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.

valassë

divinity

valassë noun "divinity" (or rather *"valahood"; the word should probably not be used with reference to the divinity of Eru). (BAL)

eruva

adjective. divine

Element in

• Q. Amillë Eruva lissëo “Mother of divine grace” ✧ VT44/18

Elements

Word	Gloss
Eru	“The One, God”

balan

noun. Vala, divine power, divinity

rodon

noun. Vala, divinity

tûr

power

tûr (i dûr, o thûr, construct tur) (victory, mastery, control; master, victor, lord), pl. tuir (i thuir), coll. pl. túrath.

tûr

power

(i dûr, o thûr, construct tur) (victory, mastery, control; master, victor, lord), pl. t**uir (i th**uir), coll. pl. túrath.

bâl

divine

(adj.) bâl, lenited vâl, pl. bail. Note: the word can also be used as a noun "divinity, divine power".

bâl

adjective. divine

@@@ GS/241

Derivations

• √BAL “power; powerful, mighty; have power”

bâl

divine

lenited vâl, pl. bail. Note: the word can also be used as a noun "divinity, divine power".

bâl

divine power

construct bal, pl. bail (divinity). Note: the word can also be used as an adj. "divine".

bâl

divinity

bâl (i vâl, construct bal), pl. bail (divine power). Note: the word can also be used as an adj. "divine".

bâl

divinity

(i vâl, construct bal),  pl. bail (divine power). Note: the word can also be used as an adj. "divine".

bâl

divine power

bâl, construct bal, pl. bail (divinity). Note: the word can also be used as an adj. "divine".

bâl

noun. divinity, divine power

@@@ GS/241

Derivations

• √BAL “power; powerful, mighty; have power”

ball

adjective. worthy, important; great, mighty

Derivations

• ᴺ✶. BALAD “worth, value”

balas

noun. divinity, divine power

Derivations

• √BAL “power; powerful, mighty; have power”

balaen

adjective. divine

Cognates

• ᴹQ. valaina “of or belonging to the Valar, divine”

Derivations

• √BAL “power; powerful, mighty; have power”

¤kurwē

noun. power, ability

balan

noun. Vala, divine power, divinity