ména

region

ména noun "region" (MEN). Not to be confused with the present/continuative tense of #men- "go".

yón

noun. region

harda

realm, region

harda noun "realm, region" _(VT45:12, 16, 17; the word also occurs, unglossed, in the entry EN in the Etymologies)_. Changed to arda later?

turmen

realm

turmen noun "realm" (PE17:28). Turmen Follondiéva "Realm of the North-harbourage", old name for Arnor, TurmenHallondiéva "Realm of the South-harbourage", old name for Gondor (PE17:28)

turmen

noun. realm

Cognates

• S. arthor “realm” ✧ PE17/028; PE17/028

Element in

• Q. Turmen Follondiéva “Realm of the North-harbourage” ✧ PE17/028
• Q. Turmen Hyallondiéva “Realm of the South-harbourage” ✧ PE17/028

Elements

Word	Gloss
TUR	“dominate, master, conquer; power [over others], mastery (legitimate or illegitimate), control (of other wills); strong, mighty in power, dominate, master, conquer; power [over others], mastery (legitimate or illegitimate), control (of other wills); strong, mighty in power; [ᴹ√] victory; [ᴱ√] am strong”
MEN	“go, move, proceed (in any direction); make for, go towards; have as object, (in)tend; direction, object, point moved toward; region”

Variations

• Turmen ✧ PE17/028; PE17/028

Yón

region, any (fairly extensive) region between obstacles such as rivers or mountains

yón (2), variant of yondë, q.v. Defined as "a region, any (fairly extensive) region _between obstacles such as rivers or mountains" (PE17:43)_

umbacarin

noun. [unglossed]

éna

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ✶eñna ✧ PE19/097
  • √EÑ “be, exist”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶eñna > enna > éna	[eŋna] > [enna]	✧ PE19/097

arda

realm

arda noun "realm" (GAR under 3AR). It is said that arda, when used as a common noun, "meant any more or less bounded or defined place, a region" (WJ:402), or "a particular land or region" (WJ:413). Capitalized Arda "the Realm", name of the Earth as the kingdom of Manwë (Silm), "the name given to our world or earth...within the immensity of Eä"(Letters:283, there again rendered "realm"), "our planet" (MR:39), once translated "Earth" (SD:246). In a wider sense, Arda can refer to the entire Solar System (MR:337). Also name of tengwa #26 (Appendix E). Masc. name Ardamírë "Jewel of the World" (PM:348), shorter form Ardamir (UT:210); Ardaranyë "the Kingdom of Arda" (PE17:105)

artaurë

realm

artaurë noun "realm" (PE17:28). Cf. turmen.

cairë

?. [unglossed]

Cognates

• S. caer “*flat isle on a river, [N.] flat isle on a river” ✧ PE17/101

Derivations

• √KAY “lie, lie, [ᴹ√] lie down; [ᴱ√] rest, dwell” ✧ PE17/101

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√KAYA > caire	[kaire]	✧ PE17/101

Variations

• caire ✧ PE17/101

finca

noun. [unglossed]

Cognates

• S. fing “lock of hair” ✧ PE17/017

Derivations

• ✶phinik ✧ PE17/017
  • √SPIN(ID) “fine thread, filament; hair” ✧ PE17/017

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶finik/fink > finca	[pʰinika] > [pʰinka] > [pʰiŋka] > [ɸiŋka] > [fiŋka]	✧ PE17/017

Variations

• finca ✧ PE17/017

hindo

noun. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √KHIN “child” ✧ PE17/157

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√KHIN > hindo	[kʰindo] > [xindo] > [hindo]	✧ PE17/157

hindë

noun. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √KHIN “child” ✧ PE17/157

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√KHIN > hinde	[kʰinde] > [xinde] > [hinde]	✧ PE17/157

Variations

• hinde ✧ PE17/157 (hinde)

háro

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ✶khādo ✧ PE22/148
  • √KHAD “sit”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶khādo > hāzo > hāro	[kʰādo] > [xādo] > [xāðo] > [hāðo] > [hāro]	✧ PE22/148

Variations

• hāro ✧ PE22/148

nonda

hand, especially in [?clutching]

nonda noun "hand, especially in [?clutching]" (VT47:23; Tolkien's gloss was not certainly legible)

nóre

noun. land

nórë

land

nórë noun "land" (associated with a particular people) (WJ:413), "country, land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live, race, clan" (NŌ, NDOR, BAL), also used = "race, tribe, people" (SA:dôr, PE17:169; however, the normal word for "people" is lië). Early "Qenya" hasnórë "native land, nation, family, country" (in compounds -nor) (LT1:272)

sélo

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ✶steglō ✧ PE19/095

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶steglō > thélo > þélo > sélo	[steglō] > [θeglō] > [θeɣlō] > [θēlō] > [θēlo] > [sēlo]	✧ PE19/095

yondë

noun. region, any fairly extensive region with well-marked natural bounds

Derivations

• √YON “wide, extensive” ✧ PE17/043

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√YŎNO > yōn	[jōn]	✧ PE17/043

Variations

• yōn ✧ PE17/043
• yonde ✧ PE17/043; PE17/043
• yon ✧ PE17/043

conta-

verb. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √KOM “gather, collect” ✧ PE17/157

Elements

Word	Gloss
-ta	“causative verb suffix”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√KOM > conta	[komta-] > [konta-]	✧ PE17/157

Variations

• conta ✧ PE17/157 (conta)

hendas

?. [unglossed]

Element in

• Q. calma hendas “*light in the eyes” ✧ PMCH/02; TMME/192

lie

noun. people

lingi-

verb. [unglossed]

lië

people

lië noun "people" (LI, Narqelion, VT39:6), in Eldalië, losselië, Ornelië (q.v.); possessive #liéva in Mindon Eldaliéva (q.v.); maybe also compounded in #rohtalië, #ruhtalië (q.v.)

arda

noun. region, realm, particular land or region, region, realm, particular land or region; [ᴱQ.] place, spot

Cognates

• S. gardh “region” ✧ WJ/402

Derivations

• ✶gardā “region” ✧ WJ/402
  • ᴹ√GAR “keep, hold, possess; maintain, defend”

Element in

• Q. Arda “The World, (lit.) Realm” ✧ WJ/402
• ᴺQ. liëarda “republic”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶gardā > arda	[gardā] > [ɣardā] > [ardā] > [arda]	✧ WJ/402

Variations

• Arda ✧ MR/358

vië

manhood, vigour

vië noun "manhood, vigour" (WEG)

melya-

verb. [unglossed], *to be in love

Derivations

• √MEL “love, love, [ᴹ√] love (as friend)”

-ndor

land

-ndor, final element in compounds: "land" (Letters:308, UT:253)

arra

adjective. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √SRAG “awkward, awry; hard, (very) difficult” ✧ PE17/172

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√SRA-G > asra > arra	[asra] > [azra] > [arra]	✧ PE17/172

cambë

noun. hand, (hollow of) hand

Derivations

• √KAB “hold, contain, retain, possess, have in hand, hold, contain, retain, possess, have in hand; [ᴹ√] hollow”

má

noun. hand

hand

má

hand

má noun "hand" (MA3, LT2:339, Narqelion, VT39:10, [VT45:30], VT47:6, 18, 19); the dual "a pair of hands" is attested both by itself as mát (VT47:6) and with a pronominal suffix as máryat "his/her (pair of) hands" (see -rya, -t) (Nam, RGEO:67). The nominative plural form was only máli, not **már (VT47:6), though plurals in -r may occur in some of the cases, as indicated by the pl. allative mannar "into hands" (FS). Mánta "their hand", dual mántat "their hands" (two hands each) (PE17:161). Cf. also the compounds mátengwië "language of the hands" (VT47:9) and Lungumá "Heavyhand" (VT47:19); also compare the adj. -maitë "-handed". See also málimë.

má

noun. hand

má

noun. hand

The most common Quenya word for “hand”, which Tolkien usually derived from a root √MAH or √MAƷ “hand; handle, wield”. The weak consonant h or ʒ in the root was lost very early, so that primitive ✶mā was one of a rare set of ancient monosyllabic nouns ending in a vowel. Tolkien said that of the various hand words, má was “the oldest (probably) and the one that retained a general and unspecialized sense — referring to the entire hand (including wrist) in any attitude or function” (VT47/6).

As a part of the body, má “hand” was usually referred to in the singular (má) or dual (mát). This was true when referring to the hands of groups of people as well. For example, to say that “the Elves raised their hands”, you would say either i Eldar ortaner mánta (singular, one hand each) or i Eldar ortaner mántat (dual, both hands each), with the possessive suffix -nta “their”.

The plural form már “hands” (or archaic †mai) was almost never used, in part because it conflicted with Q. már “dwelling”. The singular form was also used in general statements and proverbs: “hand is cleverer than foot” má anfinya epe tál (ná). A collection of otherwise unrelated hands would likely use the partitive-plural form: máli “some hands”, which in this case could also serve as the general plural (VT47/12 Note 2). See the discussions on PE17/161 and VT47/6 for more information.

This word is also unusual in that it retains its long vowel before consonant clusters in inflected forms such as mánta “their hand” (PE17/161) or márya “his/her hand” (PE17/69). As Tolkien described it:

> Lá is usually shortened to la before 2 consonants, according to the usual Q. procedure, but the long vowel can be retained, especially for additional emphasis, as in other cases where pronominal affixes follow a long vowel, as in márya “his hand” (PE22/160).

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to ᴱQ. mā “hand” from Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√MAHA “grasp” (QL/57). ᴹQ. má “hand” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√MAƷ “hand” (Ety/MAƷ). Tolkien mentioned this word with great frequency, usually derived from √MAH or √MAƷ (as noted above) though he sometimes considered deriving it from √MAG instead.

Cognates

• S. maw “hand” ✧ PE17/162; VT47/06
• T. má “hand” ✧ VT47/18; VT47/06

Derivations

• √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ PE17/069; PE17/162; PE19/100; VT39/11; VT47/19
• √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ PE17/161; VT47/18
• ✶mā “hand” ✧ PE19/102; VT47/06
  • ✶maha “hand, the manager” ✧ PE19/074; PE19/102; VT47/06; VT47/07; VT47/35
  • √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ VT47/18; VT47/18
  • √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
  • √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ PE21/70
  • √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
• ✶maha “hand, the manager” ✧ PE19/106; VT47/18
  • √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ VT47/18; VT47/18
  • √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18

Element in

• Q. an sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë “for now the Kindler, Varda, the Queen of the Stars from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds” ✧ LotR/0377; RGEO/58
• Q. an sí Varda, Tintallë, Elentári ortanë máryat Oiolossëo ve fanyar “for now Varda, Star-kindler, Star-queen [has] lifted up her (two) hands from Mount Everwhite like (white) clouds” ✧ RGEO/59
• Q. forma “right-hand” ✧ VT47/06
• Q. hyarma “left hand” ✧ VT47/06
• Q. Lungumá “Heavyhand” ✧ VT47/19
• ᴺQ. máfastië “hand-pleasure, writing for pleasure of hand and eye”
• Q. mahtanë yúyo má véla “*wield both hands alike” ✧ VT49/10
• Q. maitë “handy, skillful; having a hand, handed; shapely, handy, skillful, [ᴹQ.] skilled; [Q.] shapely, well-shaped; (as suffix) having a hand, handed” ✧ PE17/161; VT47/06
• Q. málimë “wrist, (lit.) hand-link” ✧ VT47/06
• ᴺQ. mapalin “plane tree [Platinus], sycamore, (lit.) hand-flat”
• Q. mátengwië “language of the hands”
• ᴺQ. mavaina “maple, (lit.) hand-clad”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√MAƷ > mā	[maɣa] > [mā]	✧ PE17/069
√MAG > mā	[maga] > [maɣa] > [mā]	✧ PE17/161
√MAƷ > má	[mā]	✧ PE17/162
√MAƷ > má	[maɣa] > [mā]	✧ PE19/100
✶māh > mâ	[māh] > [mā]	✧ PE19/102
✶māʒ > mã	[māɣ] > [mā]	✧ PE19/106
√maha > mā	[maha] > [mā]	✧ VT39/11
✶mā > má	[mā]	✧ VT47/06
✶māʒ(ă) > mā	[māɣa] > [mā]	✧ VT47/18
√mag > mā	[māga] > [māɣa] > [mā]	✧ VT47/18
√MAƷA > má	[maɣa] > [mā]	✧ VT47/19

Variations

• mā ✧ PE17/069; PE17/161; VT39/09; VT39/11; VT47/18; VT47/18
• mâ ✧ PE19/102
• mã ✧ PE19/106

naue

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ✶ndagwē ✧ PE19/094

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶ndagwē > ndau̯we > nau̯we > naue	[ndagwē] > [ndaɣwē] > [ndauwē] > [nauwē] > [naue]	✧ PE19/094

Variations

• nawe ✧ PE19/094 (nawe)

nór

land

nór noun "land" (stem nor-, PE17:106) this is land as opposed to water and sea (nor in Letters:308). Cf. nórë.

nór

noun. land

A term for “land” as in “(dry) land as opposed to the sea”, mentioned in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 (WJ/413) and again in notes from around 1968 (PE17/106-107).

Possible Etymology: In the Quendi and Eldar essay this term was derived from primitive ✶ndōro, but in the aforementioned 1968 notes Tolkien clarified that its stem form was nŏr-. This means it was probably derived from ancient ✱ndŏr-, where the long vowel in the uninflected form was inherited from the Common Eldarin subjective form ✱ndōr, a phenomenon also seen in words like nér (ner-) “man”. I prefer this second derivation, as it makes the independent word more distinct from the suffixal form -ndor or -nóre used in the names of countries.

Derivations

• ✶ndorē “land” ✧ PE17/106; PE17/107
  • √NDOR “land; hard, firm; [ᴹ√] dwell, stay, rest, abide” ✧ PE17/106; PE17/107
  • √DOR “hard, tough, dried up, unyielding”
  • √DOR “hard, tough, dried up, unyielding” ✧ WJ/413
• ✶ndōro “land” ✧ WJ/413
  • √DOR “hard, tough, dried up, unyielding” ✧ WJ/413

Element in

• Q. nortil “cape (of land)”
• ᴺQ. salquenor “grassland, meadow”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶ndōr > nōr	[ndōr] > [nōr]	✧ PE17/106
✶NDŌR/NDŎR- > nôr	[ndōr] > [nōr]	✧ PE17/107
✶ndōro > nór	[ndōro] > [ndōr] > [nōr]	✧ WJ/413

Variations

• nōr ✧ PE17/106
• nôr ✧ PE17/107

ercassë

holly

ercassë ("k") noun "holly" (ERÉK)

felca

adjective. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √PHELEG “excavation, excavation; [ᴹ√] cave” ✧ PE17/118

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√PHELEK > felca	[pʰelka] > [ɸelka] > [felka]	✧ PE17/118

holdë

noun. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √SKOL “shut, close” ✧ PE17/098

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√KHOL > holde	[kʰolde] > [xolde] > [holde]	✧ PE17/098

Variations

• holde ✧ PE17/098

sóla

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ✶soglā ✧ PE19/095

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶soglā > sóla	[soglā] > [soɣlā] > [sōlā] > [sōla]	✧ PE19/095

thar-

verb. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √STAR “*stiff, [ᴹ√] stiff” ✧ PE22/133

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√STAR > thar	[star-] > [θar-]	✧ PE22/133

Variations

• thar ✧ PE22/133

tomba

noun. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √TOM “of resonant sounds” ✧ PE17/138

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√TOM > tomba	[tomba]	✧ PE17/138

tompë

noun. [unglossed], *pulse, beat

@@@ Neo-meaning “✱pulse, beat” suggested by Röandil on 2023-04-20

Derivations

• √TOM “of resonant sounds” ✧ PE17/138

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√TOM > tompe	[tompe]	✧ PE17/138

Variations

• tompe ✧ PE17/138

maitya

?. [unglossed]

Variations

• mahtya ✧ PE19/084 (mahtya)

þúna

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ✶stuknā ✧ PE19/086
  • √STUK “[unglossed]” ✧ PE19/086

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶stuknā > thúna	[stuknā] > [stugnā] > [θugnā] > [θuŋnā] > [θūnā] > [θūna] > [sūna]	✧ PE19/086

Variations

• thúna ✧ PE19/086 (thúna)

felehta-

verb. [unglossed], *to excavate, tunnel, mine

An untranslated form appearing in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 derived from the root √PHELEG/PHELEK (PE17/118), possibly a verb derived from ✱phelektā- or ✱phelegtā-. The derivatives of this root had to do with mines and tunnels, so perhaps this verb meant “✱to excavate, tunnel, mine”.

Derivations

• √PHELEG “excavation, excavation; [ᴹ√] cave” ✧ PE17/118

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√PHELEK > felehta	[pʰelektā] > [ɸelektā] > [ɸelextā] > [ɸelextā] > [felextā]	✧ PE17/118

Variations

• felehta ✧ PE17/118

amya-

verb. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √AM “go up, go up, [ᴹ√] up” ✧ PE17/157

Elements

Word	Gloss
-ya	“verbal suffix”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√AM > amya	[amja-]	✧ PE17/157

Variations

• amya ✧ PE17/157 (amya)

cúma

noun. [unglossed]

Cognates

• S. cû “bow, bow; [N.] arch, crescent; [G.] waxing or waning moon” ✧ PE17/122

Derivations

• ✶kūma ✧ PE17/122
  • √KU(H) “bow, [ᴱ√] bend”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶kūma > cúma	[kūma]	✧ PE17/122

malsa

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ✶maslā ✧ PE19/101

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶maslā > malsa	[maslā] > [malsā] > [malsa]	✧ PE19/101

sal-

verb. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √SAL “[unglossed], *harp(ing), lyre” ✧ PE22/133

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√SAL > azálie	[asālie] > [azālie]	✧ PE22/133

um(ba)-

prefix. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √UMU “not, expressing privation, not, expressing privation; [ᴹ√] negative stems” ✧ PE17/172
  • √Ū “denial of fact, privation, negative element, denial of fact, privation, negative element, [ᴱ√] not”

Element in

• Q. umbacarin “[unglossed]” ✧ PE17/172

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√UMU > um(ba)	[umba-]	✧ PE17/172

Variations

• um(ba) ✧ PE17/172 (um(ba))

úpa-

verb. [unglossed]

gardh

noun. region

Cognates

• Q. arda “region, realm, particular land or region, region, realm, particular land or region; [ᴱQ.] place, spot” ✧ WJ/402

Derivations

• ✶gardā “region” ✧ WJ/402
  • ᴹ√GAR “keep, hold, possess; maintain, defend”

Element in

• S. Ard-galen “Green Region”
• S. Ardhon “The World”
• S. Calenardhon “Green Province”
• S. gardhon “province”
• S. Garthúrian “Hidden Realm”
• S. Lisgardh “Land of Reeds” ✧ UT/034

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶gardā > gardh	[gardā] > [garda] > [garða] > [garð]	✧ WJ/402

region

noun. holly-tree area

[HKF] reg (Dor. regorn “holly tree”) + ion (Dor. gen. pl. suffix) = Dor. Regornion [Etym. ERÉK-]

region

place name. *Hollin

A forested region within Doriath (S/121). The name resembles Eregion, and probably has a similar meaning. Christopher Tolkien indicated its initial element is a variant form of ereg “holly” (SA/ereg), and its final element may be -ion “-region” (as suggested by David Salo, GS/389).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this region was first named Ilk. Region (LR/126), which was designated a Doriathrin [Ilkorin] name in The Etymologies, the genitive plural of Ilk. reg (Ety/ÉREK).

Elements

Word	Gloss
ereg	“holly, thorn, holly, [N.] holly-tree, [S.] thorn”
-ion	“-region, -land”

ereg

noun. holly-tree, thorn

ereg

noun. holly

_ n. Bot. _holly. >> Eregion

gwaith

noun. people; region, people, [ᴱN.] men, folk; [N.] manhood; man-power, troop of able bodied men, host, regiment; [S.] region

Cognates

• Q. vehtë “[a span of] life; habitat, haunt” ✧ PE17/190

Derivations

• ✶wegtē “activity, occupation” ✧ PE17/189
  • √WEG “live, be active, live, be active; [ᴹ√] (manly) vigour” ✧ PE17/189
• √WĒ/EWE “person, being, individual” ✧ PE17/190

Element in

• S. Danwaith
• S. Drúwaith “the wilderness of the Drû-folk”
• S. Eluwaith
• S. Enedwaith “Middle-region, Middle-folk” ✧ Let/224; SA/gwaith
• S. Forodwaith “North-region, Northmen” ✧ Let/224
• S. Gaurwaith “Wolf-men”
• S. Gwaith-i-Mírdain “People of the Jewel Smiths” ✧ SA/gwaith
• S. Haradwaith “South-folk, the Harad”
• S. Tawarwaith “Forest People”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶weg-tē > gwaith	[wegtē] > [wektē] > [wekte] > [wektʰe] > [wexθe] > [gwexθe] > [gweiθe] > [gweiθ] > [gwaiθ]	✧ PE17/189

ardhon

noun. great region, province

ardhon

noun. world

gwaith

noun. region, wilderness

gardh

noun. bounded or defined region

arthor

realm

_n. _realm.

arthor

noun. realm

Cognates

• Q. turmen “realm” ✧ PE17/028; PE17/028

Derivations

• ✶artaurē “Realm” ✧ PE17/028

Element in

• S. aranarth “*kingdom”
• S. Arthedain “*Realm of the Edain”
• S. Arthor na Challonnas “Realm of the South-harbourage” ✧ PE17/028
• S. Arthor na Forlonnas “Realm of the North-harbourage” ✧ PE17/028

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶artaurē > Arthor	[artaurē] > [artaure] > [artʰaure] > [arθaure] > [arθaur] > [arθor]	✧ PE17/028

Variations

• Arthor ✧ PE17/028; PE17/028

cidinn

?. [unglossed]

Cognates

• Q. cinta “small” ✧ PE17/157

Derivations

• √KIT “*small” ✧ PE17/157

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√KIT > cidinn	[kitinne] > [kitinn] > [kidinn]	✧ PE17/157

cinnog

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• √KIT “*small” ✧ PE17/157

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√KIT > cinnog	[kintok] > [kintʰok] > [kinθok] > [kinθog] > [kinnog]	✧ PE17/157

gwaith

noun. manhood

gwaith

noun. man power, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

cam

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

dôr

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

dôr

noun. land, land, [N.] region where certain people live, [ᴱN.] country; [G.] people of the land

Cognates

• Q. -ndor “land, country” ✧ SA/dôr

Derivations

• ✶ndorē “land” ✧ PE17/164; SA/dôr; WJ/413
  • √NDOR “land; hard, firm; [ᴹ√] dwell, stay, rest, abide” ✧ PE17/106; PE17/107
  • √DOR “hard, tough, dried up, unyielding”
  • √DOR “hard, tough, dried up, unyielding” ✧ WJ/413

Element in

• S. Arnor “Royal Land”
• S. Balannor “Land of the Valar”
• S. bardor “home land, native land” ✧ PE17/164
• S. Berennyr “Brown Lands”
• S. Dor Caranthir “Land of Caranthir”
• S. Dor-Cúarthol “Land of Bow and Helm”
• S. Dor Daedeloth “Land of Great Dread; Land of Shadow of Horror”
• S. Dor Dínen “Silent Land” ✧ S/121
• S. Dor-en-Ernil “Land of the Prince” ✧ UT/245
• S. Dor Firn-i-Guinar “Land of the Dead that Live” ✧ S/188
• S. dorgannas “shapes of the lands, *geography” ✧ WJ/192
• ᴺS. dorgant “landscape, scene, *(lit.) land-shape”
• S. Dor Gyrth i Chuinar “Land of the Dead that Live” ✧ Let/417
• S. Dor Haeron
• S. Doriath “Land of the Fence” ✧ SA/dôr; SI/Doriath; UTI/Doriath; WJ/370
• S. Dor-i-Ndainn “*Land of the Nandor”
• S. Dor i Thuin
• north S. Dor-lómin “*Echoing-land”
• S. Dorloven “*Echoing Land” ✧ PE17/133
• S. Dor-na-Daerachas “Land of Great Dread”
• S. Dor-nu-Fauglith “Land under Choking Ash”
• S. Dor-Rodyn “*Land of the Valar” ✧ MR/200
• S. Dorthonion “Land of Pines” ✧ RC/384; SA/dôr
• S. Dorwinion “Young-land country, land of Gwinion”
• S. Eglador “Land of the Eglir (Forsaken)”
• S. Elennor “*Elf-land”
• S. Eriador “Lonely Land” ✧ SA/dôr
• S. Gondor “Stone-land” ✧ SA/dôr
• S. Mildor “Wine-land”
• S. Mordor “Black Land” ✧ Let/427; SA/dôr
• S. Pelennor “Fenced Land”
• S. Thonador

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶ndor > -dor	[-ndorē] > [-ndore] > [-ndor] > [-dor]	✧ PE17/164
✶ndor > dôr	[ndorē] > [ndore] > [dore] > [dor] > [dōr]	✧ SA/dôr
✶ndorē > dôr	[ndorē] > [ndore] > [dore] > [dor] > [dōr]	✧ WJ/413
✶ndorē > -ndor > -nor/-nnor	[-ndorē] > [-ndore] > [-ndor] > [-nnor]	✧ WJ/413

Variations

• Dor ✧ Let/417; MR/200; PE17/133; S/121; S/188; SI/Doriath; UT/245; UTI/Doriath; WJ/192
• dor ✧ Let/427; RC/384
• -dor ✧ PE17/164
• Dôr ✧ WJ/370

maw

noun. hand

maw

noun. hand

The Sindarin equivalent of Q. má, likewise derived from the root √MAH or √MAƷ “hand; handle, wield” (PE17/162; VT47/6). However, in Sindarin this word was archaic, used only in poetry, having been replaced in ordinary speech by other words like S. mâb and (less often) cam. Other remnants of this word can be seen in compounds like molif “wrist, (orig.) hand link” and directional words like forvo and harvo for left and right hand side.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, G. mô from the early root ᴱ√MAHA was the normal word for “hand”, replacing mab “hand” (< ᴱ√MAHA) which in this document Tolkien decided was instead an irregular dual form of mô (GL/55). It had also had an irregular plural mabin based on this dual, replacing an older plural †maith. In the Gnomish Grammar, its archaic form was †mâ, with the usual Gnomish sound change of ā to ō (GG/14), as opposed to later Sindarin/Noldorin ā to au, spelt -aw when final. Tolkien seems to have abandoned mô as a non-archaic word for “hand” early on, preferring ᴱN. mab “hand” by the 1920s and introducing N. cam “hand” in the 1930s.

Cognates

• Q. má “hand” ✧ PE17/162; VT47/06
• T. má “hand” ✧ VT47/18

Derivations

• √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ PE17/162
• ✶mā “hand” ✧ VT47/06
  • ✶maha “hand, the manager” ✧ PE19/074; PE19/102; VT47/06; VT47/07; VT47/35
  • √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ VT47/18; VT47/18
  • √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
  • √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ PE21/70
  • √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
• √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18

Element in

• S. forvo “right hand, right side” ✧ VT47/06
• S. harvo “left hand, left side” ✧ VT47/06
• S. maed “handy, skillful, handy, skillful, [N.] skilled” ✧ VT47/06
• ᴺS. mawedh “glove”
• S. molif “wrist, (lit.) hand-link” ✧ VT47/06

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√MAƷ > maw	[mā] > [mǭ] > [mau]	✧ PE17/162
✶mā > maw	[mā] > [mǭ] > [mau]	✧ VT47/06
√mag > maw	[mā] > [mǭ] > [mau]	✧ VT47/18

mâb

noun. hand, hand, [N.] grasp

The typical Sindarin word for “hand” (VT47/7, 20), usable in almost any context. It is most notable as an element in the name Mablung “Heavy Hand” (VT47/8). See below for a discussion of its etymology.

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, where G. mab “hand” appeared as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√MAPA “seize” (GL/55). Tolkien then revised the gloss to “hands”, saying instead it was an irregular dual of G. mô “hand”. The word reverted to singular ᴱN. mab “hand” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/149). These early versions of the word were already an element of Mablung “Heavy Hand(ed)” (LT2/38; LB/311), but also of Ermabwed “One-handed” (LT2/34; LB/119).

In the 1930s it seems Tolkien decided Ilk. mâb “hand” was primarily an Ilkorin word, and the usual word for “hand” in Noldorin was N. cam. Compare Ilkorin Ermabuin “One-handed” and Mablosgen “Empty-handed” with Noldorin Erchamion and Camlost of the same meaning. In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Tolkien had N. mab “grasp” under the root ᴹ√MAPA “seize”, but the version of the entry with that word was overwritten (EtyAC/MAP), leaving only the Ilkorin form mâb. In this period, Mablung may also have been an Ilkorin name.

After Tolkien abandoned Ilkorin in the 1950s, he kept S. Erchamion and Camlost based on cam, but also kept Mablung “Heavy Hand” which must have become Sindarin. In his later writings Tolkien again revisited the etymology of S. mâb “hand”. In a note from Jan-Feb 1968, he wrote:

> It [Q. má = “hand”] did not survive in Telerin and Sindarin as an independent word, but was replaced by the similar-sounding but unconnected C.E. makwā, Q. maqua, T. mapa, S. mab, of uncertain origin, but probably originally an adjectival formation from MAK “strike” ... (VT47/19).

This sentence was struck through, however. In drafts of notes on Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals written in or after 1968, Tolkien again derived mâb from √MAP (VT47/20 note #13), but in the final version of these notes he made the remarkable decision to discard this root despite it being a stable part of Elvish for nearly 50 years, declaring it was used only in Telerin and not Quenya or Sindarin (VT47/7). He coined a new etymology for S. mâb “hand” based on ✶makwā “handful” = ✶mā + ✶kwā (VT47/6-7), a variation on the above etymology from √MAK.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I prefer to ignore Tolkien’s 1968 removal of √MAP “seize”, and so would continue to derive S. mâb “hand” from that root. However, its ancient meaning may have been “✱grasp”, and its eventual use as “hand” might have been influenced by ancient ✶makwā “handful”.

Cognates

• Q. maqua “hand-full, group of five (similar) things; hand (colloquial); closing or closed [hand] (facing down) for taking” ✧ VT47/06; VT47/19; VT47/20

Derivations

• ✶makwā “a hand-full, complete hand with all five fingers” ✧ VT47/06; VT47/07; VT47/19
  • √MAK “cut, hew with a sharp edge; kill, slay; forge metal, cut, hew with a sharp edge, [ᴹ√] cleave; sword, fight (with a sword); ️[√] forge metal; kill, slay” ✧ VT47/19
• √MAP “take away, take hold of, grasp, take away, take hold of, grasp, [ᴹ√] lay hold of with hand, seize” ✧ VT47/20

Element in

• ᴺS. mablanthos “sycamore”
• S. Mablung “Heavy Hand” ✧ VT47/07
• ᴺS. mabren “handed, having hands, dextrous”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶makwā > mâb	[makwā] > [mapā] > [mapa] > [map] > [mab] > [māb]	✧ VT47/06
✶makwā > mâb	[makwā] > [mapā] > [mapa] > [map] > [mab] > [māb]	✧ VT47/07
✶makwā > mâb	[makwā] > [mapā] > [mapa] > [map] > [mab] > [māb]	✧ VT47/19
√MAP > măpo > mâb	[mapo] > [map] > [mab] > [māb]	✧ VT47/20

gardh

noun. world

madu

?. [unglossed]

maud

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ✶matwā ✧ PE17/148
  • √MAT “eat”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶matwā > madw̯ > maud	[matwā] > [matwa] > [matw] > [maut] > [maud]	✧ PE17/148
✶matwā > madw̯ > madu	[matwā] > [matwa] > [matw] > [madw] > [madu]	✧ PE17/148

Variations

• madu ✧ PE17/148

mab-

noun. a hand-full, complete hand (with all five fingers)

mâb

noun. a hand-full, complete hand (with all five fingers)

ardh

region

1) ardh (realm), pl. erdh, also in augmented form ardhon (great region, great province, world), pl. erdhyn, coll. pl. ardhonnath. 2) dôr (i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, land), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr) (WJ:413), 3) gardh (i **ardh) (bounded or defined place), pl. gerdh (i ngerdh = i ñerdh), 4) gwaith (i **waith) (manhood, manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people, wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

ardh

region

(realm), pl. erdh, also in augmented form ardhon (great region, great province, world), pl. erdhyn, coll. pl. ardhonnath.

dôr

region

(i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, land), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr) (WJ:413)

gardh

region

(i ’ardh) (bounded or defined place), pl. gerdh (i ngerdh = i ñerdh)

gwaith

region

(i ’waith) (manhood, manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people, wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

gilwen

region of stars

(Quenya Ilmen), also Gilith. In the Etymologies, this word is derived from a root GIL (LR:358) and would then have the form ’Ilwen (’Ilwith) when lenited. But in a later source, Tolkien cited the relevant root as ÑGIL (MR:388), and the lenited form would then be Ngilwen (Ngilwith).

aran

king of a region

(pl. erain)

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

ilphen

 noun. everyone

il- (every/all) + pen (someone/somebody).

dond

hand

(i dhond; construct don), pl. dynd (i nynd), coll. pl. donnath (VT47:23).

fuir

right hand

pl. fŷr. Also used as adj. "right, north" (VT42:20). In ”Noldorin” the word appeared as (”foeir” =) föir, feir (LR:382 s.v. PHOR).

ardh

realm

ardh (region), pl. erdh

ardh

realm

(region), pl. erdh

raeth

noun. extent, reach; region, sphere, district, scope

Derivations

• ᴹ√RAK “stretch out, reach”

forgam

right-handed

(pl. fergaim, for archaic förgeim)

gwaith

people

gwaith (i **waith) (manhood, manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith**).

gwaith

people

(i ’waith) (manhood, manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

gwaith

manhood

gwaith (i **waith) (manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith**)

gwaith

manhood

(i ’waith) (manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith)

denwaith

people of denwe

(WJ:385);

haradrim

people of the south

(southerners, southrons);

rohirrim

people of rohan

(Gondorian pronunciation of Rochirrim; see

crûm

left hand

(i grûm, o chrûm, construct crum), pl. cruim (i chruim), coll. pl. crummath. Also ✱hair (i chair), no distinct pl. form (not even with article). Note: hair is also used = ”left” as adjective. Cited in archaic form heir (LR:365 s.v. KHYAR).

galadhrim

people of the trees

(Elves of Lórien)

gwathuirim

people of dunland

(”shadowy people”) (PM:330);

camlann

of the hand

(i gamlann, o chamlann), pl. cemlain (i chemlain).

bâr

land

(dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

cam

hand

1) cam (i gam, o cham), pl. caim (i chaim), coll. pl. cammath; 2) mâb (i vâb; construct mab), pl. maib (i maib). 3) Archaic †maw (i vaw), pl. moe (i moe). A homophone means ”soil, stain”. (VT47:6) 4) (fist) dond (i dhond; construct don), pl. dynd (i nynd), coll. pl. donnath (VT47:23).

cam

hand

(i gam, o cham), pl. caim (i chaim), coll. pl. cammath

dôr

land

1) dôr (i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413), 2) bâr (dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

dôr

land

(i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413)

maw

hand

(i vaw), pl. moe (i moe). A homophone means ”soil, stain”. (VT47:6) 

mâb

hand

(i vâb; construct mab), pl. maib (i maib).

nand

wide grassland

(construct nan) (valley), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath **(VT45:36);

parth

enclosed grassland

(i barth, o pharth) (field, sward), pl. perth (i pherth);

iathrim

people of doriath

(”Fence-people”) (WJ:378);

camba

noun. hand

Cognates

• S. cam “(cupped) hand, holding hand; handful” ✧ VT47/22

mapa

noun. hand

Cognates

• Q. maqua “hand-full, group of five (similar) things; hand (colloquial); closing or closed [hand] (facing down) for taking” ✧ VT47/06; VT47/19; VT47/20

Derivations

• ✶makwā “a hand-full, complete hand with all five fingers” ✧ VT47/06; VT47/07; VT47/19
  • √MAK “cut, hew with a sharp edge; kill, slay; forge metal, cut, hew with a sharp edge, [ᴹ√] cleave; sword, fight (with a sword); ️[√] forge metal; kill, slay” ✧ VT47/19
• √MAP “take away, take hold of, grasp, take away, take hold of, grasp, [ᴹ√] lay hold of with hand, seize” ✧ VT47/20

Derivatives

• T. mapa- “to take hold of, grasp” ✧ VT47/07

Variations

• mapo ✧ VT47/20

má

noun. hand

Cognates

• Q. má “hand” ✧ VT47/18; VT47/06
• S. maw “hand” ✧ VT47/18

Derivations

• ✶mā “hand” ✧ VT47/06
  • ✶maha “hand, the manager” ✧ PE19/074; PE19/102; VT47/06; VT47/07; VT47/35
  • √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ VT47/18; VT47/18
  • √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
  • √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ PE21/70
  • √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
• √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18

Element in

• T. forma “right-hand” ✧ VT47/06
• T. málimë “wrist, (lit.) hand-link” ✧ VT47/06
• T. þarma “left-hand” ✧ VT47/06

Variations

• mā ✧ VT47/06 (mā)
• māga ✧ VT47/18

dóri-

noun. land

Isolated from Lindórinan. The independent form of the word may differ; it is unclear where the i of the compound Lindórinan comes from. In the Etymologies, the Eldarin words for "land" are derived from a stem NDOR "dwell, stay, rest, abide" (LR:376).

No Nandorin word is there listed, but Sindarin dor is derived from primitive ndorê. Notice, however, that Tolkien many years later derived the Eldarin words for "land" from a stem DORO "dried up, hard, unyielding" (WJ:413). However, this later source does confirm that the Primitive Quendian form was ndorê, now thought to be formed by initial enrichment d > nd. This is defined as "the hard, dry land as opposed to water or bog", later developing the meaning "land in general as opposed to sea", and finally also "a land" as a particular region, "with more or less defined bounds".

Whether dóri- actually comes from ndorê is highly doubtful (this would rather yield *dora in Nandorin), but it must be derived from the same set of stems.

asdi

?. [unglossed]

A word Tolkien used to illustrate Adûnaic pronunciation (pronounced [azdi]) without giving its meaning (SD/421).

Derivations

• √Ad. ASAD “?” ✧ SD/421

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√Ad. ASAD > Asdi	[asdi]	✧ SD/421

Variations

• Asdi ✧ SD/421

pâ

noun. hand

A noun translated “hand”, given as an example of an apparent Adûnaic uniconsonantal noun, which had a biconsonantal-root but lost one of its consonants from its ancient form ✶Ad. paʒa (SD/416, 426).

Derivations

• √Ad. PAƷ “hand” ✧ SD/416
• ✶Ad. paʒa “hand” ✧ SD/426
  • √Ad. PAƷ “hand”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶Ad. pa3a > pā	[paɣa] > [paa] > [pā]	✧ SD/426

Variations

• pā ✧ SD/426

thâni

noun. land

A noun translated “land” (SD/435) appearing in the Adûnaic names for the Blessed Realm: Amatthâni and thâni’nAmân. Its Primitive Adûnaic form was also ✶thāni, though its primitive was glossed “realm" (SD/420).

Derivations

• ✶Ad. thāni “realm”

Element in

• Ad. Amatthâni “Blessed Realm, (lit.) Land of Manwë” ✧ SD/435
• Ad. thâni’nAmân “Land of Aman” ✧ SD/435

Variations

• thāni ✧ SD/435

zâyan

noun. land

An Adûnaic word for “land” (SD/423). It has an irregular plural form zâin which is the result of the phonetic change (SD/423): [[pad|medial [w] and [j] vanished before [u] and [i]]]. Thus, the archaic plural changed from †zâyîn > zâîn > zâin.

Conceptual Development: In earlier names this word appeared as zen (SD/378, 385).

Element in

• Ad. azra-zâin “sea-lands, maritime regions” ✧ SD/429; SD/435
• Ad. Yôzâyan “Land of Gift”
• Ad. Abarzâyan “Land of Gift”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
Ad. zāyīn > *zāīn > zâin	[zājīn] > [zāīn] > [zāin]	✧ SD/423

Variations

• zāyan ✧ SD/423

sapda

?. [unglossed]

A word Tolkien used to illustrate Adûnaic pronunciation without giving its meaning (SD/421).

Derivations

• √Ad. SAPAD “?” ✧ SD/421

Variations

• Sapda ✧ SD/421

gardā

noun. region

Derivations

• ᴹ√GAR “keep, hold, possess; maintain, defend”

Derivatives

• Q. arda “region, realm, particular land or region, region, realm, particular land or region; [ᴱQ.] place, spot” ✧ WJ/402
• S. gardh “region” ✧ WJ/402

men

root. go, move, proceed (in any direction); make for, go towards; have as object, (in)tend; direction, object, point moved toward; region

This root first appeared as unglossed ᴹ√MEN in The Etymologies of the 1930s, but seemed to be stationary in nature given its derivatives ᴹQ. men “place, spot” and ᴹQ. ména “region” (Ety/MEN). It was an element in direction words like ᴹQ. formen/N. forven, apparently meaning “✱north place” at this conceptual stage. In the Quenya Verbal System of the 1940s, Tolkien first gave the root the gloss “aim at, intend, purpose” with the more specific sense “make for, proceed towards” when used with the allative, but then crossed this out and simply made the gloss “go, proceed” (PE22/103 and note #21). In Common Eldarin: Noun Structure of the early 1950s, Tolkien first gave √MEN the gloss as “place, situation, site”, then revised it to “direction, object, point moved toward” (PE21/79 and note #39).

Thereafter Tolkien mostly gave this root the basic sense “go” (PE17/93, 143, 165; VT39/11; VT42/32). Tolkien gave a somewhat lengthy description of the root in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959:

> √MEN go, move, proceed in any direction (irrespective of speaker’s position, or assumed point of thought). mēn- a way, a going, a mov[ement] (PE17/165).

Thus in the 1950s and 1960s, Q. formen likely meant “✱north way” rather than “✱north place”. However, in a footnote in The Road Goes Ever On, Tolkien did say that men had the meaning “direction, region” as part of an explanation of √MENEL “heavens” = men + el (“region of stars”), so it seems Tolkien did not entirely abandon the use of this element as a name for places.

For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I sometimes see √MEN use for movement in general (as in motion picture) rather than movement in a direction. I personally recommend using ᴱQ. lev- “(intr.) move” from Qenya Wordlists of the 1920s for that purpose (PE16/132) since I think it is important to distinguish “move” from “go”, but if you prefer to use only later words you might be more comfortable expanding the semantic scope of √MEN to movement in general.

Changes

• MEN → MEN “place, situation, site” ✧ PE21/79

Derivatives

• ✶meinā ✧ VT39/11
  • Q. mína “desiring to start, eager to go” ✧ VT39/11
  • Q. mína- “to desire to go in some direction, wish to go to a place, make for it; to have some end in view, to desire to go in some direction, wish to go to a place, make for it; to have some end in view, *intend” ✧ VT39/11
• ✶mēn- “a way, a going, a mov[ement]” ✧ PE17/165
• ✶omen- “to move to a common point, meet”
  • Q. omen- “to move to a common point, meet, to meet, move to a common point, *(lit.) move together” ✧ PE17/013
• Q. men “way, way; [ᴹQ.] place, spot”
• Q. men- “to go, proceed, move (generally); to come, arrive” ✧ VT49/23
• Q. mendë “*will”
• ᴺQ. menesta “intention, *goal”
• ᴺQ. menesta “motion, movement”
• Q. menta- “to send, cause to go (in a desired direction)” ✧ PE17/165; VT41/06
• ᴺQ. oment- “to meet”
• S. men- “to go”
• S. men “road, way, road, way; [N.] *place”
• ᴺS. menna- “to send, (lit.) make go”
• ᴺS. ment “message”
• ᴺS. mîn “motion”

Element in

• √MENEL “heavens, firmament, heavens, firmament, [ᴹ√] sky”
• ᴺQ. carmen “recipe”
• Q. coimen “life-year”
• ᴺQ. etementa- “to banish, send out, (lit.) out-send”
• ᴺQ. immenwa “automobile”
• ᴺQ. mendar “station, (lit.) way-stop”
• Q. menta- “have as object[ive], (in)tend, proceed, make for, go towards” ✧ PE17/093
• Q. olmen “growth-year”
• ᴺQ. ómen “crossroads”
• Q. turmen “realm”
• ᴺS. goven “crossroads”
• S. menel “the heavens, firmament, region of the stars” ✧ RGEO/64

Variations

• men ✧ RGEO/64; VT41/06; VT42/32
• men- ✧ VT49/23

artaurē

noun. Realm

Derivatives

• S. arthor “realm” ✧ PE17/028

Elements

Word	Gloss
RĀ/ARA	“noble, high, royal”
TUR	“dominate, master, conquer; power [over others], mastery (legitimate or illegitimate), control (of other wills); strong, mighty in power, dominate, master, conquer; power [over others], mastery (legitimate or illegitimate), control (of other wills); strong, mighty in power; [ᴹ√] victory; [ᴱ√] am strong”

ndorē

noun. land

Derivations

• √NDOR “land; hard, firm; [ᴹ√] dwell, stay, rest, abide” ✧ PE17/106; PE17/107
  • √DOR “hard, tough, dried up, unyielding”
• √DOR “hard, tough, dried up, unyielding” ✧ WJ/413

Derivatives

• Q. -ndor “land, country” ✧ SA/dôr
• Q. nór “land” ✧ PE17/106; PE17/107
• Q. nórë “land, country; †people, race, tribe, land, country, [ᴹQ.] region where certain people live, [ᴱQ.] nation; [Q.] †people, race, tribe, [ᴹQ.] folk, [ᴱQ.] family” ✧ PE19/076
• S. dôr “land, land, [N.] region where certain people live, [ᴱN.] country; [G.] people of the land” ✧ PE17/164; SA/dôr; WJ/413

Element in

• ✶etlā-ndŏrē “Eglador” ✧ VT42/04; VT42/04
• ✶mbar-ndor “home land, native land” ✧ PE17/164
• Q. Endórë “Middle-earth, (lit.) Middle Land” ✧ Let/384
• Q. Valandor “Land of the Valar” ✧ WJ/413
• S. Ennor “Middle-earth” ✧ Let/384
• S. Eriador “Lonely Land” ✧ VT42/04
• S. Thonador ✧ VT42/04

Variations

• (n)dor ✧ Let/384
• ndōr ✧ PE17/106
• NDŌR/NDŎR- ✧ PE17/107
• ndor ✧ PE17/164; SA/dôr
• ndōrē ✧ PE19/076; VT42/04

tig

root. [unglossed]

A root appearing in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969 as the basis for the verb Q. tinga- “go (for a long while)” (PE22/157). The etymology was marked with an “X” and so was probably a transient idea (PE22/157 note #70).

Derivatives

• Q. tinga- “to go (for a long while)” ✧ PE22/157

mā

noun. hand

Derivations

• ✶maha “hand, the manager” ✧ PE19/074; PE19/102; VT47/06; VT47/07; VT47/35
  • √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ VT47/18; VT47/18
  • √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18
• √MAH “handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use, handle, manage, control, wield; serve, be of use; [ᴹ√] hand; [ᴱ√] grasp” ✧ PE21/70
• √MAG “good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state, good (physically); to thrive, be in a good state; [ᴹ√] use, handle” ✧ VT47/18

Derivatives

• Q. má “hand” ✧ PE19/102; VT47/06
• S. maw “hand” ✧ VT47/06
• T. má “hand” ✧ VT47/06

Element in

• ✶makwā “a hand-full, complete hand with all five fingers” ✧ VT47/07
• ✶mā-limi “wrist, (lit.) hand-link” ✧ VT47/06

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶maʒa > mā	[maɣa] > [mā]	✧ VT47/06

Variations

• māh ✧ PE19/102
• mâ ✧ VT47/18; VT47/34 (mâ)

ndōro

noun. land

Derivations

• √DOR “hard, tough, dried up, unyielding” ✧ WJ/413

Derivatives

• Q. nór “land” ✧ WJ/413

sal

root. [unglossed], *harp(ing), lyre

The unglossed root ᴱ√SALA appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. salma “lyre, small harp” and ᴱQ. salumbe “harping, music” (QL/81). The root √SAL appeared again Common Eldarin: Verb Structure from the early 1950s to illustrate the reformed perfect form of its verb Q. asálie (PE22/132), but since these later forms are unglossed it is unclear whether they have the same meaning (“✱harp(ing)”) as the earlier version of the root.

Derivatives

• Q. sal- “[unglossed]” ✧ PE22/133

lemek

root. [unglossed]

An unglossed root in the Outline of Phonology from the early 1950s illustrating certain phonetic combinations (PE19/98), and therefore possibly not a “real” root.

phut

root. [unglossed]

An unglossed root appearing in the second version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa (TQ2) as an etymological variation of √PUT (PE18/90).

stuk

root. [unglossed]

An unglossed root in a rejected section of the Outline of Phonology (OP2) from the early 1950s, serving to illustration certain phonetic developments: ✶stuknā > Q. thúna (PE19/86).

Derivatives

• ✶stuknā ✧ PE19/086
  • Q. þúna “[unglossed]” ✧ PE19/086

graw Reconstructed

root. [unglossed], [ᴹ√] dark, swart

This root appeared as a primitive form grawa serving as the basis of the word Q. roa “bear” >> “dog” in notes on monosyllabic roots from 1968 (VT47/35); a Sindarin derivative S. graw “bear” appeared in other notes written around the same time (VT47/12). Patrick Wynne suggested that in the sense “bear” grawa might be connected to the root ᴹ√GRAWA “dark, swart” from The Etymologies of the 1930s (EtyAC/GRAWA).

Derivatives

• ✶grawa “dog” ✧ VT47/35
  • Q. röa “dog” ✧ VT47/35
• ✶grā “dog, bear” ✧ VT47/35
  • S. graw “bear” ✧ VT47/12

Variations

• grāw(ɜ) ✧ VT47/35 (grāw(ɜ))

ardh

noun. realm, region

eregdos

noun. holly, holly-tree

ereg

noun. holly-tree, thorn

gwaith

noun. region, wilderness

gweith

noun. region, wilderness

porennin

?. [unglossed]

Element in

• N. annon porennin diragas·venwed ✧ RS/451
• N. diragath·telwen porannin nithrad ✧ RS/451

Variations

• porannin ✧ RS/451

clei

?. [unglossed]

coen

?. [unglossed]

ardh

noun. realm

Cognates

• ᴹQ. arda “realm, region” ✧ EtyAC/ƷARA
• Ilk. garth “realm” ✧ EtyAC/GAR

Derivations

• ᴹ√ƷAR “have, hold” ✧ Ety/ƷAR; EtyAC/ƷARA
• ᴹ√GAR “keep, hold, possess; maintain, defend” ✧ Ety/GAR

Element in

• N. Ardholen “Hidden Realm”
• N. Arthoren “Fenced Realm” ✧ Ety/ƷAR; EtyAC/ƷARA (Arthoren)
• N. Calenardhon
• N. Narogardh “realm of Narog” ✧ Ety/NÁRAK

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√ƷAR > ardh	[ɣarda] > [arda] > [arða] > [arð]	✧ Ety/ƷAR

gwaith

noun. manhood

gwaith

noun. man power, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people

gweith

noun. manhood

gweith

noun. man power, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people

menwed

?. [unglossed]

Element in

• N. annon porennin diragas·venwed ✧ RS/451

telwen

?. [unglossed]

Element in

• N. diragath·telwen porannin nithrad ✧ RS/451

mō

noun. hand

ON. hand

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

cam

noun. hand

cam

noun. hand

Cognates

• ᴹQ. kambe “hollow (of hand)” ✧ Ety/KAB; EtyAC/KAB

Derivations

• ᴹ√KAB “hollow” ✧ Ety/KAB; EtyAC/KAB
• On. kamba “hand” ✧ Ety/MAƷ
  • ᴹ√KAB “hollow” ✧ Ety/MAƷ; EtyAC/MAƷ
  • ᴹ✶kambā ✧ PE21/59; PE21/59
  • ᴹ√KAB “hollow”

Element in

• N. Cambant “Full Hand” ✧ Ety/KAB
• N. camland “palm of hand” ✧ Ety/LAD
• N. Camlost “Empty-hand(ed)” ✧ Ety/KAB
• N. Erchamui “One-handed” ✧ Ety/KAB
• N. forgam “righthanded”
• N. hargam “left-handed”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√KAB > camb > cam	[kamba] > [kamb] > [kamb] > [kamm] > [kam]	✧ Ety/KAB
On. kamba > camm	[kamba] > [kamb] > [kamb] > [kamm]	✧ Ety/MAƷ

Variations

• camm ✧ Ety/MAƷ

camb

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

nith

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• On. nitse ✧ PE22/037

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
On. nitse > nĭth	[nitse] > [niθθe] > [niθθ] > [niθ]	✧ PE22/037

Variations

• nĭth ✧ PE22/037

borth

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• ᴹ√BOR(ON) “endure” ✧ Ety/BOR

Element in

• N. Borthandos “*Steadfast-intelligence” ✧ Ety/BOR

Variations

• Borth ✧ Ety/BOR

níth

?. [unglossed]

Derivations

• On. nikthe ✧ PE22/037

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
On. nikthe > níth	[niktʰe] > [nixθe] > [nīθe] > [nīθ]	✧ PE22/037

diragas

?. [unglossed]

Element in

• N. annon porennin diragas·venwed ✧ RS/451
• N. diragath·telwen porannin nithrad ✧ RS/451

Variations

• diragath ✧ RS/451

nithrad

?. [unglossed]

Element in

• N. diragath·telwen porannin nithrad ✧ RS/451

mauth

?. [unglossed]