nandor

collective name. Silvan Elves, (lit.) Those who go back

The common Quenya name for the Silvan Elves meaning “Those who go back” (SI/54, WJ/384). This name was derived from the ancient word ✶ndandō “one who goes back on his word or decision” (WJ/412), and its Quenya form is attested only in the plural.

Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Nanar “Green-elves” appeared in The Etymologies with a similar derivation (Ety/DAN). A deleted form ᴹQ. Nanyar appears in the first draft of the Lhammas from the mid-30s (LR/175). In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, this word was first written Nandar but was immediately changed to Nandor (MR/169).

Changes

• Nandar → Nandor ✧ MR/169

Cognates

• S. Danedhel “*Nando”
• S. Danwaith ✧ WJI/Nandor
• S. Danathrim “Danians” ✧ MR/169

Derivations

• √(N)DAN “back (again); retreat, go back, give way (as one advances), revert, back (again), [ᴹ√] backwards; [√] retreat, go back, give way (as one advances), revert” ✧ VT48/32
• ✶ndandō “one who goes back on his word or decision” ✧ WJ/412
  • √(N)DAN “back (again); retreat, go back, give way (as one advances), revert, back (again), [ᴹ√] backwards; [√] retreat, go back, give way (as one advances), revert” ✧ WJ/412

Element in

• Q. Nandorin

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√dan- > Nandor	[ndandor] > [nandor]	✧ VT48/32
✶ndandō > Nandor	[ndandor] > [nandor]	✧ WJ/412

Variations

• Nandar ✧ MR/169 (Nandar); MRI/Nandor (Nandar)

tawarwaith

silvan elves

Tawarwaith (lit. ”Forest-people”)

tawarwaith

silvan elves

(lit. ”Forest-people”)