Quenya 

elen

star

elen noun "star" (SA:êl, elen, EL, VT49:39); pl. eleni (occasionally in verse: eldi) (WJ:362, PE17:127); partitive pl. elelli for elenli (PE17:127), gen. pl. elenion in the phrase Elenion Ancalima "brightest of stars" (LotR2:IV ch. 9; see Letters:385 for translation); elen atta "two stars" (VT49:44), genitive elen atto "of two stars" (VT49:45), eleni neldë "three stars", archaic elenion neldë = "of stars three". Genitive "of 3 stars" = elenion neldë (for archaic elenion neldëo) (VT49:45). Allative elenna "starwards" used as name of Númenor _(Silm; see Elenna)_; ablative pl. elenillor "from stars" in Markirya. **Nai elen siluva ***"may a star shine", VT49:38.

elen

noun. star

The most common Quenya word for “star”, mentioned very frequently, derived from an extended form ✶elen of the root √EL “behold” (PE17/67; WJ/360, 362). Its usual plural form is eleni, but it has an archaic plural †eldi sometimes used in verse, the result of the Ancient Quenya sound whereby [[aq|[ln] became [ld]]] after the ancient plural underwent the Quenya syncope, ✶elenī > AQ. elni; its normal modern plural form eleni was actually a reformation from the singular (PE17/57, 151; WJ/362).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, though in the original entry for the root ᴹ√EL Tolkien said it was poetical and gave variants ellen and elena (Ety/EL).

Cognates

  • S. êl “star” ✧ PE17/024; PE17/024; PE17/067; PE17/127; PE17/151; SA/êl; WJ/362
  • T. él “star” ✧ WJ/367
  • T. elen “star” ✧ WJ/362

Derivations

  • elen “star” ✧ PE17/067; PE17/151; WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360
  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ PE17/151; PM/340; RGEO/65; SA/êl

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
elen > elen[elen]✧ PE17/067
elni > eldi[eleni] > [elni] > [eldi]✧ PE17/151

Variations

  • Elen ✧ LotR/0081; WJ/367
Quenya [Let/265; Let/385; LotR/0081; LotR/0377; LotR/0720; LotR/0915; MC/222; PE17/012; PE17/024; PE17/025; PE17/056; PE17/057; PE17/067; PE17/090; PE17/091; PE17/101; PE17/127; PE17/151; PE19/096; PM/340; RGEO/58; RGEO/59; RGEO/65; SA/êl; UT/213; VT49/39; VT49/44; VT49/45; WJ/362; WJ/367] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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.

Otselen

seven stars

Otselen noun "Seven Stars" (otso + elen), a name of the Great Bear (constellation) (OT/OTOS/OTOK)

Elenarda

star-kingdom

Elenarda place-name "Star-kingdom", upper sky (3AR). Deleted material in the Etymologies defined elenarda as "star-realm", "upper air or sky" (VT45:16). Compare elen, (h)arda.

Elerrína

crowned with stars

Elerrína adj. used as noun: "Crowned with Stars" (elen + rína), a name of Taniquetil (Silm); spelt Elerína in the Etymologies (EL, RIG).

él

star

él noun "star", pl. éli given (WJ:362, EL)

él

noun. star

An archaic or poetic word for star (WJ/362), somewhat common in compounds but in ordinary speech typically appearing as elen. It was derived directly from the primitive root √EL “behold”, the basis for other star words (PM/340; WJ/360).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as poetical ᴹQ. él “star” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above, though in this document the root ᴹ√EL meant “star” (Ety/EL), a common gloss for the root in later writings as well.

Cognates

  • T. él “star” ✧ WJ/362

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ PM/340
  • ēl “star” ✧ WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
el- > el[el]✧ PM/340
ēl > él[ēl]✧ WJ/360

Variations

  • el ✧ PM/340
Quenya [PM/340; WJ/362] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Elessar

elf-stone

Elessar masc. name "Elf-stone" (Elen + sar, actually "Star-stone", cf. Elendil concerning elen "star" being used to mean "Elf") (LotR3:V ch. 8). Genitive Elesarno _(VT49:28, read _Elessarno?) indicates that the stem is -sarn-. As a common noun, elessar or "elf-stone" may signify "beryl" (in the chapter Flight to the Ford in the LotR, Aragorn finds "a single pale-green jewel" and declares: "It is a beryl, an elf-stone"). Elessar as a name may also be seen as a pun or variant of Elesser "Elf-friend".

ílë

star

ílë noun "star" (LT1:269; rather elen, él in LotR-style Quenya.)

-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").

Elemmírë

star-jewel

Elemmírë noun *"Star-jewel" (elen + míre, notice assimilation nm > mm), name of a star/planet (possibly Mercury, MR:435, where the spelling used is Elemmirë); also name of an Elf. (SA:mîr)

na

to, towards

na (2) prep. "to, towards", possibly obsoleted by #1 above; for clarity writers may use the synonym ana instead (NĀ1). Originally, Tolkien glossed na as "at, by, near"; the new meaning entered together with the synonyms an, ana (VT45:36).

ana

to

ana (1) prep. "to" (VT49:35), "as preposition _ana _is used when purely _dative formula is required" (PE17:147), perhaps meaning that the preposition ana can be used instead of the dative ending -n (#1, q.v.) Also as prefix: ana- "to, towards" (NĀ1); an (q.v.) is used with this meaning in one source (PE17:127)_

-nna

to

-n (1) dative ending, originating as a reduced form of - "to", related to the allative ending -nna (VT49:14). Attested in nin, men, ten, enyalien, Erun, airefëan, tárin, yondon (q.v.) and also added to the English name Elaine (Elainen) in a book dedication to Elaine Griffiths (VT49:40). The longer dative ending -na is also attested in connection with some pronouns, such as sena, téna, véna (q.v.), also in the noun mariéna from márië "goodness" (PE17:59). Pl. -in (as in hínin, see hína), partitive pl. -lin, dual -nt (Plotz). The preposition ana (#1) is said to be used "when purely dative formula is required" (PE17:147), perhaps meaning that it can replace the dative ending, e.g. *ana Eru instead of Erun for "to God". In some of Tolkiens earlier material, the ending -n (or -en) expressed genitive rather than dative, but he later decided that the genitive ending was to be -o (cf. such a revision as Yénië Valinóren becoming Yénië Valinórëo, MR:200).

-nna

to, at, upon

-nna "to, at, upon", allative ending, originating from -na "to" with fortified n, VT49:14. Attested in cilyanna, coraryanna, Endorenna, Elendilenna, númenórenna, parma-restalyanna, rénna, senna, tielyanna, q.v. If a noun ends in -n already, the ending -nna merges with it, as in Amanna, formenna, Elenna, númenna, rómenna as the allative forms of Aman, formen, elen, númen, rómen (q.v.). Plural -nnar in mannar, valannar, q.v.

Sindarin 

elen

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath _n._star. Its collective plural (pl2.) designates 'the (host of all the) stars, (all) the (visible) stars of the firmament'. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni. o menel aglar elenath ! lit. 'from Firmament glory of the stars !'. >> êl

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:20-1:24-5:67:139:151] < EL star. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

elen

noun. star

elen

noun. Elf

el

star

n. star.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:55] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

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

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

êl

noun. star (little used except in verses)

Sindarin [WJ/363, MR/373, RGEO/73, Letters/281] Group: SINDICT. Published by

êl

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath** ** n. star. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni, pl2. elelli. >> elen

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:24:67:127:139-40:151] < EL star. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

êl

noun. star

A Sindarin word for “star” that is largely archaic and poetic, and is mainly used as element in names like Elrond (Let/281; WJ/363; Ety/EL); the more usual word for “star” in ordinary speech was gil (RGEO/65). However, the collective form elenath is still used in common speech to refer to the entire host of stars (WJ/363). The plural of êl is elin, as this word was derived from ancient ✶elen, and the final n that was lost in the singular was preserved in the plural. In some cases Tolkien posited a restored analogical singular elen from the plural form (PE17/24, 67, 139), but this isn’t in keeping with the notion that the word was archaic, so I would ignore this for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: This word and its root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. el “star” was derived from the root ᴹ√EL of similar meaning, but was “only [used] in names” (Ety/EL). It seems Tolkien introduced the root to give a new etymology for names like N. Elrond and N. Elwing, which initially appeared under the root ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” (Ety/ƷEL).

Cognates

  • Q. elen “star” ✧ PE17/024; PE17/024; PE17/067; PE17/127; PE17/151; SA/êl; WJ/362

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; RGEO/65; SA/êl
  • elen “star” ✧ PE17/067; PE17/139; PE22/150; WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360

Element in

  • S. Anglachel “*Iron-of-the-flaming-star”
  • S. Anguirel “*Iron-of-the-fiery-star”
  • S. Eladar “Starfather”
  • S. elanor “pimpernel, small golden star-shaped flower, (lit.) sun-star” ✧ PE17/055
  • S. Elbereth “Queen of Stars, (lit.) Star-queen” ✧ PE17/022; RGEO/65
  • S. Elrond “Star-dome”
  • S. Elros “Star-foam”
  • S. Elu ✧ PM/369
  • ᴺS. elui “starry”
  • S. Elwing “Star-spray” ✧ PM/369
  • S. Nan Elmoth “*Valley of Starry Dusk”
  • S. Narn en·Êl “*Tale of the Star” ✧ MR/373
  • S. Narn e·Dant Gondolin ar Orthad en·Êl “*Tale of the Fall of Gondolin and the Raising of the Star” ✧ MR/373
  • S. o menel aglar elenath “from heaven on high the glory of the starry host” ✧ LotR/0238; PE17/024; RGEO/63; RGEO/64

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
EL > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ Let/281
elen > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ PE17/067
ELEN > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ PE17/139
elenī > elin[elenī] > [eleni] > [elini] > [elin]✧ PE22/150
EL > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ RGEO/65
ele > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ SA/êl
elen > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ WJ/360

Variations

  • Êl ✧ MR/373
  • el- ✧ PE17/022
  • elen ✧ PE17/024; PE17/067; PE17/139
  • el(en) ✧ PE17/025
  • el ✧ PE17/055; PM/369
Sindarin [Let/281; LotR/0238; MR/373; PE17/022; PE17/024; PE17/025; PE17/055; PE17/067; PE17/127; PE17/139; PE17/151; PE22/150; PM/369; RGEO/63; RGEO/64; RGEO/65; RGEO/67; SA/êl; WJ/363] Group: Eldamo. Published by

an

preposition. to, towards, for

With suffixed article and elision in aglar'ni Pheriannath

Sindarin [LotR/II:IV, UT/39, SD/129-31] Group: SINDICT. Published by

an

to

_ prep. _to, for. naur an edraith ammen! 'fire [be] for rescue/saving for us'. aglar an|i Pheriannath  'glory to all the Halflings'.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:38:102:147] < _ana _< ANA/NĀ to, towards – added to, plu-. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

na

to

e _ prep. _to, towards (of spacetime). n' before vowels. >> nan 2

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:147] < _nā _< ANA/NĀ to, towards – added to, plu-. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

na

preposition. to

prep. to Na-chaered palan-díriel lit. "To-distance (remote) after-gazing" >> na-chaered, nan 2

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:20-1:25] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gil

noun. star, bright spark

In The Etymologies (Ety/358, corrected by VT/45:15), this word was given as geil , plural gîl. However, later in LotR/E and RGEO/73, Tolkien seems to consider gil as a singular (with no hints in the sources of what the plural would be, besides the collective plural giliath )

Sindarin [LotR/E, S/431, RGEO/73] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gil-

noun. star

Sindarin [PE 22:159] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

gill

noun. star

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

Sindarin [Ety/358, RC/232] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lefn

elf left behind

pl. lifn.

ellon

elf-man

(pl. ellyn)

elvellon

elf-friend

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

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).

calben

elf of the great journey

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

elleth

elf-woman

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

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.

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

(a term for beryl) edhelharn (pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).

edhelharn

elf-stone

(a term for beryl) edhelharn (pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31). SEEING STONE (palantír) *gwachaedir (i **wachaedir), no distinct pl. form except with prefixed article (in gwachaedir), coll. pl. ?gwachaediriath or ?gwachadirnath (the latter form assuming that -dir is reduced from older -dirn) The form occurring in the primary source, gwahaedir, must represent the late Gondorian pronunciation with h for ch** (PM:186).

edhelharn

elf-stone

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

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)*.

gilion

of stars

(lenited ngilion; pl. gilioen). Archaic ✱giliaun.

gwanwel

elf of aman

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

miniel

first elf

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

dúnedhel

elf of beleriand

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

an

to

(prep.) an (+ nasal mutation), with article ni "to the" (+ nasal mutation in plural).

an

to

(adverbial prefix) an-. 3)

peredhel

half-elf

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

avar

non-eldarin elf

pl. Evair, also called

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**).

gîl

star

gîl (i ngîl = i ñîl, o n**gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath** (RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

gîl

star

(i ngîl = i ñîl, o n’gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath **(RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. **elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

Telerin 

elen

noun. star

Cognates

  • Q. elen “star” ✧ WJ/362

Derivations

  • elen “star” ✧ WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360

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

él

noun. star

Cognates

  • Q. él “star” ✧ WJ/362
  • Q. elen “star” ✧ WJ/367

Derivations

  • ēl “star” ✧ WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

Variations

  • ēl ✧ WJ/362; WJ/407
Telerin [WJ/362; WJ/407] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Black Speech

u

preposition. to

Element in

Black Speech [LotR/0445; PE17/078; PM/083] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Primitive elvish

elen

noun. star

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360

Derivatives

  • elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ PE17/139
    • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/152
    • S. Ell “Elf” ✧ PE17/141
      • S. Elleth “Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141
      • S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141
    • Q. elenya “adjective referring to the stars, *of the stars, stellar” ✧ WJ/360
    • S. Eledh “Elf” ✧ PE17/139; WJ/360
  • Q. elen “star” ✧ PE17/067; PE17/151; WJ/360
  • S. êl “star” ✧ PE17/067; PE17/139; PE22/150; WJ/360
  • T. elen “star” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

  • elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ WJ/360
  • elen-barathī “star-queen” ✧ MR/387
  • Q. Elentári “Queen of the Stars, Star-queen” ✧ PE17/022
  • S. Elbereth “Queen of Stars, (lit.) Star-queen” ✧ PE17/022; PE17/023

Variations

  • ĕlĕn ✧ Let/281
  • ELEN ✧ PE17/022; PE17/139; PE17/152
  • el-en ✧ PE17/023
  • elen- ✧ VT42/11
Primitive elvish [Let/281; MR/387; MR/388; NM/060; PE17/022; PE17/023; PE17/067; PE17/139; PE17/151; PE17/152; PE22/150; VT42/11; WJ/360] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ēl

noun. star

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ WJ/360

Derivatives

  • Q. él “star” ✧ WJ/360
  • T. él “star” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

  • eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ WJ/360
  • elen-barathī “star-queen” ✧ PE17/066

Variations

  • el ✧ PE17/066
Primitive elvish [PE17/066; WJ/360] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

el

noun. star

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. él “star” ✧ Ety/EL
  • ᴹQ. elen “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EL “star, starry sky” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Element in

  • N. elanor “sun-star”
  • N. Elbereth “Queen of Stars, (lit.) Star Queen” ✧ Ety/EL
  • N. Elrond “Starry-dome, Sky” ✧ Ety/EL
  • N. Elros “Star-foam”
  • N. Eldûn “*West-star”
  • N. Elrûn “*East-star”
  • N. Elwing “Star-spray” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√EL > el[elen] > [ele] > [el]✧ Ety/EL

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

geil

noun. star, bright spark

Noldorin [Ety/358, VT/45:15] Group: SINDICT. Published by

geil

noun. star

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶gilya “star” ✧ Ety/GIL
    • ᴹ√GIL “shine (white or pale)” ✧ Ety/GIL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶gilya > gíl[gilji] > [gilī] > [gil] > [gīl]✧ Ety/GIL
ᴹ✶gilya > geil[gilja] > [gelja] > [gelia] > [geli] > [geil]✧ Ety/GIL

Variations

  • gîl ✧ EtyAC/GIL
Noldorin [Ety/GIL; Ety/OT; EtyAC/GIL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

heltha-

verb. to strip

The form helta- in the Etymologies is a misreading according to VT/46:14

Noldorin [Ety/386, VT/46:14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

Noldorin [Ety/358, RC/232] Group: SINDICT. 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 

elen

noun. star

Cognates

  • Ilk. el “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL
  • N. el “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EL “star, starry sky” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√EL > elen[elen]✧ Ety/EL
ᴹ√EL > elen[elen]✧ Ety/EL
ᴹ√EL > ellen[ellen]✧ Ety/EL

Variations

  • ellen ✧ Ety/EL
  • elena ✧ Ety/EL
  • Elen ✧ RS/324
Qenya [Ety/EL; PE17/014; RS/324; VT28/11; WR/223] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elena

noun. star

ellen

noun. star

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

él

noun. star

Cognates

  • Ilk. el “star” ✧ Ety/EL
  • N. el “star” ✧ Ety/EL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EL “star, starry sky” ✧ Ety/EL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√EL > él[ēl]✧ Ety/EL

Doriathrin

el

noun. star

A Doriathrin noun meaning “star”, a simple derivative of the root ᴹ√EL (Ety/EL).

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. él “star” ✧ Ety/EL
  • ᴹQ. elen “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EL “star, starry sky” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√EL > el[el]✧ Ety/EL
Doriathrin [Ety/EL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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

gilya

noun. star

Derivations

  • ᴹ√GIL “shine (white or pale)” ✧ Ety/GIL

Derivatives

  • N. geil “star” ✧ Ety/GIL

Element in

  • ᴹQ. tingilya “twinkling star” ✧ Ety/GIL
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/GIL] 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

gail

noun. star

Cognates

  • Eq. íle “star” ✧ GL/37; LT1A/Tinwetári

Derivations

  • ᴱ√GILI “*shine (pale)”

Element in

Variations

  • Gail ✧ GL/37
Gnomish [GL/37; LT1A/Tinwetári] Group: Eldamo. Published by

to

proper name. To

Cognates

  • Eq. Tombo “Gong (of the Children)” ✧ PE15/07

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 Quenya

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

íle

noun. star

Cognates

  • G. gail “star” ✧ GL/37; LT1A/Tinwetári

Derivations

  • ᴱ√GILI “*shine (pale)”

Element in

Variations

  • īle ✧ GL/37
  • ílë ✧ LT1A/Tinwetári
Early Quenya [GL/37; LT1A/Tinwetári] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tinwe

noun. star

Cognates

  • G. tim “spark, gleam, (star)”

Derivations

  • ᴱ√TINI “twinkle” ✧ LT1A/Tinwë Linto; QL/092

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√TINI > tinwe[tinwē] > [tinwe]✧ QL/092

Variations

  • tinwë ✧ LT1A/Tinwë Linto
Early Quenya [LT1A/Tinwë Linto; MC/213; MC/214; MC/220; PE16/056; PE16/057; PE16/060; PE16/062; PE16/072; PE16/074; PE16/077; PE16/142; PME/092; QL/052; QL/092] Group: Eldamo. Published by