cala

light

cala ("k")noun "light" (KAL). Concerning the "Qenya" verb cala-, see #cal- above.

cala

noun. light, light; [ᴱQ.] daytime (sunlight), 12 hours

This is the most common Quenya word for “light”, derived from the root √KAL of similar meaning (RGEO/62; PE17/84). It appears in numerous compounds, either in its full form or in a reduced form cal-.

Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. kala appeared all the way back in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “daytime (sunlight), 12 hours” and derived from the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44), but it had the sense “light” in the phrase ᴱQ. i·kal’antúlien “Light hath returned” (LT1/184), and it was given as the cognate of G. gala “light, daylight” in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon (GL/37).

ᴹQ. kala “light” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√KAL “shine” (Ety/KAL). Somewhat curiously in that document its primitive form was given as ᴹ✶k’lā́ (EtyAC/KAL), a form that also appeared in the first version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa (TQ1) from the 1930s (PE18/38). Tolkien may have used this variant form to explain N. glaw “radiance” (< ᴹ✶g’lā́), but in later writings S. glaw “sunshine” was derived from √LAW.

calma

lamp, a light, device for shining light

calma noun "lamp, a light, device for shining light" (Appendix E, KAL, PE17:123, 180), also name of tengwa #3 (cf. calmatéma), which was also already its name in the mostly pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies(VT45:18, there spelt "kalma"). In early "Qenya", calma ("k") meant"daylight" _(LT1:254; in MC:213, the word is translated "light").Plural instrumental calmainen ("k") "lights-by", by lights (MC:216)_

calaquenderin

proper name. Calaquenderin

@@@

calacirian

place name. Anglicanized Calaciryan

An anglicanized form of Calaciryan appearing in Bilbo’s “Song of Eärendil” poem (LotR/235). In Lord of the Rings drafts it appeared in the form Calacilian (TI/93) matching the earier form ᴹQ. Kalakilya for the “Pass of Light”.

calaciryan

place name. *Land of Calacirya

According to Tolkien: “the region of Eldamar near the entrance to the ravine [Calacirya] where the Light was brighter and more beautiful” (RGEO/62). It seems to be a combination of Calacirya “Pass of Light” with the suffix -yan(de) (from ✶yandē) “-land”. This suffix is rarely used in Quenya, but is commonly seen in Sindarin as the suffix -ian(d). In some places, Tolkien used this name to refer directly to the pass itself (MR/176, WJ/403).

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).]

calacirya

place name. Pass of Light

The “Pass of Light” through the Pelóri mountains into the heart of Valinor (S/59). It is a compound of cala “light” and cirya “cleft, pass” (RGEO/62).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, it was called ᴹQ. Kalakilya (LR/173), using an earlier word for “pass”: ᴹQ. kilya (Ety/KIL).

calaquendi

collective name. Elves of the Light, (lit.) Light Elves

This term was used for Elves who saw the light of the Two Trees in Valinor (S/53). Later the meaning was extended to include the Elves of Beleriand (the Sindar) who also opposed Morgoth (WJ/373). It is a compound of cala “light” and the plural form Quendi of the term Quendë “Elf” (WJ/361).

Conceptual Development: An early term ᴱQ. kalmar “child of day or light” form the 1910s (QL/44) seems to be the first precursor to this name, apparently replaced by ᴱQ. Kalmaliondo and ᴹQ. Kalion “Son of Light” from the 1920s and early 1930s (PE14/75, PE21/33). A similar term ᴹQ. Kalamor “Light-elves” appeared in a discussion of the branches of the Elves in the mid-1930s, along with ᴹQ. Kalaqendi (LR/197). Both these terms appeared in The Etymologies (Ety/KAL), though Christopher Tolkien incorrectly indicated that Kalamor was Noldorin rather than Quenya (EtyAC/KAL). Thereafter, only the term Calaquendi appeared, though it was sometimes spelled with a K.

calambar

adjective. *light-fated

A noun in the phrase Nai kalambar onnalda ter coivierya from the late 1960s (VT49/41). Carl Hostetter suggested the word may mean “✱light-fate(d)”, a combination of cala “light” and ambar “fate”, which he compared with Turambar “Master of Fate” (VT49/42). In a post on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) on 2023-06-01, Röandil suggested it might instead mean “✱light-dwelling” or “✱light-dweller”, as with words like Hröambari “Incarnates; (lit.) ✱Body-dwelling” (NM/14) or ombari “company, dwellers together” (NM/117).

calantar

proper name. Light-giver

A name for the Sun as the giver of light (NM/280), a combination of Q. cala “light”, Q. anta- “give”, and the agental suffix Q. -r(o).

Calacilya

pass of light

Calacilya ("k") place-name "Pass of Light", in which Kôr was built (KIL, KAL). Evidently a variant of Calacirya.

Calacirya

light-cleft

Calacirya place-name "Light-cleft", Calacirya, the great ravine in the mountains of Valinor, the passage leading from Valmar to the region where the Teleri lived. Genitive Calaciryo in Namárië(Nam, RGEO:67)

Calaciryan

the cleft of light

Calaciryan ("k") place-name "the Cleft of Light", the pass in the Pelóri, apparently a variant of Calacirya (WJ:403, SA:kal-, kir-). Calaciryan, Calaciryandë, "the region of Eldamar (Elvenhome) in and near the entrance to the ravine, where the Light was brighter and the land more beautiful" (RGEO:70)

Calainis

may

Calainis _("k")_noun "May" (LT1:252, 254; in Tolkien's later Quenya Lótessë)

Calamando

light mando

Calamando ("k") masc. name "Light Mando" = Manwë (MBAD, (KAL, MANAD), VT45:18, 33)

Calamor

light-ones

Calamor ("k") (Q? - not Sindarin!) pl. noun *"Light-Ones" = Light-Elves? Sg. *Calamo (KAL)

Calaquendi

elves of the light, light-elves

Calaquendi pl. noun "Elves of the Light, Light-elves" (SA:kal-, SA:quen-/quet-, WJ:361, WJ:373); spelt Kalaqendi in Etym (KAL). Sg. *Calaquendë.

Calaventë

sun

Calaventë _("k")_noun "Sun" (LT1:254)

Calavénë

sun

Calavénë _("k")_noun "Sun" (lit. "light-vessel", "light-dish") (LT1:254)

calambar

light-fated

calambar ("k") adj.? *"light-fated" (VT49:41, 42)

calar

lamp

calar noun "lamp" (VT47:13)

calarus

polished copper

calarus (calarust-) noun "polished copper" (VT41:10)

calassë

clarity, brilliance

calassë ("k")noun "clarity, brilliance" (GL:39)

calar

noun. lamp

A word for “lamp” in notes from the late 1960s derived from √kalar- (VT47/13). This word is less well-known than Q. calma “lamp” (LotR/1121).

calarus

noun. polished copper

Calaquendi

noun. Elves of the Light

Elves of the Light

calina

light

calina ("k")adj. "light" (KAL), "bright" (VT42:32) "(literally illumined) sunny, light" (PE17:153) but apparently a noun "light" in coacalina, q.v.

calta-

shine

calta- ("k")vb. "shine" (KAL)

cal-

shine

#cal- vb. "shine", future tense caluva ("k") "shall shine" _(UT:22 cf. 51). Compare also early "Qenya" cala- ("k")"shine" (LT1:254)_. It is possible that the verbal stem should have a final -a in later Quenya as well, since this vowel would not appear in the future tense caluva (compare valuvar as the pl. future tense of vala-, WJ:404).

Calaquendi

Calaquendi

The name Calaquendi ((singular Calaquendë[source?]) consists of Quenya cala ("light"), and quendi ("elves"); thus: "Elves of Light". Cognates of the name Calaquendi in other languages are Telerin Calapendi and Sindarin Calbin.

Calacirian

Calacirian

The Quenya name Calacirian is a simplified ("anglicized") form of Kalakiryandë, derived from Kalakirya.

Calacirya

Calacirya

Calacirya literally means "Light-cleft" in Quenya (from cálë = "light" and cilya = "cleft, gorge"). Variant names used by Tolkien were Kalakirya and Kalakilya (early forms), and Kalakiryan and Calaciryan (later forms).

calatengwë

noun. photograph, (lit.) light-writing

calaina

adjective. serene

calainë

noun. serenity, serene

calarwa

adjective. optical

calas

noun. brass

calassina

adjective. made of brass

calampa

noun. spoon

A neologism for “spoon” coined by Tamas Ferencz, an elaboration on the root ᴹ√KALPA “water vessel”.

Calmacil

light-sword

Calmacil masc. name, *"Light-sword" or possibly (if haplology of *Calmamacil*) "Lamp-sword" (Appendix A). Cf. cálë, cala, calma, macil**.

cálë

noun. light

A noun for “light” appearing in the versions of the Markirya poem from the 1960s (MC/222-223).

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, ᴱQ. kále “morning” was a derivative of the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44), and kāle was mentioned again Gnomish Lexicon Slips as a cognate of G. gaul “a light” (PE13/114). The form ᴱQ. kale “day” appeared in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s, but was deleted (PE14/43). It might also be an element in ᴹQ. yúkale “twilight” (= “both lights”) from The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/KAL).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d stick to the better attested Q. cala “light”.

calmatan

noun. lampwright

A word for “lampwright”, a combination of calma “lamp” and tamo (-tan) “builder”, equivalent to S. calardan (PE17/96).

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.)

Anar

sun

Anar noun "Sun" (ANÁR, NAR1, SA:nár; UT:22 cf. 51); anar "a sun" (Markirya); Anarinya "my Sun" (FS). See also ceuranar, Úr-anar. (According to VT45:6, Tolkien in the Etymologies mentioned anar "sun" as the name of the short vowel carrier of the Tengwar writing system; it would be the first letter if anar is written in Quenya mode Tengwar.) Compounded in the masc. name Anárion "Sun-son" (Isildur's brother, also the Númenorean king Tar-Anárion, UT:210); also in Anardil "Sun-friend" (Appendix A), a name also occurring in the form Anardilya with a suffix of endearment (UT:174, 418). Anarya noun second day of the Eldarin six-day week, dedicated to the Sun (Appendix D). Anarríma name of a constellation: *"Sun-border"??? (Silm; cf. ríma)

Narsil

sun

Narsil (Þ) noun the sword of Elendil, compound of the stems seen in Anar "Sun" and Isil "Moon"; see Letters:425 for etymology

accal(a)-

verb. shine

shine (suddenly and) brilliantly, blaze

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.

arië

daytime

arië noun "daytime" (AR1)

calmatan

lampwright

calmatan noun "lampwright" (PE17:96)

cálë

light

cálë ("k")noun "light" (Markirya; in early "Qenya", cálë meant "morning", LT1:254)

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).

sil-

shine

sil- vb. "shine" (white), present tense síla "shines, is shining" (FG); aorist silë, pl. silir (RS:324), frequentative sisíla- (Markirya comments), future tense siluva (VT49:38), dual future siluvat (VT49:44, 45)

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)

úri

sun

úri noun "sun" (MC:214, 221; this is "Qenya"); genitive úrio "sun's" (MC:216)

cala

noun. light

calapendi

collective name. Light-elves

calar

noun. lamp

calan

calan

calad

noun. light, fire, brightness, shining, light, brightness, shining, fire

A noun for “light” derived from the root √KAL of similar meaning (PE17/50, 84), and appearing in the phrase Lacho calad! Drego morn! “Flame light! Flee night!” (UT/65). In one place it was glossed “light, fire, brightness, shining” (PE17/84), so it seems it could refer to any shining thing or source of light. For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would only use it in reference to “fire” as a source of illumination, not as a flame.

Conceptual Development: N. calad “light” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above (Ety/KAL). In this document it was the basis for the final element of the name N. Gil-galad, and this was true in some later writings as well (PE17/50), but Tolkien eventually decided the second element of Gil-galad was (ñ)galad “radiance”, an element also seen in the name of Galadriel (PM/347).

calar

noun. (portable) lamp

A noun for a “(portable) lamp” in the word calardan “lampwright” (PE17/96; RC/523), which appear as a plural in the name Rath Celerdain “Lampwrights’ Street” (LotR/768).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. dant “lamp”, but this word was deleted (GL/29).

calar

noun. lamp

n. lamp. >> calardan

calardan

lampwright

pl1. celerdain n. lampwright. Q. calmatan. >> calar

calardan

noun. lampwright

A word for a “lampwright” (PE17/96; RC/523), appearing in its plural form in the name Rath Celerdain “Lampwrights’ Street” (LotR/768).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s it appeared in the mutated plural forms chalardain and chelerdain (WR/287, 388)

Caladriel

noun. Interpreted or altered to Galadriel to reflect Galadrim

_ prop. n. _Interpreted or altered to Galadriel to reflect Galadrim. >> Galadriel

calad

gerund noun. light

calad

noun. light

_ n. _light, fire, brightness, shining. >> galad

calan

noun. day, period of actual daylight

Attested in the first edition of LotR, but omitted from the second.

calan

noun. day(light)

calar

noun. (portable) lamp

calardan

noun. lampwright

calad

light

_(noun) _1) calad (i galad, o chalad), pl. celaid (i chelaid), 2) gaul (i **aul), pl. goel (i ngoel = i ñoel), coll. pl. golath. Note: A homophone means "wolf-howl", but has different mutations. 3) (bright light) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid). 4) gâl (gal-, -al in compounds, with article i **âl), pl. gail (i ngail = i ñail).

calan

daytime

calan (i galan, o chalan), pl. celain (i chelain) (or, white as snow) gloss (in compounds -los), lenited loss; pl. glyss

calar

lamp

#calar (i galar, o chalar), pl. celair (i chelair). Isolated from the pl. compound celerdain "lampwrights", sg. *calardan.

calar

lamp

(i galar, o chalar), pl. celair (i chelair). Isolated from the pl. compound celerdain "lampwrights", sg. ✱calardan.

calardan

lampwright

calardan (i galardan, o chalardan), pl. celerdain (i chelerdain)

Calarind

noun. Lamp of thought

calad

light

(i galad, o chalad), pl. celaid (i chelaid), 2) gaul (i ’aul), pl. goel (i ngoel = i ñoel), coll. pl. golath. Note: A homophone means "wolf-howl", but has different mutations. 3) (bright light) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid). 4) gâl (gal-, -al in compounds, with article i ’âl), pl. gail (i ngail = i ñail).

calan

daytime

(i galan, o chalan), pl. celain (i chelain)

calardan

lampwright

(i galardan, o chalardan), pl. celerdain (i chelerdain)****

galad

light

_ n. _light, fire, brightness, shining. >> calad, Caras Galadon

galadriel

feminine name. Glittering-garland

A Noldorin lady and only daughter of Finarfin, Galadriel was the ruler of Lórien at the end of the Third Age (LotR/353). Her name is a compound of galad “radiance, glittering reflection” and -riel “crowned maiden”. Its full meaning is “maiden crowned with a garland of bright radiance” (PM/347), but for the sake of brevity this entry uses the less literal translation “Glittering-garland” (Let/423).

Etymology: The history of Galadriel’s name is quite complex. Her birth names were Q. Nerwen and Q. Artanis, but her mother Eärwen was Telerin. Later in life Galadriel adopted the Telerin name T. Alatáriel, which in Quenya was Q. Altáriel (PM/346). This new name may have been due to the Telerin influence of her mother, or it may have been given to Galadriel by her husband, who may or may not have been a Telerin elf (see Celeborn for discussion). She was given this name because of her long golden hair (Let/428). Like her older brothers, Galadriel journeyed to Beleriand to aid in the war against Morgoth, where her name Altáriel was adapted into Sindarin as Galadriel (PM/347, PE17/60).

Many years later, when Galadriel became ruler of Lórien, her Silvan-elf subjects associated her name with Nan. galad “tree”. Sometimes her Sindarin name was altered to Galadhriel (S. galadh “tree”) to reflect this association (UT/267), but properly speaking her name had nothing to do with trees.

Conceptual Development: See the entry for the primitive form of her name, ✶Ñ(g)alatā-rigelle, for a discussion of the conceptual developments in this name’s etymology, and N. Galadhrien for a discussion of earlier forms of this name.

Anor

noun. sun

Anor

noun. Sun

_n. Astron._Sun. Q. anār/anăr. >> Ithil

aur

noun. day, sunlight, morning

celair

adjective. brilliant

galad

noun. light, radiance, glittering, reflection (from jewels, glass or polished metal, or water)

oraearon

noun. seventh day of the Númenórean week, Sea-day

oranor

noun. second day of the week, day of the Sun

orbelain

noun. sixth day of the week, day of the Powers or Valar

orgaladh

noun. fourth day of the Númenórean week, day of the White Tree

This day was formerly called orgaladhad in the Elvish calendar

orgaladhad

noun. fourth day of the Elvish week, day of the Two Trees

This day was renamed orgaladh in the Númenórean calendar

orgilion

noun. first day of the week, day of the Stars

orithil

noun. third day of the week, day of the Moon

ormenel

noun. fifth day of the week, Heavens' day

penninor

noun. last day of the year

Anor

sun

1) Anor (pl. Anoer if there is a pl.) Archaic Anaur (SD:306). 2) naur (mainly in compounds as nar-, -nor) (flame, fire), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath.

aur

day

aur (morning), pl. oer. As prefix or- in names of weekdays.

aur

day

(morning), pl. oer. As prefix or- in names of weekdays.

celair

brilliant

celair (lenited gelair; no distinct pl. form)

celair

brilliant

(lenited gelair; no distinct pl. form)

edinor

anniversary day

(pl. edinoer). Archaic edinaur. In ”Noldorin”, the word appeared as edinar.

gail

light

(adjective) 1) gail (bright), lenited ngail, no distinct pl. form (VT45:18), 2) lim (clear, sparkling), no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means ”fish”.

gail

light

(bright), lenited ngail, no distinct pl. form (VT45:18)

glaur

golden light

(i ’laur), pl. gloer (in gloer).

glawar

sunlight

(i ’lawar) (gold, radiance of the Golden Tree Laurelin), pl. glewair (in glewair) if there is a pl. (VT41:10)

glóren

shining with golden light

(glórin-) (golden), lenited ’lóren; pl. glórin

glóren

shining with golden light

(glórin-) (golden), lenited ’lóren; pl. glórin.

lim

light

(clear, sparkling), no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means ”fish”.

lothron

may

Lothron

silef

shining white

is listed in LR:385 s.v. SIL as the cognate of Quenya silma of this meaning, but silef is there asterisked, apparently to indicate that it only appears as part of the word Silevril ”Silmaril”. The word silef may also be used = Quenya silima (noun), the crystal substance of the Silmarils.

síla

shine white

(i híla, i sílar) Adj.

tolpheg

noun. spoon

calad

noun. light

calad

gerund noun. light

calardan

noun. lampwright

galavan

masculine name. Galavan

A rejected name in The Etymologies from the 1930s, the cognate of ᴹQ. Kalamando “Light Mando”, replacing earlier variant Calavan (EtyAC/KAL).

cilgalad

place name. Pass of Light

Noldorin equivalent of ᴹQ. Kalakilya appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s glossed “Pass of Light”, a combination of cîl “pass” and the lenited form of calad “light” (Ety/KIL).

galad

noun. light

Anor

noun. sun

aglaur, aglor

adjective. brilliant

brilliant, glorious

aklōra

adjective. brilliant

ON. brilliant, glorious

ar-

prefix. day

arad

noun. daytime, a day

aur

noun. day, sunlight, morning

celeir

adjective. brilliant

celeir

adjective. brilliant

gail

noun. bright light

gal-

prefix. light

glaur

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

glor-

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

klōra

adjective. brilliant

ON. brilliant

penninar

noun. last day of the year

síla-

verb. to shine white

kalatāna

place name. Kalatāna

kalat

noun. light

ol

root. *grow, [ᴹ√] grow [into]; *become

This root seems to have served various purposes throughout Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴱ√OLO “tip”, unglossed ᴱ√OLO with derivatives like ᴱQ. olde “very, much” and ᴱQ. olto- “increase, multiply”, as well as ᴱ√OLO whose derivatives had to do with dreams (QL/69). The second root ᴱ√OLO² may have had the sense “✱increase, more”, which may have reemerged in the verb or primitive form ol- “grow” in a deleted entry from The Etymologies of the 1930s (EtyAC/GAL(AS)). The root ᴹ√OL “grow” was mentioned again in the Quenya Verbal System of the 1940s (PE22/103). In this document the Quenya verb Q. ol- generally had the gloss “become” (PE22/99-100, 113), even as a derivative of ᴹ√OL “grow” (PE22/103).

The sense “become” for the verb form was mentioned again in Common Eldarin: Verb Structure from the early 1950s (PE22/133-134). There are several more documents from around 1959 that have derivatives connected to the sense “growth”, such as Q. olmen “growth-year”, Q. olmië “growth” and Q. quantolië “maturity” (NM/84, 119-120). However, in The Shibboleth of Fëanor from the late 1960s Tolkien said: “OL as a simple stem seems not to have occurred in Eldarin, though it appears in certain ‘extended’ stems, such as olos/r ‘dream’, olob ‘branch’ (PM/341)”. This lack of ancient meaning was despite the fact that OL was an element in the ancient name Q. Olwë.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is best to assume √OL meant “grow, ✱become”, which could easily contribute to the extended forms √OLOS “dream” and √OLOB “branch”. As a root, I think it primarily refers to the growth of people or animals, as opposed to √GAL used for the growth of plants. I think √OL can also be used for more abstract senses of “growth”, include “grow into” and hence “become”.