alda

tree

alda noun "tree" (GALAD, GÁLAD, SA, Nam, RGEO:66, LR:41, SD:302, LT1:249, LT2:340, VT39:7), also name of tengwa #28 (Appendix E). Pl. aldar in Narqelion; gen. pl. aldaron "of trees" in Namárië. Etymology of alda, see Letters:426 and UT:266-7. The latter source states that primitive ¤galadā, whence Quenya alda, originally applied to stouter and more spreading trees such as oaks or beeches, while straighter and more slender trees such as birches were called ¤ornē, Quenya ornë - but this distinction was not always observed in Quenya, and it seems that alda became the general word. According to PE17:25, primitive galada (sic) referred to "a plant (large) and was a general term". Place-name Aldalómë ""tree-night" or "tree-shade-night" (LotR2:III ch. 4, translated in PE17:82); Aldarion masc. name, *"Son of (the) Trees" (Appendix A), Tar-Aldarion a Númenorean King (UT:210). Aldaron a name of Oromë (Silm); aldinga "tree-top" (VT47:28), aldarembina (pl. aldarembinë attested) adj. "tree-tangled", the cognate of Sindarin galadhremmin**(PM:17:26).Aldúya fourth day of the Eldarin six-day week, dedicated to the Trees (Appendix D). The word seems to include Aldu, a dual form referring to the Two Trees. The Númenóreans altered the name to Aldëa (presumably < aldajā), referring to one tree (the White) only. The dual Aldu seems to occur also in Aldudénië** "Lament for the Two Trees" (a strange word, since Quenya does not permit intervocalic d as in this word perhaps the Vanyarin dialect of Quenya did) (Silm)

alda

noun. tree

alda

noun. tree, tree, [ᴱQ.] branch

The basic Quenya word for “tree” (LotR/1113), derived from primitive ✶galadā and very well attested. This word dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where ᴱQ. alda “tree” appeared under the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29). Tolkien seems to have switched its derivation to ✱galadā in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where ᴹQ. alda “tree” appeared under the root ᴹ√GALAD of the same meaning (Ety/GALAD). See also ornë “(tall) tree” for a discussion of another similar word.

Conceptual Development: There were a few instances where the word alda had a different meaning. In Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s, alda was glossed “branch” (PE16/139). In notes from 1959 Tolkien said “✱galadā, originally only large flourishing plant, as tree, and especially one that flowered, Q alda, S galað; the general word for ‘tree’ was Q orne ‘upstanding plant’ (PE17/153)”. But in its numerous appearance elsewhere, alda was simply a general word for “tree”.

Cognates

• S. galadh “tree” ✧ Let/426; LotR/1113; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/063; PE17/136; PE17/153; PE17/153; RGEO/65; SA/alda; NM/352
• Nan. galad “tree” ✧ PE17/050
• T. galada “tree” ✧ NM/352

Derivations

• ✶galadā “great plant, tree” ✧ Let/426; NM/352; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/063; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153; VT39/07
  • ᴹ√GALAD “tree”
  • ᴹ√GAL “grow, thrive” ✧ Ety/GALA
  • √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive” ✧ Let/426; PE17/025; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153
• √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive” ✧ PE22/160

Element in

• Q. Aldalómë “Tree-twilight” ✧ RC/385
• Q. Aldamir “*Tree Jewel”
• Q. Aldanil “Lover of Trees”
• Q. aldarembina “tree-meshed” ✧ PE17/135
• Q. Aldarion “*Son of Trees”
• Q. Aldaron “Lord of Forests, (lit.) Of Trees” ✧ SA/alda
• Q. Aldëa “*Tuesday, Tree-day (Númenórean)”
• ᴺQ. aldeon “avenue (of trees)”
• Q. aldinga “tree-top”
• Q. Aldudénië “Lament for the Two Trees” ✧ MR/100; SA/alda
• Q. Aldúya “*Tuesday, Day of the Two Trees”
• Q. culumalda “laburnum, *(lit.) orange-tree”
• ᴺQ. eccalda “cactus, (lit.) spine tree”
• Q. Malinalda “Tree of Gold” ✧ SA/alda
• ᴺQ. milpialda “olive tree”
• Q. Nísimaldar “Fragrant Trees” ✧ UT/167
• ᴺQ. paltalda “palm tree”
• ᴺQ. relyávalda “fig-tree”
• Q. yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron “long years numberless as the wings of trees” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
• Q. yéni únótimë ve aldaron rámar “long-years not-countable as trees’ wings” ✧ RGEO/58

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶galadā > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ Let/426
✶galada > alda	[galada] > [galda] > [ɣalda] > [alda]	✧ NM/352
✶galadā > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ PE17/025
✶galadā > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ PE17/050
✶galadā > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ PE17/063
✶galadā > ʒalaðā > ʒalðā > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [ɣalðā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ PE17/135
✶galadā́ > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ PE17/153
✶galadā > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ PE17/153
√GAL > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ PE22/160
✶ʒalda > alda	[galadā] > [galdā] > [ɣaldā] > [aldā] > [alda]	✧ VT39/07

Variations

• Alda ✧ RC/385

ornë

tree

ornë noun "tree" _(Letters:308, SD:302: "when smaller and more slender like a birch or rowan", Etym stem ÓR-NI: "tree, high isolated tree"). For the etymology, see Letters:426; for (original) difference in meaning between ornë and alda, see alda. In ornemalin "tree-yellow"; see laurelindórenan lindelorendor... (LotR2:III ch. 4; cf. Letters:308), also as final element in malinornë "yellow-tree, mallorn" (q.v.) Masc. name Ornendil *"Tree-friend" (Appendix A)_, compound Ornelië "tree-folk" (Quenya name of the Galadhrim, the tree-people of Lórien) (TI:239).

ornë

noun. (tall) tree, (tall) tree, [ᴹQ.] high isolated tree

A word for a “(tall) tree” in Quenya, derived from primitive ✶ornē (Let/426; PE17/25, 50). This word can be compared to the more common alda “tree”. Talking about the primitive forms Tolkien said:

> ... ✱ornē “tree” originally and usually applied to the taller, straighter, and more slender trees, such as birches [as opposed to] ... stouter and more spreading trees, such as oaks and beeches, were called in C.E. galadā “great growth” (NM/349 and note #1).

I would use ornë in Quenya only for tall straight trees, and alda as either the general word for “tree”, or where applicable for broad and spreading trees.

Conceptual Development: The earliest precursor to this word seems to be ᴱQ. orond- “bush”, cognate to G. orn “tree” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/62). It became {orne >>} ᴱQ. orme “tree” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/139) and then ᴹQ. orne “high isolated tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ᴹ✶ÓR-NI “high tree” (Ety/ÓR-NI). It retained the form orne thereafter.

Cognates

• S. orn “(tall straight) tree” ✧ Let/426; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/112; PE17/153; PE17/153

Derivations

• ✶ornē “(straight) tree” ✧ Let/426
  • √RŌ/ORO “up(wards); rise (up), go high, mount, up(wards); rise (up), go high, mount; [ᴹ√] high, [ᴱ√] steepness, rising” ✧ Let/426

Element in

• Q. malinornë “mallorn, (lit.) golden/yellow tree” ✧ Let/308; PE17/080
• ᴺQ. nessornë “sapling”
• ᴺQ. nindornë “palm-tree”
• Q. ornemalin “[tree] bearing yellow flowers” ✧ Let/308; PE17/080
• Q. Ornendil “*Tree-friend”
• Q. ornendur “tree-keep, forester, woodsman”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶ornē > orne	[ornē] > [orne]	✧ Let/426

Variations

• orne ✧ Let/308; Let/426; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/080; PE17/153

tasar(ë)

noun. willow

The Quenya word for “willow” appearing as both tasar (PE17/81) and tasare (SA/tathar), derived from the root √TATHAR. This form of the word dates back to The Etymologies of the 1930s where ᴹQ. tasar, tasare “willow” appeared under the root ᴹ√TATHAR (Ety/TATHAR).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had a slightly different word ᴱQ. tasarin (tasarind-) “willow” under the early root ᴱ√TASA, though Tolkien marked it with a “?” (QL/89). This became tassarin “willow” with a double-s in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/139) before Tolkien adopted the form tasar(e) [þ] in the 1930s, as noted above.

Cognates

• S. tathar “willow (tree)” ✧ SA/tathar

Derivations

• ✶tathari “*willow”
  • √TATHAR “*willow” ✧ PE17/081; PE17/081

Element in

• Q. Nan-tasarion “Vale of Willow[s]” ✧ SA/tathar
• Q. Tasarinan “Willow-vale” ✧ SA/tathar

Variations

• tasar ✧ PE17/081
• tasarë ✧ SA/tathar

alalmë

elm, elm-tree

alalmë (2) noun "elm, elm-tree" (ÁLAM, LÁLAM, LT1:249). Cf. alvë in a post-LotR source.

feren

beech, beech-tree

feren (stem fern-, as in pl. ferni) noun "beech, beech-tree". Also fernë. (BERÉTH, PHER/PHÉREN)

neldor

beech

neldor noun "beech" (LT2:343)

ercassë

holly

ercassë ("k") noun "holly" (ERÉK)

tasarin

willow

tasarin noun "willow" (LT2:346; in Tolkien's later Quenya tasar, tasarë)

alalmino

elm

alalmino noun? "Elm"-something? (Narqelion)

albë

noun. elm

alvë

elm

alvë noun "elm" (PE17:146), also pronounced albë. In an earlier source, the word for "elm" is given as alalmë, lalmë.

alvë

noun. elm

A word appearing as alve or albe “elm” in notes from 1959, derived from the root √ALAB of similar meaning (PE17/146, 153).

Conceptual Development: This word was ᴱQ. alalme (alalmi-) “elm (tree)” in the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29; PME/29). It was ᴱQ. alalme “elm” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/140), and ᴹQ. alalme or lalme “elm-tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the roots ᴹ√ALAM or ᴹ√LALAM (Ety/ÁLAM, LÁLAM). The change to alve/albe was fairly late, as noted above.

Cognates

• S. alaf “elm” ✧ PE17/153

Derivations

• √ALAB “elm” ✧ PE17/146; PE17/153

Element in

• Q. alalvëa “having many elms” ✧ PE17/146
• Q. Alalvinórë “Land of Many Elms” ✧ PE17/153

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√ALAB > albe > alve	[galbe] > [ɣalbe] > [ɣalβe] > [alβe] > [alve]	✧ PE17/146
√ALAB > albe	[galbe] > [ɣalbe] > [ɣalβe] > [alβe] > [albe]	✧ PE17/153

Variations

• alve ✧ PE17/146
• albe ✧ PE17/153

sánë

pine

sánë (þ) noun "pine" (PE17:81), stem sáni- (? the primitive form is given as ¤thānĭ, which would normally give Quenya sánë/sáni-, but the Quenya noun is also cited as sáne- as if e persists before an ending).

sánë

noun. pine

In notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien had Q. {sāne >>} th-, sāne- “pine” derived from {✶stāna >>} ✶thānĭ-, but this note was deleted (PE17/81). It was replaced by a marginal note in which S. thôn “pine” was derived from ✶thŏno.

Neo-Quenya: In light of the new primitive form, I would update the Quenya word to ᴺQ. sono [þ] “pine” for purposes of Neo-Quenya. Petri Tikka instead proposed ᴺQ. sónë [þ] in PPQ (PPQ) from the early 2000s inspired only by S. thôn “pine”, before the above primitive forms were published in 2007.

Conceptual Development: The Early Qenya “pine” word was ᴱQ. aiqaire “fir or pine” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, an elaboration of ᴱQ. aiqa “steep” (QL/29). It became ᴱQ. aikasse “pine-tree” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, a cognate to G. aigos and derivative of primitive ᴱ✶aikasse (GL/17). This in turn became ᴱQ. aikor “pine-tree” in the Early Noldorin Dictionary of the 1920s, derived from ᴱ✶aikos-sa and still a cognate to G. aigos (PE13/158).

Changes

• sāne- → th-/sāne- ✧ PE17/081

Cognates

• S. thôn “pine-tree” ✧ PE17/081

Derivations

• ✶thŏno “pine” ✧ PE17/081

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶thānĭ- > th-/sāne-	[tʰāni] > [tʰāne] > [θāne] > [sāne]	✧ PE17/081

Variations

• th-/sāne- ✧ PE17/081 (th-/sāne-)
• sāne- ✧ PE17/081 (sāne-)

tussa

bush

tussa noun "bush" (TUS)

sono

noun. pine

Cognates

• S. thôn “pine-tree”

Derivations

• ✶thŏno “pine”

Element in

• ᴺQ. sononel “pine-needle”

galadh

noun. tree

galadh

tree

_n. Bot._tree, like oak (nordh) and beech. A galadh was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

galadh

tree

{ð} n. tree. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

galadh

noun. tree

The basic Sindarin word for “tree” (LotR/1113), derived from primitive ✶galadā and very well attested. This word dates back at least to The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. galadh “tree” appeared under the root ᴹ√GALAD (Ety/GALAD). See also orn “(tall) tree” of similar meaning.

Conceptual Development: Gnomish of the 1910s had some earlier version of this “tree” word: G. galdon >> alwen “tree” in the Name-list to the Fall of Gondolin (PE15/24) and archaic/poetic G. †alwen “tree” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/19), the latter probably from the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” that was the basis for ᴱQ. alda “tree” (QL/29).

Cognates

• Nan. galad “tree” ✧ MR/182; PE17/060
• Q. alda “tree, tree, [ᴱQ.] branch” ✧ Let/426; LotR/1113; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/063; PE17/136; PE17/153; PE17/153; RGEO/65; SA/alda; NM/352

Derivations

• ✶galadā “great plant, tree” ✧ Let/426; NM/349; NM/352; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/063; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153; UT/266
  • ᴹ√GALAD “tree”
  • ᴹ√GAL “grow, thrive” ✧ Ety/GALA
  • √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive” ✧ Let/426; PE17/025; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153

Element in

• S. Bregalad “Quickbeam; (lit.) Quick (Lively) Tree”
• S. Caras Galadhon “City of the Trees” ✧ Let/426; NM/352; SA/alda; UT/267
• S. Caras i-Ngelaidh “City of the Trees” ✧ PE17/060
• S. Galadhon
• S. galadhremmen “tree-meshed” ✧ PE17/136
• S. Galadhrim “Tree-people” ✧ Let/426; PE17/050; SA/alda; UT/267
• S. Galadlóriel “Golden Rain, (lit.) Golden Tree”
• S. Galador
• S. Galadriel “Glittering-garland” ✧ SA/kal; UT/267
• S. Galadwen
• S. Galathilion “White Tree”
• S. Gelennil “Lover of Trees”
• S. lais geledhion “leaves of trees” ✧ PE17/097
• S. o galadhremmin ennorath “from tree-tangled middle-lands” ✧ PE17/025
• S. Orgaladh “Day of the Tree, *Tuesday”
• S. Orgaladhad “Day of the Two Trees, *Tuesday”
• S. si loth a galadh lasto dîn “*here flower and tree listen [in] silence” ✧ LB/354

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ Let/426
✶galada > galað	[galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ NM/352
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/025
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/050
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/063
✶galadā > galaða > galað > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/135
✶galadā́ > galað	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/153
✶galadā > galað	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ PE17/153
✶galadā > galadh	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ UT/266

Variations

• galað ✧ MR/182; MR/470; NM/349; NM/352; PE17/060; PE17/153; PE17/153

oron

noun. tree

n. Bot. tree. Also in compound -(o)rŏnō. >> orn

lalorn

noun. elm-tree

lalwen

noun. elm-tree

thôn

noun. pine-tree

tathren

adjective. of willow, having willows

tathar

noun. willow-tree

ereg

noun. holly-tree, thorn

ereg

noun. holly

_ n. Bot. _holly. >> Eregion

neldor

noun. beech

A Sindarin word for “beech” appearing in the names Taur-na-Neldor “Beech-forest” (LotR/469; RC/384) and Neldoreth, the name of a forest with beeches (S/55; PE17/81).

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Ilk. neldor was an Ilkorin word based on ᴹ√NÉL-ED “three”, which Tolkien said was “properly name of Hirilorn the great beech of Thingol with three trunks = neld-orn ? [question mark from Tolkien]” (Ety/NEL). In the 1910s and 20s, ᴱQ. neldor “beech” was an Early Qenya word (PE16/139; QL/65), and its cognates in this period were G. deldron “beech” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/30), G. deil(i)an or delwen “beech” in Gnomish Lexicon Slips (PE13/112), and ᴱN. {de(i)lian >>} deilian “beech-tree” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/142).

Possible Etymology: The Ilkorin derivation from √NELED is no longer suitable in Sindarin, since we would expect [[s|[d] > [ð]]] as in S. neledh “three”. It is possible Tolkien simply never reexamined the etymology of this word after it became Sindarin. Alternately, it could be nel- “tri-” + taur “forest” or -dor “-lord” or something similar.

Element in

• S. Neldoreth ✧ SA/neldor
• S. Taur-na-Neldor “Beech-forest” ✧ LotR/0469

Elements

Word	Gloss
nel-	“tri-”
orn	“(tall straight) tree”

orn

noun. (any large) tree

tathar

noun. willow

n.Bot. #willow. >> taor, taur

brethil

noun. beech, beech-tree, silver birch

malthorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

lebethron

noun. a tree - its black wood was used by the woodwrights of Gondor

In the original manuscript, one of the earlier (rejected) form of this name was lebendron. Didier Willis proposed the etymology lebed+doron "finger-oak", actually a real tree name (Finger Oak or Quercus digitata)

alaf

noun. elm

_ n. Bot. _elm. Q. albe.

alaf

noun. elm

The Sindarin word for “elm” appearing in notes from 1959, derived from the root √ALAB of similar meaning (PE17/153).

Conceptual Development: Tolkien used similar “elm” words for much of his life. The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. lalm or larm “an elm, elm-wood” along with a more elaborate form G. {lalmin >>} lalmir “an elm tree” (GL/52). These were clearly cognates to ᴱQ. alalme “elm (tree)” under the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29). Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s had an unrelated form ᴱN. {aulin >>} ólin “elm” (PE13/151). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien reverted to N. lalf or N. lalven “elm-tree” under the root ᴹ√ÁLAM of the same meaning (Ety/ÁLAM). This root had a variant ᴹ√LÁLAM, under which Tolkien had N. lhalwen or lhalorn “elm-tree” (Ety/LÁLAM).

Neo-Sindarin: In theory the 1930s “elm” words might be used with some adaptations like ᴺS. lalorn for N. lhalorn, but I’d simply stick to the 1959 “elm” word alaf for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Cognates

• Q. alvë “elm” ✧ PE17/153

Derivations

• √ALAB “elm” ✧ PE17/153

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√ALAB > alaf	[alab] > [alav]	✧ PE17/153

galan

elm

pl1. gelain _ n. Bot. _elm. . This gloss was rejected.

malhorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

mallorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

thaun

pine

pl1. thoen n.Bot. #pine. Presented as a noldorized S. form. >> Dor I thoen, thôn. This gloss was rejected.

thôn

noun. pine

n.Bot. #pine. Presented as a noldorized S. form. >> thôn, thaun . This gloss was rejected.

thôn

noun. pine

n.Bot. #pine. Presented as a noldorized S. form. >> Dor I thoen, thôn. This gloss was rejected.

galadh

tree

1) galadh (i **aladh), pl. gelaid (i ngelaidh = i ñelaidh) (Letters:426, SD:302). 2) orn (pl. yrn**). Note: a homophone means ”tall”.

galadh

tree

(i ’aladh), pl. gelaid (i ngelaidh = i ñelaidh) (Letters:426, SD:302).

orn

tree

(pl. yrn). Note: a homophone means ”tall”.

lebethron

oak tree

.

rêg

holly

rêg (construct reg) (thorn), pl. rîg (idh rîg). See also LOW-GROWING TREE

rêg

holly

(construct reg) (thorn), pl. rîg (idh** rîg**). See also

neldor

beech tree

(pl. neldyr), also brethorn (i vrethorn), pl. brethyrn (i mrethyrn) (VT46:3). The mallorn or ”golden-tree” found in Lórien was supposedly beechlike: mallorn (i vallorn), pl. mellyrn (i mellyrn).

tathren

of willow, having willows

(lenited dathren, pl. tethrin)

nothlir

family tree

(family line); no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath.

fêr

beech

†fêr (stem feren-, pl. ferin) (mast);

fêr

beech

(stem feren-, pl. ferin) (mast);

tathar

willow

tathar, also tathor (i dathar/-or; o thathar/-or), pl. tethair (i thethair) or (if tathor has an analogical plural) tethyr (i thethyr). Adj.

tathar

willow

also tathor (i dathar/-or; o thathar/-or), pl. tethair (i thethair) or (if tathor has an analogical plural) tethyr (i thethyr). Adj.

toss

low-growing tree

(i** doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i** thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word. Specific trees, see

galadhrim

people of the trees

(Elves of Lórien). Adj.

galadhon

of or related to trees

(lenited ‘aladhon, pl. galadhoen). Archaic ✱galadhaun. The latter is based on David Salo’s analysis of the name Caras Galadhon; others have interpreted the last word as some kind of genitive plural, maybe influenced by Silvan Elvish.

huorn

walking tree of fangorn

(i chuorn, o chuorn), pl. huyrn (i chuyrn).

toss

bush

(low-growing tree) toss (i doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word.

toss

bush

(i doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word.

galada

noun. tree

Cognates

• Nan. galad “tree”
• Q. alda “tree, tree, [ᴱQ.] branch” ✧ NM/352

Derivations

• ✶galadā “great plant, tree” ✧ NM/352
  • ᴹ√GALAD “tree”
  • ᴹ√GAL “grow, thrive” ✧ Ety/GALA
  • √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive” ✧ Let/426; PE17/025; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153

galla

noun. tree

Changes

• galda → galla ✧ VT39/19

Variations

• galda ✧ VT39/19 (galda)

galad

noun. tree

Cognates

• S. galadh “tree” ✧ MR/182; PE17/060
• Q. alda “tree, tree, [ᴱQ.] branch” ✧ PE17/050
• T. galada “tree”

Derivations

• ✶galadā “great plant, tree” ✧ PE17/050
  • ᴹ√GALAD “tree”
  • ᴹ√GAL “grow, thrive” ✧ Ety/GALA
  • √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive” ✧ Let/426; PE17/025; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153

Element in

• Nan. Galadrim “Tree-people” ✧ PE17/050
• Nan. Caras Galadon ✧ PE17/060

Variations

• Galad ✧ PE17/060

galad

noun. tree

>> Galadrim

galad

noun. tree

Derived from galadâ "great growth", "tree", applied to stout and spreading trees such as oaks and beeches (UT:266, Letters:426; in the latter source, the root GAL is defined as "grow", intransitive). It is interesting to notice that this word, given in a source much later than the Etymologies that provides most of the Nandorin material, nonetheless agrees well with the older words cited by Tolkien: again we see the loss of original final -â, whereas original post-vocalic d is unchanged as in the word edel.

ornē

noun. (straight) tree

Derivations

• √RŌ/ORO “up(wards); rise (up), go high, mount, up(wards); rise (up), go high, mount; [ᴹ√] high, [ᴱ√] steepness, rising” ✧ Let/426

Derivatives

• Q. ornë “(tall) tree, (tall) tree, [ᴹQ.] high isolated tree” ✧ Let/426
• S. eryn “wood, forest (of trees)” ✧ PE17/033; PE17/119
• S. orn “(tall straight) tree” ✧ Let/426; NM/349; UT/266

Element in

• ✶lepethron ✧ PE17/089
• T. Teleporno “Silver-tall; Silver-tree” ✧ NM/349

Variations

• oron ✧ PE17/089
• orne ✧ PE17/113
• oronyē ✧ PE17/119

galadā

noun. great plant, tree

Derivations

• ᴹ√GALAD “tree”
  • ᴹ√GAL “grow, thrive” ✧ Ety/GALA
• √GAL “grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive” ✧ Let/426; PE17/025; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153

Derivatives

• Nan. galad “tree” ✧ PE17/050
• Q. alda “tree, tree, [ᴱQ.] branch” ✧ Let/426; NM/352; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/063; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153; VT39/07
• S. galadh “tree” ✧ Let/426; NM/349; NM/352; PE17/025; PE17/050; PE17/063; PE17/135; PE17/153; PE17/153; UT/266
• T. galada “tree” ✧ NM/352

Element in

• ✶galadā atta “2 trees” ✧ PE21/74
• ✶galadā kanta “4 trees” ✧ PE21/74
• ✶galadarembinā “tree-meshed”

Variations

• galada ✧ NM/352
• galadā́ ✧ PE17/153
• ʒalda ✧ VT39/07 (Aq. ʒalda)

alab

root. elm

A root for “elm” in etymological notes probably written around 1959-1960 (PE17/146, 153). It seems to be a replacement for the root ᴹ√(L)ALAM from The Etymologies of the 1930s. This earlier root was connected to √AL(A) “blessed”, and the later variant may have had the same relationship. Tolkien made a point that the later version of this root was not related to √GAL “grow” or the words for “tree” after rejecting alternate roots √GALAB (?“flower”) and √GALAM for “elm” (PE17/146). The derivation ✶galmā > Q. alma “flower” was allowed to stand, so perhaps √GALAM remained valid with the alternate sense “flower”.

Derivatives

• Q. alvë “elm” ✧ PE17/146; PE17/153
• S. alaf “elm” ✧ PE17/153

galam

root. elm

Changes

• GALAM → ALAB “elm” ✧ PE17/153

Derivatives

• ✶galmā “flower”
  • Q. alma “flower” ✧ PE17/153

Element in

• Q. Alalvinórë “Land of Many Elms” ✧ PE17/153 (alalmi-nóre)

stona

noun. pine

thŏno

noun. pine

Changes

• thānĭ- → thŏno “pine” ✧ PE17/081
• stāna → thānĭ- ✧ PE17/081

Derivatives

• ᴺQ. sono “pine”
• Q. sánë “pine” ✧ PE17/081
• S. thôn “pine-tree” ✧ PE17/081; PE17/081; PE17/082

Variations

• thānĭ- ✧ PE17/081 (thānĭ-)
• stāna ✧ PE17/081 (stāna)
• stŏna ✧ PE17/082

galadh

noun. tree

galadh

noun. tree

Cognates

• ᴹQ. alda “tree” ✧ Ety/GALAD; Ety/GALAD; LR/041; PE22/047; SD/302

Derivations

• ᴹ√GALAD “tree” ✧ Ety/GALAD; Ety/GALAD
  • ᴹ√GAL “grow, thrive” ✧ Ety/GALA
• ᴹ✶galadā “tree” ✧ SD/302
  • ᴹ√GALAD “tree”
  • ᴹ√GAL “grow, thrive” ✧ Ety/GALA

Element in

• N. Bregalad “Quickbeam”
• N. Caras Galadon
• N. Galathir “Tree-lord” ✧ TI/249
• N. Galdaran
• N. Galadhon
• N. Galadhor ✧ Ety/GALAD
• N. Galadlevnar “Week of the Trees”
• N. Galadloriel “Golden Rain” ✧ Ety/GALAD
• N. Galador ✧ Ety/GALAD
• N. Galadriel
• N. Galadhrien “Tree-lady” ✧ TI/249
• N. Galathilion “White Tree of Valinor” ✧ Ety/GALAD (Galathilvion); Ety/GALAD
• N. Argalad “Tree Day”
• N. Argaladath “*Day of the Trees”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶galadā > galað	[galadā] > [galada] > [galaða] > [galað]	✧ SD/302

Variations

• galað ✧ SD/302
• Galað ✧ TI/249

orn

noun. tree

Cognates

• ᴹQ. orne “(high isolated) tree” ✧ Ety/ÓR-NI

Derivations

• ᴹ✶ornē “(high) tree” ✧ Ety/ÓR-NI; SD/302
  • ᴹ√ORON “high tree”
  • ᴹ√RŌ/ORO “rise, up, high” ✧ Ety/ORO

Element in

• N. Brethorn “Forest of Brethil” ✧ EtyAC/NEL
• N. Keleborn
• N. Celeborn “Tree of Silver”
• N. Fangorn “Treebeard”
• N. mallorn “gold tree”
• N. Melthinorn “Tree of Gold” ✧ Ety/SMAL

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ✶ÓR-NI > orn	[orni] > [orne] > [orn]	✧ Ety/ÓR-NI
ᴹ✶ÓR-NI > yrn	[ornī] > [orni] > [urni] > [yrni] > [yrn]	✧ Ety/ÓR-NI
ᴹ✶ornē > orn	[ornē] > [orne] > [orn]	✧ SD/302

lalf

noun. elm-tree

lalven

noun. elm-tree

lhalorn

noun. elm-tree

lhalwen

noun. elm-tree

thaun

noun. pine-tree

fêr

noun. beech-tree

brethel

noun. beech, beech-tree, silver birch

brethel

noun. beech

tathren

adjective. of willow, having willows

tathor

noun. willow-tree

tulus

noun. poplar-tree

ereg

noun. holly-tree, thorn

brethil

noun. beech

Changes

• brethil → brethel ✧ Ety/NEL

Cognates

• ᴹT. bredele “beech-tree” ✧ Ety/BERÉTH

Derivations

• ᴹ√BERETH “beech” ✧ Ety/NEL; Ety/PHER

Element in

• N. Brethil ✧ Ety/NEL
• N. Brethilian(d) “Forest of Brethil” ✧ Ety/BERÉTH
• N. Nimbrethil

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√BERÉTH > brethel	[berétʰele] > [bretʰel] > [breθele] > [breθel]	✧ Ety/NEL
ᴹ√BERÉTH > brethil	[berétʰelī] > [bretʰelī] > [bretʰeli] > [breθeli] > [breθili] > [breθil]	✧ Ety/NEL

Variations

• brethel ✧ Ety/NEL

orn

noun. (any large) tree

eregdos

noun. holly, holly-tree

toss

noun. bush, low-growing tree (as maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.)