si

this

Derivations

• √SI “this, this, [ᴹ√] here, now”

Element in

• ᴺQ. silúmëa “current, contemporary, modern”
• Q. siar(ë) “*today, this day”
• Q. sítë “of this sort”
• Q. umbë nin i hríve nauva urra (si loa) “I have a feeling that winter will be bad (this year)” ✧ PE22/168

Variations

• si ✧ PE22/168

sina

this

sina demonstrative "this" (following its noun in our sole example: vanda sina "this oath"). (CO, VT49:18; in the latter source, sina _is called an adjective). _This word would, like Sindarin hen, be derived from primitive ¤sĭnā (VT49:34). Cf. sin #1.

sina

adjective. this

Derivations

• ✶sĭnā “this” ✧ VT49/18

Element in

• Q. sinar “today, today, [ᴹQ.] this morning”
• Q. vanda sina termaruva Elenna·nóreo alcar enyalien “This oath shall stand in memory of the glory of the Land of the Star” ✧ UT/305

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶sĭnā > sina	[sinā] > [sina]	✧ VT49/18

náha

adjective. narrow, narrow, *thin

Derivations

• √NAKH “narrow, thin” ✧ PE17/166

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√NAKH > nāha	[nākʰa] > [naxa] > [naha]	✧ PE17/166

Variations

• nāha ✧ PE17/166

fimbë

adjective. slender, slender, *thin

Cognates

• S. fim “slender, slim” ✧ PE17/023

Derivations

• √PHIM “*slender, slim” ✧ PE17/023

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√PHIM > fimbi-	[pʰimbi] > [pʰimbe] > [ɸimbe] > [fimbe]	✧ PE17/023

hiswa

grey

hiswa (þ) adj. "grey" (KHIS/KHITH, Narqelion)

nindë

slender

nindë adj. "slender" (NIN-DI, pointing to a stem-form nindi-). Not to be confused with *nindë as the likely pa.t. of the verb nir-, q.v.

sinda

grey

sinda (þ) adj. "grey" (PE17:72); nominal pl. Sindar used = "Grey-elves", lit. *"Grey ones"; see WJ:375. Gen. pl. Sindaron in WJ:369. With general meaning "grey" also in Sindacollo > Singollo "Grey-cloak, Thingol" (SA:thin(d), PE17:72; see also sindë, Sindicollo);†sindanórië "grey land", ablative sindanóriello "from/out of a grey country" (Nam); the reference is to a "mythical region of shadows lying at outer feet of the Mountains of Valinor" (PE17:72). However, other sources give sindë (q.v.) as the Quenya word for "grey"; perhaps sinda came to mean primarily "Grey-elf" as a noun. Derived adjective Sindarin "Grey-elven", normally used as a noun to refer to the Grey-elven language. (Appendix F)

sinda

adjective. grey

The best known Quenya word for “grey” and an element in a number of names. It is also used as a noun Sinda “Grey Elf”. Tolkien sometimes used a variant form sindë for “grey” (WJ/384; PE17/141; Ety/THIN); see that entry for details.

Cognates

• S. thind “grey, grey, [N.] pale” ✧ PE17/072; SA/thin(d)

Derivations

• √THIN “*grey” ✧ PE17/072
• ✶thindā “grey” ✧ PE17/072
  • √THIN “*grey”

Element in

• Q. Eldar Sindar “Grey Elves” ✧ PE21/77
• Q. Eldar sindaron “Grey Elves’” ✧ PE21/77
• Q. Sinda “Grey-elf” ✧ SA/thin(d)
• Q. Sindacollo “Grey-cloak, Greymantle” ✧ PE17/072; SA/thin(d)
• Q. Sinda Eldō “a Grey Elf’s” ✧ PE21/77
• Q. Sindanórië “Grey Country, Land of Greyness” ✧ PE17/072
• Q. Sindar Eldar “Grey Elves” ✧ PE21/77
• Q. Sindar Eldaron “Grey Elves’” ✧ PE21/77
• Q. Sindar i Eldar Malariando “Grey are the Elves of Beleriand” ✧ PE21/77
• Q. Sindel “Grey-elf”
• Q. sindië “greyness” ✧ PE17/072
• Q. Singollo “Grey-cloak, Greymantle” ✧ SA/thin(d)

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√ΘIN > sinda	[tʰinda] > [θinda] > [sinda]	✧ PE17/072
✶þindā > sinda	[tʰindā] > [θindā] > [θinda] > [sinda]	✧ PE17/072

Variations

• Sinda ✧ PE21/77

sindë

grey, pale or silvery grey

sindë (þ) adj. "grey, pale or silvery grey" (the Vanyarin dialect preserves the older form þindë) (WJ:384, THIN; in SA:thin(d) the form given is sinda, cf. also sindanóriello "from a grey country" in Namárië. Sindë and sinda_ are apparently variants of the same word.) _Stem sindi-, given the primitive form ¤thindi; cf. Sindicollo (q.v.)

sinyë

evening

sinyë (þ) noun "evening" (THIN)

teren

slender

teren, terenë adj. "slender" (TER/TERES)

vinyë

evening

[vinyë noun "evening" (VT46:21)]

sóra

long, trailing

sóra adj. "long, trailing" (LT2:344)

tereva

fine, acute

tereva adj. "fine, acute" (TER/TERES), "piercing"_ (LT1:255; though glossed "fine, acute" in the Etymologies, the stem _TER is defined as "pierce")

anda

long

anda adj. "long" (ÁNAD/ANDA), "far" (PE17:90).In Andafangar noun "Longbeards", one of the tribes of the Dwarves (= Khuzdul Sigin-tarâg and Sindarin Anfangrim) (PM:320). Compare Andafalassë, #andamacil, andamunda, andanéya, andatehta, Anduinë. Apparently derived from the adj. anda is andavë "long" as adverb ("at great length", PE17:102), suggesting that the ending -vë can be used to derive adverbs from adjectives (LotR3:VI ch. 4, translated in Letters:308)

ando

long

ando (2) adv. "long"; maybe replaced by andavë; see anda (VT14:5)

fimbë

slender

*fimbë (stem fimbi-) adj. "slender" (PE17:23)

mista

grey

mista adj. "grey"; see lassemista

mista

adjective. grey

Cognates

• S. mith “grey, light grey, pale grey”

Derivations

• √MITH “grey”

Element in

• Q. Lassemista “Leaf-Grey” ✧ PE17/083

mísë

grey

mísë (þ, cf. Sindarin mith-) adj. "grey" (used as noun of grey clothes in the phrase mi mísë of someone clad "in grey"). The underlying stem refers a paler or whiter "grey" than sinda, making mísë "a luminous grey" (PE17:71-72)

náha

narrow

náha adj. "narrow" (PE17:166)

andavë

long, at great length

andavë adv. "long, at great length" (PE17:102); see anda

arca

narrow

arca (1) adj. "narrow" (AK)

linya

adjective. lean, thin, meagre

Derivations

• ᴹ√SLIN “*fine, delicate”

thin

adjective. grey

adj. grey. Q. sinda. >> thind, Thingol, thinn

thind

adjective. grey, pale

thind

adjective. grey

adj. grey. Q. sinda. >> thin, Thingol, thinn

thind

adjective. grey

_ adj. _grey. Obsolete except in names as Thingol. >> hithren

thind

adjective. grey, grey, [N.] pale

if from þindā, why no a-affection? @@@

Cognates

• Q. sinda “grey” ✧ PE17/072; SA/thin(d)
• Q. sindë “grey, pale or silvery grey, grey, pale or silvery grey, [ᴹQ.] pale” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141; PE17/141

Derivations

• ✶thindā “grey” ✧ PE17/072
  • √THIN “*grey”
• ✶thindi “grey” ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/141
  • √THIN “*grey” ✧ WJ/384

Element in

• ᴺS. thindrostir “badger”
• S. Thindrim “Sindar”
• S. Thingódhel “*Grey Noldo”
• S. Thingol “Greycloak, Greymantle” ✧ PE17/072; PE17/112; SA/thin(d)
• S. Thinnedhel “Grey-elf”
• S. Thinrod “noble member of the Thindrim”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶þindā > thin(n)	[tʰindā] > [tʰinda] > [θinda] > [θind] > [θinn]	✧ PE17/072
✶þindĭ- > thind	[tʰindi] > [tʰinde] > [θinde] > [θind]	✧ PE17/140
✶thĭndĭ > thind	[tʰindi] > [θindi] > [θind] > [θinn]	✧ PE17/141

Variations

• thin(n) ✧ PE17/072; PE17/112
• thinn ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141
• thin(d) ✧ SA/thin(d)

thinn

adjective. grey

adj. grey. Q. sinda. >> thin, thind, Thingol

thinn

adjective. grey

_adj. _grey. Q. sinde.

thinn

adjective. grey

hen

pronoun. this

pl1. hin _ dem. pron. _this.

sen

adjective. this

This demonstrative adjective is probably enclitic. We have suggested that this possibility could perhaps explain why the mutated form of tîw on the Doors of Durin is thiw instead of the expected thîw, see HL/69

sen

pronoun. this

pl1. sín {ī}_ dem. pron. _this.

sen

pronoun. this

Changes

• sĭn → sen ✧ PE17/044
• th[en] → hen ✧ VT50/18

Derivations

• ✶sĭnā “this” ✧ PE17/044; VT49/34

Element in

• S. Celebrimbor o Eregion teithant i thiw hin “Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs” ✧ LotR/0305; PE17/044
• S. i glinn hen agorer Edain mi Velerian, ach hí in Ellath îr ed epholar “*this song Men made in Beleriand, but now the Elves alone (?remember) it” ✧ VT50/14; VT50/18; VT50/18

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶sĭna > sen	[sinā] > [sina] > [sena] > [sen]	✧ PE17/044

Variations

• sĭn ✧ PE17/044 (sĭn)
• then ✧ VT50/14
• th[en] ✧ VT50/18 (th[en])

lhain

adjective. lean, thin, meagre

lhind

adjective. fine, slender

hithren

adjective. grey

_ adj. _grey. >> thind

hithren

adjective. grey

Elements

Word	Gloss
hîth	“mist”

mithren

adjective. grey

mithren

adjective. grey

Changes

• mithren → hithren ✧ PE17/140

Element in

• S. Ered Mithrin “Grey Mountains” ✧ LotR/1064
• S. Mithrellas

Elements

Word	Gloss
mith	“grey, light grey, pale grey”
-ren	“adjective suffix”

mith

adjective. (pale) grey

mith

grey

adj. grey, light grey. >> Mithrandir, mithril

nind

adjective. slender

and

adjective. long

and

adjective. long

adj. long. i·arben na megil and 'The Knight of the Long Sword'. >> ann

and

adjective. long

Cognates

• Q. anda “long, far” ✧ PE17/040; PE17/090

Derivations

• √ANAD “long; far” ✧ PE17/040
• ✶andā “long, far” ✧ PE17/090
  • √ANAD “long; far” ✧ PE17/090

Element in

• S. Anach “?Long Neck”
• S. anann “(for) long”
• S. andaith “long-mark”
• S. Andram “Long Wall” ✧ SA/an(d)
• S. Andras “Long Cape”
• S. Andrast “Long Cape”
• S. Angast “Long Cape” ✧ VT42/28
• S. Andrath “Long Climb”
• S. andreth “long-suffering, patience”
• S. Androth “*Long Cave”
• S. Anduin “Great River, (lit.) Long River” ✧ PE17/012; PE17/040; RC/765; SA/an(d)
• S. Anfalas “Langstrand, (lit.) Long Beach” ✧ SA/an(d)
• S. Anfang “Longbeard”
• S. angerthas “runic alphabetic, (lit.) long rune-rows” ✧ SA/an(d)
• ᴺS. annas “length”
• S. Ann-thennath “*Long-shorts”
• S. Cair Andros “Ship of Long Foam” ✧ SA/an(d)
• S. i arben na megil and “Knight of the Long Sword” ✧ PE17/147

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶andā > ann-	[andā] > [anda] > [and] > [ann]	✧ PE17/090

Variations

• ann ✧ PE17/012; PE17/040; PE17/121
• ann- ✧ PE17/090
• an(d) ✧ SA/an(d)
• an(n)- ✧ VT42/28

ann

adjective. long

adj. long. Rare except in old names (e.g. Anduin). >> and

ann

adjective. long

anann

adverb. long

adv. long. Cuio i Pheriain anann 'May the Halflings live long'.

anann

adverb. long, for a long time

aduial

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

lhain

thin

(lean, meager), lenited ?thlain or ?lain (the lenition product of lh is uncertain), pl. lîn. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlein, corresponding to archaic Sindarin ✱lhein, later ✱lhain.

nind

thin

1) nind (slender, fragile); no distinct pl. form. 2) *lhain (lean, meager), lenited ?thlain or ?lain (the lenition product of lh is uncertain), pl. lîn. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlein*, corresponding to archaic Sindarin lhein**, later *lhain.

nind

thin

(slender, fragile); no distinct pl. form.

taen

thin

(lenited daen, no distinct pl. form). Note: a homophone means ”height, summit of high mountain”.

thind

grey

(pale); no distinct pl. form.

thinna

grow toward evening

(fade).

thîn

evening

†*thîn (no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. thíniath). The form cited in LR:392 s.v. __ is not marked as containing a long vowel (“thin”).

thîn

evening

(no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. thíniath). The form cited in LR:392 s.v. THIN is not marked as containing a long vowel (“thin”).

se

pronoun. this

Derivations

• √SI “this, this, [ᴹ√] here, now”

sen

this

*sen, lenited hen. Only attested in lenited pl. form hin* (unlenited sin) ”these” in the Moria Gate inscription (i thiw hin**, ”these letters”).

sen

this

lenited hen. Only attested in lenited pl. form hin (unlenited ✱sin) ”these” in the Moria Gate inscription (i thiw hin, ”these letters”).

thriben

adjective. lean

Derivations

• ᴺ✶. THIRIP “stalk”

lhain

lean

(adjective) *lhain (thin, meager), lenited ?thlain or ?lain (the lenition product of lh is uncertain), pl. lîn. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlein*, corresponding to archaic Sindarin lhein**, classical *lhain.

lhain

lean

(thin, meager), lenited ?thlain or ?lain (the lenition product of lh is uncertain), pl. lîn. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlein, corresponding to archaic Sindarin ✱lhein, classical ✱lhain.

lhain

adjective. lean, thin, meagre

lhind

slender

1) *lhind (fine), lenited ?thlind or ?lind (the lenition product of lh is uncertain); no distinct pl. form. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlind. 2)

lhind

slender

(fine), lenited ?thlind or ?lind (the lenition product of lh is uncertain); no distinct pl. form. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlind.

lhind

fine

(slender), lenited ?thlind or ?lind (the lenition product of lh is uncertain); no distinct pl. form. Sugggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlind.

lhind

adjective. fine, slender

Element in

• ᴺS. lhinnas “slenderness, thinness”

tinnu

starlit evening

(i** dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight, early night without a moon), pl. tinny (i** thynny) if there is a pl. Verb

mithren

grey

1) *mithren (lenited vithren, pl. mithrin). 2) thind (pale); no distinct pl. form. 3) (pale grey) mith (lenited vith; no distinct pl. form). David Salo would read mîth with a long vowel. Note: a homophone means ”white fog, wet mist”.

mithren

grey

(lenited vithren, pl. mithrin).

brand

fine

1) brand (high, lofty, noble), lenited vrand, pl. braind, 2) trîw (lenited drîw; no distinct pl. form) (slender) , 3) *lhind (slender), lenited ?thlind or ?lind (the lenition product of lh is uncertain); no distinct pl. form. Sugggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlind.

brand

fine

(high, lofty, noble), lenited vrand, pl. braind

mith

grey

(lenited vith; no distinct pl. form). David Salo would read mîth with a long vowel. Note: a homophone means ”white fog, wet mist”.

nind

adjective. slender

nind

fragile

nind (thin, slender); no distinct pl. form

nind

fragile

(thin, slender); no distinct pl. form

trîw

fine

(lenited drîw; no distinct pl. form) (slender)

ennin

long year

. No distinct pl. form, but coll. pl. enniniath.

imrath

narrow valley

(pl. imraith)

trîw

slender

trîw (lenited drîw; no distinct pl. form) (fine).

trîw

slender

(lenited drîw; no distinct pl. form) (fine).

andaith

long mark

(no distinct pl. form). The word refers to an accent-like mark used to indicate long vowels in Tengwar modes that employ separate vowel letters, like the Mode of Beleriand.

dû

late evening

(i dhû) (night, nightfall, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302).

angerthas

long rune-row

(and + certhas).

and

long

(adjective) and (pl. aind),

and

long

(pl. aind)

fim

slender

fim (slim). No distinct pl. form. (LotR Appendix F). 3) nind (thin, fragile); no distinct pl. form. 4)

fim

slender

(slim). No distinct pl. form. (LotR Appendix F). 3) nind (thin, fragile); no distinct pl. form. 4)

lhê

fine thread

(?i thlê or ?i lê – the lenition product of lh is uncertain) (spider filament), pl. lhî (?i lî). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlê.

lond

narrow path

(harbour, haven, pass, strait), pl. lynd, coll. pl. lonnath (as in the name Lonnath Ernin, WR:294).

anann

long

(adverb, = "for a long time") anann

anann

long

tess

fine pierced hole

(i dess, construct tes), pl. tiss (i thiss). Older ters (VT46:18).

imlad

narrow valley with steep sides

(glen, deep valley), pl. imlaid.

agor

narrow

agor (analogical pl. egyr). In archaic S agr.

agor

narrow

(analogical pl. egyr). In archaic S agr.

anfang

longbeard

pl. Enfeng, coll. pl. Anfangrim (WJ:10, 108, 205)

brûn

long endured/established/in use

(old), lenited vrûn, pl. bruin;

annabon

long-snouted one

pl. ennebyn, coll. pl. annabonnath. (Archaic form andabon.)

anda

adjective. long

Element in

• T. andané “long ago, once upon a time” ✧ VT49/31

sigin Reconstructed

adjective. long

Element in

• Kh. Sigin-tarâg “Longbeards”

thin

root. *grey

Tolkien introduced the (unglossed) root ᴹ√THIN in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives like ᴹQ. sinde/N. thinn “grey, pale” and ᴹQ. sinta-/N. †thinna- “fade” (Ety/THIN). In this document it was the basis for the name Ilk. Thingol; in earlier writings from the 1920s the name ᴱN. Thingol was based on the word ᴱN. thing “prince” (PE13/154). The root √THIN or √ΘIN was mentioned a couple times in Tolkien’s later writings as the basis for “grey” words (PE17/72; WJ/384). In a note from the mid-1960s Tolkien considered making the root √STIN the basis for “grey”, as a privative formation = √S-TIN = “without sparkling” (PE17/184), but I think this was a transient idea.

Derivatives

• ✶thindā “grey”
  • Q. Sinda “Grey-elf” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141
  • Q. sinda “grey” ✧ PE17/072
  • S. Thend “*Sinda, Grey-Elf” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141
  • S. thind “grey, grey, [N.] pale” ✧ PE17/072
• ✶thindi “grey” ✧ WJ/384
  • Q. sindë “grey, pale or silvery grey, grey, pale or silvery grey, [ᴹQ.] pale” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141; PE17/141; WJ/384
  • S. thind “grey, grey, [N.] pale” ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/141
  • Van. thindë “grey, pale or silvery grey” ✧ WJ/384
• ᴺQ. sin “tin (metal)”
• Q. Sinda “Grey-elf” ✧ WJ/384
• Q. sinda “grey” ✧ PE17/072
• ᴺS. thint “tin (metal)”

Element in

• Q. Sindel “Grey-elf” ✧ WJ/384

Variations

• ΘIN ✧ PE17/072; PE17/188

thini

adjective. grey

thindi

adjective. grey

Changes

• thinide → thinida ✧ PE17/141
• thinidi → thĭndĭ ✧ PE17/141

Derivations

• √THIN “*grey” ✧ WJ/384

Derivatives

• Q. sindë “grey, pale or silvery grey, grey, pale or silvery grey, [ᴹQ.] pale” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141; PE17/141; WJ/384
• S. thind “grey, grey, [N.] pale” ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/141
• Van. thindë “grey, pale or silvery grey” ✧ WJ/384

Variations

• þindĭ- ✧ PE17/140
• thindi- ✧ PE17/141
• thĭndĭ ✧ PE17/141
• thinide ✧ PE17/141 (thinide)
• thinidi ✧ PE17/141 (thinidi)
• thini ✧ PE21/81

thindā

adjective. grey

Derivations

• √THIN “*grey”

Derivatives

• Q. Sinda “Grey-elf” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141
• Q. sinda “grey” ✧ PE17/072
• S. Thend “*Sinda, Grey-Elf” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141
• S. thind “grey, grey, [N.] pale” ✧ PE17/072

Variations

• þindā ✧ PE17/072
• thinida ✧ PE17/141

si

root. this, this, [ᴹ√] here, now

Tolkien used √SI as the basis for “near demonstratives” like “here” and “now” from very early in his writings on Elvish. The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had two competing roots ᴱ√HYA “this by us” with derivatives like ᴱQ. hyá “here by us” (QL/41) and ᴱ√KI “this by me” with derivative ᴱQ. tyá (< ᴱ✶kı̯-ā) “now” (QL/41, 49). Indications of the latter can be seen words in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. cî {“now” >>} “here” and G. cîrin “present (place or time), modern” [gloss deleted] (GL/26). However, Tolkien also introduced a new root ᴱ√si(n) “this here by me” with derivatives like G. sî “here” and G. sith “hither” (GL/68). Revisions of Gnomish ci- word glosses indicate Tolkien was vacillating on which forms were temporal and which were spatial.

In The Etymologies Tolkien gave the root ᴹ√SI “this, here, now” with derivatives like ᴹQ. sí or sin “now” and ᴹQ. sinya/N. sein “new” (Ety/SI). The root √SI was mentioned a couple times in Tolkien’s later writings, usually glossed “this” (PE17/67; VT48/25; VT49/18) and in one place with the variant √SIN (PE17/67). This root was not entirely without competition in Tolkien’s later notes, however: in one place he gave primitive ✶khĭn- as the possible basis for Q. hí “here” and S. hí “now” in 1968 notes on demonstratives, though it appeared beside primitive ✶si- forms (VT49/34 note #21).

Derivatives

• ✶sī “this (by me), now or here” ✧ PE17/067
  • Q. sí “now” ✧ PE17/067; VT49/18
  • S. sí “here, in this place (of speaker)” ✧ PE17/067
• Q. si “this”
• Q. sië “thus”
• Q. sin “*thus”
• ᴺS. se “this”
• ᴺS. sin “these”

Element in

• ✶kenásĭta “if it be so, may be, perhaps”
• Q. sinomë “here, (lit.) in this place” ✧ PE17/067
• ᴺS. sî “yet, hither(to), hereto”
• S. sír “*today, this day”

Variations

• SĬ/SĬN ✧ PE17/067; PE17/184
• SI ✧ VT48/25

sin

root. this

stin

root. grey

sĭnā

adjective. this

Derivatives

• Q. sina “this” ✧ VT49/18
• S. sen “this” ✧ PE17/044; VT49/34

Variations

• sĭna ✧ PE17/044

mith

root. grey

Tolkien introduced the root ᴹ√MITH in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a blending of ᴹ√MIS “✱wet” and ᴹ√KHITH “mist, fog”, with the derivative N. mith “white fog, wet mist” as in N. Mithrim “✱Mist Lake” (Ety/MITH, RINGI; EtyAC/MITH). As a later addition to this entry Tolkien wrote the adjective N. mith “grey”, and that was the more common use of this word in Tolkien’s later writings. In a 1955 letter to David Masson Tolkien specified that “usage suggests that MIÞ- is paler and whiter, a luminous grey” (PE17/72).

Derivatives

• ✶mītha “*grey”
  • S. Mîth “*Sinda, Grey-Elf” ✧ PE17/140
• Q. mísë “(light) grey”
• Q. mista “grey”
• S. mith “grey, light grey, pale grey”

Variations

• MIÞ ✧ PE17/072

nakh

root. narrow, thin

A root appearing in etymological notes from around 1964 (DD) glossed “narrow, thin” along with a set of Quenya derivatives of similar meaning (PE17/166).

Derivatives

• Q. (a)nacca “narrows, defile, pass, cut” ✧ PE17/166
• Q. náha “narrow, narrow, *thin” ✧ PE17/166
• Q. nahta- “to confine, oppress” ✧ PE17/166

mītha

adjective. *grey

Derivations

• √MITH “grey”

Derivatives

• S. Mîth “*Sinda, Grey-Elf” ✧ PE17/140

ʒandā

adjective. long

Derivations

• √ƷAN “adorn; extend; long” ✧ PE17/155; VT47/27

nek

root. narrow, narrow; *angular, sharp

A root appearing in notes on words and phrases from The Lord of the Rings from the late 1950s or early 1960s, serving mainly as the basis for S. naith “angle” (PE17/55). It was also mentioned in a discussion of the death of Isildur at the Gladden Fields, again as the basis for S. naith among other words, where the root √NEK was glossed “narrow” (UT/281-2, note #16). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, N. naith was derived from ᴹ√SNAS or ᴹ√SNAT, but the precise derivation was unclear, and in any cases seems to have been replaced by Tolkien with a more straightforward derivation from √NEK.

The root √NEK also appeared in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957 with the gloss “deprive”, serving among other things as the basis for S. neithan “one deprived” (PE17/167), which was the name adopted by Túrin after he became an outlaw (S/200). The root appeared again in notes on Elvish numbers from the late 1960s glossed as either “divide, part, separate” (VT47/16) or “divide, separate” (VT48/9), where it served as the basis for √ENEK “six” as the dividing point between the lower and upper set of numbers in the Elvish duodecimal system.

It is not clear whether Tolkien intended all these various meanings for the root √NEK to be connected. For purposes of analysis, I’ve split √NEK “narrow” from √NEK “separate; deprive”, but conceivably the sense “narrow” could be a semantic extension of “separate” or vice-versa.

Derivatives

• ✶nektē “angle” ✧ PE17/055
  • Q. nehtë “spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow prominitory; angle” ✧ PE17/055; PE17/055
  • S. naith “spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow prominitory; angle” ✧ PE17/055; PE17/055
• Q. necel “thorn” ✧ PE17/055
• Q. nehtë “spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow prominitory; angle” ✧ UT/282
• Q. nexa “sharp, angular” ✧ PE17/055
• S. naith “spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow prominitory; angle” ✧ UT/282
• S. negen “sharp, angular” ✧ PE17/055

Variations

• NEK ✧ PE17/055; PE17/167
• nek ✧ UT/282

thind

adjective. grey, pale

thinn

adjective. grey, pale

thlein

adjective. lean, thin, meagre

thlein

adjective. lean, thin, meagre

Changes

• thlîn → thlein ✧ Ety/SLIN

Derivations

• ᴹ✶slinyā “lean, thin, meagre” ✧ Ety/SLIN
  • ᴹ√SLIN “*fine, delicate” ✧ Ety/SLIN

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶slinyā > thlein	[slinjā] > [slinja] > [θlinja] > [θlenja] > [θlenia] > [θleni] > [θlein]	✧ Ety/SLIN
ᴹ✶slinyā > thlîn	[slinjī] > [slinji] > [θlinji] > [θlini] > [θlin] > [θlīn]	✧ Ety/SLIN

Variations

• thlîn ✧ EtyAC/SLIN (thlîn)

thlind

adjective. fine, slender

thlinn

adjective. fine, slender

thlinn

adjective. fine, slender

Derivations

• ᴹ✶slindi “fine, delicate” ✧ Ety/SLIN
  • ᴹ√SLIN “*fine, delicate” ✧ Ety/SLIN

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶slindi > thlind > thlinn	[slindi] > [slinde] > [θlinde] > [θlind] > [θlinn]	✧ Ety/SLIN

thîn

noun. evening

thîn

noun. evening

Changes

• sîn → thîn ✧ Ety/THIN

Cognates

• ᴹQ. sinye “evening” ✧ Ety/THIN

Derivations

• ᴹ√THIN “*grey” ✧ Ety/THIN

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√THIN > thîn	[tʰinje] > [θinje] > [θinie] > [θini] > [θin] > [θīn]	✧ Ety/THIN

Variations

• thin ✧ EtyAC/THIN (thin)
• sîn ✧ EtyAC/THIN (sîn)

then

pronoun. this

Element in

• N. Celebrimbor o Eregion teithant i thíw thin “Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs” ✧ TI/182

mith

adjective. (pale) grey

mith

adjective. grey

Derivations

• ᴹ√MITH “*mist, grey” ✧ Ety/MITH

Element in

• N. Mitheithel “Hoarwell”
• N. Mithlond “?Grey Havens, Grey Gulf”
• N. Mithrandir “Grey Wanderer/Pilgrim”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√MITH > mith	[mitʰe] > [miθe] > [miθ]	✧ Ety/MITH

Variations

• mith ✧ Ety/MITH

ninn

adjective. slender

ninn

adjective. slender

Cognates

• ᴹQ. ninde “slender” ✧ Ety/NIN-DI

Derivations

• ᴹ√NINDI “fragile, thin” ✧ Ety/NIN-DI

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√NIN-DI > ninn	[nindi] > [ninde] > [nind] > [ninn]	✧ Ety/NIN-DI

taen

adjective. long (and thin)

gwîn

noun. evening

Changes

• gwein → gwîn “evening” ✧ EtyAC/WIN

Cognates

• ᴹQ. vinye “evening” ✧ Ety/WIN; EtyAC/WIN

Derivations

• ᴹ✶winyē “evening” ✧ Ety/WIN; EtyAC/WIN
  • ᴹ√WIN(I)D “pale blue” ✧ Ety/WIN; EtyAC/WIN

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶winyā > gwein	[winjā] > [winja] > [gwinja] > [gwenja] > [gwenia] > [gweni] > [gwein]	✧ Ety/WIN
ᴹ✶winyā > gwîn	[winji] > [winji] > [gwinji] > [gwenī] > [gwini] > [gwin] > [gwīn]	✧ Ety/WIN
ᴹ✶winyē > gwîn	[winjē] > [winje] > [gwinje] > [gwinie] > [gwini] > [gwin] > [gwīn]	✧ EtyAC/WIN

Variations

• gwein ✧ Ety/WIN (gwein)
• gwîn ✧ EtyAC/WIN (gwîn)

trîw

adjective. fine, slender

ann

adjective. long

ann

adjective. long

Cognates

• ᴹQ. anda “long” ✧ Ety/ÁNAD

Derivations

• On. anda “long”
• ᴹ✶andā “long” ✧ Ety/ÁNAD; Ety/MBUD
  • ᴹ√ANAD “*long” ✧ Ety/ÁNAD; Ety/MBUD

Element in

• N. anann “long”
• N. andeith “long-mark” ✧ Ety/TEK
• N. Andram “Long Wall” ✧ Ety/ÁNAD
• N. anrand “cycle, age, (lit.) long cycle” ✧ Ety/RAD
• N. Andrath
• N. Anduin “Great River”
• N. Anfalas “Langstrand”
• N. An(d)fang “Longbeard” ✧ Ety/ÁNAD
• N. annabon “elephant” ✧ Ety/MBUD
• N. Cair Andros
• N. ennin “Valian year”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶andā > and > ann	[andā] > [anda] > [and] > [ann]	✧ Ety/ÁNAD
ᴹ✶anda > anna-	[anda-] > [anna-]	✧ Ety/MBUD

mid

adjective. grey

Element in

• N. har na ond i mid “stand by the grey stone” ✧ AotH/056

anann

adverb. long

Element in

• N. aglar anann “*glory for long” ✧ SD/046
• N. cuio i Pheriain anann “long live the halflings” ✧ SD/046

Elements

Word	Gloss
an	“of”
ann	“long”

agor

adjective. narrow

agor

adjective. narrow

Cognates

• ᴹQ. arka “narrow” ✧ Ety/AK

Derivations

• ᴹ✶akrā “narrow” ✧ Ety/AK
  • ᴹ√AK “narrow, confined” ✧ Ety/AK

Element in

• S. Aglon “Narrow Pass”
• N. Aglon “defile, pass between high walls” ✧ Ety/AK

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶akrā > agr > agor	[akrā] > [akra] > [akr] > [agr] > [agor]	✧ Ety/AK

agr

adjective. narrow