Quenya 

vaina

adjective. blonde, fair of hair

A word for “blonde, fair of hair” appearing in notes probably from around 1959, part of a paradigm in which the Elvish tribe names were based on their predominant hair color; it was derived from a root √GWAY “pale, fair” distinct from √BAN “beautiful” (PE17/154-155). Although the note where this word appeared was deleted, a similar derivation of Vanyar appeared in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 from the root √WAN “fair” in reference to hair and complexion (WJ/383). [ᴺQ.] vaina “fair haired” could likewise be derived from that root.

Cognates

  • S. bain “fair, beautiful; good, wholesome, favorable; fair-haired, beautiful; good, wholesome, favorable; fair, fair-haired” ✧ PE17/155

Derivations

  • GWAY ✧ PE17/154

Element in

  • Q. Vanya “Fair Elves, the Fair” ✧ PE17/154

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
GWAY > waina > vaina[gwaina] > [ɣwaina] > [waina] > [vaina]✧ PE17/154

waina

blonde, fair of hair

waina adj. "blonde, fair of hair"; the "late" form vaina is given (PE17:154)

vaina

late

vaina (2) adj., the "late" pronunciation of waina "blonde, fair of hair" (PE17:154)

vaina

adjective. blonde, fair of hair

Derivations

Sindarin 

gwain

adjective. blonde

_ adj. _blonde.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:150] < BAN beauty, with implication that it is due to _lack of fault_ or _blemish_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Gnomish

fîr

adjective. late

Element in