Quenya 

elda

of the stars

elda 1. originally adj. "of the stars", but wholly replaced (WJ:362) by: 2. noun (Elda) = one of the people of the Stars, (high-)elf, an Elf (SA:êl, elen, Letters:281, ELED, ÉLED; notice that Tolkien abandoned a former etymology with "depart"), chiefly in the pl. Eldar (WJ:362, cf. GAT(H), TELES).The primitive form Tolkien variously cited as ¤eledā / elenā(Letters:281, PE17:152) and ¤eldā(WJ:360). Partitive pl. Eldali (VT49:8), gen. pl. Eldaron (WJ:368, PM:395, 402);dative pl.eldain "for elves", for Eldar (FS); possessive sg. Eldava "Elf's" (WJ:407); possessive pl. Eldaiva (WJ:368), Eldaivë governing a plural word (WJ:369). The word Eldar properly refers to the non-Avari Elves only, but since Eldar rarely had any contact with the Avari, it could be used for "elves" in general (in LT1:251, Elda is simply glossed "Elf"). See also Eldo. The plural form Eldar should not require any article when the reference is to the entire people; i Eldar refers to a limited group, "(all) the Elves previously named"; nevertheless, Tolkien in some sources does use the article even where the reference seems to be generic (i Eldar or i-Eldar, VT49:8).

elda

noun. Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk

The most common Quenya word for “Elf”. Its literal meaning is “one of the Star-folk” (WJ/374), a name given to them by Oromë (S/49) and derived from the same primitive root √EL as Q. elen “star”. Strictly speaking, this term excludes the Avari who chose not to journey to Valinor, so that the proper term for all of Elvenkind is Q. Quendë “one of the Elven race”. The Elves of the West rarely encountered the Avari, however, so that term Elda was ordinarily broad enough to describe all Elves.

Conceptual Development: This word dates back to the earliest stages of Tolkien’s languages. At its first appearance, ᴱQ. Elda was glossed “a beach-fay” (QL/35), but was soon extended to describe all Elves (LT1/113). In Tolkien’s earliest writings the word was not given a clear etymology. In the Lhammas “Account of Tongues” from the 1930s (LR/168-180), Tolkien gave ᴹQ. Elda the sense of “one who departed” (LR/169), as opposed to the ᴹQ. Lembi “Lingerers” who remained behind (precursors of the Avari). With this sense, Elda was derived from ᴹ√LED “go, fare, travel” (Ety/LED).

Tolkien soon revised the etymology of Elda so that it was derived instead from ᴹ√ELED “star-folk” (Ety/ELED). In some later writings, he considered both etymologies of this word to be valid, so that Elda was blending of both “star-folk” (from √EL) and Q. Eldo “marcher” (from √LED or √DEL), as discussed in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 and elsewhere (WJ/362-3, PE17/139). However, the sense “star-folk” is probably better known.

In some notes from 1957, Tolkien considered deriving this word from a variant root √DEL “fair” so that its meaning would be “the fair” (PE17/151), but this seems to have been a transient idea.

Cognates

  • S. Eledh “Elf” ✧ Let/281; SA/êl; PE17/141
  • S. Ell “Elf” ✧ Let/281; WJ/362
  • S. Edhel “Elf” ✧ LRI/Edhil; PE17/045; PE17/151; PE17/152; SA/êl; SA/êl; RC/780
  • S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/151
  • T. Ello “Elf” ✧ WJ/375; WJ/373
  • T. Ella “Elf” ✧ WJ/362; WJI/Eldar

Derivations

  • eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ Let/281; PE17/141; SA/êl; WJ/360; WJ/364; WJ/364
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281
  • elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/152
    • elen “star” ✧ PE17/139
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360
  • edelā “the fair” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/151
    • DEL “*fair” ✧ PE17/151
  • edelō “one who goes, traveller, migrant, marcher” ✧ PE17/152
    • DEL “walk, go, proceed, travel” ✧ WJ/360; WJ/363

Derivatives

  • S. Ell “Elf” ✧ PE17/141
    • S. Elleth “Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141
    • S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
eledā/elenā > Elda[eledā] > [eldā] > [elda]✧ Let/281
elenā > Elda[elenā] > [elnā] > [eldā] > [elda]✧ PE17/139
edelā > Elda[edelā] > [edlā] > [eldā] > [elda]✧ PE17/139
eledā > elda[eledā] > [eldā] > [elda]✧ PE17/141
edelā > elda[edelā] > [edlā] > [eldā] > [elda]✧ PE17/151
elenā > elda[elenā] > [elnā] > [eldā] > [elda]✧ PE17/152
edelā > eledā > elda[edelā] > [eledā] > [eldā] > [elda]✧ PE17/152
elda > Elda[elda]✧ SA/êl
eldā > Elda[eldā] > [elda]✧ WJ/360

Variations

  • elda ✧ PE17/045; PE17/056; PE17/057; PE17/141; PE17/141; PE17/151; PE17/152; PE17/152
Quenya [Let/198; Let/281; LotR/1127; LotR/1137; LotRI/Eldar; LRI/Edhil; MRI/Eldar; NM/239; PE17/045; PE17/056; PE17/057; PE17/114; PE17/135; PE17/139; PE17/141; PE17/151; PE17/152; PE17/189; PE21/73; PE21/77; PE22/155; PM/029; PM/346; PM/395; PM/403; PMI/Eldar; RC/217; RC/780; S/049; SA/êl; SI/Eldar; SI/High Elves; TII/Eldar; UTI/Eldanna; UTI/Eldar; VT49/08; WJ/362; WJ/364; WJ/368; WJ/369; WJ/373; WJ/374; WJ/375; WJ/407; WJI/Eldar; WRI/Eldar] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Eldo

marchers

Eldo noun, archaic variant of Elda, properly one of the "Marchers" from Cuiviénen, but the word went out of use (WJ:363, 374)

Eldarin

eldarin, elvish

Eldarin adj. derived from Elda: "Eldarin, Elvish" (Silm, ÉLED). Also in the longer form Eldarinwa (pl. Eldarinwë in VT47:14, in the title Eldarinwë leperi ar notessi, "The Eldarin fingers and numerals")

elena

of the stars

elena adj. "of the stars" (SA:êl, elen); also elenya

vanimelda

the highest word of praise for beauty

vanimelda adj., said to be "the highest word of praise for beauty", with two interpretations that were apparently considered equally valid and simultaneously true: "beautiful and beloved" (vanima + melda, with haplology), i.e. "movingly lovely", but also "elven-fair" (fair as an Elf) (vanima + elda). The word was also used as the second name of Arwen. (PE17:56, Second Edition LotR1:II ch. 16).

Elendil

star-friend

Elendil masc. name"Star-friend", "Lover or student of stars", applied to those devoted to astronomical lore. However, when the Edain used this name they intended it to mean "Elf-friend", confusing elen "star" and elda "elf" (WJ:410). (This idea that the name was misapplied seems to be late; Tolken earlier interpreted the name as an ancient compound Eled + ndil so that the meaning really was "Elf-friend"; see Letters:386. See also NIL/NDIL in the Etymologies, where Elendil is equated with "Ælfwine", Elf-friend.) Allative Elendilenna "to Elendil" (PM:401); Elendil Vorondo genitive of Elendil Voronda "Elendil the Steadfast" _(CO) Pl. Elendili the Númenórean Elf-friends (Silm)_; the variant Elendilli in SD:403 would seem to presuppose a stem-form Elendill- not attested elsewhere. Tar-Elendil a Númenorean king, UT:210.

Sindarin 

eledh

noun. Elf

Cognates

  • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ Let/281; SA/êl; PE17/141
  • Q. elenya “adjective referring to the stars, *of the stars, stellar” ✧ WJ/362

Derivations

  • eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ Let/281; PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/142
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281
  • elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ PE17/139; WJ/360
    • elen “star” ✧ PE17/139
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360

Element in

  • S. Edelbar “*Elf-home” ✧ PE17/142
  • S. Eledhwen “Elfsheen, Elven-fair” ✧ Let/281; SA/êl; UTI/Haudh-en-Elleth
  • S. Elennor “*Elf-land” ✧ PE17/142
  • S. Eledhes “*Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/142
  • S. Eledhon “*Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/142

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
eledā/elenā > eledh[eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð]✧ Let/281
eledā/elenā > elidh[eledī] > [eledi] > [eleði] > [eliði] > [elið]✧ Let/281
elenyā > elein[elenjā] > [elenja] > [elenia] > [eleni] > [elein] > [elain]✧ PE17/139
eledā > eleð[eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð]✧ PE17/140
eledā > eleð[eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð]✧ PE17/141
eledā > eledh[eledā] > [eleda] > [eleða] > [eleð]✧ PE17/142
elenā > Elen[elenā] > [elena] > [elen]✧ WJ/360
elenā > Elin[elenī] > [eleni] > [elini] > [elin]✧ WJ/360

Variations

  • eledh ✧ Let/281 (eledh); PE17/142; PE17/142; UTI/Edhelrim
  • elein ✧ PE17/139 (elein)
  • eleð ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/142
  • Elen ✧ WJ/363; WJ/377 (Elen); WJI/Elen
Sindarin [Let/281; PE17/139; PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/142; SA/êl; UTI/Edhelrim; UTI/Haudh-en-Elleth; WJ/363; WJ/377; WJI/Elen] Group: Eldamo. Published by

edhel

noun. Elf

Cognates

  • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ LRI/Edhil; PE17/045; PE17/151; PE17/152; SA/êl; SA/êl; RC/780
  • Q. Eldo “one of the Marchers” ✧ WJ/363

Derivations

  • edelā “the fair” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/151
    • DEL “*fair” ✧ PE17/151
  • edelō “one who goes, traveller, migrant, marcher” ✧ PE17/141; PE17/152; WJ/360
    • DEL “walk, go, proceed, travel” ✧ WJ/360; WJ/363

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
edelā > eðel[edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel]✧ PE17/139
edelō > eðel[edelō] > [edelo] > [eðelo] > [eðel]✧ PE17/141
edelā > edhel[edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel]✧ PE17/151
edelā > eðel[edelā] > [edela] > [eðela] > [eðel]✧ PE17/152
edelō > Edhel[edelō] > [edelo] > [eðelo] > [eðel]✧ WJ/360
edelō > Edhil[edelī] > [edeli] > [eðeli] > [eðili] > [eðil]✧ WJ/360

Variations

  • edhel ✧ PE17/045; PE17/151; RC/780; SA/edhel; UT/255; UTI/Edhelrim
  • eðel ✧ PE17/139; PE17/141; PE17/152
  • Eðel ✧ PM/346
Sindarin [LRI/Edhil; PE17/045; PE17/097; PE17/139; PE17/141; PE17/151; PE17/152; PM/346; RC/780; RGEO/62; SA/edhel; SA/êl; SI/Sindar; UT/255; UT/318; UTI/Edhelrim; WJ/364; WJ/377; WJ/378; WJI/Edhel] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elen

noun. Elf

ell

noun. Elf

Cognates

  • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ Let/281; WJ/362

Derivations

  • eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281
  • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ PE17/141
    • eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ Let/281; PE17/141; SA/êl; WJ/360; WJ/364; WJ/364
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281
    • elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/152
    • elen “star” ✧ PE17/139
      • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360
    • edelā “the fair” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/151
    • DEL “*fair” ✧ PE17/151
    • edelō “one who goes, traveller, migrant, marcher” ✧ PE17/152
    • DEL “walk, go, proceed, travel” ✧ WJ/360; WJ/363

Derivatives

  • S. Elleth “Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141
  • S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
eldā > ell[eldā] > [elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell]✧ PE17/141
Q. elda > eld > ell[elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell]✧ PE17/141
eldā > Ell-[eldā] > [elda] > [elða] > [elð] > [ell]✧ WJ/360

Variations

  • ell ✧ Let/281; PE17/141; PE17/141 (ell); PE17/141; PE17/152 (ell)
  • elt ✧ PE17/141
  • Ell- ✧ WJ/363
  • ell- ✧ WJ/364
Sindarin [Let/281; PE17/141; PE17/142; PE17/152; VT50/15; VT50/19; VT50/23; WJ/363; WJ/364; WJ/377; WJ/412] Group: Eldamo. Published by

penedh

noun. Elf

Derivations

  • kwende “speaker, elf” ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141
    • KWENED “spoken, articulate, spoken, articulate; [ᴹ√] Elf” ✧ PE17/137
    • KWEN “speak with rational words” ✧ PE19/093
      • KWE “vocal speech” ✧ WJ/392
    • KWEN “speak with rational words” ✧ PE17/140; WJ/360
    • KWE “vocal speech” ✧ WJ/392

Element in

  • S. Morbenedh “*Dark-elf” ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
kwenedē > peneð[kwenedē] > [penedē] > [penede] > [peneðe] > [peneð]✧ PE17/140
kwenedē > Penn[kwendē] > [pendē] > [pende] > [pend] > [penn]✧ PE17/141

Variations

  • peneð ✧ PE17/140; PE17/141
  • Penn ✧ PE17/141
Sindarin [PE17/140; PE17/141] Group: Eldamo. Published by

calben

elda

(Elf of the Great Journey, as opposed to the Avari) calben (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

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).

edhel

elf

(pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). (WJ:363, 377-78; the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > *Elrim*** may also occur). But since elin** also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.

ellon

elf-man

(pl. ellyn)

send

grey-elf

(i hend, o send, construct sen) (probably a term only used by the Noldor, borrowed from Quenya Sinda), pl. sind (i sind), coll. pl. Sendrim (the only attested form).

edhelharn

elf-stone

(pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).

elleth

elf-woman

(pl. ellith) (WJ:363-64, 377)

elvellon

elf-friend

(pl. elvellyn, coll. pl. elvellonnath (WJ:412);

avar

non-eldarin elf

pl. Evair, also called

gwanwel

elf of aman

(”departed” Elf), pl. gwenwil (in gwenwil), coll. pl. gwanwellath. (WJ:378) Also gwanwen; see

laegel

green-elf

pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK: *Lhoebenidh* or *Lhoebelidh*. The Green-elves of Beleriand were also called Lindel (pl. Lindil), also Lindedhel (pl. Lindedhil)  *(WJ:385)*.

miniel

first elf

(i Viniel), pl. Mínil (i Mínil), coll. pl. Miniellath. (WJ:383)

peredhel

half-elf

(pl. peredhil) (PM:256, 348).

lefn

elf left behind

pl. lifn.

dúnedhel

elf of beleriand

(i Núnedhel), pl. *Dúnedhil*** (i Ndúnedhil*). (WJ:378, 386)*

mornedhel

dark elf

(i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: ?Mernedhil. **(WJ:409) Another term for ”Dark Elf” is Dúredhel (i Dhúredhel), pl. Dúredhil (i Núredhil**).

calben

elf of the great journey

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

Telerin 

ella

noun/adjective. Elf

Cognates

  • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ WJ/362; WJI/Eldar

Derivations

  • eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281

Element in

Telerin [WJ/362; WJ/364; WJ/375; WJI/Eldar] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ello

noun. Elf

Cognates

  • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ WJ/375; WJ/373
  • Q. Eldo “one of the Marchers” ✧ WJI/Eldar

Derivations

  • edelō “one who goes, traveller, migrant, marcher” ✧ WJ/362; WJ/360
    • DEL “walk, go, proceed, travel” ✧ WJ/360; WJ/363

Element in

  • T. Audel “Elf who left for Aman” ✧ WJ/364
Telerin [WJ/362; WJ/364; WJ/373; WJ/375; WJ/376; WJI/Eldar] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Primitive elvish

eledā

noun. star-folk, of the stars

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281

Derivatives

  • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ Let/281; PE17/141; SA/êl; WJ/360; WJ/364; WJ/364
    • S. Ell “Elf” ✧ PE17/141
    • S. Elleth “Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141
    • S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141
  • S. Eledh “Elf” ✧ Let/281; PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/142
  • S. Ell “Elf” ✧ PE17/141; WJ/360
    • S. Elleth “Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141
    • S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141
  • T. Ella “Elf” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

Variations

  • eled ✧ Let/386
  • eldā ✧ PE17/141; WJ/360
  • elda ✧ SA/êl
Primitive elvish [Let/281; Let/386; PE17/140; PE17/141; PE17/142; PE21/73; PE21/77; PE21/81; SA/êl; WJ/360; WJ/364] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

penedh

noun. Elf

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. Qende “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
  • ᴹQ. Qendelie “Elf-race” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶kwenedē “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
    • ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶kwenedē > penedh[kwenedē] > [penedē] > [penede] > [peneðe] > [peneð]✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
ᴹ✶kwenedē > penidh[kwenedī] > [penedī] > [penedi] > [peneði] > [peniði] > [penið]✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Variations

  • peneð ✧ EtyAC/SET (peneð)
Noldorin [Ety/KWEN(ED); EtyAC/SET] Group: Eldamo. Published by

penn

noun. Elf

Cognates

Derivations

Element in

  • N. Morbenn “Dark Elf” ✧ EtyAC/MOR (Morbenn)

Variations

  • penn ✧ PE22/067
Noldorin [EtyAC/MOR; PE22/067] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Qenya 

elda

noun. Elf

Changes

  • EldaElda “‘departed’ Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED

Cognates

  • N. Eledh “Star-folk, Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED; Ety/ELED
  • Ilk. Eld “Star-folk, Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED
  • Dan. Edel “Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED; Ety/ELED
  • Ilk. Egla “Star-folk, Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED
  • Ad. Nimir “Elf, (lit.) Shining One” ✧ SDI2/Nimrî

Derivations

  • ᴹ√LED “go, fare, travel” ✧ Ety/ELED
  • ᴹ√ELED “Star-Folk, Elves” ✧ Ety/ELED
  • ᴹ✶edēlā “firstborn, eldest” ✧ EtyAC/EDE
    • ᴹ√EDE(L) “precede, come forward, hence” ✧ EtyAC/EDE
  • ᴹ✶eledā “Star-folk, Elf” ✧ SD/401; SDI2/Eledâi
    • ᴹ√ELED “Star-Folk, Elves”

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ELED > Elda[eleda] > [elda]✧ Ety/ELED
ᴹ√ÉLED > Elda[eleda] > [elda]✧ Ety/ELED
ᴹ✶edela > eleda[edela] > [eleda]✧ EtyAC/EDE

Variations

  • eleda ✧ EtyAC/EDE (eleda)
Qenya [Ety/ELED; EtyAC/EDE; LR/072; LR/169; LR/181; LR/197; LR/212; LR/218; LRI/Eldar; PE18/024; PE21/57; PE22/124; PE22/125; SD/401; SDI2/Eldar; SDI2/Eledâi; SDI2/Nimrî; SMI/Eldar; VT27/07] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qen

noun. Elf

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶kwenedē “Elf” ✧ PE21/25; PE21/25
    • ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶qend(ǝ)mēn > qenwen[kwendemēn] > [kwendmēn] > [kwenmēn] > [kwenwēn] > [kwenwen]✧ PE21/25

Variations

  • qen ✧ PE21/19; PE21/25
Qenya [PE21/19; PE21/25] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qende

noun. Elf

Cognates

  • N. penedh “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
  • Dan. cwenda “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
  • N. penn “Elf”

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶kwenedē “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED); PE21/69
    • ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶kwenedē > qende[kwenedē] > [kwendē] > [kwende]✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
ᴹ✶kwĕndĕ > qende[kwende]✧ PE21/69

Variations

  • qende ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED); PE21/69
Qenya [Ety/KWEN(ED); LR/119; LR/168; LR/212; LRI/Qendi; MRI/Quendi; PE18/023; PE21/69; SM/085; SM/086; SMI/Quendi; TII/Qendi] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

cwend

noun. Elf

A Doriathrin noun meaning “Elf” derived from primitive ᴹ✶kwenedē (EtyAC/KWEN(ED)), an example of the Ilkorin syncope.

Conceptual Development: This word is nearly identical to earlier Gnomish Cwenn “Elf” before Tolkien revised the phonological history of the Noldorin language so that [[on|[kw] became [p]]].

Cognates

  • Dan. cwenda “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶kwenedē “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
    • ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶kwenedē > cwend[kwenedē] > [kwenede] > [kwende] > [kwend]✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
Doriathrin [EtyAC/KWEN(ED)] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Ossriandric

cwenda

noun. Elf

A noun for “Elf” developed from primitive ᴹ✶kwenedē (Ety/KWEN(ED)). It is an example of the Danian syncope, with second unstressed [e] vanishing after the identical vowel. It is also one of the Danian words for which a long final vowel developed into short final [a].

Cognates

  • Ilk. cwend “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
  • ᴹQ. Qende “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶kwenedē “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
    • ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶kwenedē > cwenda[kwenedē] > [kwendē] > [kwenda]✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
Ossriandric [Ety/KWEN(ED)] Group: Eldamo. Published by

edel

noun. Elf

A noun for “Elf” derived from primitive ᴹ✶edel-, an inversion of the primitive root ᴹ√ELED (Ety/ELED). Unlike most similar Danian nouns, it did not undergo the Danian syncope and retained its second vowel. One possible explanation is that the primitive form of this noun ended in a short vowel, ✱✶edelă, and this short final vowel vanished before the period of the syncope, preventing it from occurring in this word. Helge Fauskanger originally suggested a theory much like this one (AL-Nandorin/edel).

Conceptual Development: In an earlier version of this entry, the Danian word for Elf was given as Elda (Ety/ELED).

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. Elda “Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED; Ety/ELED

Derivations

  • ᴹ√ELED “Star-Folk, Elves” ✧ Ety/ELED
  • ᴹ✶edel- “Star-folk, Elf” ✧ Ety/ELED
    • ᴹ√ELED “Star-Folk, Elves” ✧ Ety/ELED

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√ÉLED > Elda[eledā] > [eldā] > [elda]✧ Ety/ELED
ᴹ✶edel- > Edel[edela] > [edel]✧ Ety/ELED

Variations

  • Elda ✧ Ety/ELED (Elda)
Ossriandric [Ety/ELED] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

kwen(ed)

root. Elf

Derivatives

  • ᴹ✶kwenedē “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
    • Ilk. cwend “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
    • Dan. cwenda “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
    • ᴹQ. Qende “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED); PE21/69
    • ᴹQ. Qen “Elf” ✧ PE21/25; PE21/25
    • N. penedh “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
  • N. penn “Elf”

Variations

  • KWENED ✧ PE18/034; PE18/061
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KWEN(ED); PE18/034; PE18/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kwenedē

noun. Elf

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KWEN(ED) “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Derivatives

  • Ilk. cwend “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
  • Dan. cwenda “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)
  • ᴹQ. Qende “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED); PE21/69
  • ᴹQ. Qen “Elf” ✧ PE21/25; PE21/25
  • N. penedh “Elf” ✧ Ety/KWEN(ED)

Element in

  • ᴹ✶morikwende “Dark-elf” ✧ PE19/057; PE19/059

Variations

  • kwènedḗ ✧ PE19/057; PE19/059
  • kwendḗ ✧ PE19/059
  • kwĕndĕ ✧ PE21/69
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KWEN(ED); PE19/057; PE19/059; PE21/25; PE21/69] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

cwenn

noun. Elf

Changes

  • CwendCwenn ✧ GL/28

Cognates

  • Eq. Qen “Elf” ✧ GL/32; PE13/099; PE14/009

Element in

Variations

  • Cwend ✧ GL/28 (Cwend)
Gnomish [GL/28; GL/32; PE13/099; PE14/009] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

egol

noun. elf

gwenn

noun. Elf

Cognates

  • Eq. Qen “Elf” ✧ PE13/146
  • Et. Bende ✧ PE13/146

Derivations

Element in

Early Noldorin [PE13/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

idhel

noun. elf

ileth

noun. elf

uidhol

noun. elf

uigol

noun. elf

Early Primitive Elvish

eid(e)lā

noun. Eid(e)lā

Derivatives

  • Eq. Elda “Elf; beach-fay” ✧ PE13/155; PE15/62
  • En. Uidhel “elf, fairy” ✧ PE13/155; PE15/62
  • Et. Illa ✧ PE13/155

Variations

  • Ēdhela ✧ PE15/62
  • Ē̆dhlā ✧ PE15/62
  • Ēdhelā ✧ PE15/62
  • ē̆ðlā ✧ PE15/62
  • Edhelā ✧ PE15/62
  • Edhlā ✧ PE15/62 (Edhlā)
  • ĕlðā ✧ PE15/62
Early Primitive Elvish [PE13/155; PE15/62] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

elda

noun. Elf; beach-fay

Cognates

  • G. Egla “fairy, (lit.) being from outside” ✧ GG/13; GL/32; LT1A/Eldamar; LT2A/Eglamar; PE15/23; WJI/Egla; LT1A/Eldar; PE14/009
  • En. Uidhel “elf, fairy” ✧ PE13/155; PE15/61; PE15/62
  • Et. Illa ✧ PE13/155

Derivations

Element in

Variations

  • elda ✧ GG/13; PE14/107; PE15/71; QL/035
Early Quenya [GG/13; GL/32; LBI/Eldar; LT1/114; LT1/235; LT1A/Eldamar; LT1A/Eldar; LT1I/Eldar; LT2A/Eglamar; LT2I/Eldar; PE13/099; PE13/155; PE14/009; PE14/047; PE14/050; PE14/079; PE14/083; PE14/084; PE14/107; PE15/23; PE15/61; PE15/62; PE15/71; QL/035; QL/043; WJI/Egla] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qen

noun. Elf

Cognates

  • G. Cwenn “Elf” ✧ GL/32; PE13/099; PE14/009
  • En. Gwenn “Elf” ✧ PE13/146

Derivations

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ✶Gwendi- > Qen[gʷend] > [gʷen] > [kʷen]✧ PE13/146

Variations

  • qende ✧ PE14/009
Early Quenya [GL/32; LRI/Qendi; LT1/235; LT1I/Qendi; PE13/099; PE13/146; PE14/009; QL/092; SM/013; SM/168] Group: Eldamo. Published by

qende

noun. Elf