in effect a variant of Elendil(Appendix A). The name was also used in Númenor (UT:210).

Elentári

star-queen

Elentári noun "Star-queen", title of Varda (EL, SA:tar)

Elenwë

star-person

Elenwë fem. name *"Star-person" (Silm)

Elerondo

star-vault

*Elerondo masc_. _name "Star-vault", Sindarin Elrond. Extrapolated from Elerondiel "daughter of Elrond", patronym of Arwen (PE17:56); cf. Elerossë, rondo.

Elerossë

star foam

Elerossë masc. name, "star foam", starlit foam, Sindarin Elros(PM:348)

Elerína

star-crowned

Elerína adj. used as noun:"star-crowned", a name of Taniquetil (EL, RIG), spelt Elerrína in Silm

Elwë

star-person

Elwë masc. name, *"Star-person" (PM:340, WJ:369, WEG, VT45:12). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, Elwë was also the name of a Tengwa similar in form to Roman c, which in a full-vowel mode denoted a (short) e. (VT45:17; in the Sindarin "Mode of Beleriand", exemplified in the LotR itself, this letter has the value a instead. Elsewhere in the Etymologies itself, this symbol is called Ossë [q.v.] and is assigned the value o.)

Tinwerontar

star-queen, title of varda

[Tinwerontar] noun "star-queen, title of Varda" (TIN, TĀ/TA3)

Tinwerína

star-crowned

Tinwerína adj. used as noun: place-name "Star-crowned", variant of Elerrína as a name of Taniquetil (RIG, PE17:182)

Tinwetar

star-queen, queen of stars

[Tinwetar] noun "star-queen, Queen of Stars", title of Varda (TIN, TĀ/TA3)

elentirmo

masculine name. Star-watcher

Another name of Tar-Meneldur (UT/167, 213). This name is a compound elen “star” and otherwise unattested tirmo “watcher”.

tingilindë

twinkling star

tingilindë noun "a twinkling star" (TIN, VT45:15)

tingilya

twinkling star

tingilya noun "a twinkling star" (TIN), also divided ting-ilya (VT45:15)

an sí varda, tintallë, elentári ortanë máryat oiolossëo ve fanyar

for now Varda, Star-kindler, Star-queen [has] lifted up her (two) hands from Mount Everwhite like (white) clouds

The 9th and 10th phrases of the prose Namárië, corresponding to the 9th and 10th lines of the poem. They are combined here for purposes of discussion because Tolkien moved words between the two lines. Tolkien dramatically reorganized the text from the poetic version as follows:

> an sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë >>

an sí Varda, Tintallë, Elentári ortanë máryat Oiolossëo ve fanyar

Tolkien grouped together the three names of Varda (Varda, Tintallë, Elentári) as the subject of the phrase. He moved the object máryat “her (two) hands” immediately after the verb, which is the usual Quenya word order. He also moved the two modifying clauses, Oiolossëo “from Mount Everwhite” and ve fanyar “like (white) clouds”, to the end.

The revised Quenya ordering would match the poetic English translation quite closely if the phrase “from Mount Everwhite” were moved closer to the end:

> “for now the Kindler, Varda, the Queen of the Stars from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds” »»»

“✱for now Varda, the Kindler, the Queen of the Stars has uplifted her hands from Mount Everwhite like clouds”

elendilmir

proper name. Star of Elendil

The jewel in the coronet of Arnor (LotR/1043). It is a compound of the name Elendil and the word mírë “jewel”.

elenna-nórë

place name. The Land of the Star

A longer name of Elenna appearing in the Cirion’s Oath (UT/305), with the word nórë “land” suffixed.

elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo

a star shines on the hour of our meeting

elenya

noun. Saturday, *Star-day

vanda sina termaruva elenna·nóreo alcar enyalien

This oath shall stand in memory of the glory of the Land of the Star

First phrase @@@

eleni námaron anírime

stars/a star is/are the most beautiful of (created) things

elen síla omentielman

a star shines upon our meeting

nai elen siluva lyenna

*may a star shine upon you

nai elen siluva parma-restalyanna meldonya

*may a star shine upon your book-fair, my friend

tin-

verb. to spark, glitter, to spark, glitter, [ᴹQ.] glint, [ᴱQ.] gleam, shine as a star

éle

noun. star-ray, beam

elanar

noun. pimpernel, (lit.) sun-star

A neologism coined by Parmandil posted on 2024-05-07 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of él “star” and Anar “Sun”.

elenitsë

noun. firefly, (lit.) star-fly

A neologism coined by Delle posted on 2024-04-23 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of elen “star” and [ᴺQ.] itsë “fly”.

elenquenso

noun. astrologer, (lit.) star-sayer

A neologism for “astrologer” coined by Laiqua posted on 2026-03-31 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a combination of elen “star” and quenso “sayer”.

elerondo Reconstructed

masculine name. Elrond, (lit.) Star-dome

Probably the Quenya name of S. Elrond, attested only in the names Elerondiel and (rejected) Elerondorel for his daughter Arwen (PE17/56). These two names probably meant “✱Daughter of Elrond”. The name Elerondo was therefore probably a compound of elen “star” and rondo “vaulted roof”, a direct translation of S. Elrond. The final -n of elen was probably assimilated to the r, which also happened in the names Elerossë and Elerrína.

elhíse

noun. nebula, star cloud

A neologism coined by Ellanto in 2023-09-20 on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of él “star” with hísë “mist”, pronounced [ɛl̥.ˈl̥iː.θɛ] (with lh = long voiceless l).

ëarel

noun. starfish, (lit.) sea-star

A neologism for “starfish” by Delle posted on 2023-05-08 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of ëar “sea” and él “star”.

rómestámo

masculine name. East-helper

In some late notes, this was the name of one of the Blue Wizards (S. Ithryn Luin), elsewhere called Alatar and Pallando (PM/385). The name was translated as “East-helper”. Its initial element is probably an assimilated form of rómen “east”, so that its second element -stámo must mean “helper”, though what form it would have taken as an independent word is unclear.

Conceptual Development: J.R.R. Tolkien also gave this name as Róme(n)star, with the same initial element, but its final element seems to be the plural of the suffix -sta “land, ✱part” (PM/391, note #28). How this variant fits with the gloss “East-helper” is unclear.

elentirmen

noun. astronomical observatory, (lit.) star-watch-place

A neologism for an “astronomical observatory” coined by Luinyelle posted on 2024-12-24 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of elen “day” and tirmen “observatory”.

titinwë

noun. small star, sparkle of dew, *small sparkling thing

Niellúnë

sirius

Niellúnë noun "Sirius" (a star), also Nierninwa (LT1:262)

Nierninwa

sirius

Nierninwa noun "Sirius" (a star), also Niellúnë (LT1:262)

elerrimbë

 noun. starry host; host of stars

anar

noun. Sun

Anar is the most common Quenya name for the Sun and was derived from primitive ✶Anār, an augmented form of the root √NAR “fire” (Let/425; PE17/38; Ety/ANÁR; SD/302, 306). In the uninflected form the long vowel shortens as usual in final syllables, but its stem form is probably Anár- as with the name Anárion (LotR/1044) and the plural coranári of coranar “sun-round” (PM/126). When suffixes with consonant clusters are added, however, the á shortens such as with Anarinya “my Sun” (LR/72).

Conceptual Development: This term appeared in Silmarillion drafts of the 1930s with the gloss “Heart of Flame” (LR/240) and as ᴹQ. Anar “sun” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above (Ety/ANÁR, NAR¹).

Anar

sun

Anar noun "Sun" (ANÁR, NAR1, SA:nár; UT:22 cf. 51); anar "a sun" (Markirya); Anarinya "my Sun" (FS). See also ceuranar, Úr-anar. (According to VT45:6, Tolkien in the Etymologies mentioned anar "sun" as the name of the short vowel carrier of the Tengwar writing system; it would be the first letter if anar is written in Quenya mode Tengwar.) Compounded in the masc. name Anárion "Sun-son" (Isildur's brother, also the Númenorean king Tar-Anárion, UT:210); also in Anardil "Sun-friend" (Appendix A), a name also occurring in the form Anardilya with a suffix of endearment (UT:174, 418). Anarya noun second day of the Eldarin six-day week, dedicated to the Sun (Appendix D). Anarríma name of a constellation: *"Sun-border"??? (Silm; cf. ríma)

Calaventë

sun

Calaventë _("k")_noun "Sun" (LT1:254)

Calavénë

sun

Calavénë _("k")_noun "Sun" (lit. "light-vessel", "light-dish") (LT1:254)

Narsil

sun

Narsil (Þ) noun the sword of Elendil, compound of the stems seen in Anar "Sun" and Isil "Moon"; see Letters:425 for etymology

ceuranar

new sun after solstice

ceuranar ("k")noun "new sun after solstice" (VT48:7), apparently a compound ceura or ceurë + anar, q.v.

ceuranar

noun. new sun after solstice

A word appearing in notes from the late 1960s glossed “new sun after solstice” (VT48/7), a combination of Q. ceura “renewed” and Q. Anar “Sun”.

norna

stiff, tough; hard, firm, resistant

norna adj. "stiff, tough; hard, firm, resistant" (WJ:413, PE17:106), "thrawn, tough, obdurate", mainly applied to persons (PE17:181)

tauca

stiff, wooden

tauca ("k") "stiff, wooden" (PE17:115)

úr(in)

proper name. Sun

A late remnant of earlier names for the Sun: ᴱQ. Ûr and ᴹQ. Úrin. In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, this name was changed from Úrin >> Naira >> Vása (MR/198), but the form Úr(in) occasionally appeared in some later writings (PE17/148, MR/377). This name was a derivative of the root √UR “heat, be hot” (PE17/148).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this name was ᴱQ. Ûr, Ur or Úri “Sun”, but literally meaning “Fire” (LT1/187, QL/98). The name became ᴹQ. Úrin in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/240). It was rejected in The Etymologies along with the root form ᴹ√UR, but reappeared sometimes in later writing as noted above.

úr-anar

the red sun

Úr-anar noun, word occurring in Fíriel's Song, translated "the red sun"; actually the prefixed element úr- must have to do with the element ur- "heat, be hot" mentioned in the Silmarillion Appendix. Also compare Ûr as an early Qenya word for "the Sun".

úri

sun

úri noun "sun" (MC:214, 221; this is "Qenya"); genitive úrio "sun's" (MC:216)

gwastar

noun. hummock

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “hummock”, a combination of the prefix N. gwa- “together” and the root ᴹ√STAR “stiff” (Ety/STAR; WŌ).

el

noun. star

geil

noun. star

eldûn

masculine name. *West-star

Earlier of Eluréd (LR/147 note #42). Since his brother’s name was Elrûn “✱East-star”, this name may be a combination of el “star” and dûn “west”.

elrûn

masculine name. *East-star

Earlier of Elurín (LR/147 note #42). This name also appeared in The Etymologies, where it seems to be a combination of el “star” and the lenited form of rhûn “east” (Ety/RŌ).

gilhof

noun. dew, *(lit.) star-juice

A noun for “dew” in a rough notes from 1940, apparently a combination of N. geil “star” and ON. sōba “juice” (TMME/53).

argilion

noun. *Star-day

elanor

noun. sun-star

elbereth

feminine name. Queen of Stars, (lit.) Star Queen

elros

masculine name. Star-foam

elwing

feminine name. Star-spray

tinw

noun. spark, small star

eledh

noun. Star-folk, Elf

geil

noun. star, bright spark

ithildin

noun. *moon-star

tinw

noun. spark, small star

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

anor

noun. Sun

Anor

noun. sun

anaur Archaic

noun. Sun

êl Archaic

noun. star

A Sindarin word for “star” that is largely archaic and poetic, and is mainly used as element in names like Elrond (Let/281; WJ/363; Ety/EL); the more usual word for “star” in ordinary speech was gil (RGEO/65). However, the collective form elenath is still used in common speech to refer to the entire host of stars (WJ/363). The plural of êl is elin, as this word was derived from ancient ✶elen, and the final n that was lost in the singular was preserved in the plural. In some cases Tolkien posited a restored analogical singular elen from the plural form (PE17/24, 67, 139), but this isn’t in keeping with the notion that the word was archaic, so I would ignore this for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: This word and its root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. el “star” was derived from the root ᴹ√EL of similar meaning, but was “only [used] in names” (Ety/EL). It seems Tolkien introduced the root to give a new etymology for names like N. Elrond and N. Elwing, which initially appeared under the root ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” (Ety/ƷEL).

el

star

n. star.

êl

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath** ** n. star. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni, pl2. elelli. >> elen

elen

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath _n._star. Its collective plural (pl2.) designates 'the (host of all the) stars, (all) the (visible) stars of the firmament'. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni. o menel aglar elenath ! lit. 'from Firmament glory of the stars !'. >> êl

elen Archaic

noun. star

gil-

noun. star

gill

noun. star

anglachel

proper name. *Iron-of-the-flaming-star

A sword “made of iron that fell from heaven as a blazing star” (S/201). Given its origin, its name might be a combination of ang “iron”, lach “flame” and êl “star” (SA/ang, lhach).

anguirel

proper name. *Iron-of-the-fiery-star

A companion sword to Anglachel, constructed from the same fiery meteor (S/202). Its initial element is probably ang “iron” (SA/eng) and its final element may be êl “star”. Its middle element may be related to the root √UR “heat, be hot”, perhaps an otherwise unattested adjective ?uir “fiery”, though David Salo suggested it might be [N.] uir “eternity” (GS/359).

elanor

noun. pimpernel, small golden star-shaped flower, (lit.) sun-star

The name of a flower in Lórien translated “sun-star” also given as the name of the first daughter of Samwise (LotR/1026). It is a combination of el “star” and Anor “sun” (PE17/55). In notes for the tale of Aldarion and Erendis, Tolkien said it also grew in Númenor and “was a small golden star-shaped flower” (UT/216 note #20). In a letter to Amy Ronald from 1969, Tolkien described it as “a pimpernel (perhaps a little enlarged) growing sun-golden flowers and star-silver ones on the same plant, and sometimes the two combined” (Let/402). Thus it was either a golden star-shaped flower or a pimpernel-like plant growing both sun-coloured and star-coloured flowers.

elbereth

feminine name. Queen of Stars, (lit.) Star-queen

The Sindarin name of Varda, a compound of êl “star” and bereth “queen”, that is: “Star-queen” (LotR/378, RGEO/66). The Quenya equivalent of this name is Elentári. This name was of ancient derivation, from ✶elen-barathī > elmbereth > Elbereth, as shown by the fact that the initial [b] in the second element did not lenite to [v] (MR/387, PE17/22).

Possible Etymology: In the 1930s, N. Elbereth was likewise derived ✶el(en)-barathī (Ety/EL, BARATH). This 1930s derivation worked through a combination of i-affection and i-intrusion, with the resulting *ei* > *e* as often happened in unstressed final syllables in Noldorin of the 1930s:

• ✱elen-barathī > elem-berethi > el(e)mbereith > N. elbereth.

This derivation no longer works in Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s, however, since [[s|later [ei] became [ai] in final syllables]] in Sindarin and did not reduce to e. Thus we should have ✶barathī > ✱✱beraith. One possibility is that Tolkien transferred this derivation to the root √BER “marry”: in The Road Goes Ever On published in 1967, Tolkien said “bereth actually meant ‘spouse’, and is used of one who is ‘queen’ as spouse of a king” (RGEO/66). This theory was first proposed to me by Elaran in a private Discord chat in November 2018, and I find it very compelling; it neatly resolves the phonological problem if bereth is derived from ✱berettē or something similar.

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this name was G. Timbridhil “Queen of Stars” (GL/71, LT1A/Tinwetári), which reappeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s as N. Timbreðil (Ety/TIN). Tolkien revised the name to N. Elbereth “Star Queen” (Ety/EL, Ety/BARATH), which appeared in the narratives starting with the Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/68).

Before giving this name to Varda, Tolkien used the name Ilk. Elbereth for the youngest child of Dior (Ety/BER), but he changed that name to Elrûn (later S. Elurín). Tolkien also used the name N. Elbereth for one of the sons of Elrond before renaming him S. Elrohir (WR/297).

elrond

masculine name. Star-dome

Lord of Rivendell (LotR/170). His name is translated “Star-dome” (Let/448, WJ/414), a combination of êl “star” and rond “vaulted roof” (SA/rond, WJ/414).

Conceptual Development: The name Elrond first appeared in early Silmarillion drafts from the late 1920s (SM/38) and was first published in the Hobbit in 1937. His name appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s in two forms: Noldorin Elrond “Starry-dome” (Ety/EL) and Ilkorin Elrond “Vault of Heaven” (Ety/ROD), both with essentially the same etymology as his later Sindarin name. In a few places Tolkien considered alternate etymologies for this name: in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957, he suggested the final element might be rhond “body” (PE17/183), and in a letter to Rhona Beare from 1958, he suggested the initial element might be archaic †Ell “Elf” (Let/281). Both of these seem to have been transient ideas.

elros

masculine name. Star-foam

Brother of Elrond who chose life as a mortal Man and became the first king of Númenor (LotR/1034-5). His name is translated “Star-foam” (Let/448, PM/349), a combination of êl “star” and ross “foam” (SA/ros, PM/368-9).

Conceptual Development: The name N. Elros first appeared in the Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/155 note #9, LR/216) and was mentioned in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (WR/158). In a few places Tolkien considered alternate etymologies for this name: in a letter to Rhona Beare from 1958, he suggested the initial element might be archaic †Ell “Elf” (Let/281), and in an essay on “The Problem of Ros” from 1968, he considered but ultimately rejected the possibility that the final element was a Bëorian word rôs “foam”, instead of Sindarin. Both of these seem to have been transient ideas.

elwing

feminine name. Star-spray

Granddaughter of Lúthien, beloved of Q. Eärendil and mother of Elrond and Elros, her name is translated “Star-spray” (S/235, Let/448). This name is a combination of êl “star” and the lenited form of gwing “spray” (SA/wing; PM/365 note #55, 376 note #24).

Conceptual Development: Her name appeared as G. Elwing in the earliest Lost Tales (LT2/241), but in the Gnomish Lexicon from this period her name was translated “Lake Foam”, a variant of the name G. Ailwing (GL/17, 32). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, Tolkien revised the meaning of the initial element of N. Elwing, first deriving it from ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” (Ety/ƷEL), then from ᴹ√EL “star” (Ety/EL). Thereafter, her name remained “Star-spray”, but Tolkien did at times consider that the second element -wing might be borrowed from a non-Sindarin language, either from the language of the Green Elves (PM/349) or from Bëorian (PM/369).

gil

noun. star; (bright) spark, silver glint, twinkle of light

The usual word for “star” in Sindarin which replaced archaic/poetic êl; it originally meant “(bright) spark” (RGEO/65; VT42/11). It was derived from the root √(Ñ)GIL meaning “shine (white)” (PE17/152) or “silver glint” (MR/388; PE17/22).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as G. gail “a star” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/42), derived from the early root ᴱ√Gil- (GL/38). In the Early Noldorin Grammar Tolkien said ᴱN. gail meant “sign, token, heavenly body” (PE13/123); earlier in this document he gave it the gloss {“life” >>} “sign” (PE13/120 and note #6). In Early Noldorin Word-lists written somewhat later, gail again simply meant “star” (PE13/143), and it was used this way in the Nebrachar poem from around 1930 (MC/217).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gave it as N. geil “star” from primitive ᴹ✶gilya under the root ᴹ√GIL “shine (white or pale)” (Ety/GIL; EtyAC/GIL). Christopher Tolkien incorrectly marked geil as a plural form in The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road (LR/358), but Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne corrected this in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (VT45/15). Remnants of this 1930s derivation can be seen in the forms geil/gail in notes from the 1950s, derived from ancient ✶gilyā “silver spark” (PE17/30, 152). Mostly, however, Tolkien represented this word as gil in later writings, including in The Lord of the Rings Appendix E (LotR/1113).

Possible Etymology: The etymology of gil is complicated by Tolkien’s vacillation with the singular form gail (†geil) < ✶gilyā, where the diphthong ai is the result of *a*-affection of the base vowel from *i* to *e*, which after *i*-intrusion produced *ei* and this diphthong became *ai* as usual in final syllables and monosyllables: gilyā [ >✱geli(a)] > geil > gail. Signs of this etymology can be seen in the class plural giliath as in S. Dagor-nuin-Giliath “Battle-under-Stars” (S/106).

With this alternate derivation, the plural form would still be gîl, since the ancient plural -ī prevented a-affection, and the prefixal form likewise would have been gil- (PE17/152). However, this derivation conflicts with Tolkien’s usual presentation of the singular form as gil. In some places Tolkien gave a primitive form like ✶(ñ)gillē (PE17/23) or a Sindarin form gill (PE17/50), but I think it is best to assume primitive ✱gili- to explain singular gil and class-plural giliath. This is further supported by the Telerin name Gilitíro “Starwatcher”; hat-tip to Vyacheslav Stepanov for suggesting this (PE23/143).

gil-estel

proper name. Star of (High) Hope

A name give to Vingilótë after it became a star, translated “Star of High Hope” (S/250). This name is a combination of gil “star” and estel “hope” (SA/gil).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, this name first appeared as Gil-Orrain of the same meaning, later revised to Gil-Amdir and finally Gil-Estel (WJ/246). On the carbon copy of the original revision, Orestel was written above Orrain; this fits better with the English translations, with Or- < ar(a)- “high”.

gil-orrain

proper name. Star of High Hope

The earliest form of Gil-Estel with the same translation “Star of High Hope” (WJ/246). The second element might begin with Or- < ar(a)- “high”, but the origin of the final -rain is unclear.

gilmith

feminine name. *Grey Star

Sister of S. Galador, the first lord of Dol Amroth (UT/248), perhaps a combination of S. gil “star” and S. mith “grey”.

gilrain

place name. *Wandering Star

A river in Gondor (LotR/875), a combination of gil “star” and rain “erratic wandering” (UT/242, VT42/12-3). Note that the river name Gilraen in The Silmarillion appendix is a typo (SA/ran), since that form is the name of Aragorn’s mother.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this river was first named N. Lameduin.

gilthoniel

feminine name. Star-kindler

A title of Elbereth (LotR/238) translated “Star-kindler” (RGEO/64, Let/278), the equivalent of Q. Tintallë (MR/388). This name is a combination of gil “star”, a derivative of the root √THAN “kindle” and the feminine suffix -iel (PE17/22-3, MR/388).

Conceptual Development: The name N. Gilthoniel appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s with essentially the same derivation as the one given above, except that the middle element was from the root ᴹ√TAN “make, fashion”, and the gloss was “Star-maker” (Ety/GIL, TAN). When this name first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, it was Gilthonieth, a form that also appeared in The Etymologies, but it was soon revised to Gilthoniel (RS/68). In some notes from the 1950s, Tolkien considered the possibility that the final element thoniel was a special past-tense agental formation meaning “kindler (in the past)” (PE17/82).

thorongil

proper name. Eagle of the Star

A name adopted by Aragorn when he travelled secretly within Gondor (LotR/1055) translated “Eagle of the Star” (UTI/Thorongil), a combination of thoron “eagle” (Let/427) and gil “star”.

Elbereth

theology. 'Star-queen'

theon.'Star-queen'. On the mythological association of Varda with stars, see PE17:22. Same meaning as Q. Elentári. Rarely Bereth. Formed later, Elbereth would prob. have been given such forms as Bereth (in)-elin or Bereth (in)gîl. >> Bereth (in)-elin, êl, elen

Elbereth

noun. star queen/lady

êl (“star”) + bereth (“queen, spouse of a king”) No lenition: original name Elenbarathi yielding Elmbereth, where triconsonantal lmb > lb.

Elfaron

noun. star-hunter (Moon)

êl (“star”) + faron (“hunter”)

Elros

noun. star foam, spray

êl (“star”) + ros (“foam, spray”) In PM:369, the last element is said to be rôs from the Bëorian tongue.

Gil-Estel (Eärendil)

noun. star of hope

gîl (“star, bright spark”) + estel (“hope”)

Gil-galad

noun. 'Star of light'

prop. n. 'Star of (clear) light'. >> gal-

Gil-galad

noun. 'Radiant Star

pl1. Gilgelaid** ** prop. n. 'Radiant Star(s), Star-light'. See also the (prob. primitive) form Gillingalati. >> galad

Gil-galad

noun. star of radiance

gîl (“star, bright spark”) + galad (“light, radiance”) Reinterpreted from gil + calad “star light” [Etym. KAL-]

Gildor

noun. noble star

gîl (“star, bright spark”) + taur (“noble, king, lord”) The second element is only used poetically, as -dor often found in names [Etym. TĀ-].

Gilthoniel

'Star-kindler'

theon.'Star-kindler'. Q. Tintalle. THĂN/THĀN << TÁN << TON; ÑGIL << GIL.

Gilthoniel

noun. star-kindler

gîl (pl. of gîl “star, bright spark”) + thóniel (perf. act. part. of than- “kindle, set light to”) #[HKF] it is possible that iel is just iell “daughter” [Etym. SEL-D] traditional ending for women’s names.

Thorongil

noun. eagle of star

thoron (“eagle”) + gîl (“star, bright spark”)

a hîr annûn gilthoniel

*oh Lady of the West, Star-kindler

The fourth phrase of Lúthien’s Song (LB/354). Three translations of this phrase are:

• Patrick Wynne: “✱O Lord of the West, star-kindling” (NTTLS/11)

• David Salo: “✱O Lady of the West, star-kindler” (GS/211)

• Bertrand Bellet and Benjamin Babut: “✱O Lady of the West, Starkindler” (GTLC)

The first word is the vocative particle a “O”. The second word hîr is typically translated as masculine “lord”, but since in this case it is addressing Elbereth, I think (like Salo, Bellet and Babut) it is better to translate it as “lady”, even though elsewhere the Sindarin word for “lady” is given as hiril or heryn. The third word is annûn “west” and the last word is Gilthoniel “Star-kindler”, one of the names of Elbereth (Varda).

Patrick Wynne instead suggested (NTTLS/10) that the fact that the word gilthoniel is lower case might mean it is an adjectival form “star-kindling” applied to the Moon rather than Varda, and he is addressed as “Lord” (the Elves considered the Moon to be male). This does explain the masculine form Hîr, but I find it difficult to believe that Lúthien would address the Moon by one of Varda’s name, and follow Salo, Bellet and Babut in assuming the words are spoken to Elbereth.

borgil

proper name. Red-star

Name of a red star (LotR/81), a combination of born “hot, red” and gil “star” (Let/426-7).

elanor

noun. 'sun-star'

n. Bot. 'sun-star'.

elanor

noun. star-sun (flower)

êl (“star”) + anor (“sun”)

ithildin

noun. 'moon-star'

n. 'moon-star(light)'. Tolkien notes also that it "Should be ithildim" (PE17:39).

ithildin

'moon-star'

1b n. 'moon-star', the magic alloy starmoon. >> Ithil, tîn

ithildin

noun. star-moon (metal)

Ithil (“moon”) + tinu, tint (“spark, little star”)

rodel

lofty star

1b n. lofty star. >> Nimrodel

uilos

noun. white flower like a star

A flower in Middle-earth about which Tolkien said “like stars bloomed the white flowers of uilos, the Evermind” (UT/49). Elsewhere Evermind was the translation of the Rohanese flower name simbelmynë (LotR/507), so uilos may be its Elvish name but with a different meaning. This word also appears in Amon Uilos, the Sindarin name of Oiolossë “Ever (Snow) White” (S/37). Thus uilos seems to be a combination of ui “ever” and either loss “snow” or gloss “white”.

aduial

noun. the evening, time of star-opening, "evendim"

minuial

noun. "morrowdim", the time near dawn, when the star fade

gil

noun. star, bright spark

In The Etymologies (Ety/358, corrected by VT/45:15), this word was given as geil , plural gîl. However, later in LotR/E and RGEO/73, Tolkien seems to consider gil as a singular (with no hints in the sources of what the plural would be, besides the collective plural giliath )

narn en·êl

*Tale of the Star

tinu

noun. spark, small star

êl

noun. star (little used except in verses)

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

gîl

star

gîl (i ngîl = i ñîl, o n**gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath** (RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

gîl

star

(i ngîl = i ñîl, o n’gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath **(RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. **elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

elchith

noun. nebula, star cloud

A neologism coined by Ellanto in 2023-09-20 on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of êl “star” with hîth “mist”.

Elrond

Star-dome

The name Elrond has been translated as "Star-dome", and "Vault of Heaven" recalling the glory of Menegroth though at an earlier stage, it was supposed to mean "Elf of the Cave". His Quenya name was most likely Elerondo, isolated from the patronymic Elerondiel, "daughter of Elrond".

tiniath

noun. group of stars, star-cluster, constellation

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2021 specifically for Eldamo, a class-plural form of S. tîn. This word refers only the entirety of specific group of stars; all stars that exist (or in the sky) would be S. giliath. As an ordinary class-plural, tiniath may also refer to any collection of sparkling things.

ithildin

moon-star

(”magic”metal that only mirrors starlight and moonlight) ithildin

ithildin

moon-star

(”magic”metal that only mirrors starlight and moonlight) ithildin.

elanor

star-sun

(a kind of pimpernel with golden and silver flowers) elanor (pl. elanoer). Archaic *elanaur.

elanor

star-sun

(pl. elanoer). Archaic ✱elanaur.

ithildin

moon-star

tim

small star

. In First Age North Sindarin this word appears as tim (MR:388). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely tinwath. 3)

tim

small star

(MR:388). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely  tinwath. 3)

tinu

small star

tinu (i dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds) (spark), analogical pl. tiny (i thiny). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely tinwath.

tinu

small star

tinu (i dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds) (spark), analogical pl. tiny (i thiny), coll. pl. tinwath

tinu

small star

(i** dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds) (spark), analogical pl. tiny (i** thiny). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely  tinwath.

gilion

of stars

(lenited ngilion; pl. gilioen). Archaic ✱giliaun.

anor

noun. Sun

The most common Sindarin name for the Sun derived from primitive ✶Anār, an augmented form of the root √NAR “fire” (PE17/38; Ety/ANÁR; SD/302-303, 306). The o is the result of ancient *ā* becoming *au* and then this *au* becoming *o* in polysyllables.

Conceptual Development: The term Anor was first mentioned in conjunction with early tales of Númenor (LR/41). It briefly appeared as N. {ánar &gt;&gt;} Anar “sun” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the entry for ᴹ√NAR (Ety/NAR¹; EtyAC/NAR¹), but as Anor under ᴹ√ANÁR (Ety/ANÁR). In The Notion Club Papers of the 1940s it was Anor, archaic †Anaur (SD/302-303, 306) and it retained this form thereafter.

Anor

noun. sun

Anor

noun. Sun

_n. Astron._Sun. Q. anār/anăr. >> Ithil

dorn

adjective. stiff, tough

tarch

adjective. stiff, tough

Anor

sun

1. Anor (pl. Anoer if there is a pl.) Archaic Anaur (SD:306). 2) naur (mainly in compounds as nar-, -nor) (flame, fire), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath.

anor

sun

(pl. Anoer if there is a pl.) Archaic Anaur (SD:306).

cýranor

noun. new sun after solstice

A neologism coined by Echuidor posted on 2024-08-31 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of cŷr “renewed” and Anor “Sun”, equivalent to Q. ceuranar.

dorn

stiff

1. dorn (tough), lenited dhorn, pl. dyrn; 2) tharn (sapless, rigid, withered), pl. thern.

dorn

stiff

(tough), lenited dhorn, pl. dyrn

naur

sun

(mainly in compounds as nar-, -nor) (flame, fire), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath.

tarias

stiffness

(i darias, o tharias) (toughness, difficulty), pl. teriais (i theriais) if there is a pl.

tarlanc

stiff-necked

(obstinate), lenited darlanc, pl. terlainc.

tharn

stiff

(sapless, rigid, withered), pl. thern.

elen Archaic

noun. star

él

noun. star

él síla lúmena vomentienguo

A star shines upon the hour of the meeting of our ways

gimil

root. *star

One of the roots Tolkien used to illustrate various processes of Primitive Adûnaic word formation (SD/422-5). It also seems to be the basis of words related to stars, such as gimli.

gimilnitîr

feminine name. Star-kindler

A title of the goddess Avradî (Q. Varda) translated “Star-kindler” (SD/428), and therefore the Adûnaic equivalent of S. Gilthoniel. The first element gimil means “stars”, and the second is an agental-formation for the verb nitir- “to kindle” (SD/427-8).

gimilzôr

masculine name. Star-?foam

Gimilzôr was the Adûnaic name of Elros (SD/380) in the story “The Notion Club Papers” from the mid-1940s. Since the element gimil means “stars”, this name is most likely a translation of the Sindarin name, which means “Star-foam”.

In later writings, Gimilzôr is the son of Ar-Sakalthôr and the 23rd ruler of Númenor, whose Quenya name was Tar-Telemnar (S/268). It is unclear whether this instance of Gimilzôr retains the same meaning as the earlier version of the name. It is possible that the later version has the same meaning as Telemnar (translated by most authors as “Silver-fire”), in which case Tolkien may also have revised the Adûnaic name of Elros (the word for “foam” was elsewhere given as Ad. roth). Alternately, it could be that the Adûnaic and Quenya names are unrelated, and Tar-Telemnar simply adopted the Adûnaic name of his illustrious ancestor.

Andreas Moehn suggested (EotAL/KH-B-L) that if Gimilzôr means “Silver-fire”, its initial element gimil “silver” could be a cognate of Dwarvish kibil. Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne suggested (AAD/11) that his Quenya name Telemnar contains adjective ᴹQ. telemna “of silver”, and does not involve “fire” at all.

Conceptual Development: As a name for Eärendil, this name first appeared as Indilzar (SD/363).

gimli

noun. star (in the sky)

A noun translated “star” (SD/431) or “star (in the sky)” (SD/427), and fully declined on SD/431 as an example of a Strong II noun.

gimlu-nitîr

kindler of a (particular) star

An example illustrating the difference between the singular noun gimli “star” and the collective-noun gimil “(all) stars” as used in the name Gimilnitîr “Star-kindler, kindler of all the stars” (SD/428).

igmil

noun. star-shaped figure

This noun is another singular variation of the collective-noun gimil “(all) stars”, used for a “star-shaped figure” (SD/427) instead of an actual star which is gimli.

azar

noun. star (draft)

Christopher Tolkien mentions this as a noun meaning “star” from early and unpublished materials related to “The Notion Club Papers” stories (PM/372). It may be an element in the early Adûnaic name Indilzar for Elros. As Indilzar was replaced by Gimilzôr, it is likely that azar was replaced by gimli and gimil, which are well attested in later writings.

gimil

collective noun. (all) stars; ?silver

A collective-noun meaning “all the stars of the heavens”, as opposed to gimli which was used for an individual star (SD/427). The element gimil appears in many names, including several later names in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne suggested (AAD/15) that it may be related to the Elvish root √(Ñ)GIL “shine (white)”.

Andreas Moehn suggested (EotAL/KH-B-L) that if the later name Gimilzôr means “Silver-fire”, its initial element gimil could instead mean “silver”, perhaps as a cognate of Dwarvish kibil. If so, this alternate meaning could either be a homonym of gimil “stars”, or a new meaning for gimil in Tolkien’s later works.

ûri

noun. sun

A noun translated “sun” (SD/306, 428). This word appears in the forms ûrê, ûri and ûrî, but Tolkien declared that the form with long î is actually the personified form Ûrî “Lady of the Sun” (SD/426), perhaps the Adûnaic name of Q. Arien. The form ûrê only appears once (SD/426), so ûri is probably to be preferred as the ordinary word for Sun, especially since it is a neuter noun, which ordinarily cannot end in a long -ê (SD/427). Tolkien lists the “later forms Uir, Ŷr” (SD/306), one of which may be the Westron word for “sun”, most likely Wes. uir. As suggested by several authors (AAD/24, EotAL/UR), ûri is probably derived from the Elvish root ᴹ√UR.

elroth

masculine name. Star-foam

uir

noun. sun

A word listed as a later form of Ad. ûri “sun” (SD/306) and therefore perhaps a Westron word, as suggested by Andreas Moehn (EotAL/UR). The other “later form” Ŷr is unlikely to be Westron, since y seems not to be a vowel in Westron.