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.
Quenya
Calaquendi
noun. Elves of the Light
Calaquendi
elves of the light, light-elves
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.
Cognates
Derivations
- ✶kala-kwendī “Light-folk” ✧ WJ/373
Elements
Word Gloss cala “light, light; [ᴱQ.] daytime (sunlight), 12 hours” Quendë “Elf, (lit.) One That Speaks” Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ✶kala-kwendī > Kalaquendi [kalakwendī] > [kalakwendi] ✧ WJ/373 Variations
- Kalaquendi ✧ MR/169; MRI/Kalaquendi; PE18/074; WJ/361; WJ/373; WJ/375; WJ/376; WJI/Calapendi; WJI/Calben; WJI/Kalaquendi
Calaquendi
Calaquendi
Elves of the Light