calben

elda

(i galben, o chalben), pl. celbin (i chelbin). The general word for Elves, Elidh or Edhil, may be used in the sense of Quenya Eldar (which itself is often used in a generalized sense: any kind of Elves).

calben

elf of the great journey

(i galben, o chalben), pl. celbin (i chelbin).

calben

proper name. *Light One

Sindarin equivalent of Q. Calaquende, a translation of that name rather than an ancient word, otherwise it would have been ✱✱Calbend (WJ/362). It was also applied differently than the Quenya name, used for all Elves except the Avari, rather than only those Elves who had seen Valinor (WJ/376), and later expanded to include all “peoples in alliance in the War against Morgoth” (WJ/377), both Elves and Men. This name is a combination of shortened form of calad “light” and the suffixal form -ben of pen “one, somebody”, hence: “✱Light One”.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies from the 1930s, the equivalent of ᴹQ. Kalaqendi was Caleledh or Celion (EtyAC/KAL). S. Caleðel appeared in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 (PE17/140), as well as Calemben (PE17/141) as a possible precursor of Calben.