*ilpirin (hypothetical form; the word actually appears in Q as ilfirin) adj. "immortal" (PHIR)
Quenya
alfirin
adjective. immortal
alfirin
noun. ’immortal’ as a flower name
ilfirin
immortal
ilpirin
immortal
alfírima/alfírimo
immortal
Sindarin
alfirin
noun/adjective. immortal
alfirin
noun/adjective. name of a flower, bell-like and running through many soft and gentle colours
alfirin
noun/adjective. also used for another small white flower
alfirin
noun. immortal
al- (negative prefix) + firin (“mortal”)
alfirin
noun. a flower name
alfirin
noun. 'not dying'
alfirin
noun/adjective. immortal, (lit.) not dying; a species of flower
A word used in The Lord of the Rings for a flower that was clearly intended to mean “immortal” when Tolkien first coined the word, a negated form of firin “mortal, dying”. Tolkien described this flower as being similar to an immortelle (Let/402). In the period where Tolkien decided that √LA was not a negative element, he coined a couple alternate etymologies for the flower, one based on alph “swan” (PE17/100) and another where the initial element was al- “well” and the second element was pirin for flowers that opened and closed with changes of light (PE17/146). In periods where Tolkien used √LA for negation, the meaning “immortal” was restored (PE22/153, PE22/156).
Neo-Sindarin: Since I retain al- as a negative prefix for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I’d keep the gloss “immortal” for this word, using it as both an adjective and noun with this meaning, as well as referring to the immortelle-like flower.
Cognates
- ᴹQ. ilfirin “immortal”
Derivations
Elements
Word Gloss al- “no, not” firin “mortal, dying, dying, mortal; [N.] human” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶alfirīne > alfirin [alpʰirīne] > [alɸirīne] > [alfirīne] > [alfirīn] > [alfirin] ✧ PE17/101 Variations
- Alfirin ✧ Let/402; LotRI/Alfirin
alfirin
immortal
alfirin (no distinct pl. form). Note: the word alfirin is also used as name of a flower.
alfirin
immortal
(no distinct pl. form). Note: the word alfirin is also used as name of a flower.
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!
Qenya
ilfirin
adjective. immortal
Cognates
- S. alfirin “immortal, (lit.) not dying; a species of flower”
Derivations
- ᴹ✶ilpirin “immortal” ✧ Ety/PHIR
Elements
Word Gloss il- “no, not” firin “dead (by natural cause)” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ✶ilpirin > ilfirin [ilpʰirin] > [ilɸirin] > [ilfirin] ✧ Ety/PHIR
alfírima
adjective. immortal
An adjective for “immortal” in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 appearing only in its plural form alphírimar, using the adjective plural formation of QVS (PE22/124). Its more typical Quenya adjective plural form would be alfírime. It also appeared in a noun plural form Alphírimor “Immortals”. It is a combination of ᴹQ. fírima “mortal” with the negative prefix ᴹQ. al-.
Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s the word for “immortal” was ᴹQ. ilfirin, a combination of ᴹQ. il- “not” and firin “dead (by natural cause)” (Ety/PHIR).
Element in
- ᴹQ. Eldar alphírimar “Elves are Immortals” ✧ PE22/124
Elements
Word Gloss al(a)- “not, negative prefix” fírima “mortal”
alfírimo
noun. Immortal
Element in
- ᴹQ. Eldar Alphírimor “Elves are Immortals” ✧ PE22/124
Elements
Word Gloss al(a)- “not, negative prefix” Fírimo “Mortal”
Middle Primitive Elvish
ilpirin
adjective. immortal
Derivatives
- ᴹQ. ilfirin “immortal” ✧ Ety/PHIR
ilfirin adj. "immortal" (PHIR)