Quenya 

cas

noun. head, head, [ᴱQ.] top, summit

This is the Quenya word for “head”, with a stem form of car- because medial s generally became z and then r, but the s was preserved when final. This word can refer to the head of people and animals, as well as the metaphorical “head” (or top) of other things, in much the same way that Q. tál “foot” can refer to their base.

Conceptual Development: This word was established very early in Tolkien’s writing, being derived from the root ᴱ√KASA “head” all the way back in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/45), but its exact form varied as Tolkien changed his mind on the phonetic development of s in Quenya. Its form in the Qenya Lexicon was in fact ᴱQ. kar (kas-), since in Early Qenya period medial s survived and it was final s that became r (PE12/26). This kar (kas-) was the usual word for head in the 1910s and 20s, but in the typescript version of the Early Qenya Grammar Tolkien instead revised it to ᴱQ. kas (kast-) “head” (PE14/72 and note #5).

In noun declensions from the late 1920s and early 1930s, Tolkien instead had cas (car-), reflecting a conceptual shift in the phonologic development of s (PE13/112-113; PE21/22). However, for reasons unclear, the form ᴹQ. kár (kas-) was restored in The Etymologies written around 1937 under the root ᴹ√KAS “head” (Ety/KEM), despite s > z > r being the normal medial phonetic development in this period (PE19/33). This abnormal form slipped into The Lord of the Rings itself as part of the name Q. Eldacar “Elfhelm” (LotR/1038).

Tolkien generally used the form cas for “head” in his later writings (PE19/103; VT49/17), but in his notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien was forced to contrive another explanation for Eldacar:

> What is -kar in names. How could it stand for helm? E.g. as stem ✱kāsā (√KAS, head) would give kāra, but in compound forms -kāsă > -kas. Would not an ă be lost before voicing of s or at least before z > r (PE17/114).

In this note Tolkien considered having Q. carma “helm” < kas-mā, but discarded the idea since he felt karma “tool or weapon” < KAR “do, make” + was the more likely meaning. He then said “Eldă|kāzā in compounds to -kār(ă) > -kar” despite its phonological implausibility, and indeed kāza/kára appeared in a discussion of helms within 1964 notes on Dalath Dirnen (DD: PE17/188).

As for the sense “top”, there is better evidence for it among Tolkien’s earlier writings, such as the glosses “head, top” in Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s (PE14/79) and the early-1930s allative form kasta “up (to the top)” (PE21/22). I see no reason to assume this alternate meaning did not survive in Tolkien’s later conception of the language.

Quenya [PE17/188; PE19/103; VT49/17] Group: Eldamo. Published by

cas

head

cas ("k")"head" (VT49:17), cf. also deleted [cas] ("k")noun "top, summit" (VT45:19). This noun should evidently have the stem-form car-. See cár.

Castamir

casta[?]-jewel

Castamir masc. name, "casta[?]-jewel" (Appendix A)

castamir

masculine name. Castamir

The usurper who took the throne of Gondor from Eldacar for a decade until he was in turn overthrown (LotR/1047). The final element of his name is probably mírë “jewel”, but the meaning of the initial element is unclear.

Quenya [LotRI/Castamir; PMI/Kastamir] Group: Eldamo. Published by

casta

cause

casta (2) noun "cause" (reason) (QL:43)

Casar

dwarf

Casar ("k")noun "Dwarf", pl. Casari or Casári, partitive plural Casalli. Adapted from Dwarvish Khazâd. Casarrondo place-name "Khazad-dûm", Moria (WJ:388, 389; pl. Casári also in WJ:402)

casarrondo

place name. Dwarrowvault

The Quenya name of Khazad-dûm (WJ/389), a compound of Casar “Dwarf” and rondo “vault”.

Quenya [WJ/389; WJ/397; WJI/Casarrondo; WJI/Hadhodrond; WJI/Kasari; WJI/Khazad-dûm] Group: Eldamo. Published by

casallië

proper name. *Dwarf-folk

A term for the Dwarves as a race (WJ/388), a compound of Casar “Dwarf” and lië “people”, with the r assimilated to l.

Quenya [WJ/388; WJI/Kasari] Group: Eldamo. Published by

cassa

helmet

cassa ("k")noun "helmet" (KAS; though spelt cassa also in the Etymologies as printed in LR, VT45:19 indicates that Tolkien's own spelling was kassa). Cf. carma in a later source.

cast

one tenth

[cast] ("k"), fraction "one tenth", but the form is apparently obsolete; see caista. (VT48:11)

casta

one fourth

casta (1) ("k")fraction "one fourth" (1/4). Also canasta, cansat (VT48:11)

castol

helmet

castol noun "helmet", synonyms tholon (q.v.), sól (q.v), also variant castolo ("k")(PE17:186, 188)

cas(ta)

adverb. to(wards) the top, upwards

casar

noun. Dwarf

Quenya [PE17/045; WJ/388; WJI/Kasari; WJI/Khazâd] Group: Eldamo. Published by

castol(o)

noun. helmet

Quenya [PE17/186; PE17/188] Group: Eldamo. Published by

cast

fraction. one tenth

Castamir

Castamir

His name is Quenya and apparently includes -mir "jewel". The first element, *casta, is not translated but it could be a variant of cassa "helmet". In that case, his name means "helmet-jewel" or "jeweled helmet"

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castar

castar

Westron castar bears a striking resemblance to the Hobbitish word kast and Rohirric kastu, which mean "mathom". Sindarin mirian seems to be derived from mîr, "jewel".

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castëa

adjective. top (with added sense of prominent, chief)

@@@ Discord 2022-05-23 < kas-da-jā

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

castor

noun. beaver

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alcarondas

proper name. Castle of the Sea

The ship of Ar-Pharazôn (S/278). The language of the name is unclear, but many students of Tolkien believe it is Quenya, as its older name Aglarrâma seems to be Adûnaic. The name was glossed “Castle of the Sea”. However, the initial element of the name seems to be alcar “glory”, so it seems unlikely that this is a literal translation. The meaning of the second element of this name is unclear.

Quenya [PM/156; PMI/Aglarrâma; S/278; SDI2/Aglarrâma; SDI2/Alcarondas; SI/Alcarondas] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hala

noun. cast shadow, cast shadow, *shade

A Quenya word meaning “a cast shadow” appearing in two forms, hala and (archaic) †ixal, both cognates to S. esgal and derived from the root √SKAL “cover, veil, cloak, conceal” (PE17/184). The form hala is the normal development from primitive ✶skalā where the initial sk eventually became h, whereas ixal shows a vowel i developing before syllabic and then the surviving sk undergoing metathesis to ks (x).

Neo-Quenya: Given that primitive ✶skalā is actually “the action or effect of overshadowing”, I think hala can mean both “(cast) shadow” and “✱shade” as in a shaded region beneath a screen of leaves or something similar. For the screen itself I’d use fanwa.

Mandos

castle of custody

Mandos (Mandost-) noun "Castle of Custody" (the approximate meaning, according to MR:350). Used as the name of a Vala, properly the place where he dwells (the Halls of Mandos), whereas his real name is Námo_ (WJ:402). _In Tolkiens mythology, the "Halls of Mandos" are the abode of the dead, where their spirits remain until they are released from this world (in the case of mortals) or rebodied (in the case of Elves except for those who are refused or themselves refuse further incarnate life, and so remain in Mandos indefinitely). In the Etymologies, Mandos (also Mandossë) is interpreted somewhat differently, "Dread Imprisoner" (MBAD (MANAD),VT45:32) or in a deleted version "Dread Doom" (VT45:33, where Mandos was asigned the stem Mandosse-). The interpretation "Dread Imprisoner" would suggest that Tolkien at the time thought of Mandos as being also properly the name of a person, the Vala Námo, not the name of a place. See also Mando.

hala

cast shadow

hala (2) noun "a cast shadow" (PE17:184)

ixal

cast shadow

ixal noun "a cast shadow" (PE17:184)

mandos

place name. Castle of Custody

Properly the name of the halls of the Vala Námo, the dwelling place of departed Elvish spirits (S/28). It is often used as the name of the Vala himself, however. It is a compound of mando “custody” and the suffixal form -os for osto “stronghold”, so that its stem form is Mandost- (MR/350). In one place Tolkien translated the name as “Castle of Custody”, but said this was only an approximate meaning (MR/350).

Conceptual Development: This name dates back to the earliest Lost Tales. Even at this early stage, ᴱQ. Mandos was used to refer to the Vala but was said to be properly the name of his halls, though at this stage his true name was said to be ᴱQ. instead of Námo (LT1/66, QL/58). At this early stage the name was glossed “Hell” and given as a derivative of the root ᴹ√M(B)ṆÐṆ “bind” (QL/58), and appeared sometimes in the variant form Mandor (PME/58, 99; PE15/73).

The name ᴹQ. Mandos appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s with the gloss “Dread Imprisoner”, derived from a combination of the roots ᴹ√MBAD “prison” and ᴹ√GOS “dread” (Ety/GOS, MBAD).

His true name Námo did not emerge until Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (MR/150). Elsewhere in the Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, Tolkien briefly considered changing this name to Mandar, but this change was rejected (MR/205).

Quenya [MR/205; MR/350; MRI/Mandos; PMI/Mandos; S/028; SA/band; SA/os(t); SI/Mandos; UTI/Mandos; VT39/06; WJI/Mandos] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ixal

noun. cast shadow

tyar-

cause

tyar- vb. "cause" (KYAR)

tyar-

verb. cause

Quenya [PE 22:154] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

taras

great towering building, (fort, city, castle) tower

taras noun, Quenya equilvalent of Sindarin barad "a great towering building, (fort, city, castle) tower" (PE17:22), also tarminas. Barad-dûr (Dark Tower) = Quenya Taras Lúna (or Lúnaturco, q.v.)

carrëa

noun. tressure, tressure, *headdress

A noun for “tressure” in notes from the late 1960s derived from ✶cas-raya = √KAS “head” + √RAY “net, lace” (VT42/12). Given this word’s etymology, Tolkien was probably using “tressure” with its Middle English sense = “headdress”.

Quenya [PE22/159; VT42/12] Group: Eldamo. Published by

-ya

his

-ya (4) pronominal suffix "his" (and probably also "her, its"), said to be used in "colloquial Quenya" (which had redefined the "correct" ending for this meaning, -rya, to mean "their" because it was associated with the plural ending -r). Hence e.g. cambeya ("k") "his hand", yulmaya "his cup" (VT49:17) instead of formally "correct" forms in -rya. The ending -ya was actually ancient, primitive ¤- being used for "all numbers" in the 3rd person, predating elaborated forms like -rya. It is said that -ya "remained in Quenya" in the case of "old nouns with consonantal stems", Tolkien listing tál "foot", cas "head", nér "man", sír "river" and macil "sword" as examples. He refers to "the continued existence of such forms as talya his foot", that could apparently be used even in "correct" Quenya (VT49:17). In PE17:130, the forms talya "his foot" and macilya ("k") "his (or their) sword" are mentioned.

carrëa

tressure

carrëa (for cas-raya) noun "tressure" (net for confining the hair). (VT42:12)

cár

head

cár (cas-) ("k")noun "head" (KAS).The given stem-form appears doubtful within the phonological framework of LotR-style Quenya. Probably we should read cas with stem car- (PE14:69 indeed reads "kas head, pl. kari", and VT49:17 quotes the sg. "kas" from a post-LotR source). Compare other forms found in late sources: hlas "ear" with stem hlar- (PE17:62) and olos "dream", pl. olori (UT:396). In Tolkiens early "Qenya", post-vocalic -s became -r at the end of words but was preserved when another vowel followed. His later scheme either lets -r appear in both positions, or reverses the scenario altogether (hence olos, olor-). It would seem that the forms cár, cas- were distractedly carried over into the Etymologies from the Qenya Lexicon (kar, kas-, QL:45) even though they presuppose an earlier version of the phonology. An apparent variant form in late material, cára from earlier cáza ("k"), however fits the later phonology since intervocalic s would become z > r (PE17:188).

nanhat-

verb. to cast back, reflect

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

tumba-

verb. to cast down; *to dive

-li

the elves

-li partitive pl. ending (simply called a plural suffix in the Etymologies, stem LI). The ending is used to indicate a plural that is neither generic (e.g. Eldar "the Elves" as a race) nor definite (preceded by article); hence Eldali is used for "some Elves" (a particular group of Elves, when they are first mentioned in a narrative, VT49:8). Sometimes Tolkien also lets -li imply a great number; in PE17:129, the form falmalinnar from _Namárië _is broken down as falma-li-nnar "foam wave-many-towards-pl. ending", and falmali by itself Tolkien translated "many waves" (PE17:73). A distinct accusative in -seems to occur in the phrase an i falmalī (PE17:127, apparently meaning the same as i falmalinnar, but replacing the allative ending with a preposition). Genitive -lion in vanimálion, malinornélion (q.v. for reference), allative -linna and -linnar in falmalinnar, q.v. The endings for other cases are only known from the Plotz letter: possessive -líva, dative -lin, locative -lissë or -lissen, ablative -lillo or -lillon, instrumental -línen, "short locative" -lis. When the noun ends in a consonant, r and n is assimilated before l, e.g. Casalli as the partitive pl. of Casar "Dwarf" (WJ:402), or elelli as the partitive pl. of elen "star" (PE17:127). It is unclear whether the same happens in monosyllabic words, or whether a connecting vowel would be slipped in before -li (e.g. ?queneli or ?quelli as the partitive pl. of quén, quen- "person").

caista

one tenth

[caista] ("k"), fraction "one tenth" (1/10), also cast, an unusual Quenya form since the language does not normally tolerate two consonants finally (VT48:11). Compound caistanótië ("k") "decimal system" (in counting) (ibid.) However, Tolkien later rejected the root KAYAN "ten" in favour of KWAYA(M), changing the cardinal "ten" from cainen to quain, quëan (VT48:13). Apparently we must therefore read *quaista as the new fraction "one tenth".

canasta

one fourth

canasta ("k")fraction "one fourth" (1/4). Also cansat, casta (VT48:11)

cansat

one fourth

cansat ("k")fraction "one fourth" (1/4). Also canasta, casta (VT48:11)

carma

helm

carma (2) noun "helm" (helmet) in Carma-cundo ("k") "Helm-guardian" (PM:260). Notice that in PE17:114, Tolkien indicated that he rather wanted carma to mean "tool" or "weapon", leaving the status of carma "helmet" uncertain. Possibly shortened to -car in the names Eldacar (Elfhelm?), Hallacar (Tall-helm?) Cf. also cassa in Etym.

fanta-

to veil, cloak, mantle

fanta- vb. "to veil, cloak, mantle" (VT43:22), mainly used of veils cast over things that shone, or that were brighter and more vivid (PE17:174); according to Tolkien usually the strong past tense fánë and perfect afánië were used, but later also fantanë in the past tense (and then perhaps *afantië in the perfect?) (PE17:179-180) Cf halya- (q.v.), the stem of which Tolkien contrasted with the stem of this verb (PE17:184).

sól

helmet

sól, also solma or solos, noun variant words apparently for "helmet", cf. castol, q.v. (PE17:188)

tholon

helmet

tholon noun "helmet", variant of castol (q.v.), though Tolkien might have mistakenly marked it as Quenya instead of Sindarin (PE17:186)

carma

noun. helm

Quenya [PE17/114; PM/260] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Alcarondas

Alcarondas

The name is not easily translated, but it obviously doesn't mean "Castle of the Sea". It contains alcar "glory", and no recognizable element for the word "sea" which in Quenya is eär.

Quenya [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

ca(na)sta

fraction. one fourth, one fourth, *quarter

-rya

his, her

-rya 3rd person sg. pronominal ending "his, her" and probably "its" (VT49:16, 38, 48, Nam, RGEO:67), attested in coivierya *"his/her life", máryat "her hands", ómaryo "of her voice" (genitive of *ómarya "her voice"), súmaryassë "in her bosom" (locative of súmarya "her bosom"); for the meaning "his" cf. coarya "his house" (WJ:369). The ending is descended from primitive ¤-sjā via -zya (VT49:17) and therefore connects with the 3rd person ending -s "he, she, it". In colloquial Quenya the ending -rya could be used for "their" rather than "his/her", because it was felt to be related to the plural ending -r,e.g. símaryassen "in their [not his/her] imaginations" (VT49:16, 17). See -ya #4.

-zya

his, her, its

-zya, archaic form of the pronominal ending -rya "his, her, its", q.v. (VT49:17)

Nauco

dwarf

Nauco ("k")noun "Dwarf" (capitalized in WJ:388, but not in Etym, stem NAUK). Naucalië (not *Naucolië) the "Dwarf-people" as a whole. Nauco is a personalized form of the adjective nauca "stunted" (itself sometimes used as a noun "dwarf"); pl. naucor (PE17:45). See also Picinaucor.

Naucon

dwarf

Naucon (Naucond-, as in the pl. Naucondi) noun "dwarf", variant of Nauco (PE17:45; not capitalized in the source)

caista

fraction. one tenth

cansat

fraction. one fourth

cára

noun. head

harna

helmet

harna (3) noun "helmet" (VT45:21)

harpa

helmet

harpa noun "helmet" (VT45:21)

nauco

noun. dwarf

Quenya [PE17/045; WJ/388; WJI/Nauko] Group: Eldamo. Published by

naucon

noun. Dwarf

norno

dwarf

Norno (2) noun "dwarf"; a personalized form of the adjective norna(WJ:413); Nornalië (not *Nornolië) the "Dwarf-people" as a whole (WJ:388)

norno

noun. Dwarf

A word for a Dwarf (WJ/388), a personalized form of the adjective norna “stiff, tough” (WJ/413), patterned after S. dorn.

Quenya [WJ/388; WJ/413; WJI/Norno] Group: Eldamo. Published by

quaista

one tenth

*quaista, reconstructed/updated fraction "one tenth"; see caista.

sat-

set aside, appropriate to a special purpose or owner

#sat- vb. "set aside, appropriate to a special purpose or owner" (VT42:20). Cited in the form "sati-"; the final -i may be simply the connecting vowel of the aorist (as in *satin "I set aside"). This verb "was in Quenya applied to time as well as space" (VT42:20)

vainë

sheath

vainë noun "sheath" (LT1:271)

vasar

noun. veil

Quenya [VT42/09; VT42/10] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vasarya-

to veil

vasarya- (þ) vb. "to veil" (VT42:10)

þolon

noun. helmet

Mandos

Mandos

Námo (pron. [ˈnaːmo]) in Quenya means "Judge" or "Ordainer", from root NAM. The Sindarin equivalent is Badhron ([ˈbaðron]).[source?] Mandos ([ˈmandos]) is a Quenya name meaning "Prison-fortress".[source?] It derived from the early Elvish Mandostŏ. The Sindarin name for Mandos is Bannoth ([ˈbanːoθ]).[source?] In Eriol's Old English translations, Mandos is referred as Nefrea "Corpse-ruler" and neoaerna hlaford "master of the houses of the dead".

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coropë

noun. skull

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corpë

noun. skull

Helge Fauskanger proposed the neologism ᴺQ. caraxo “skull = head bone” for his NQNT (NQNT), but Damien Bador instead used ᴺQ. coropë < √KOR “round”, adapted from Gnomish G. corob “skull”. I prefer Bador’s solution, with the caveat that I think it would likely undergo the Quenya syncope and become ᴺQ. corpë instead, as pointed out by Röandil in a Discord chat from 2021-06-08.

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quaista

fraction. one tenth

@@@ as suggested by Helge Fauskanger (QQ/quaista)

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