bas(t)

noun. bread

This was the word for “bread” in Sindarin and its conceptual precursors for much of Tolkien’s life, derived from the equally long-lived root √MBAS “bake”. The word dates all the way back to the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s where G. bast “bread” was derived from the early root ᴱ√M(B)ASA “cook, bake” (GL/22). ᴱN. bast “bread” reappeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/138) and appeared again as N. bast “bread” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√MBAS “knead” (Ety/MBAS).

It appeared without a final t in the Sindarin version of the Lord’s Prayer from the 1950s: anno ammen sír i mbas ilaurui vín “give us this day our daily bread” (VT44/21). However the t was restored in the phrase penim vast “we have no bread” from around 1959 (PE17/144). The late vacillations on the presence and absence of t are likely connected to Tolkien challenges with the derivation of lembas; see that entry for discussion. Likewise, the mutated forms mbas vs. vast indicate some late uncertainty on whether the primitive form began with mb- or b-.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume the normal form was bast “bread” from ancient mbasta, so that lenited forms show mb-.

bass

noun. bread

In the Etymologies, the word for "bread" is given as bast , Quenya masta, but it seems that Tolkien later changed his mind and updated the word to bass, as shown in Quenya massánie, Sindarin besain, besoneth "bread-giver", and in the mutated form (i)mbas (apparently prefixed with the article). These latter Sindarin forms are however dubious, as we would rather have expected bessain (as a regular cognate of Quenya massánie) and bassoneth (without i-affection), and possibly a different mutation pattern after the article

basgorn

noun. a loaf of bread

(m-)bast (“bread”) + corn (“round”))

bassoneth

noun. bread-giver

See bass for a discussion regarding this word

lembas

noun. journey bread made by the Elves

bass

bread

bass (i mass, o mbass, construct bas), pl. bais (i mbais). The sg. form with article "imbas" in VT44:23 may be seen as archaic Sindarin, for later *i mas(s) as suggested here. In ”Noldorin”, the word for "bread" was bast (LR:372 s.v. MBAS), but otherwise it would have the same mutations.

bass

bread

(i mass, o mbass, construct bas), pl. bais (i mbais). The sg. form with article "imbas" in VT44:23 may be seen as archaic Sindarin, for later ✱i mas(s) as suggested here. – In ”Noldorin”, the word for "bread" was bast (LR:372 s.v. MBAS), but otherwise it would have the same mutations.

basgorn

loaf

basgorn (i masgorn), pl. besgyrn (i mbesgyrn). Literally "round bread".

basgorn

round bread

basgorn (loaf) (i masgorn), pl. besgyrn (i mbesgyrn).

bassoneth

lady

(bread-giver) (i massoneth, o mbassoneth), pl. bassonith (i mbassonith). Archaic ✱bassauneth.

bassoneth

bread-giver

(fem.) bassoneth (lady) (i massoneth, o mbassoneth), pl. bassonith (i mbassonith). Archaic *bassauneth. Also bessain (i messain, o mbessain), no distinct pl. except with article (i mbessain)

bassoneth

bread-giver

bassoneth (lady) (i massoneth, o mbassoneth), pl. bassonith (i mbassonith). Archaic *bassauneth.

bassoneth

bread-giver

(lady) (i massoneth, o mbassoneth), pl. bassonith (i mbassonith). Archaic ✱bassauneth. Also bessain (i messain, o mbessain), no distinct pl. except with article (i mbessain)

basta-

verb. to bake

basgorn

round bread

(loaf) (i masgorn), pl. besgyrn (i mbesgyrn).

basgorn

loaf

(i masgorn), pl. besgyrn (i mbesgyrn). Literally "round bread".

basoneth Reconstructed

noun. breadgiver

lembas

way-bread, journey-bread

pl. lembais.

besain

noun. the Lady, breadgiver

In notes from the 1950s Tolkien said word besain was a title for noble Elf ladies as the provider of lembas, the equivalent of (and probably an adaption from) Q. massánië, literally “bread giver [giving]” (PM/404). It was likely coined based on the historical developments of this name: ✱mbassānye > (m)bessenı̯ > bessein > besain. Christopher Tolkien noted that his father wrote oneth “✱giving” above -ain, indicating an alternate form, which Christopher Tolkien wrote as ✱besoneth (PM/405). However, I think it is likelier the alternate would be ✱basoneth = S. bas “bread” + oneth “giving”, because in this alternate form there would be no reason for the initial element bas- to undergo i-affection.

tolph

noun. bowl, basin

besain

noun. bread-giver

See bass for a discussion regarding this word

besoneth

noun. bread-giver

See bass for a discussion regarding this word

bessain

noun. bread-giver

See bass for a discussion regarding this word

raw

noun. wing

The Sindarin word for “wing” (PE17/63) based on the root ᴹ√RAM (Ety/RAM). Its Quenya cognate ráma indicates its ancient vowel ā was long, and this long ā became au (aw) in Sindarin. Meanwhile, the ancient m became v, which then vanished after the diphthong aw: ✱rāmā > raum(a) > rau(v) > raw.

Conceptual Development: The word G. ram “wing, pinion” from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s was similarly derived (GL/64), but in Gnomish m did not become v.

heryn

lady

1) heryn (i cheryn, o cheryn), no distinct pl. form, not even with article (i cheryn), 2) hiril (i chiril, o chiril), no distinct pl. form even with article (i chiril), coll. pl. hirillath. 3) brennil (i vrennil), pl. same as sg. except with article: i mrennil. Coll. pl. brenillath. 4) bassoneth (bread-giver) (i massoneth, o mbassoneth), pl. bassonith (i mbassonith). Archaic *bassauneth. 5) dî (i nî, o ndi) (bride), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndî).

heruin

noun. lady

n. lady. >> heryn, Rocheruin

heruin

noun. lady

heryn

noun. lady

heryn

noun. lady

n. lady. >> heruin, Rocheryn

heryn

noun. lady

híril

noun. lady, lady; [G.] princess, †queen

rafn

noun. wing (horn), extended point at side, etc.

raw

wing

n. wing. Q. ráma, pl1. rámar. >> Landroval, rov-, roval

rodel

lady

1a _n._lady, high lady. >> Nimrodel

rov-

wing

pref. wing. >> Landroval, raw, roval

roval

wing

n. wing. >> Landroval, raw, rov-

talan

flat space

pl1. telain** **_ n. _flat space, platform. Q. talan or talma. >> tâl

tâl

flat space

_ n. _flat space, platform. Q. talan or talma. >> talan

blab

flap

blab- (i vlâb, i mlebir) (beat), pa.t. blamp

blab

flap

(i vlâb, i mlebir) (beat), pa.t. blamp**

brennil

lady

(i vrennil), pl. same as sg. except with article: i mrennil. Coll. pl. brenillath.

corn

round

corn (circular, globed), lenited gorn, pl. cyrn. The word is also used as a noun "circle".

corn

round

(circular, globed), lenited gorn, pl. cyrn. The word is also used as a noun "circle".

cûn

bowed

cûn (bowshaped, bent), lenited gûn; pl. cuin

cûn

bowed

(bowshaped, bent), lenited gûn; pl. cuin

dolt

round knob

(i dholt) (boss), pl. dylt

dî

lady

(i nî, o ndi) (bride), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndî).

felaich

noun. splash

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2018 specifically for Eldamo, a noun variant of ᴺS. felechia- “to splash”, derived from ✱phalas-yē. The final ch is a result of the sound whereby medial sy became chy, similar to S. laich < ✶lisyā.

felechia-

verb. to splash

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2018 specifically for Eldamo, inspired by ᴱQ. palasya- “splash, foam” (QL/72) updated to the later root √PHAL(AS), hence derived from primitive ✱phalasya-. The vowels would become e due to i-affection, and the consonant ch due to the sound change whereby medial sy became chy.

golwen

learned in deep arts

(wise), lenited ngolwen, pl. gelwin (archaic pl. ✱gölwin)

heryn

lady

(i cheryn, o cheryn), no distinct pl. form, not even with article (i cheryn)

hiril

lady

(i chiril, o chiril), no distinct pl. form even with article (i chiril), coll. pl. hirillath.

maenas

art

maenas (i vaenas) (craft, handicraft), pl. maenais (i maenais), coll. pl. maenassath.

maenas

art

(i vaenas) (craft, handicraft), pl. maenais (i maenais), coll. pl. maenassath.

panas

talam

(i banas, o phanas, pl. penais (i phenais), coll. pl. panassath.

rafn

wing

(horn, extended point at the side), pl. raifn (idh raifn).

roval

wing

1) roval (pinion, great wing [of eagle]), pl. rovail (idh rovail). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” rhoval_ _pl. rhovel. 2) rafn (horn, extended point at the side), pl. raifn (idh raifn).

roval

wing

(pinion, great wing [of eagle]), pl. rovail (idh rovail). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” *rhoval* pl. *rhovel*.

talaf

floor

1) talaf (i dalaf, o thalaf) (ground), pl. telaif (i thelaif); coll. pl. talavath. The ”Noldorin” plural form listed in LR:390 s.v.

talaf

floor

(i dalaf, o thalaf) (ground), pl. telaif (i thelaif); coll. pl. talavath. The ”Noldorin” plural form listed in LR:390 s.v.

talaf

ground

talaf (i dalaf, o thalaf) (floor), pl. telaif (i thelaif); coll. pl. talavath. The ”Noldorin” plural form listed in LR:390 s.v.

talaf

ground

(i dalaf, o thalaf) (floor), pl. telaif (i thelaif); coll. pl. talavath. The ”Noldorin” plural form listed in LR:390 s.v.

tulu

support

tulu (i dulu, o thulu) (prop), pl. tyly (i thyly)

tulu

support

(i dulu, o thulu) (prop), pl. tyly (i thyly)