A Sindarin term for the Green Elves (WJ/385), a combination of laeg “green” and †Ell “Elf”.
Quenya
laiquendi
collective name. Green-elves
Cognates
- S. Laegel “Green-elves” ✧ WJ/385; WJI/Laegel
Elements
Word Gloss laica “green” Quendë “Elf, (lit.) One That Speaks” Variations
- Laiqendi ✧ PE18/073
Name for the Nandor of Beleriand meaning “Green-elves” (S/96), a compound of laica “green” and the plural of Quendë “Elf”. In one place (WJ/385), Tolkien said this name was not much used.
Conceptual Development: The earliest form of this name was ᴹQ. Laiqeldar (SM/270), because at the time Tolkien used Eldar as a generic term for Elves. This version contained an earlier Quenya word for “green”: ᴹQ. laiqa. The name changed to ᴹQ. Laiqendi when Tolkien revised his naming scheme for Elves (LR/176, Ety/LÁYAK). The name retained this form into the published version of The Silmarillion, despite the change of ᴹQ. laiqa >> Q. laica (PE17/84), though later it could have derived the “qu” from the element Quendë.