a

cardinal. one

erëa

cardinal. one

erëa adj.? "one" or *"single", apparently an adjectival form (see er) (VT44:17)

min

cardinal. one

min numeral "one", also minë (VT45:34, VT48:6)

min

cardinal. one, one, [ᴱQ.] one (in a series), the first

Cognates

• S. min “one, one, [G.] single” ✧ PE17/095; VT48/06
• T. min “one” ✧ VT48/06

Derivations

• ✶min “one”
  • √MIN “one, first of a series, one, first of a series; [ᴹ√] stand alone, stick out”

Element in

• ᴺQ. millumë “once, one time”
• ᴺQ. mindórë “million”
• Q. minya “first; eminent, prominent”

minë

cardinal. one

minë numeral "one", also min (MINI, VT45:34)

mir

cardinal. one

mir (2) cardinal "one" (LT1:260; in LotR-style Quenya rather minë)

eressëa

lonely

eressëa adj. "lonely" (ERE, LT1:269), "solitary" (cf. Letters:386). Eressëa place-name "Lonely (One)", often used by itself for Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle (Silm) or Solitary Isle (Letters:386, footnote)

eressëa

adjective. lonely

Element in

• Q. Eressëa “Lonely (Isle)”
• Q. Tol Eressëa “Lonely Isle”

Variations

• erEssëa ✧ LotR/1116

er

one, alone

er cardinal "one, alone" (ERE, VT48:6, VT49:54), in an early source also adv. "only, but, still" (LT1:269); Eru er "one God" (VT44:17; er was here emended by Tolkien from erëa, which seems to be an adjectival form *"one, single".)

er

adverb/adjective. one, alone, one, alone; [ᴱQ.] only, a single

Changes

• Erea → Er “*one” ✧ VT44/17

Cognates

• S. er “one, alone” ✧ PE17/095; SA/er; VT48/06
• T. er “one” ✧ VT48/06

Derivations

• √ER “one, single, alone, one, single, alone; [ᴹ√] be alone, deprived; [ᴱ√] remain alone” ✧ SA/er

Element in

• Q. a Aina Neldië Eru Er órava (o)messë “Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us” ✧ VT44/17
• ᴺQ. ellumë “once, one time”
• Q. Ercambo “Onehand(ed), One-hand Man”
• Q. Ercantië “Great Pattern”
• Q. Erendis “?Lonely Bride”
• Q. Eressëa “Lonely (Isle)” ✧ SA/er
• ᴺQ. eretildo “unicorn”
• ᴺQ. erië “oneness”
• Q. erinqua “single, alone”
• ᴺQ. eritë “singular”
• Q. Ermenië “One Beginning”
• ᴺQ. ernóna “only-born, only-begotten”
• Q. Erólamaitë “uniconsonantal”
• Q. Eru “The One, God”
• ᴺQ. essámalë “agreement, (lit.) one-mindedness”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√er > er	[er]	✧ SA/er

Variations

• Er ✧ VT44/17
• Erea ✧ VT44/17 (Erea)

erinqua

single, alone

erinqua adj. "single, alone" (VT42:10)

erinqua

adjective. single, alone

Cognates

• S. ereb “single, alone, lonely, single, alone, lonely, [N.] isolated” ✧ VT42/10

Derivations

• ✶erikwa “single, alone” ✧ VT42/10

Elements

Word	Gloss
er	“one, alone, one, alone; [ᴱQ.] only, a single”
-inqua	“-ful, complete”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶erikwa > erinqua	[eriŋkwā] > [eriŋkwa]	✧ VT42/10

rea

adjective. single

rëa

adjective. single

Derivations

• ✶rē “single item take out of a (long) series” ✧ PE22/158
  • √ER “one, single, alone, one, single, alone; [ᴹ√] be alone, deprived; [ᴱ√] remain alone” ✧ PE22/158

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶rē > rëa	[rea]	✧ PE22/158

eressë

solitude

eressë noun "solitude" (ERE). In early "Qenya", eressë was an adjective or adverb: "singly, only, alone" (LT1:269).

eressë

noun. solitude, [ᴹQ.] solitude; [ᴱQ.] alone, by oneself, singly, only; once

Cognates

• ᴺS. ereth “solitude, oneness, loneliness”

Element in

• Q. eressëa “lonely” ✧ LotR/1116

Variations

• erEssë ✧ LotR/1116 (erEssë)

mo

one, someone, anyone

mo, indefinite pronoun "one, someone, anyone" (VT42:34, VT49:19, 20, 26)

erya

single, sole

erya adj. "single, sole" (ERE)

quén

one, (some)body, person, individual, man or woman

quén (quen-, as in pl. queni; as final element in compounds -quen) noun "one, (some)body, person, individual, man or woman", pl. queni = "persons", "(some) people", "they" with the most general meaning (as in "they [= people in general] say that..."). The element is combined with noun and adjective stems in old compounds to denote habitual occupations or functions, or to describe those having some notable (permanent) quality; examples include roquen, ciryaquen, arquen, q.v. Also in aiquen "whoever", ilquen "everybody" (WJ:361 cf. 360, 372).

erolamo

 masculine name. one who dreams alone, (lit.) alone-dreamer

An adaptation of the Qenya name Ereol given to Ælfwine by the elves of Tol Eressëa in Tolkien's earlier material. Formed in such a way as to preserve its original meaning of "One Who Dreams Alone." Derived from er "one, alone" and óla- "to dream."

Elements

Word	Gloss
er	“one, alone; [ᴱQ.] only, a single”
óla-	“to dream”

Variations

• Erolo

îr

adjective. *alone

min

cardinal. one, one, [G.] single

Cognates

• Q. min “one, one, [ᴱQ.] one (in a series), the first” ✧ PE17/095; VT48/06

Element in

• S. Miniel “Vanyar”
• S. minlamad “?alliteration, (lit.) first-echoing”
• S. minui “first” ✧ VT42/25
• S. minuial “(dawn) twilight”

Variations

• min ✧ PE17/095; VT48/06
• mîn ✧ VT42/25

air

adjective. lonely

Derivations

• ✶eryā “isolated, lonely” ✧ PE17/028; VT50/18
  • √ER “one, single, alone, one, single, alone; [ᴹ√] be alone, deprived; [ᴱ√] remain alone”

Element in

• S. i glinn hen agorer Edain mi Velerian, ach hí in Ellath îr ed epholar “*this song Men made in Beleriand, but now the Elves alone (?remember) it” ✧ VT50/18

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶eryā > eir > air	[erjā] > [erja] > [eria] > [eri] > [eir] > [air]	✧ PE17/028
✶eryā > erı̯a > erı̯ > irı̯ > îr	[erja] > [erja] > [eria] > [eri] > [iri] > [ir] > [īr]	✧ VT50/18

Variations

• îr ✧ VT50/18; VT50/18

er

adjective. one, alone

Cognates

• Q. er “one, alone, one, alone; [ᴱQ.] only, a single” ✧ PE17/095; SA/er; VT48/06

Derivations

• √ER “one, single, alone, one, single, alone; [ᴹ√] be alone, deprived; [ᴱ√] remain alone” ✧ SA/er

Element in

• S. elloth “single flower” ✧ VT42/18
• S. Eradan
• S. Erchamion “One-handed” ✧ SA/er
• S. Erchirion
• S. ereb “single, alone, lonely, single, alone, lonely, [N.] isolated” ✧ SA/er
• S. Erebor “Lonely Mountain” ✧ SA/er
• S. Erien
• ᴺS. erlu “once, one time”
• S. Erui

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√er > er	[er]	✧ SA/er

er-

prefix. alone, one

ero

adverb. *only, alone

Changes

• ero → îr “*alone” ✧ VT50/18

Derivations

• √ER “one, single, alone, one, single, alone; [ᴹ√] be alone, deprived; [ᴱ√] remain alone”

Element in

• S. i glinn hen agorer Edain mi Velerian, ach hí in Ellath îr ed epholar “*this song Men made in Beleriand, but now the Elves alone (?remember) it” ✧ VT50/18

erui

adjective. single, alone

The proper word for first in Sindarin was minui

ereb

adjective. single, alone, lonely, single, alone, lonely, [N.] isolated

Cognates

• Q. erinqua “single, alone” ✧ VT42/10

Derivations

• ✶erikwa “single, alone” ✧ VT42/10

Element in

• S. Amon Ereb “Lonely Hill” ✧ SA/er
• S. Bar Erib “*House of the Lonely Ones” ✧ UT/153
• S. Erebor “Lonely Mountain”

Elements

Word	Gloss
er	“one, alone”
-eb	“adjective suffix”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶erikwa > ereb	[erikwā] > [eripā] > [eripa] > [erepa] > [erep] > [ereb]	✧ VT42/10

Variations

• Ereb ✧ SA/er

er

adjective. single

min

fraction. one (first of a series)

pen

pronoun. one, somebody, anybody

Usually enclitic and mutated as ben.2

erui

adjective. first (incorrect use by the Gondorians)

The proper word for first in Sindarin was minui

mîn

fraction. one (first of a series)

minai

adjective. single, distinct, unique

er

alone

(adjectival prefix) er- (one, lone)

er

alone

(one, lone)

erui

alone

erui (first, single). No distinct pl. form. Also eriol (pl. erioel); archaic *eriaul.

erui

alone

(first, single). No distinct pl. form. Also eriol (pl. erioel); archaic ✱eriaul.

min

cardinal. one

1) (number ”one” as the first in a series) min, mîn (VT48:6), Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the adjective ”isolated, first, towering”. 2) (number) êr, whence the adjectival prefix er- (alone, lone); 3)

min

one

mîn (VT48:6), Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the adjective ”isolated, first, towering”.

pen

cardinal. one

(indefinite pronoun) (= somebody, anybody) pen (WJ:376); lenited ben. According to one interpretation of the phrase caro den i innas lín from the Sindarin Lords Prayer (VT44:23), this could mean *”let one do your will”, with den (perhaps a lenited form of *ten) as the indefinite pronoun ”one”. However, others interpret den as the accusative form of the pronoun ”it”: ”Do it [, that is:] your will”.

pen

one

(WJ:376); lenited ben. According to one interpretation of the phrase caro den i innas lín from the Sindarin Lord’s Prayer (VT44:23), this could mean ✱”let one do your will”, with den (perhaps a lenited form of ✱ten) as the indefinite pronoun ”one”. However, others interpret den as the accusative form of the pronoun ”it”: ”Do it [, that is:] your will”.

êr

one

whence the adjectival prefix er- (alone, lone)

ereb

lonely

ereb (isolated), pl. erib

ereb

lonely

(isolated), pl. erib

eru

the one

isolated from

er

single

1) er (pl. ir) (VT48:6), 2)

er

single

(pl. ir) (VT48:6)

erui

single

erui (first, alone). No distinct pl. form. 3) minai (distinct, unique), lenited vinai; pl. mini

erui

single

(first, alone). No distinct pl. form. 3) minai (distinct, unique), lenited vinai; pl. mini**

er

cardinal. one

Cognates

• Q. er “one, alone, one, alone; [ᴱQ.] only, a single” ✧ VT48/06

min

cardinal. one

Cognates

• Q. min “one, one, [ᴱQ.] one (in a series), the first” ✧ VT48/06

ash

cardinal. one

Element in

• Bs. ash nazg durbatulûk “one ring to rule them all” ✧ LotR/0254; PE17/011
• Bs. ash nazg gimbatul “one ring to find them” ✧ LotR/0254; PE17/011
• Bs. ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul “one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them” ✧ LotR/0254; PE17/011

ash

cardinal. one

imin

masculine name. One

Element in

• Q. Imillië “Company of Imin”

min

cardinal. one

Derivations

• √MIN “one, first of a series, one, first of a series; [ᴹ√] stand alone, stick out”

Derivatives

• Q. min “one, one, [ᴱQ.] one (in a series), the first”

Element in

• ✶Imin “One” ✧ WJ/421
• ✶Iminye ✧ WJ/421

Variations

• Min ✧ NM/060

erikwa

adjective. single, alone

Derivatives

• Q. erinqua “single, alone” ✧ VT42/10
• S. ereb “single, alone, lonely, single, alone, lonely, [N.] isolated” ✧ VT42/10

Elements

Word	Gloss
ER	“one, single, alone, one, single, alone; [ᴹ√] be alone, deprived; [ᴱ√] remain alone”
-ikwā	“-ful, adjectival suffix”

er

root. one, single, alone, one, single, alone; [ᴹ√] be alone, deprived; [ᴱ√] remain alone

This root, the basis for the word “one”, was established early and retained its meaning throughout Tolkien’s life. It appeared all the way back in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s as ᴱ√ERE “remain alone”, and was the basis for ᴱQ. er “one” and ᴱQ. eressea “lonely” (QL/36). These words retained their forms and meaning for the entirety of Tolkien’s life, most notably in Q. Tol Eressëa “Lonely Isle” whose form and meaning were likewise introduced very early and never changed.

The contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon also had a variety of words derived from this root, such as G. er “one” and G. ereth “solitude” (GL/32). This root appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹ√ERE “be alone, deprived” with both Quenya and Noldorin derivatives (Ety/ERE). The root continued to appear in Tolkien’s later writings, variously glossed as “one”, “alone” or “single”.

One interesting feature of this root was the limitations of its use as a number. In some 1968 notes on river names Tolkien said:

> [S.] Erui. Though this was the first of the Rivers of Gondor it cannot be used for “first”. In Eldarin er was not used in counting in series: it meant “one, single, alone” (VT42/10).

In accompanying notes, Tolkien gave:

> 1 “single” (non-serial) ER; “one, first of a series” MIN (VT42/24).

Thus the root for “one” when counting the first of a series was √MIN, whereas √ER could only be used of things that were isolated or unique.

Derivatives

• ✶eryā “isolated, lonely”
  • S. air “lonely” ✧ PE17/028; VT50/18
• ✶rē “single item take out of a (long) series” ✧ PE22/158
  • Q. ré “day (period from sunset to sunset)” ✧ PE22/158
  • Q. rëa “single” ✧ PE22/158
  • Q. rië “only” ✧ PE22/158
• Q. er “one, alone, one, alone; [ᴱQ.] only, a single” ✧ SA/er
• ᴺQ. erda “solitary, deserted”
• Q. erdë “singularity”
• ᴺQ. erta- “to unite”
• Q. Eru “The One, God” ✧ SA/er
• S. er “one, alone” ✧ SA/er
• ᴺS. ereth “solitude, oneness, loneliness”
• S. ero “*only, alone”
• S. ertha- “to unite”

Element in

• ✶erikwa “single, alone” ✧ VT42/10

Variations

• ere ✧ PE22/158
• er ✧ SA/er; VT42/10; VT47/16; VT47/16; VT47/17

min

cardinal. one

Cognates

• ᴹQ. min “one” ✧ Ety/MINI

Derivations

• ᴹ√MIN “stand alone, stick out” ✧ Ety/MINI

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√MINI > min	[mini] > [mine] > [min]	✧ Ety/MINI

er-

prefix. alone, one

eriol

adjective. single, alone

Cognates

• ᴹQ. erya “single, sole, only” ✧ Ety/ERE

Elements

Word	Gloss
er	“one, alone”
-(i)ol	“active participle; adjective suffix”

minei

adjective. single, distinct, unique

min

fraction. one (first of a series)

er Reconstructed

adjective. one, alone

Cognates

• ᴹQ. er “one, alone”

Derivations

• ᴹ√ER “be alone, deprived”

Element in

• N. Erchamui “One-handed” ✧ Ety/KAB
• N. ereb “isolated”
• N. eriol “single, alone”
• N. ereg “first”
• N. erceleb “*true-silver”
• N. Eregon “Stone Pinnacle”