kadar

noun. city

A noun appearing only as an element in kadar-lâi “city folk” (SD/435).

arminalêth

proper name. *Royal Heaven (City)

The Adûnaic name for the capital of Númenor, whose Quenya name is Armenelos (SD/363, PM/145). The final element -êth seems to be a feminizing suffix, also seen in Ad. Akallabêth. The initial element Ar- is the same as that used in the name of kings and queens, and the middle element minal means “heaven”, so perhaps the literal meaning is something like ✱“Royal Heaven (City)”, similar in the sense to the Quenya name.

kadar-lâi

noun. city folk

A compound noun translated “city folk” given as an example of an adjectival-genitive relationship between nouns (SD/435).

osto

noun. city

ondosto

place name. *Stone City

A settlement in Númenor along the road between Armenelos and Andúnië (UT/169). This name is probably a compound ondo “stone” and osto “city”. Christopher Tolkien suggested that the name may be related to the stone quarries of that region (UTI/Ondosto).

osto

noun. fortress, stronghold, strong place, fortress, stronghold, strong place; [ᴹQ.] city, town with wall round

The best known Quenya word for “city”, but strictly speaking really a fortification or a stronghold (Ety/OS; MR/350; NM/228; PE22/124; WJ/414). The two were more or less synonymous, since in Middle-earth most cities were fortified. In theory osto might also be used of any large fortification, not just a fortified city, as was the case with its Sindarin cognate ost, but in most of the Quenya examples it was used in city-names.

Conceptual Development: Possible precursors include the words ᴱQ. os (ost-) {“dwelling, hamlet” >>} “cottage, house”, ᴱQ. osta {“walled tower” >>} “homestead”, and ᴱQ. ostar {“walled tower” >>} “township” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√OSO [’OSO] (QL/71). The contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME) had only the older glosses, but the forms began with h: ᴱQ. hos(t) “dwelling, hamlet”, ᴱQ. hosta/hostar “walled tower” (PME/71). Elsewhere in PME Tolkien said that osta was equivalent to ᴱQ. irin “town” (PME/43).

The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. osto “city, town with wall round” under the root ᴹ√OS “round, about” (Ety/OS). Notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1940s had osto “fort” (PE22/50 note #183), but in the Quenya Verbal System of the late 1940s Tolkien glossed this word as “city” in the phrase: tasse i·osto “there (is) the city” (PE22/124).

In Tolkien’s later writing this word was glossed “fortification” (NM/228), “a strong or fortified building or place” (MR/350), and “fortress or stronghold” (WJ/414). With some exceptions like the name Mandos, it appeared mainly as an element in the names of cities of Men, Elves or Dwarves, such as Armenelos, Formenos, and Túrosto. Note the reduction of the suffix to -os in longer compounds, but not in shorter compounds like Túrosto.

ostoher

masculine name. *City Lord

The 7th king of Gondor (LotR/1038). His name seems to be a compound osto “city” and heru “lord”.

Conceptual Development: In the drafts of the Lord of the Rings appendices, Tolkien first gave his name as Ostohir, with a transient variation Ostonir (PM/197). Ostohir was a “mixed name” whose final element was Sindarin S. hîr “lord”, much like Ondohir which went through a similar conceptual development (PM/210). In the 2nd edition of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien changed it to the pure Quenya name Ostoher.

tar calimos

place name. *Royal Bright City

An earlier name for Armenelos (PM/145), apparently a combination of tar- “king and queen (in compounds)”, calima “bright” and osto “city”.

Armenelos

royal-heaven-city

Armenelos place-name, City of the Kings in Númenor (ar-menel-os(to) "royal-heaven-city"???) The stem should possibly be *Armenelost- (compare Mandos, Mandost-).

Ostoher

city-lord

Ostoher noun masc. name, *"City-lord" (Appendix A)

minassë

fort, city, with a citadel and central watch-tower

minassë noun "fort, city, with a citadel and central watch-tower" (VT42:24)

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.)

minassë

noun. fort, city (with a citadel and central watch tower)

tarminas

noun. great towering building (fort/city/castle), tower

taras

noun. a great towering building (fort/city/castle), tower, great towering building (fort/city/castle), tower; [ᴹQ.] mount, hill

tirion

noun. watch-tower, watch-tower, tower, [ᴱQ.] (great or mighty) tower; city on a hill

hérosto

noun. capital city

Valimar

vali-home

Valimar place-name "Vali-home" (Vali = Valar), the city of the Valar in Valinor, also in shorter form Valmar. Cf. the Silmarillion: "the city of Valimar where all is glad" (Valaquenta); "in the midst of the plain beyond the mountains they [the Valar] built their city, Valmar of many bells" (chapter 1). In Namárië, the word Valimar is used = Valinor, since Valimar was its chief city (Nam, RGEO:67)

osto

strong or fortified building or place, strong place, fortress

osto (1) noun "a strong or fortified building or place, strong place, fortress" (MR:350, 471; WJ:414); "city, town with wall round" (OS, VT46:8)

tir-

verb. watch, watch over, guard, heed

tir- vb. "watch, watch over, guard, heed", 1st pers. aorist tirin "I watch", pa.t. tirnë (TIR), imperative tira (VT47:31) or á tirë (PE17:94), future tense tiruva "shall heed" in Markirya (also MC:213, 214); also in CO with pronominal endings: tiruvantes "they will guard it" (tir-uva-nte-s "guard-will-they-it"). The stem also occurs in palantíri (q.v.), Tirion place-name "Great Watchtower", a city of the Elves (SA:tir; in MR:176 the translation is "Watchful City")

tirion

watch-tower, tower

tirion noun "watch-tower, tower" (TIR); in early "Qenya" the gloss was "a mighty tower, a city on a hill" (LT1:258). Tirion "Great Watchtower", a city of the Elves in the Blessed Realm (SA:tir; in MR:176 the translation is "Watchful City")

túna

place name. Túna

The name of the hill in Valinor where the Elves settled and built the city of Tirion (S/59). Its exact meaning is obscure, but it probably developed from the root ᴹ√TUN from which the related word [ᴹQ.] tundo “hill, mound” was also derived (Ety/TUN), so perhaps it simply meant “✱Hill”.

Conceptual Development: The first precursor of this name appeared towards the end of the Lost Tales: Tûn, the (?Gnomish) name of the Elvish city on the hill, replacing the older name of the city ᴱQ. Kôr (LT2/202), which in turn became simply the name for the hill itself. The name Tûn was probably inspired by Old English “tún (enclosed dwelling)”, from which modern English “town” developed (LT2/292).

In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, Tûn was replaced by its Quenya equivalent ᴹQ. Túna (LR/119), which was glossed “Hill City” (LR/222). The name ᴹQ. Tún/Túna appeared in The Etymologies as a derivative of the root ᴹ√TUN, from the primitive form ᴹ✶Tūnā̆ (Ety/TUN). This entry is the basis for the derivation given above. Christopher Tolkien noted that Tún was an “unlikely Quenya form”, but Tolkien might have imagined it developing for primitive ᴹ✶Tūnă after the short final -ă was lost.

In later writings, the city was renamed Tirion and Túna became the name of the hill, although this replacement was gradual and Túna sometimes appeared as the name of the city as well (MR/8, 180). The conceptual development of this name was therefore ᴱQ. Kôr (town and hill, LT1/122-3) >> (?G.) Tûn (town only, LT2/202, SM/87) >> ᴹQ. Túna (town only, LR/119, Ety/TUN) >> Q. Túna (town and hill, MR/8) >> Q. Túna (hill only, MR/180, S/59). See the entry on Tirion for further discussion of the development of related names.

Valmar

valmar

Valmar alternative form of Valimar, q.v. (Silm)

arta

fort, fortress

arta (2) noun "fort, fortress" (GARAT under 3AR)

cenda-

verb. watch

cenda- vb. "watch" (not "guard", but observe to gain information), also used = "read". Cenda = also noun "reading", as in sanwecenda "thought-inspection, thought-reading". (VT41:5, PE17:156)

marto

tower

marto (1) noun "tower" (PE17:66)

marto

noun. tower

ostirion

fort

ostirion noun "fort" (TI:423)

tarminas

tower

tarminas noun "tower" etc. (Sindarin barad); see taras (PE17:22)

tirios

town with walls and towers

tirios noun (probably *tiriost-) "a town with walls and towers" (LT1:258)

tiris

watch, vigil

tiris (tiriss-), also tirissë, noun "watch, vigil" (LT1:258, QL:93)

turco

tower

turco ("k") (2) noun "tower". In Lúnaturco, Quenya name of Barad-dûr (Dark Tower). Tolkien changed the word turco from turma (PE17:22).

turma

tower

[turma] (2) noun "tower". Tolkien changed this word to turco (#2), q.v. (PE17:22)

Valmar

Valmar

The name Valmar means "dwelling of the Valar" (from Vala and mar = "dwelling").

ranta

noun. course

caras galadhon

place name. City of the Trees

Name of the city of Lórien (LotR/355), translated “City of the Trees” (LotR/353). This name is an adaptation of Nan. Caras Galadon of the same meaning (LotR/1127), replacing Nan. galad “tree” with S. galadh. In pure Sindarin, it would S. Caras i-Ngelaidh (PE17/60). Its initial element is S. (or Nan.) caras “moated fort” and its final element has the Nandorin genitive plural suffix -on.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s and in the 1st edition of The Lord of the Rings, this name appeared as N. Caras Galadon (TI/245, RC/311). In between the 1st and 2nd editions, Tolkien became disatisified with this name, which was clearly different from S. galadh “tree”. In his Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien considered changing the meaning of this name so that it, like Galadriel had nothing to do with trees (PE17/84). Ultimately, though, he decided that the form Caras Galadon was Nandorin (PE17/60), and changed the name to its Sindarized form in the 2nd edition of The Lord of the Rings.

Ost-in-Edhi

noun. city, fortress of elves

ost (“fortress, city with wall around”) + in (pl. gen. article) + edhil (pl. of edhel “elf”)

minas

noun. tower, fort, city (with a citadel and central watch tower)

ost

noun. fort, fortress, stronghold, citadel; fortified town; enclosure, fort, fortress, stronghold, citadel; (fortified) town, [N.] city; [orig.] [S.] enclosure, [G.] yard

Osgiliath

noun. city, fortress of stars

ost (“fortress”) + gîl (“star, bright spark”) + ath (collective plural suffix)

Tindobel

noun. starlit village, city

tindu (AS “twilight”) + gobel (“village, town”) #Nd doesn’t become nn within one morpheme as it’s an archaic name.

caras

noun. city (built above ground)

caras i-ngelaidh

place name. City of the Trees

The pure Sindarin form of Caras Galadhon, appearing in notes from the mid-1960s (PE17/60). In these notes, it appears as Caras (i)Ngelelaið, but Christopher Gilson suggested the final word was probably a slip for Ngelaið, which would be the ordinary nasal mutation of the plural of galadh “tree”. Its initial element is S. (or Nan.) caras, and the i is the elided form of the plural definite article in, whose elision causes the nasal mutation of the final word.

minas

noun. fort, city with a citadel and central watch-tower

ost

noun. city, town with wall round

othrond

noun. fortress or city in underground caves, underground stronghold

othrond

noun. underground stronghold, underground stronghold, [N.] underground city, fortress

othronn

noun. fortress or city in underground caves, underground stronghold

rath

noun. street (in a city)

ost

city

ost (pl. yst) (city/town with wall around).

ost

city

(pl. yst) (city/town with wall around).

othronn

underground city or stronghold

(pl. ethrynn for archaic öthrynn) (fortress in a cave or caves). Cited in archaic form othrond in the sources (WJ:414, VT46:12)

othronn

underground stronghold or city

(pl. ethrynn for archaic öthrynn) (fortress in a cave or caves). Cited in archaic form othrond in the sources (WJ:414, VT46:12)

othronn

underground city or stronghold

*othronn (pl. ethrynn for archaic öthrynn) (fortress in a cave or caves). Cited in archaic form othrond in the sources (WJ:414, VT46:12)

othronn

underground stronghold or city

*othronn (pl. ethrynn for archaic öthrynn) (fortress in a cave or caves). Cited in archaic form othrond in the sources (WJ:414, VT46:12)

othronn

underground stronghold or city

*othronn (pl. ethrynn for archaic öthrynn) (fortress in a cave or caves). Cited in archaic form othrond in the sources (WJ:414, VT46:12)

othronn

underground stronghold or city

(pl. ethrynn for archaic öthrynn) (fortress in a cave or caves). Cited in archaic form othrond in the sources (WJ:414, VT46:12)

barad

tower

1. barad (fortress, fort) (i varad), pl. beraid (i meraid). Note: barad is also an adjective "doomed", but this is derived from a stem in mb- and would have different mutations. 2) (tower or city with citadel/central watchtower) minas (i vinas), pl. minais (i minais), coll. pl. minassath

garth

stronghold

1. garth (i **arth) (stronghold), pl. gerth (i ngerth = i ñerth), 2) ost (fortress, city), pl. yst (WJ:414). The word may appear as os- or oth- before certain consonants in compounds, e.g. Osgiliath ”Citadel (Fortress) of the Stars” (LotR), ostirion (fortress with a watchtower), Othram** ”fortress-wall” (WR:288).

ost

stronghold

(fortress, city), pl. yst (WJ:414). The word may appear as os- or oth- before certain consonants in compounds, e.g. Osgiliath ”Citadel (Fortress) of the Stars” (LotR), ostirion (fortress with a watchtower), Othram ”fortress-wall” (WR:288).

Osgiliath

Osgiliath

topon. -. >> Ostgiliath

barad

noun. tower, fortress

barad

tower

1b n. tower.

barad

tower

1c n. tower. Q. marto.

caras

noun. circular earthwall with dike

minas

noun. tower

ost

noun. citadel, fortress or stronghold, made or strenghtened by art

rath

noun. course, riverbed

tirith

noun. watch, guard (abstract noun), vigilance

tirith

watch

{1st ĭ}_n._watch, ward, guard. >> tíria, Minas Tirith

ŷr

noun. course

barad

tower

(fortress, fort) (i varad), pl. beraid (i meraid). Note: barad is also an adjective "doomed", but this is derived from a stem in mb- and would have different mutations.

garth

stronghold

(i ’arth) (stronghold), pl. gerth (i ngerth = i ñerth)

minas

tower

(i vinas), pl. minais (i minais), coll. pl. minassath

rath

course

rath (climb, climbing path, street, riverbed), pl. raist (idh raist) (UT:255)

rath

course

(climb, climbing path, street, riverbed), pl. raist (idh raist) (UT:255)

tir-

watch

(cited in the form tiri, a ”Noldorin” infinitive in -i) (i dîr, i thirir) (guard, gaze, look at, look towards). The imperative tiro and passive participle [t]irnen are attested, the latter in lenited form dirnen.

tiria

watch

1. tiria- (guard, gaze, look toward) (i diria, i thiriar). 2)

tiria

watch

(guard, gaze, look toward) (i diria, i thiriar).

tirith

watch, watching

(i dirith, o thirith) (guard, guarding, vigilance), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thirith)

yr

course

; no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. yrath). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” iôr.

ŷr

course

*ŷr (construct yr; no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. yrath). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” iôr.

taurost

place name. High City

The name of the central citadel of Minas Tirith in Lord of the Rings drafts (WR/260). It is a combination of taur “high” and ost “city”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/3.24).

tûn

place name. Hill City

Noldorin equivalent of ᴹQ. Túna appearing in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s with the gloss “Hill City” (LR/222). It also appeared in The Etymologies derived from the same primitive form as its Quenya equivalent (Ety/TUN).

Conceptual Development: G. Tûn appeared towards the end of notes associated with the earliest Lost Tales (LT2/202), where it was most likely inspired by Old English “tún”, as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT2/292). It also appeared in the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (LB/17, 217). Its development parallels that of its Quenya name; see Q. Tirion for a fuller discussion on the evolution of the name of this city and the hill it stood upon.

othram

place name. City Wall

Name of the city wall around Minas Tirith appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (WR/288), a combination of ost “city” and the lenited form of rham “wall”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/3.30).

tindobel

place name. Twilit City, Starlit City

Earliest name of Barad Nimras in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/331; LR/129, 265). It appeared in The Etymologies with the gloss “Twilit City, Starlit City”, a combination of tinnu “twilight” and the lenited form of gobel “town” (Ety/PEL(ES), TIN).

belegost

place name. Great Fortress, Great City

ost

noun. city, town (with wall round)

othrond

noun. underground city, fortress

caras

noun. city (built above ground)

caras

noun. a city (built above ground)

minnas

noun. fort, city with a citadel and central watch-tower

nogrod

place name. Dwarfmine, Dwarf-city

ossrond

noun. *underground city, fortress

ost

noun. city, town with wall round

othrond

noun. fortress or city in underground caves, underground stronghold

rath

noun. street (in a city)

barad

noun. tower, fortress

caras

noun. circular earthwall with dike

garth

noun. fort, fortress

iôr

noun. course

iôr

noun. course

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “course” derived from ON. yura under the root ᴹ√YUR “run” (Ety/YUR).

minnas

noun. tower

minnas

noun. tower

ost

noun. citadel, fortress or stronghold, made or strenghtened by art

rath

noun. course, riverbed

tir-

verb. to watch, to gaze, look at

tiria-

verb. to watch, to gaze, look at

tirion

noun. tower

tirith

noun. watch, guard (abstract noun), vigilance

caras

noun. moated fortress

      caras "moated fortress" (UT:257), probably to be compared to Sindarin ("Noldorin") _caras_ "a city (built above ground)", derived from the stem _KAR_ "make, do" (LR:362); the basic meaning may be simply "something made, construction" (compare Quenya car "building, house"). Extensions involving a suffixed stem-vowel and a final _-s_ are attested; cf. for instance _SPAL_ and its extended form _SPALAS_ (LR:387). Hence, _KAR_ could easily have a longer form *_KARAS_. Sindarin caras evidently includes the Grey-elven derivative ending [[-as]], though ([[-as]] is basically used to derive verbal nouns, like English_ -ing_, but these may often take on a more concrete meaning; _car-as_ can probably be compared to English build-ing); the Nandorin ending may be related to the Sindarin one. Yet another possibility would be equating this ending [[-as]] with the collective ending seen in [[Danas]], q.v., and assume that [[car]] means something like "house" (as in Quenya); hence [[caras]] = "group of houses, village", later taking on the meaning "moated fortress" if the Nandor used to surround their villages with moats.

gabilgathol

place name. Great Fortress

gathol Reconstructed

noun. fortress