Quenya 

Noldor

noun. those that have knowledge

those that have knowledge

Quenya [PE 18:73] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

noldo

one of the people of the noldor

noldo (ñ) noun "one of the people of the Noldor", "one of the wise folk, Gnome". Cf. the gloss "Gnome" in early "Qenya" (LT1:262). Also name of tengwa #19, that is used for the initial n of noldo in Tengwar spelling. Originally pronounced ngoldo (also spelt ñoldo by Tolkien, ÑGOLOD); initial ng had become n in Third Age pronunciation (Appendix E). Pl. Noldor ("Ñoldor"), "the Wise", name of the second clan of the Eldar (WJ:380, 381); gen. pl. Noldoron "of the Noldor" is attested (VT39:16)

noldo

proper name. one of the wise folk, Gnome

An Elf of the second tribe, known as “The Wise” (WJ/383). Their name developed from the primitive root √ÑGOL having to do with wisdom (PM/360, WJ/383).

Conceptual Development: The name ᴱQ. Noldo dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, and in the Qenya Lexicon from the 1910s, where it already had the derivation given above (QL/67). In Tolkien’s earlier writings, he often translated this name as “Gnome”, in the sense of the Greek origin of this word (having to do with thought and wisdom) rather than that of a dwarf-like creature. This translation of ᴹQ. Noldo continued to appear in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/201), but became less common in Tolkien’s later writings, and was not used in the published version of The Silmarillion.

In Tolkien’s earliest writings, the plural form of this word was usually ᴱQ. Noldoli (LT1/21), but by the 1930s this had been replaced by ᴹQ. Noldor (LR/119), the form that was used thereafter.

In notes from the 1950s, Tolkien considered an alternate etymology of this name from the root √ÑGOL “dark-hued, dark-brown” referring to their dark hair (PE17/125), just as the tribal name of the Vanya referred to their fair hair. Presumably he considered this alternate origin because the newly-awakened Noldor would not yet have been known for their wisdom, but there is no evidence that this alternate etymology was anything other than a transient idea.

Changes

  • ŋoldongoldo ✧ LotR/1123

Cognates

  • Ed. Nóm “Wisdom” ✧ WJI/Noldor
  • Ed. Sômar “Wisdom” ✧ WJI/Noldor
  • S. golodh “lore-master, sage” ✧ MR/470; PE17/141
  • S. Golodh “one of the wise folk, Noldo” ✧ PE17/153; PM/360; SA/golodh; SI/Golodhrim; SI/Noldor; WJ/364; WJI/Golodh; MR/350; WJ/383; WJI/Noldor
  • T. Goldo “Noldo” ✧ PM/360; WJI/Goldo; WJ/383; WJI/Noldor
  • S. Gódhel “(Exiled) Noldo” ✧ WJI/Noldor

Derivations

  • ñgolodō “lore-master, sage” ✧ MR/350; MR/470; PE17/141; PE17/153; PE19/076; PM/360; WJ/364; WJ/380; WJ/383
    • ÑGOLOD “*one of the wise folk, Gnome, [ᴹ√] one of the wise folk, Gnome”
    • ÑGOL “knowledge, wisdom, lore, knowledge, wisdom, lore; [ᴹ√] wise, be wise” ✧ PM/360; WJ/383
  • Aq. ñolda “dark-haired” ✧ PE17/125
    • ÑGOL “dark-hued, dark-brown” ✧ PE17/125
  • ÑGOL “knowledge, wisdom, lore, knowledge, wisdom, lore; [ᴹ√] wise, be wise” ✧ SA/gûl

Derivatives

  • S. Noll “Noldo” ✧ PE17/141

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ngolodō > Ñoldor[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ MR/350
ngolodō > noldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ MR/350
ngolodõ > Noldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ MR/470
Aq. ñolda > ŋoldo > noldo[ŋgoldo] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ PE17/125
ñgolodō > ñoldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ PE17/153
ñgolodō > ñoldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ PE19/076
Ñgolodō > Noldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ PM/360
ngol- > Noldor[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ SA/gûl
ñgolodō > Ñoldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ WJ/364
ñgolodō > Ñoldor[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ WJ/380
ñgolodō > Ñoldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ WJ/383

Variations

  • noldo ✧ LotR/1123; MR/350; PE17/125
  • ngoldo ✧ LotR/1123 (ngoldo)
  • ñoldo ✧ PE17/141; PE17/141; PE17/153; PE19/076
  • ŋoldo ✧ RC/736 (ŋoldo)
  • Ñoldo ✧ VT39/16; WJ/364; WJ/383
Quenya [LBI/Noldor; Let/176; LotR/1123; LotRI/Eldar; LotRI/Noldor; MR/230; MR/350; MR/470; MRI/Noldor; PE17/086; PE17/125; PE17/141; PE17/153; PE18/073; PE19/076; PM/030; PM/360; PMI/Noldor; RC/736; S/087; SA/golodh; SA/gûl; SI/Golodhrim; SI/Noldor; UTI/Noldor; VT39/16; WJ/364; WJ/380; WJ/383; WJI/Goldo; WJI/Golodh; WJI/Noldor] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ñolda

dark-haired

ñolda adj. "dark-haired" (PE17:125), associated with Noldor and hence not much used. Cf. nolya.

nolya

dark-haired

nolya ("ñ")adj. "dark-haired" (PE17:125), i.e. very dark brown

nolya

adjective. dark-haired, dark-haired, *brown-haired

A word for “dark-haired”, part of a paradigm in which the Elvish tribe names were derived from their predominant hair color, in notes perhaps from around 1959-60:

> √ÑGOL = dark-hued, dark-brown. OQ ñolda, dark-haired; but after special association with Clan, this was not much used; the colour word taking form ñolya (cf. vanya [= blonde > Vanyar]). The predominant colour of Noldorin hair was very dark brown; no Elf had absolute black hair (PE17/125).

In earlier iterations of this concept, Tolkien instead had Q. {losca, loksa “brown of hair” >> hrúva >>} hróva “dark, dark brown (of hair)”, but Tolkien then added ñolda as an alternative before marking the entire note as rejected (PE17/154-155).

Neo-Quenya: In this paradigm, Tolkien (temporarily) rejected the notion that √ÑGOL referred to wisdom, but this meaning was restored later (e.g. on PM/340 from 1968). However, I still think nolya might be used for “brown-haired” by way of a reversal of the association, where it referred to hair like the Noldor rather than being the basis of the tribe name.

Derivations

  • ÑGOL “dark-hued, dark-brown” ✧ PE17/125

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ÑGOL > ñolya[ŋgolja] > [ŋolja] > [nolja]✧ PE17/125

Variations

  • ñolya ✧ PE17/125

Sindarin 

gódhel

proper name. (Exiled) Noldo

A Sindarin term for the Exiled Noldor, properly †Ódhel but with a G added by analogy with their clan name Golodh (WJ/364, WJ/379).

Cognates

  • Q. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ WJI/Noldor

Derivations

Element in

Sindarin [WJ/364; WJ/379; WJI/Gódhel; WJI/Noldor] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Black Speech

golug

noun. Noldor

Black Speech [UT/092; UTI/Golug] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

golodh

noun. one of the wise folk, Gnome

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD; LBI/Golodh; SMI/Golodh

Derivations

  • On. ngolodo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
    • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
On. ngolodo > golodh[ŋgolodo] > [golodo] > [goloðo] > [goloð]✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
ᴹ√ÑGÓLOD > goeloeidh > geleidh[ŋgolodi] > [golodi] > [goloði] > [gœlœði] > [gœlœið] > [geleið]✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Variations

  • golodh ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD; PE22/034
Noldorin [Ety/ÑGOLOD; LBI/Golodh; LR/201; PE21/57; PE22/034; PE22/041; SM/077; SMI/Golodh] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Ancient quenya

ñolda

noun. dark-haired

Derivations

  • ÑGOL “dark-hued, dark-brown” ✧ PE17/125

Derivatives

  • Q. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ PE17/125
    • S. Noll “Noldo” ✧ PE17/141
Ancient quenya [PE17/125; PE17/154] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

noldo

proper name. one of the wise folk, Gnome

Cognates

  • On. ngolodo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • N. Golodh “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD; LBI/Golodh; SMI/Golodh
  • ᴹT. golodo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • Ilk. (n)gold “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • Dan. golda “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD; PE18/040
  • ᴹ✶ñgolodō “gnome” ✧ PE19/036; PE19/058
    • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome”

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ÑGÓLOD > noldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
ᴹ√ŊGÓLODŌ > ŋoldo > noldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ PE18/040
ᴹ✶ñgolodō > ñoldo[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ PE19/036
ᴹ✶ñgòlodṓ > ñgoldṓ[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋoldō] > [ŋoldo] > [noldo]✧ PE19/058

Variations

  • noldo ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD; PE18/040; PE21/08; PE22/051
  • ñoldo ✧ EtyAC/ÑGOL; PE19/036; PE22/051 (ñoldo)
  • ñgoldṓ ✧ PE19/058
  • ŋoldo ✧ PE22/019; PE22/022
Qenya [Ety/ÑGOLOD; EtyAC/ÑGOL; LBI/Golodh; LR/119; LR/168; LRI/Noldoli; LRI/Noldor; PE18/023; PE18/040; PE19/036; PE19/058; PE21/08; PE22/019; PE22/022; PE22/051; RSI/Noldor; SDI2/Noldor; SM/085; SMI/Golodh; SMI/Noldor; TI/167; TII/Noldor; WRI/Noldor] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

(n)gold

noun. one of the wise folk, Gnome

A Doriathrin name for the ᴹQ. Noldo from the same primitive root ᴹ√ÑGÓLOD (Ety/ÑGOLOD). In the entry for ÑGOLOD in The Etymologies, it appeared as (n)gold, indicating a variation of the usual rule that [[ilk|initial [ŋg] became [g]]] in Ilkorin. The second [o] of the primitive form was lost due to the Ilkorin syncope. Its genitive form golda also appeared as an element in the name Goldamir “✱Noldo-jewel” = Silmaril.

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Element in

  • Ilk. Goldamir “Silmaril, *(lit.) Noldo-jewel” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ÑGÓLOD > (n)gold[ŋgolodo] > [ŋgoldo] > [ŋgold] > [ŋgold]✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
Doriathrin [Ety/ÑGOLOD] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gold

noun. one of the wise folk, Gnome

Ossriandric

golda

noun. one of the wise folk, Gnome

A noun glossed “one of the wise folk, Gnome” developed from the root ᴹ√ÑGOLOD (Ety/ÑGOLOD), most likely from primitive ✱✶ñgolodō given its cognates. It is an example of the Danian syncope, with second unstressed [o] vanishing after the identical vowel. It is also one of the Danian words for which a long final vowel developed into short final [a]. Finally, it provides an example of how initial nasals vanished before stops.

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ÑGÓLOD > golda[ŋgolodō] > [ŋgoldō] > [ŋgolda] > [golda]✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
Ossriandric [Ety/ÑGOLOD] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

ngolodo

noun. one of the wise folk, Gnome

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Derivatives

  • N. Golodh “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ÑGÓLOD > ngolodo[ŋgolodo]✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
Old Noldorin [Ety/ÑGOLOD; PE21/58] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

ñgolodō

noun. gnome

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome”

Derivatives

  • ᴹQ. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ PE19/036; PE19/058

Element in

Variations

  • ñgòlodṓ ✧ PE19/058
  • ŋgolǝdō ✧ PE21/33
  • ŋgoldō ✧ PE21/33
Middle Primitive Elvish [PE19/036; PE19/058; PE21/33] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ñgolod

root. one of the wise folk, Gnome

Derivatives

  • Ilk. (n)gold “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • Dan. golda “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • ᴹ✶ñgolodō “gnome”
    • ᴹQ. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ PE19/036; PE19/058
  • ᴹ✶ŋgolóndē “Gnome-realm” ✧ PE18/040
    • ᴹQ. Ingolonde “Land of the Gnomes” ✧ PE18/040
  • ᴹQ. Ingolonde “Land of the Gnomes” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • ᴹQ. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD; PE18/040
  • N. Angolonn “Land of the Gnomes” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • N. Golodh “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • On. ngolodo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
    • N. Golodh “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • ᴹT. golodo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Elements

WordGloss
ÑGOL“wise, wisdom, be wise”

Variations

  • ÑGÓLOD ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • ŊGOLOD ✧ PE18/034; PE18/061; PE18/061
  • ŊGÓLODŌ ✧ PE18/040
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/ÑGOLOD; EtyAC/ÑGOL; PE18/034; PE18/040; PE18/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Telerin

golodo

noun. one of the wise folk, Gnome

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. Noldo “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ÑGOLOD “one of the wise folk, Gnome” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
Middle Telerin [Ety/ÑGOLOD] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

goldrin

adjective. Gnome

Elements

WordGloss
Golda“Gnome, wise one”

gold

noun. Gnome

goltha

noun. Gnome

gul

noun. Gnome

Early Noldorin

goloth

noun. gnome

Changes

  • goltgoloth ✧ PE13/120

Variations

  • goloth ✧ PE13/120
  • golt ✧ PE13/121 (golt); PE13/123
Early Noldorin [PE13/120; PE13/121; PE13/123; PE15/62] Group: Eldamo. Published by

golt

noun. gnome

Early Quenya

noldo

proper name. Gnome

Changes

  • ŇOLDOŇOLDO “goblin, gnome” ✧ QL/067

Cognates

  • G. Golda “Gnome, wise one” ✧ GG/13; GL/41; LBI/Golda; LT1A/Noldoli; PE13/099; PE14/009
  • G. Goldothrim “People of the Gnomes” ✧ GL/32
  • En. Golodh “Gnome, Deep-elf” ✧ PE13/145
  • Et. goldo ✧ PE13/145

Derivations

Derivatives

Element in

Variations

  • noldo ✧ GG/13; GL/41; PE13/145; PE14/009; PE15/72
  • Ňoldo ✧ PME/067
  • ŇOLDO ✧ QL/067; QL/067 (ŇOLDO)
Early Quenya [GG/13; GL/32; GL/41; LBI/Golda; LBI/Noldoli; LT1/021; LT1/050; LT1/162; LT1A/Noldoli; LT1I/Noldoli; LT1I/Noldor; LT2I/Noldoli; LT2I/Noldor; PE13/099; PE13/145; PE14/009; PE14/042; PE14/045; PE14/047; PE14/048; PE14/071; PE14/079; PE14/081; PE15/72; PME/067; QL/067; SM/013; SMI/Noldoli; WJI/Noldor] Group: Eldamo. Published by