o (3) prep.? variant (along with au and va) of the stem awa "away from" (VT49:24). It is uncertain whether this o is a Quenya word; Patrick Wynne suggests it could be the first element of the preposition ollo "away from" (ibid.)
Quenya
au
away
au
away from
au
adverb. away, off, not here (of position)
au
adverb. if only
Auzel
auzel
Auzel pl. Auzeldi noun Vanyarin form (and original form) of Aureldi (WJ:374); see Aurel
aulendil
masculine name. Servant of Aulë
Third child of Vardamir, known only from a genealogy chart on UT/210. His name is a compound of Aulë and the suffix -(n)dil (usually “-friend”). In an isolated note, J.R.R. Tolkien said this name was also used by Sauron while he deceived the Elves of Eregion into crafting the rings of power, and that the name meant “one devoted to the service of Aulë” (UT/254). Christopher Tolkien glossed the name as “Servant of Aulë” in The Unfinished Tales index. Ordinarily, with the suffix -ndil, we might expect the meaning to be “Friend of Aulë”.
Conceptual Development: At one point Aulendil was used for Noldorin servants of Aulë, but that name was changed to Aulendur (PM/365-6).
aulendur
proper name. Servant of Aulë
aulëonnar
collective name. Children of Aulë
Aulendil
friend of aulë
Aulendil masc. name *"Friend of Aulë" (UT:210)
Aulendur
servant of aulë
Aulendur masc. name "Servant of Aulë", applied especially to those persons, or families, among the Noldor who actually entered Aulë's service and in return received instruction from him (PM:366)
Aulëonnar
children of aulë
Aulëonnar (sg. #Aulëonna) noun "Children of Aulë", a name of the Dwarves (PM:391). See onna.
auvanëa
adjective. without beauty
au-
without
au- (3) privative prefix, = "without" (AWA)
au-
off, *away
au- (1) a verbal prefix "off, *away", as in auciri ("k") "cut off" (so as to get rid of or lose a portion); contrast hóciri (WJ:366, 368). Compare au as a variant of the stem awa "away from" (VT49:24) and the adverb au (see #2 below).
aulë
masculine name. The Maker, The Smith
Aulë is the Valar of crafting and smithing, spouse of Yavanna, and his name is variously glossed as “The Maker” (S/44) or “The Smith” (LotR/1137). His Quenya name is an adaptation of his Valarin name Val. Aʒūlēz of unknown meaning (WJ/399). His name may also be related to the word [ᴹQ.] aule “invention”.
Conceptual Development: This name dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, appearing from the beginning in the same form: ᴱQ. Aule (LT1/16), and it was translated “Smith” in an early name list (PE13/104). In Tolkien’s Old English version of the Quenta Noldorinwa, his name is translated as “Cræftfréa”, Old English for “Craft Lord” (SM/208). In The Etymologies, ᴹQ. Aule is derived from the root ᴹ√GAWA and thus connected to ᴹQ. aule “invention” (Ety/GAWA). In the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60, Tolkien said that his name was derived from Valarin Aʒūlēz (WJ/399), and this appears to be the last thing Tolkien wrote on the derivation of this name.
aulë
invention
aulë (1) noun "invention" (GAWA/GOWO); evidently connected to or associated with Aulë, name of the Vala of craft (GAWA/GOWO, TAN), spouse of Yavanna; the name is adopted and adapted from Valarin (WJ:399)
aulë
shaggy
aulë (2) adj. "shaggy" (LT1:249; this "Qenya" word may have been obsoleted by # 1 above)
aurel
noun. elf who departed from beleriand to aman
Aurel (Aureld-, e.g. pl. Aureldi) noun "Elf who departed from Beleriand to Aman" (while the Sindar stayed there) (WJ:363). Also Oarel, q.v. Earlier Auzel.
aurë
sunlight, day
aurë noun "sunlight, day" (SA:ur), "day (of light), a day of special meaning or festival" (VT49:45). locative auressë "in (the) morning" in Markirya, allative aurenna *"on the day" (VT49:43-45). Also compare amaurëa.
ausa
dim shape, spectral or vague apparition
ausa (þ) noun "a dim shape, spectral or vague apparition" (VT42:10, cf. 9). Compare fairë.
ausië
wealth
ausië noun "wealth" (LT2:336; rather lar or alma in Tolkiens later Quenya)
auta-
go away, leave
auta- (1) vb. "go away, leave" (leave the point of the speaker's thought); old "strong" past tense anwë, usually replaced by vánë, perfect avánië but when the meaning is purely physical "went away (to another place)" rather than "disappear", the past tense oantë, perfect oantië was used. Past participle vanwa "gone, lost, no longer to be had, vanished, departed, dead, past and over" (WJ:366)
auta-
invent, originate, devise
auta- (2) vb. "invent, originate, devise" (GAWA/GOWO) This could be obsoleted by # 1 above; on the other hand, the verbs would be quite distinct in the past tense, where auta- #2 would likely have the straightforward form *autanë.
autë
prosperity, wealth
autë noun "prosperity, wealth", also adj. "rich" (LT2:336; rather alma, and as adj. alya or lárëa, in Tolkiens later Quenya)
aurel
proper name. Elf who left Middle-earth for Aman
au-
prefix. away (from)
aura
noun. possession, thing owned
ausa
noun. dim shape, spectral or vague apparition
auvië
noun. possession (abstract), *the act of possessing
aurë
noun. day (as opposed to night), daylight, sunlight, morning, day (as opposed to night), daylight, morning; sunlight, [ᴱQ.] sunshine, gold light, warmth
aurë entuluva
Day shall come again!
auta
adverb. ago
auta-
verb. to go (away), depart, leave; to disappear, be lost, pass away
auta i lómë
The night is passing!
autas
noun. a former occur[rence]
au, auve
particle. might(have), would(have); if only (”the ’remoter’ particle”)
aucir-
verb. to cut off (and get rid of or lose a portion)
au kestanellen!
if only you had asked me!
aunotë(a)
adjective. not counted, uncounted
auta
particle. ago
auta-
verb. go away
auta-
verb. to possess, own, keep
autas
noun. a former occurrence
au tuluvanye
I wish/would I were coming
au túlielde (las)!
if only you had come (were here)
amaurëa
dawn, early day
†amaurëa noun "dawn, early day" (Markirya)
ilaurëa
daily
ilaurëa adj. "daily", "of every day" (il- "every" + aurë "day" + -a adjectival ending) (VT43:18).
lauca
warm
lauca ("k")adj. "warm" (LAW)
laurina
golden
laurina adj. "golden" (LT1:258). Compare laurëa in later material.
laurëa
golden, like gold
laurëa adj. "golden, like gold"; pl. laurië is attested (Nam, RGEO:66)
tauno
forest
tauno noun "forest" (LT1:267; in Tolkien's later Quenya taurë)
naue
?. [unglossed]
haura, hauza
noun. hoard
hoard, store
taure
noun. forest
aucelië
noun. sewer, (lit.) away-flowing
aulerya-
verb. to rid, free somebody of something
aumenta-
verb. to dismiss, divorce, (lit.) away-send
aumentalë
noun. dismissal, divorce
A neologism for “dismissal, divorce” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), a noun form of his neologism ᴺQ. aumenta- “to dismiss, divorce”. He also used variants aumentavë and aumentië; of these I think aumentalë is the best.
auhanta
noun. refuse, trash, garbage, (lit.) thing thrown away
@@@ “trash, garbage” suggested by Orondil in VLDS, 2023-05-04
aumanca-
verb. to sell, (lit.) trade away
aumapando
noun. abductor, (lit.) away-seizer
aupenya
adjective. complete, without lack
aupsar-
verb. to wipe away
auquer-
verb. to reject, (lit.) turn away
ausatië
adverb. especially, (lit.) setting aside
autulya-
verb. to deport, (lit.) bring away
auca
adjective. foolish
aucië
noun. foolishness
auqua
adjective. awkward, clumsy (of things), difficult
aurië
noun. wealth [in possessions], property
aurëa
adjective. sunny, sunlit; *daytime
aut
noun. fool, clumsy fellow
autaila
adjective. going, passing, nearly gone
autamar
noun. museum, (lit.) hall of the past
autulyalë
noun. deportation
aucol-
verb. to remove, (lit.) bear away
auma
noun. machine
yávië
noun. autumn, harvest [time or act]
A word translated “autumn, harvest” in The Lord of the Rings appendices (LotR/1111), clearly based on yávë “fruit”. This word referred to the third out of six “official” Elvish seasons in the Calendar of Imladris (LotR/1107), but could also be used more causally for the autumn time of the year (LotR/1111). Given its second gloss “harvest”, I think it can also refer to the time or act of harvesting of crops. However, for the harvest itself (the produce) I would instead use [ᴺQ.] salcessë.
Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. Yāvan “(Autumn), Harvest” based on ᴱQ. yāva “fruit, produce” (QL/105). The English-Qenya Dictionary of the 1920s also had ᴱQ. yávan “autumn, harvest”, but in that document the word was deleted (QL/69).
Endien
autumn
Endien noun, alternative term for "autumn" (PM:135). In the Etymologies, the word Endien was assigned a quite different meaning: "Midyear, Midyear week", in the calendar of Valinor a week outside the months, between the sixth and seventh months, dedicated to the Trees; also called Aldalemnar (YEN, LEP/LEPEN/LEPEK)
teret
auger, gimlet
teret noun "auger, gimlet" (LT1:255)
yávië
autumn
yávië noun "autumn" (SA:yávë); "autumn, harvest", in the calendar of Imladris a precisely defined period of 54 days, but also used without any exact definition (Appendix D). Noun yáviérë *"Autumn-day", a day outside the months in the Steward's Reckoning, inserted between Yavannië and Narquelië (September and October) (Appendix D)
úrimë
noun. August, *Hot-one
-on
suffix. augmentative, great
mettelairë
noun. August, *(lit.) End-summer
Narquelion
fire-fading, autumn
Narquelion ("q")noun "fire-fading, autumn" (FS, Narqelion, KWEL, (LAS1), "nar-qelion", VT45:24); simply translated "Fading" in LR:72. The word also heads a section of the poem The Trees of Kortirion(LT1:41).
valya
having (divine) authority or power
valya adj. "having (divine) authority or power" (BAL; this word is of course etymologically connected to the Valar and should not be used with reference to the divinity of Eru.)
yantya-
add, augment
yantya- vb. "add, augment" (PE15:68)
yávan
harvest, autumn
yávan noun "harvest, autumn" (LT1:273; in LotR-style Quenya yávië)
úvanë
without beauty
úvanë prep. + noun "without beauty", adj. úvanëa (VT39:14)
vala
noun. (Angelic) Power, ‘God’, Authority, (Angelic) Power, Authority, God
yáviérë
noun. *autumn-day
úvanë(a)
adjective. without beauty
lasselanta
noun. (late) autumn, (lit.) leaf-fall, (late) autumn, (lit.) leaf-fall; [ᴹQ.] October
lassewinta
noun. leaf fall, autumn, *(lit.) leaf blowing
oa
öa, öar
oa (1), also oar ("öa, öar"), adverbs, "away", with the idea of movement away (WJ:366, gloss in VT39:6). Compare au #2.
oärel
proper name. Elf who left Middle-earth for Aman
A term for the Elves who left Middle-earth for Aman, equivalent to Amanyar (WJ/374), a combination of öar “away from” and a suffixal form -el(d) of Elda “Elf”.
This name originally developed from primitive ✶awādelo = ✶awa- + ✶edelō, which became either Oarel or Aurel (WJ/363). The Oarel form was preferred due to its similarity to the preposition öar (WJ/364). Its plural form Oareldi was influenced by the archaic plural †Eldi of Elda (WJ/363). In the Vanyarin dialect, the forms were Oazel and Auzel. In the Telerin branches, only descendants of the Au- forms were used: T. Audel and S. Ódhel (WJ/364).
va
from
va prep. "from" (VT43:20; prefixed in the form var- in var-úra "from evil", VT43:24). In VT49:24, va, au and o are quoted as variants of the stem awa "away from".
foralcar
noun. aurora, (lit.) northern radiance
hyaralcar
noun. aurora, (lit.) southern radiance
immenwa
noun. automobile
parmahto
noun. author
teret
noun. auger, borer, gimlet
valmë
noun. authority
@@@ Discord 2022-07-21
yanta-
verb. to add to, enlarge, increase, augment
@@@ possibly lyanta- if you accepted gy- > dy- > ly-
arien
feminine name. Maiden of the Sun
The Maiden of the Sun who guided the solar orb through the heavens after it was created (S/99). Her name is likely a compound of árë “sunlight” and the feminine suffix -ien.
Conceptual Development: When she first appeared, this character’s name was ᴱQ. Urwen(di) “Sun-maiden” (LT1/179, LT1A/Urwen), combining the early name of the Sun, ᴱQ. Ûr, with ᴱQ. wen(di) “maiden”. Her name was later revised to ᴹQ. Úrien (SM/97, SM/170) >> ᴹQ. Árien (SM/99, 168) >> ᴹQ. Arien (LR/243, Ety/AR¹).
In later writings, the name sometimes appeared with the long Á (PE17/148, MR/376) but usually had a short A, and this is the form appearing in the later drafts and published versions of The Silmarillion (MR/136, 198; S/99). In his late notes on the cosmology of Middle-earth, Tolkien consider numerous variant forms for this name: Áren, Ār(i), Ārië, Āzië and even a (rejected) masculine form Auron (MR/376, 380), but none of these variants appeared in the narratives. The early form Úrien also briefly reappeared in some linguistic note from the 1950s (PE21/86).
-uva
fill
-uva future tense ending. In avuva, caluva, cenuva, hiruva, (en)quantuva, (en)tuluva, laituvalmet, lauva, maruvan, termaruva, tiruvantes. A final -a drops out before the ending -uva is added: quanta- "fill", future tense quantuva (PE17:68). A verbal stem in -av- may be contracted when -uva follows, as when avuva is stated to have become auva (VT49:13). Origin/etymology of the ending -uva, see VT48:32. In VT49:30, the future tense of the verb "to be" is given as uva, apparently the future-tense "ending" appearing independently, but several other sources rather give nauva for "will be" (see ná #1).
anar
noun. Sun
The most common Quenya name for the Sun derived from primitive ✶Anār, an augmented form of the root √NAR “fire” (Let/425; PE17/38; Ety/ANÁR; SD/302, 306).
Conceptual Development: This term appeared in Silmarillion drafts of the 1930s with the gloss “Heart of Flame” (LR/240) and as ᴹQ. Anar “sun” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above (Ety/ANÁR, NAR¹).
andúnië
place name. Sunset
A city in western Númenor, “so called because it faced the sunset” (S/261). It is andúnë “sunset” with the abstract-noun suffix -ië.
Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Andúnie appeared in the earliest tales of Númenor, first as a name for Númenor itself (LR/14), but soon changing to the name of a major city of that land (LR/25). At one point Tolkien considered changing this name to ᴹQ. Undúnië, but he soon rejected the idea (SD/333, SD/340 note #2).
anwë
anwë
†anwë (1) vb. archaic past tense of auta-, q.v. (WJ:366)
ar
day
ar (2) noun "day" (PE17:148), apparently short for árë, occurring in the names of the Valinorean week listed below. Tolkien indicated that ar in these names could also be arë when the following element begins in a consonant (VT45:27). Usually the word for "day" in LotR-style Quenya is rather aurë (or ré), q.v.
arya
twelve hours, day
arya (3) noun "twelve hours, day" (AR1; compare aurë). In deleted notes this word was also used as an adjective: "of the day, light" (VT45:6). Still according to VT45:6, arya is also the name of Tengwa #26 in the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, but Tolkien would later call #26 arda instead (indeed arya was changed from arda in the source; Tolkien would later change his mind back again). The abandoned name arya suggests that the letter was to have the value ry (rather than rd as in the classical system outlined in LotR Appendix E). Since the word for "day" (daylight period) is given as aurë in later sources, and arya is assigned other meanings in late material (see #1, 2 above), the conceptual validity of arya "day" is questionable.%
ava-
was not
ava- (4) vb with pa.t. avanë. This verb is not clearly glossed; apparently meaning refuse or prohibit(WJ:370). Cf. áva, Avamanyar. What is seems to be more or less the same verb has its principal tenses listed (with the ending -n "I") in VT49:13: aorist avan, present ávan (ávëan), future auvan for older avuvan, past avanen or auvan, perfect avávien. In one version of the paradigm, the present tense ávëan and past avanen are marked as archaic/poetic forms. One text seemingly uses the pa.t. aunë in the sense "was not", as a negative verb, but this may have been a short-lived idea of Tolkiens (the text was revised).
avánië
avánië
avánië, pl. avánier, perfect tense of auta-, q.v. (WJ:366)
fairë
phantom, disembodied spirit, when seen as a pale shape
fairë(1) noun "phantom, disembodied spirit, when seen as a pale shape" (pl. fairi in Markirya); compare ausa. The noun fairë was also used = "spirit (in general)", as a kind of being (MR:349, PE17:124). In VT43:37 and VT44:17, fairë refers to the Holy Spirit (fairë aista or Aina Fairë)
heren
fortune
heren (2) noun "fortune", etymologically "governance" ("and so what is in store for one and what one has in store") (KHER).Herendil masc. name *"Fortune-friend" = Eadwine, Edwin, _Audoin(LR:52, 56, cf. the Etymologies, stems KHER-, NIL/NDIL)_
lelya-
go, proceed (in any direction), travel
lelya- (1) vb. "go, proceed (in any direction), travel", pa.t. lendë / elendë (WJ:363, VT14:5, PE17:139) At one point Tolkien assigned a more specific meaning to the underlying root LED: "go away from the speaker or the point in mind, depart" (PE17:52), which would make lelya- a near synonym of auta-. The same source denies that the derivatives of _LED _were used simply for "go, move, travel", but elsewhere Tolkien assigns precisely that meaning to lelya-.
lómë
dusk, twilight
lómë noun "dusk, twilight", also "night"; according to SD:415, the stem is lómi- (contrast the "Qenya" genitive lómen rather than **lómin in VT45:28). According to PE17:152, lómë refers to night "when viewed favourably, as a rule, but it became the general rule" (cf. SD:414-415 regarding lōmi as an Adûnaic loan-word based on lómë, meaning "fair night, a night of stars" with "no connotations of gloom or fear"). In the battle-cry auta i lómë "the night is passing" (Silm. ch. 20), the "night" would however seem to refer metaphorically to the reign of Morgoth. As for the gloss, cf. Lómion masc. name "Child of Twilight [dusk]", the Quenya name Aredhel secretly gave to Maeglin _(SA). Otherwise lómë is usually defined as "night" (Letters:308, LR:41, SD:302 cf.414-15, SA:dú)_; the _Etymologies defines lómë as "Night [as phenomenon], night-time, shades of night, Dark" (DO3/DŌ, LUM, DOMO, VT45:28), or "night-light" (VT45:28, reading of _lómë uncertain). In early "Qenya" the gloss was "dusk, gloom, darkness" (LT1:255). Cf. lómelindëpl. lómelindi "nightingale" _(SA:dú, LR:41; SD:302, MR:172, DO3/DŌ, LIN2, TIN). _Derived adjective #lómëa "gloomy" in Lómëanor "Gloomyland"; see Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna...
maira
admirable, excellent, precious
maira adj. "admirable, excellent, precious"; "splendid, sublime" ("only of great, august or splendid things") (PE17:163, 172). Cf. Mairon.
mairon
masculine name. Admirable
The original name of Sauron before his corruption by Melkor (PE17/183). Even after his corruption, he still called himself Mairon or Tar-Mairon sometimes, at least until he lost his beautiful form after the fall of Númenor (PE17/183). This name seems to be a masculinized form of the adjective maira “admirable”.
málos
forest
málos noun "forest" (LT2:342 rather taurë in Tolkien's later Quenya)
métima
last
métima adj. "last" (Markirya), in Markirya also twice métim', since the following words (auressë, andúnë) begin in an a.
oantë
went away (to another place)
oantë vb. "went away (to another place)"; past tense of auta-. Also perfect oantië. (WJ:366, VT48:32)
onna
creature
onna noun "creature" (ONO), "child" (PE17:170), also translated "child" in the plural compound Aulëonnar "Children of Aulë", a name of the Dwarves (PM:391), and apparently also used = "child" in the untranslated sentence nai amanya onnalya ter coivierya ("k") "be it that your child [will be] blessed thoughout his/her life" (VT49:41). The form onya (q.v.), used as a vocative "my child", is perhaps shortened from *onnanya.
ré
day
ré noun "day" (of the sun), a full 24-hour cycle (Appendix D) composed of aurë (day, daylight) and lómë "night" (VT49:45). Short -rë in compounds like Ringarë (q.v.). Allative rénna (VT49:45).
saiwa
hot
saiwa adj. "hot" (LT1:248, 255, 265); rather lauca in Tolkien's later Quenya
vanya-
go, depart, disappear
vanya- (2) vb. "go, depart, disappear", pa.t. vannë (WAN). The verb auta- may have replaced this word in Tolkien's later conception.
vánië
vánië
vánië vb., an augmentless perfect of auta- (q.v.) that may occur in verse; regular form avánië (WJ:366)
vánë
vánë
vánë past tense of auta-, q.v. (WJ:366)
úrimë
heat
Úrimë (in some editions Urimë, but this seems to be an error; cf. úrë "heat") noun, name of the eighth month of the year, "August" (Appendix D, SA:ur-, UT:302)
vanwiémar
noun. museum, (lit.) hall of the past
A neologism for “museum” coined by Paul Strack in 2023 specifically for Eldamo, a combination of [ᴹQ.] vanwie “the past” and mar(da) “hall”, so literally “hall of the past”. This neologism is inspired by Tamas Ferencz’s neologism ᴺQ. autamar of the same meaning, where the first element is instead the verb auta- “pass away”. I’ve altered this because I don’t think a verb is appropriate for the initial element.
The Neo-Quenya Wiki instead had ᴺQ. combemen “museum”, a combination of combë “collection” and [ᴹQ.] men “place”.
conta-
verb. [unglossed]
lairë
noun. summer
mai
adverb. well, well; [ᴱQ.] too much
öa-
verb. to possess, own, keep
ú
preposition/adverb. without, destitute of
@@@ with object of the preposition in the genitive: ú calo “without light”
únotë(a)
adjective. not counted, uncounted
úrë
noun. heat
The name of tengwa #36 [.] in The Lord of the Rings Appendix E (LotR/1123), a derivative of √UR “heat” (PE22/160). This name probably reflects its use for u-diphthongs in Tengwar spelling.
Conceptual Development: In the 1st edition of The Lord of the Rings the name of tengwa #36 was úr “heat” (RC/736), and in earlier documents on The Feanorian Alphabet this word was glossed “fire, heat” (PE22/51) or just “fire” (PE22/23); see the discussion under ᴹQ. úr for further details.
-enca
without, -less
-enca suffix "without, -less" (PE17:167), cf. nec-, q.v.
-va
from
-va possessive ending, presumably related to the preposition va "from". In Eldaliéva, Ingoldova, miruvóreva, Oroméva, rómeva, Valinóreva (q.v. for references), Follondiéva, Hyallondiéva (see under turmen for references). Following a consonant, the ending instead appears as -wa (andamacilwa "of the long sword", PE17:147, rómenwa *"of the East", PE17:59). Pl. -vë when governing a plural word (from archaic -vai) (WJ:407), but it seems that -va was used throughout in late Exilic Quenya (cf. miruvóreva governing the plural word yuldar in Namárië). Pl. -iva (-ivë*), dual -twa, partitive pl. -líva**.
Ae
day
Ae (Quenya?) noun "day" (LEP/LEPEN/LEPEK - ae was written over ar [# 2] in the names of the Valinorean week, but ar was not struck out.)
Andúnië
sunset
Andúnië (apparently a variant form of andúnë) place-name, a city and port on the western coast of Númenor, said to mean "sunset". (Appendix A, Silm, UT:166, NDŪ/VT45:38)
Ellairë
summer
Ellairë alternative name of June (PM:135); evidently incorporating lairë "summer"; the el- part is probably an assimilated form of er-, an element meaning one or first, June being the first summer month.
Mairen
well
Mairen fem. name(UT:210), initial element perhaps related or identical to mai "well". The second element is obscure; the root REN "recall, have in mind" (PM:372) could be related; if so the name may imply "well remembered", "(of) good memory" or something similar. It may also connect with the adj. maira, q.v. and compare the masc. name Mairon (PE18:163).
Vala
power, god, angelic power
Vala (1) noun "Power, God, angelic power", pl. Valar or Vali (BAL, Appendix E, LT2:348), described as "angelic governors" or "angelic guardians" (Letters:354, 407). The Valar are a group of immensely powerful spirits guarding the world on behalf of its Creator; they are sometimes called Gods (as when Valacirca, q.v., is translated "Sickle of the Gods"), but this is strictly wrong according to Christian terminology: the Valar were created beings. The noun vala is also the name of tengwa #22 (Appendix E). Genitive plural Valion "of the Valar" (FS, MR:18); this form shows the pl. Vali, (irregular) alternative to Valar (the straightforward gen. pl. Valaron is also attested, PE17:175). Pl. allative valannar *"to/on the Valar" (LR:47, 56; SD:246). Feminine form Valië (Silm), in Tolkiens earlier material also Valdë; his early writings also list Valon or Valmo (q.v.) as specifically masc. forms. The gender-specific forms are not obligatory; thus in PE17:22 Varda is called a Vala (not a Valië), likewise Yavanna in PE17:93. Vala is properly or originally a verb "has power" (sc. over the matter of Eä, the universe), also used as a noun "a Power" _(WJ:403). The verb vala- "rule, order", exclusively used with reference to the Valar, is only attested in the sentences á vala Manwë! "may Manwë order it!" and Valar valuvar "the will of the Valar will be done" (WJ:404). However, Tolkien did not originally intend the word Valar to signify "powers"; in his early conception it apparently meant "the happy ones", cf. valto, vald- (LT2:348)_. For various compounds including the word Vala(r), see below.
a-
complete
a- (1) prefix occurring in the word Atalante, said to denote "complete". Probably just a prefixed stemvowel; cf. a root like ANÁR, said to be derived from NAR. (TALÁT)
ala
day
[ala (7) noun "day", also alan "daytime". The forms allen, alanen listed after these words could be inflected forms of them, genitive "of daytime", constracted (allen = al'nen) and uncontracted. However, Tolkien struck out all of this (VT45:13).]
alalmino
elm
alalmino noun? "Elm"-something? (Narqelion)
alalmë
elm, elm-tree
alalmë (2) noun "elm, elm-tree" (ÁLAM, LÁLAM, LT1:249). Cf. alvë in a post-LotR source.
albë
noun. elm
alvë
elm
alvë noun "elm" (PE17:146), also pronounced albë. In an earlier source, the word for "elm" is given as alalmë, lalmë.
alvë
noun. elm
A word appearing as alve or albe “elm” in notes from 1959, derived from the root √ALAB of similar meaning (PE17/146, 153).
Conceptual Development: This word was ᴱQ. alalme (alalmi-) “elm (tree)” in the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29; PME/29). It was ᴱQ. alalme “elm” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/140), and ᴹQ. alalme or lalme “elm-tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the roots ᴹ√ALAM or ᴹ√LALAM (Ety/ÁLAM, LÁLAM). The change to alve/albe was fairly late, as noted above.
ambarónë
noun. dawn, dawn; [ᴹQ.] uprising, sunrise, Orient
amya-
verb. [unglossed]
andúne
noun. sunset
sunset
andúnë
sunset, west, evening
andúnë noun "sunset, west, evening" (NDŪ, Markirya, SA), also in Namárië: Andúnë "West" (but the standard Quenya translation of "west" is Númen) (Nam, RGEO:66) Cf. andu- in Andúnië, Andúril.
apta-
verb. to refuse, deny, say nay
arin
morning
arin noun "morning" (AR1)
arinya
morning
arinya adj. "morning" in the adjectival sense (e.g. *arinya árë "morning sun") and hence "early" (AR1, VT45:6)
arma
ray of sunlight
arma (1) noun "a ray of sunlight" (PE17:148)
arma
noun. ray of sunlight
armar
goods
armar noun "goods" (pl.) (3AR). Compare the sg. arma "a piece of goods or property" mentioned above, though Tolkien struck out that text.
arra
adjective. [unglossed]
asta-
to heat, bake (by exposure to sun)
asta- (2) vb. "to heat, bake (by exposure to sun)" (PE17:148)
ava-
without
ava- (3) prefix "without" (AR2, AWA). In some cases apparently used as a mere negation prefix: The form avalerya in VT41:6 is seemingly a negated form of the verb lerya- "release, set free"; the verb avalerya- is suggested to have the same meaning as the root KHAP = "bind, make fast, restrain, deprive of liberty". Likewise, the verb avalatya- from the same source seems to mean "to close, shut", this being a negated form of a verb *latya- "open" (q.v.)
ava-
verb. refuse, forbid
ava-
verb. to refuse, forbid
avaquet-
refuse, forbid
avaquet- ("q")vb. "refuse, forbid" (KWET)
cairë
?. [unglossed]
canta
shape
canta (2) _("k") noun"shape" (PE17:175), also used as adj._ "shaped", also as quasi-suffix -canta ("k") "-shaped" (KAT)
cat-
verb. shape
shape, fashion
cúma
noun. [unglossed]
ehtelu-
verb. well, bubble out
enge
adverb. ago
ago, once, in the past
felca
adjective. [unglossed]
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”.
finca
noun. [unglossed]
foa
hoard, treasure
foa (2) noun "hoard, treasure" (LT2:340; perhaps obsoleted by #1 above)
fána
cloud
fána (2) noun "cloud" _(SPAN, VT46:15). _Cf. fana.
hasta-
mar
#hasta- vb. "mar"(verbal stem isolated from the passive participle hastaina "marred"). (MR:254)
hendas
?. [unglossed]
hindo
noun. [unglossed]
hindë
noun. [unglossed]
histë
dusk
histë noun "dusk" (LT1:255)
ho
from
ho prep. "from" (3O); cf. hó-
holdë
noun. [unglossed]
hraia
awkward, difficult
hraia adj. "awkward, difficult" (PE17:154), ephemerally meant "easy" (PE17:172)
hranga
awkward, hard
hranga (2) adj. "awkward, hard" (PE17:154), "stiff, awkward, difficult" (PE17:185)
háro
?. [unglossed]
hísë
dusk
hísë (2) noun "dusk" (LT1:255). A "Qenya" form possibly obsoleted by #1 above.
hó-
away, from, from among
hó- verbal prefix; "away, from, from among", the point of view being outside the thing, place, or group in thought (WJ:368)
laire
noun. summer
lairë
summer
lairë (1) noun "summer" (Letters:283, VT45:26), in the calendar of Imladris a precisely defined period of 72 days, but also used without any exact definition (Appendix D). Oiolairë "Eversummer", name of a tree (UT:167), see also Coron Oiolairë. Lairelossë noun *"Summer-snow", name of a tree (UT:167), perhaps with white flowers.
lenna-
go
lenna- vb. "go", pa.t. lendë "went" (LED; cf. lelya-). In the Etymologies as printed in LR, the word lenna- wrongly appears as **linna-; see VT45:27.
lenweta-
go away, migrate, leave ones abode
lenweta- vb. "go away, migrate, leave ones abode", pa.t. lenwentë (PE17:51)
lingi-
verb. [unglossed]
lumbo
cloud
lumbo noun "cloud" (pl. lumbor in Markirya), also glossed "gloom; dark, shade" (PE17:72, 168). In early "Qenya", lumbo was glossed "dark lowering cloud" (LT1:259)
ló
from
ló, lo (2) prep. "from", also used = "by" introducing the agent after a passive construction: nahtana ló Turin *"slain by Túrin" (VT49:24). A similar and possibly identical form is mentioned in the Etymologies as being somehow related to the ablative ending -llo, but is not there clearly defined (VT45:28). At one point, Tolkien suggested that lo rather than the ending -llo was used with proper names (lo Manwë rather than Manwello for "from Manwë"), but this seems to have been a short-lived idea (VT49:24).
mai
well
mai (1) adv. "well" (VT47:6), apparently also used as prefix (PE17:17:162, 163, 172)
maitya
?. [unglossed]
malsa
?. [unglossed]
mandë
well
mandë (2) adv. "well" (VT49:26; this is "Qenya"). Rather mai in Tolkiens later Quenya.
marto
fortune, fate, lot
marto (2) noun "fortune, fate, lot" (LT2:348); cf. marta # 3 and see mart-.
melya-
verb. [unglossed], *to be in love
men-
go
#men- (4) vb. "go" (VT47:11, cf. VT42:30, VT49:23), attested in the aorist (menë) in the sentence imbi Menel Cemenyë menë Ráno tië "between Heaven and Earth goes the path of the Moon". In the verb nanwen- "return" (or go/come back), -men- is changed to -wen- following nan- "back" (etymological form cited as nan-men-, PE17:166). In examples from VT49:23, 24, Tolkien used men- in the sense of "go as far as": 1st person sg. aorist menin (menin coaryanna "I arrive at [or come/get to] his house"), endingless aorist menë, present tense ména- "is on point of arrival, is just coming to an end", past tense mennë "arrived, reached", in this tense usually with locative rather than allative (mennen sís "I arrive[d] here"), perfect eménië "has just arrived", future menuva "will arrive". All of these examples were first written with the verb as ten- rather than men-, Tolkien then emending the initial consonant.
nai
ill, grievously, abominably
nai (2) prefix "ill, grievously, abominably" (PE17:151), cf. naiquet-. Earlier material also lists an interjection nai "alas" _(NAY; this may be obsoleted by # 1 above; _Namárië uses ai! in a similar sense)
napan-
add
napan- vb. "add" (PE17:146)
nec-
without, -less
nec- prefix "without, -less" (PE17:167), cf. -enca, q.v.
nec-
prefix. without
o
preposition. from
ohta
noun. war
war, hostility
ohta
war
ohta noun "war" (OKTA, KOT > KOTH). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, ohta was also the name of tengwa #15 (VT46:7), but Tolkien would later call this letter anca instead changing its value from ht to nc.
ohta
noun. war
ohta
noun. war
oilima
last
oilima adj."last" (MC:213, 214; this is "Qenya"), inflected or lengthened form oilimain "last (pl.)" (MC:221), oilimaisen "(MC:221), oilimaite "last" (MC:214, 221)
ollo
away from
ollo (2) prep. "away from" (VT49:24)
ollo
preposition. away from
pen
without, not having
[pen prep. "without, not having" (PE17:171). Cf. Ú #1.]
quanta-
fill
quanta- (2) vb. "fill" (PE17:68), cf. enquantuva "will refill" in Namárië. This verb seems to spring from a secondary use of the adjective quanta "full" as a verbal stem, whereas the synonym quat- (q.v.) is the original primary verb representing the basic root KWAT.
quat-
fill
quat- vb. "fill" (WJ:392), future #quantuva "shall fill" (enquantuva "shall refill") (Nam, RGEO:67) Irrespective of the prefix en- "re", the form enquatuva (VT48:11) displays the expected future tense of quat-. The Namárië form enquantuva seems to include a nasal infix as well, which is possibly an optional feature of the future tense. On the other hand, PE17:68 cites the verb as quanta- rather than quat-, and then the future-tense form quantuva would be straightforward.
rama-
to shout
rama- vb. "to shout" (LT1:259)
róma
shoulder
róma (3) noun "shoulder" (LT2:335; evidently obsoleted by # 1 and # 2 above.)
sal-
verb. [unglossed]
sintamo
smith
sintamo noun "smith" (PE17:107-108), cf. more usual variant tamo, q.v.
sintamo
noun. smith
sélo
?. [unglossed]
sóla
?. [unglossed]
tampo
well
tampo noun "well" (QL:93)
telda
last, final
telda (1) adj. "last, final" (WJ:407)
telu
adjective. last, last; end (fate), close
An apparently adjectival element in the name Telufinwë meaning “last”.
Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, ᴱQ. telu was a noun meaning “end, close” (QL/91). In the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa it was glossed “end (fate)” (PME/91).
Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use this element only in compounds since it is not clear what its independent singular or plural forms would be (telo, telwi?). For the ordinary adjective, I’d use métima or telda.
thar-
verb. [unglossed]
tomba
noun. [unglossed]
tompë
noun. [unglossed], *pulse, beat
@@@ Neo-meaning “✱pulse, beat” suggested by Röandil on 2023-04-20
um(ba)-
prefix. [unglossed]
umbacarin
noun. [unglossed]
ungo
cloud, dark shadow
ungo noun "cloud, dark shadow" (UÑG)
unotë
not counted, uncounted
unotë, unotëa (read *únotë, *únotëa?)adj. "not counted, uncounted" (VT39:14)
usque
noun. dusk
dusk
usque
noun. dusk, twilight
venië
shape, cut
venië noun? "shape, cut" (LT1:254)
venwë
shape, cut
venwë noun? "shape, cut" (LT1:254)
ára
dawn
ára noun "dawn" (AR1). According to VT45:6, ára is also the name of the long vowel carrier of the Tengwar system; it would be the first letter of the word ára if spelt in Tengwar.
árë
day
árë noun "day" (PM:127) or "sunlight" (SA:arien). Stem ári- _(PE17:126, where the word is further defined as "warmth, especially of the sun, sunlight"). Also name of tengwa #31; cf. also ar # 2. Originally pronounced ázë; when /z/ merged with /r/, the letter became superfluous and was given the new value ss, hence it was re-named essë (Appendix E)_. Also árë nuquerna *"árë reversed", name of tengwa #32, similar to normal árë but turned upside down (Appendix E). See also ilyázëa, ilyárëa under ilya. In the Etymologies, this word has a short initial vowel: arë pl. ari (AR1)
éna
?. [unglossed]
öar
adverb. away from
ú
without, destitute of
ú (1) adv. and prep. "without, destitute of" (VT39:14). Usually followed by genitive: ú calo "without light" (cala). In one source, ú is seemingly also used as a negative verb "was not" (VT49:13), but Tolkien revised the text in question.
úcalima
adjective. dim, murky
úpa-
verb. [unglossed]
úr
noun. heat
úr(in)
proper name. Sun
A late remnant of earlier names for the Sun: ᴱQ. Ûr and ᴹQ. Úrin. In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, this name was changed from Úrin >> Naira >> Vása (MR/198), but the form Úr(in) occasionally appeared in some later writings (PE17/148, MR/377). This name was a derivative of the root √UR “heat, be hot” (PE17/148).
Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this name was ᴱQ. Ûr, Ur or Úri “Sun”, but literally meaning “Fire” (LT1/187, QL/98). The name became ᴹQ. Úrin in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/240). It was rejected in The Etymologies along with the root form ᴹ√UR, but reappeared sometimes in later writing as noted above.
úrë
heat
úrë noun "heat", also name of tengwa #36 (Appendix E)
þúna
?. [unglossed]
cermië
noun. harvest
combemen
noun. museum
etsatië
adverb. especially
hollë
noun. shout
raicë
noun. wrong
tampo
noun. well
au (2) adv. "away", of position rather than movement (compare oa). PE17:148