thorn

adjective. steadfast

adj. steadfast. Q. thorna, sorna. >> Arathorn

thorn

adjective. steadfast

thorn

noun. eagle

thoron

noun. eagle

The Sindarin word for “eagle”, derived from ✶thoronō̆ (Let/427, PE23/141). In notes from 1969 Tolkien gave its plural form as theryn (PE23/139).

Possible Etymology: The form of this word is difficult to explain if it is derived from primitive ✶thoron(ŏ). Since final nasals vanished after vowels, in the ordinary phonetic development of Sindarin it should have become thôr, a form that did appear as variant in The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/THOR, KIRIS). Tolkien himself suggested that the (Noldorin) word was a back-formation from the archaic genitive ON. thoronen (Ety/THOR). While this specific genitive form did not survive in (Old) Sindarin, there are plenty of other mechanisms that might result in such a back-formation in Sindarin. For example, David Salo suggested that it could be a back-formation from its plural theryn (GS/291), perhaps also influenced by ancient names where it still appeared, such as Thorondor “King of Eagles”.

A simpler explanation is that the primitive form is actual thoronō, as for example on PE23/141. But that would be inconsistent with Q. soron “eagle”.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s this word appeared as G. thorn (GL/73), which was also the usual form in names of this period. In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s it reappeared as ᴱN. thorn (PE13/154), but in The Etymologies of the 1930s it appeared as N. thoron beside the variant thôr as noted above (Ety/THOR, KIRIS). The names of this period also began to reflect this change, and names after the 1940s consistently show thoron, though the form þorn did appear at least once in later notes (PE22/159).

thoron

noun. eagle

thôr

noun. eagle

thoronath

noun. eagles

arathorn

masculine name. Steadfast King

The 12th and 15th chieftains of the Dúnedain, the latter of whom was the father of Aragorn (LotR/1038).

Possible Etymology: The initial element of this name is clearly ar(a)- “noble” (Let/426). Tolkien considered two possibilities for the second element: either thorn “steadfast" (PE17/32, 113) or thoron “eagle” (Let/427). The etymological discussion for the first of these possibilities is more complete, and includes the translation “Steadfast King” (PE17/113).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, the father of Aragorn was first named N. Aramir (TI/7), later revised to ᴹQ. Eldakar >> ᴹQ. Valatar >> N. Kelegorn (TI/404, note #10) and finally N. Arathorn (TI/392).

thoron

eagle

thoron, pl. theryn, coll. pl. thoronath. The sg. may also appear as thôr (with stem thoron-); thôr is also an adjective ”swooping, leaping down”. In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was therein (LR:392 s.v. THOR).

thoron

eagle

pl. theryn, coll. pl. thoronath. The sg. may also appear as thôr (with stem thoron-); thôr is also an adjective ”swooping, leaping down”. In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was therein (LR:392 s.v. THOR).

torn

down

(i dorn, o thorn), pl. tyrn (i thyrn). Only the pl. tyrn is attested, as part of the name Tyrn Gorthad ”Barrow-downs”. 

Egnor

noun. fire thorn

êg (“thorn”) + naur (“fire”)

ereg

noun. holly, thorn, holly, [N.] holly-tree, [S.] thorn

The Sindarin word for “holly”, most notably as an element in the name S. Eregion “Hollin” (SA/ereg; PE17/42). N. ereg “holly-tree” first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s based on the root ᴹ√EREK “thorn”, along with a longer variant N. eregdos where the second element was N. toss “low-growing tree” (Ety/ERÉK, TUS).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had two different words for “holly”: G. criscolas “holly” = crisc “sharp” + lass “leaf” (GL/27), as well as G. sempios “holly” = sen “brown-red” + a variant of piog “berry” (GL/67).

ereg

noun. holly-tree, thorn

aeg

thorn

(peak, point). No distinct pl. form. Note: aeg is also used as adj. "sharp, pointed, piercing". See also SPINE.

rêg

thorn

(construct reg) (holly), pl. rîg (idh rîg)

êg

thorn

1. êg (construct eg), pl. îg; 2) rêg (construct reg) (holly), pl. rîg (idh rîg), 3) aeg (peak, point). No distinct pl. form. Note: aeg is also used as adj. "sharp, pointed, piercing". See also SPINE.

êg

thorn

(construct eg), pl. îg

eithos

noun. thorn bush

aith

noun. spear-point, [ᴱN.] spear, thorn

ecthel

thorn point

(used = spear point) ecthel (pl. ecthil). See also SHARP POINT.

ecthel

thorn point

(pl. ecthil). See also

him

steadfast

1. him (abiding), lenited chim, no distinct pl. form. Note that homophones include both the adjective ”cool” and the adverb ”continually”.

him

steadfast

(abiding), lenited chim, no distinct pl. form. Note that homophones include both the adjective ”cool” and the adverb ”continually”.

roval

great wing

(pinion, wing), pl. rovail (idh rovail). – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” *rhoval* pl. *rhovel*.

thalion

steadfast

thalion (dauntless, strong), pl. thelyn. Also used as a noun ”hero, dauntless man”.

thalion

steadfast

(dauntless, strong), pl. thelyn. Also used as a noun ”hero, dauntless man”.

thoron

noun. eagle

thoron

noun. eagle

thôr

noun. eagle

thôr

noun. eagle

amon thorn

place name. Amon Thorn

An earlier name for Amon Dîn (WR/232). The meaning of its second element is unclear; Roman Rausch suggested several possible interpretions (EE/3.22), the most likely of which seems to be thoron “eagle”.

êg

noun. thorn

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “thorn” under the root ᴹ√EK (Ety/EK). In The Etymologies this root was glossed “spear”, but I think this gloss applied only to the extended form of the root √EKTE, because elsewhere √EK had other glosses like “sharp, (sharp) point, thorn” (WJ/365; VT48/25; PE22/127).

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, G. eg merely meant “point” (GL/32) while G. aith was “thorn” (GL/18), both from the early root ᴱ√EKE or ᴱ√EHE having to do with points (GL/31; QL/35). In Gnomish Lexicon Slips this became G. aithr “thorn” which also had an archaic sense “†sword” (PE13/108), a word that also appeared as ᴱN. aithr “thorn, [archaic] †sword” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/136).

êg

noun. thorn

ereg

noun. holly-tree, thorn

cilthorondor

place name. *Eagle Cleft Land

Variant name of Cristhorn, also appearing as Cilthor(o)n (Ety/KIL, THOR; LR/405). It is a combination of cîl “cleft”, thoron “eagle” and (sometimes) dôr “land. Alternately, the longer form may contain the name Thorondor, the King of the Eagles who lived in the pass during the time of Gondolin; hat-tip to Vyacheslav Stepanov for this suggestion. In one place it appeared as Cristorondor (PE22/41).

him

adjective. steadfast, abiding

him

adjective. continually

thor

root. steadfast

thorono

noun. eagle

ek

root. sharp point, (sharp) point, [ᴹ√] spear, thorn

The root √EK was associated with pointed things for all of Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as the root ᴱ√EKE with variant ᴱ√EHE [eχe] in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/35), and as eke and eχe in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon where Tolkien made it clear it was the blending of two roots of similar meaning (GL/31). In the Gnomish Lexicon it had a third variant aχe, but Tolkien seemed less certain of that variant. In the 1910s and 1920s it was the basis for words meaning “sword”, “spear”, and “thorn”.

By the 1930s, the sword-words had fallen away, transferred to ᴹ√MAK. The root ᴹ√EK appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with the gloss “spear”, but I believe that gloss applied only to its extended form ᴹ√EKTE/EKTI; in rough notes from the 1940s ᴹ√EK was glossed “point, sharp point, thorn” (PE22/127). The primitive form eke appeared in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-1960 with the gloss “sharp point”, and √EK appeared again in etymological notes from 1968 with this same gloss (VT48/25). Thus this root seems to have been very well established in Tolkien’s mind as the basis for pointy things.

stor

root. steadfast

A root appearing Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 serving as an explanation for the element S. thorn “steadfast” in the name S. Arathorn, first appearing in a rejected page with variants √STOR and √THOR (PE17/113-114) and then later as only √THOR (PE17/113). This root may be connected to Q. torna “hard” in notes on Quenya intensive forms written between the first and second edition of The Lord of the Rings, where it was an element in Q. tornanga “hard iron”, with intensive forms aristorna, anastorna that imply derivation from √STOR (PE17/56).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I would assume this root is √STOR to avoid conflict with ᴹ√THOR(ON), the basis for “eagle” words.

necel

thorn

necel ("k") noun "thorn" (PE17:55)

necel

noun. thorn

A word for “thorn” in notes on the Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, derived from the root √NEK having to do with angles (PE17/55).

pilinehtar

noun. a reed-like plant, (lit.) ?arrow thorn

Name of a reed-like plant in a drawing of Tolkien’s (TAI/199). Its initial element seems to be [ᴹQ.] pilin “arrow”, but the meaning of its section element is unclear. It might be a later variation on ᴱQ. pi(pi)nektar “hawthorn”, with a second element ᴱQ. ektar “thorn”.

nassë

thorn, spike

nassë (2) noun "thorn, spike" (NAS). Not to be confused with nassë "(s)he is", VT49:30 or nassë # above. Note that in late material, the unambiguous word necel appears for "thorn" (PE17:55).

nelecco

noun. fork, (lit.) three-thorn

A neologism coined by Luinyelle posted on 2024-01-17 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of [ᴹQ.] nel- “tri-” and [ᴹQ.] ekko “spine, thorn”.

eccahta

noun. hawthorn, (lit.) thorn-hedge

soron

noun. eagle

The Quenya word for “eagle”, appearing in a number of compounds, derived from primitive ✶thorono and the root ᴹ√THOR(ON) “come swooping down” (PE22/159; Let/427; Ety/THOR; PE21/33). It had couple variants such as sorno (Let/427) and sorne (Ety/THOR), but consistently appeared as soron- in compounds. Its stem form isn’t entirely clear: its most common plural form was sorni (Ety/THOR; SD/290), which is the expected result from the Quenya syncope, but in one place it had the plural soroni and the presence of the variant sorne muddies the waters.

Conceptual Development: This word appeared as ᴱQ. sorne or sor (sorn-) “eagle” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√ŠORO [ÞORO] (QL/86). The form sorn- “eagle” also appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa where Tolkien indicated the primitive form was sorni- (PME/86). The form ᴱQ. soron appeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s as a cognate of ᴱN. thorn “eagle” (PE13/154), and Tolkien mostly stuck with that form thereafter, though he occasionally used variants like sorne and sorno as noted above.

In the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s, Tolkien listed a large number of declined forms for ᴹQ. soron “eagle”, and those declensions used soron- (or sorun-) as their base. In The Etymologies of the 1930s, however, Tolkien gave plural sorni and genitive sornen indicating a stem form sorn-, but that document also gave sorne as an alternate form of soron “eagle”. Nevertheless, I think from the 1930s forward, it is more likely that Quenya syncope would have come into play in the declension of this word, so it would have plural sorni, dative sornen, ablative sornello, etc. The only noun case where the primitive stem would be preserved would be possessive soronwa.

sorno

eagle

sorno (þ) noun "eagle" (archaic thorno) _(Letters:427). Also soron. Early "Qenya" has sor, sornë (LT1:266)_

sorna

adjective. steadfast

Soronto

eagle

Soronto (þ?), masc. name, seems to incorporate soron "eagle"; the ending -to is rare (occurs in suhto, q.v.), here apparently used to derive a masculine name.

Soronúmë

eagle

Soronúmë (prob. þ) (name of a constellation, apparently incorporating soron "eagle") (SA:thoron)

sarta

steadfast, trusty, loyal

sarta adj. "steadfast, trusty, loyal" (PE17:183)

sor

eagle

sor, sornë noun "eagle" (LT1:266); rather soron in LotR-style Quenya

sorna

steadfast

sorna (þ) adj. "steadfast" (PE17:113)

sorno

noun. eagle

soron

eagle

soron (or sornë) (þ) noun "eagle", before an ending sorn- as in pl. sorni, "gen.sg....sornen"; in LotR-style Quenya this would be the dative singular instead (THOR/THORON). SD:290 has the pl.soroni "eagles", changed to sorni as in the Etymologies. Early "Qenya" has the forms sor, sornë (LT1:266)

ëa

eagle

ëa (3) "eagle" (LT1:251, LT2:338), a "Qenya" word apparently superseded by soron, sornë in Tolkien's later forms of Quenya.

ëaren

eagle

ëaren noun "eagle" or "eyrie" (LT1:251; this early "Qenya" word is evidently no more valid than ëa "eagle" in LotR-style Quenya.)

narak

noun. eagle

A noun attested only in the plural subjective form Narīka “eagles” (SD/251). This formation is peculiar, because it seems to be a neuter subjective form, but the names of animals are generally common-nouns, as pointed out by Andreas Moehn (EotAL/NAR’K). If it were declined as a common noun, the subjective plural should be ✱narkim: compare Nimir “Elf” whose subjective plural form is nimrim (SD/436). Perhaps when Narīka was written, Tolkien had not finished working out the Adûnaic gender and case system.