Term referring to the languages of the Avari (WJ/410).
Conceptual Development: The term ᴹQ. Avarin appeared in the Comparative Tables from the 1930s, replacing the older term ᴹQ. Lemberin (PE19/19). Earlier still in the 1920s, Tolkien used the term ᴱQ. Ilkorin to refer to the languages of the Elves who remained behind in Middle-earth (PE14/62), but by the 1930s the term ᴹQ. Ilkorin referred only to the languages of the Elves of Beleriand (which in still later writings became Sindarin).
The Elves who refused to journey to Aman, an agental formation of the ancient verb ava- “to refuse” with the common agental suffix -r(o) (VT47/13, WJ/371). This name most frequently appeared in its plural form Avari referring to this entire people (S/52).
Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Avar(o) first appeared in plural form * in Tolkien’s linguistic notes from the 1930s with the gloss “The Departing”, and referred to those elves who left Middle-earth, whereas those who remained were referred to by the earlier name the ᴹQ. Lembi “Lingerers” (LR/169-170). Tolkien soon revised this name to refer to the Elves who remained behind, effectively replacing the term Lembi (LR/200). This name appeared in The Etymologies* with essentially the same derivation as given above (Ety/AB).