Quenya 

fána

cloud

fána (2) noun "cloud" _(SPAN, VT46:15). _Cf. fana.

fanwa

veil, screen

fanwa noun "veil, screen" (PE17:176, 180)

fanya

(white) cloud

fanya noun "(white) cloud" (translated "sky" in FS); pl. fanyar in Namárië(Nam, RGEO:67). ). Used "only of white clouds, sunlit or moonlit, or clouds gilded or silvered at the edges by light behind them", not "of storm clouds or cloud canopies shutting out the light" (PE17:174). Cf. lumbo, q.v. According to VT46:15, fanya was originally given as an adjective "white" in the Etymologies; the printed version in LR wrongly implies that fanya and fána both mean "cloud", whereas actually the first was at this stage meant to be an adjective "white" whereas fána is both noun "cloud" and adj. "white". However, Namárië and later emendations to the entry SPAN in Etym indicate that Tolkien would later think of fanya as a noun "cloud", perhaps giving it the same double meaning as fána: noun "cloud" as well as adjective "white". According to PE17:26, fanya was originally an adjectival form "white and shining" that was however often used as a noun "applied to various things, notably to white clouds lit by sun or moon". In Namárië, the word is used poetically with reference to the hands of Varda (she lifted her hands ve fanyar "like clouds").

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).

vasarya-

to veil

vasarya- (þ) vb. "to veil" (VT42:10)

canta

shape

canta (2) _("k") noun"shape" (PE17:175), also used as adj._ "shaped", also as quasi-suffix -canta ("k") "-shaped" (KAT)

vasar

noun. veil

Cognates

  • S. gwath “shadow, dim light, shadow, dim light, [N.] shade” ✧ VT42/09

Derivations

  • WATHAR “*shadow, veil” ✧ VT42/09; VT42/10

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
Wathar > waþar > vasar[watʰar] > [waθar] > [βaθar] > [vaθar] > [vasar]✧ VT42/09
waþar > vasar[watʰar] > [waθar] > [βaθar] > [vaθar] > [vasar]✧ VT42/10
Quenya [VT42/09; VT42/10] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vasar

veil

vasar (þ) noun "veil" (VT42:10, the word was "not in daily use", VT42:9). Older form waþar.

halya-

veil, conceal, screen from light

halya- vb. "veil, conceal, screen from light" (SKAL1, VT46:13) Tolkien noted that "√SKAL applied to more opaque things that cut off light and cast shadows over other things" (PE17:184), contrasting it with √SPAN, the rejected stem of fanta-, q.v.

cat-

verb. shape

shape, fashion

Quenya [PE 18:90] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

ungo

cloud, dark shadow

ungo noun "cloud, dark shadow" (UÑG)

venië

shape, cut

venië noun? "shape, cut" (LT1:254)

venwë

shape, cut

venwë noun? "shape, cut" (LT1:254)

lumbo

cloud

lumbo noun "cloud" (pl. lumbor in Markirya), also glossed "gloom; dark, shade" (PE17:72, 168). In early "Qenya", lumbo was glossed "dark lowering cloud" (LT1:259)

Sindarin 

fân

shape

_n._shape, with the added notion of light and whiteness. It was thus often used where we might use 'a vision' (of something beautiful and sublime). Q. fana-. Tolkien notes that "Yet being elvish, though it may be used of things remote, it has no implication either of uncertainty or unreality" (PE17:26). In the name Fanuilos of Elbereth, the Fân was the vision of majesty of Elbereth upon the mountain where she dwelt.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:26] < FAN white, esp. applied to reflected light as of clouds, snow, frost, mist. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

fân

noun. veil

Sindarin [RGEO/74] Q fana. Group: SINDICT. Published by

fân

noun. cloud (applied to clouds, floating as veils over the blue sky or the sun or moon, or resting on hills)

Sindarin [RGEO/74] Q fana. Group: SINDICT. Published by

fân

a veil

n. a veil, a covering concealing what lay within or behind. Frequently used of clouds in the sky, as veils over the blue heaven or the sun, the moon, etc. (white cloud). It became its leading sense. Usual word for 'cloud', floating clouds, or those for a while resting upon or wreathing hills and mountain-top. It was seldom applied to any but things of soft textures (woven veils, mantles, or curtains). The lengthening of the vowel only took place where the word was used alone as a stressed monosyllable. After the coming of the Noldorin Exiles in Middle-earth, the meaning of Q. fana (_i.e. _shining shape, 'angelic' spirit) was assumed by S. fân. >> fain, fanui, Fanuidhol

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:36:173-4:176] < *_phanā _< PHAN cover, screen, veil. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

fân

noun. (white) cloud; veil, curtain; form or vision of a spiritual being; spirit [embodied]

The usual Sindarin word for “cloud” (PE17/36, 174; RGEO/66). As Tolkien explained it “The S. form fân, fan- was usually applied to clouds, as veils over the blue sky or the sun or moon, or resting hills” (RGEO/66). This use meant it was largely limited to white clouds in fair weather (PE17/36; Let/278); a dark or stormy cloud would be [ᴺS.] lum (see that entry for discussion). In an essay written around 1967 Tolkien indicated that fân had a second meaning:

> In Sindarin ✱phanā > fân meant a “veil”: a covering concealing what lay within or behind. It was frequently used of clouds in the sky, as veils over the blue heaven or the sun, moon, stars. This indeed became its leading sense, so that when it was still used of lesser and handmade things this was felt to be a transference of the sense “cloud” and fân was seldom applied to any but things of soft textures, such as woven veils, mantles, or curtains (PE17/173).

Thus in addition to “cloud”, fân applied to soft handmade veils or curtains (from its original sense). But the word had a third meaning as well, with a more complex origin:

> √PHAN-. The basic sense of this was “cover, screen, veil”, but it had a special development in the Eldarin tongues ... In Quenya, owing to close relations of the Eldar in Valinor with the Valar, and other lesser spirits of their order, fana developed a special sense. It was applied to the visible bodily forms adopted by these spirits, when they took up their abode on Earth, as the normal “raiment” of their otherwise invisible being ... This Quenya meaning of fana after the coming of the Exiles to Middle-earth was also assumed by Sindarin fân, at first in the Sindarin as used by the exiled Noldor, and eventually also by the Sindar themselves, especially those in close contact with the Noldor or actually mingled with them (PE17/174-176).

Thus, owing to the Quenya meaning of the word, the Sindar also used fân to referred physical form of the Valar and other spiritual beings, as well as visions of such beings (PE17/26), since the Sindar had relatively little direct experience of the Valar. For spirits, being embodied was not their natural state, so their fân was like “clothing” a spirit could wear to interact with the physical world.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s this word was N. faun “cloud” derived from primitive ᴹ✶spāna based on the root ᴹ√SPAN “white” (Ety/SPAN). In one note from around 1957 Tolkien considered using S. fân for an embodied spirit or soul, the equivalent of Q. fëa (NM/237), but elsewhere this was S. fae (MR/165; PM/343). For the most part in later writings, Tolkien used fân for “cloud” and related senses, as discussed above. Furthermore, in later writings it was a derivative of √PHAN rather than 1930s ᴹ√SPAN.

Cognates

  • Q. fana “raiment, veil; (bright) shape or figure; bodily form of an angelic spirit” ✧ PE17/026; PE17/174; RGEO/66
  • Q. fanya “(white) cloud, white and shining [thing], (white) cloud, white and shining [thing]; [ᴹQ.] sky; white” ✧ PE17/173

Derivations

  • PHAN “cover, screen, veil; white, (light white) shape; shape, vision” ✧ NM/237; PE17/026; PE17/036; RGEO/66
    • PHA “exhalations (as mists upon water or steams and the like)” ✧ NM/237
  • phanā “veil, cloud” ✧ PE17/173; PE17/174
    • PHAY “spirit, spirit; [ᴹ√] radiate, send out rays of light” ✧ NM/237
    • PHA “exhalations (as mists upon water or steams and the like)” ✧ NM/237
    • PHAN “cover, screen, veil; white, (light white) shape; shape, vision” ✧ PE17/173; PE17/174
    • PHA “exhalations (as mists upon water or steams and the like)” ✧ NM/237

Element in

  • S. fanui “cloudy, (lit.) having much cloud” ✧ PE17/173; RGEO/66
  • S. Fanuilos “Bright (Angelic) Figure upon Uilos” ✧ Let/278; PE17/026; PE17/174; PE17/176; PE17/180; RGEO/66

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
phan > fân[pʰanā] > [pʰana] > [ɸana] > [fana] > [fan] > [fān]✧ NM/237
FAN > fân[pʰanā] > [pʰana] > [ɸana] > [fana] > [fan] > [fān]✧ PE17/026
FAN > Fân[pʰanā] > [pʰana] > [ɸana] > [fana] > [fan] > [fān]✧ PE17/026
PHAN > fân[pʰanā] > [pʰana] > [ɸana] > [fana] > [fan] > [fān]✧ PE17/036
phanā > fân[pʰanā] > [pʰana] > [ɸana] > [fana] > [fan] > [fān]✧ PE17/173
phanā > fân[pʰanā] > [pʰana] > [ɸana] > [fana] > [fan] > [fān]✧ PE17/174
Fana- > fân[pʰanā] > [pʰana] > [ɸana] > [fana] > [fan] > [fān]✧ RGEO/66

Variations

  • fan ✧ Let/278
  • Fân ✧ PE17/026
Sindarin [Let/278; NM/237; PE17/026; PE17/036; PE17/173; PE17/174; PE17/176; PE17/180; RGEO/66] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fanha-

verb. to veil

v. to veil, cloak. Q. fanta-. Naturally mainly used of veils cast over things that shone, or were brighter and more vivid.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:174] < *_phantā- _< PHAN cover, screen, veil. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

cant

noun. shape, shape; [N.] outline

Derivations

  • KAT “shape, shape, [ᴹ√] make”

Element in

  • S. cannas “[abstract] shape”
  • ᴺS. dorgant “landscape, scene, *(lit.) land-shape”
  • S. morchant “shadow cast by light, (lit.) dark shape” ✧ VT42/09

auth

noun. a dim shape, spectral or vague apparition

Sindarin [VT/42:9] Group: SINDICT. Published by

esgal

noun. veil, screen, cover that hides

Sindarin [S/431] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rhond

noun. body

n. body. >> rhonn, rhû

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:183] < RON solid, tangible, firm. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

rhond

noun. body

A Sindarin word for “body”, cognate of Q. hrondo, appearing as rhonn in Quenya Notes from 1957 (QN: PE17/183) and as rhond or rhonn in notes concerning spirit, also probably from 1957 (NM/237). In the former document, it was derived from the root √SRON, a variant of √RON “solid, tangible, firm” (PE17/183).

Neo-Sindarin: Its Quenya cognate hrondo was replaced by Q. hröa < ✶srawā in notes from 1958-59 (MR/209, 350). However, the Sindarin equivalent of hroa was rhaw, a word that also meant “flesh” along with many other (Neo) Sindarin meanings such as “wild” and “lion”. As such, I would retain rhond as “body” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin; the continued viability of the root √RON is indicated by other words like S. Grond.

Cognates

  • Q. hrondo “(physical) body, corporeal form” ✧ PE17/183

Derivations

  • SRON “flesh, substance, matter, substance, matter, flesh” ✧ PE17/183
    • RON “solid, tangible, firm” ✧ PE17/183

Element in

  • S. Elrond “Star-dome” ✧ PE17/183

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
SRON > rhond > rhonn[srondo] > [r̥ondo] > [r̥ond] > [r̥onn]✧ PE17/183

Variations

  • rhonn ✧ NM/237; PE17/183
Sindarin [NM/237; PE17/183] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rhonn

noun. body

n. body. >> rhond, rhû

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:183] < RON solid, tangible, firm. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

fân

cloud

1) fân (veil, also used of the manifested body of a Vala), construct fan, pl. fain, 2) faun (pl. foen, coll. pl. fonath)

fân

cloud

(veil, also used of the manifested body of a Vala), construct fan, pl. fain

fân

veil

(cloud, manifested body of a Vala), construct fan, pl. fain

fân

manifested body of a vala

(veil, cloud), construct fan, pl. fain.

fân

manifested body of a vala

fân (veil, cloud), construct fan, pl. fain.

fân

manifested body of a vala

fân (veil, cloud), construct fan, pl. fain

fân

manifested body of a vala

fân (veil, cloud), construct fan, pl. fain.

fân

manifested body of a vala

(veil, cloud), construct fan, pl. fain

faun

cloud

(pl. foen, coll. pl. fonath)

cant

shape

(noun) cant (i gant, o chant) (outline), pl. caint (i **chaint). The mutated pl. -chaint is attested as part of the compound morchaint**; see SHADOW.

cant

shape

(i gant, o chant) (outline), pl. caint (i chaint). The mutated pl. -chaint is attested as part of the compound morchaint; see SHADOW.

gwathra

veil

(i ’wathra, in gwathrar) (dim, obscure, overshadow)

gwathra

veil

(verb) gwathra- (i **wathra, in gwathrar**) (dim, obscure, overshadow)

rhaw

body

rhaw (?i thraw or ?i raw the lenition product of rh is uncertain) (flesh), pl. rhoe (?idh roe). Note: a homophone means ”wild, untamed”. (MR:350).

rhaw

body

(?i thraw or ?i raw – *the lenition product of rh is uncertain) (flesh), pl. rhoe (?idh roe). Note: a homophone means ”wild, untamed”. (MR:350)*.

echad

shape

(verb) echad- (i echad, in echedir) (fashion, make), pa.t. echant (VT45:19)

echad

shape

(i echad, in echedir) (fashion, make), pa.t. echant (VT45:19)

escal

veil

(screen, cover that hides), pl. escail. Also spelt esgal (pl. esgail).

escal

veil

(noun) 1) escal (screen, cover that hides), pl. escail. Also spelt esgal (pl. esgail). 2) fân (cloud, manifested body of a Vala), construct fan, pl. fain

bellas

bodily strength

(i vellas), pl. bellais (i mellais) if there is a pl.

Nandorin 

spenna

noun. cloud

Derived from a stem SPAN "white" (LR:387), but hardly a direct cognate of Quenya fanya and Telerin spania (both probably from spanjâ), nor a direct cognate of Sindarin faun, stated to be derived from spâna. Rather spenna must derive from spannâ, sc. the stem SPAN with the adjectival ending -nâ (or possibly the simpler adjectival ending combined with a medial strengthening n > nn). As for the change of a to e, cf. scella from skalnâ.

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (LR:387)] < SPAN. Published by

Primitive elvish

srawā

noun. body

Derivations

  • SRAW “body, flesh” ✧ VT47/35

Derivatives

  • Q. hröa “body, bodily form, flesh; physical matter” ✧ MR/350; VT41/14; VT47/35

Element in

Variations

  • srawa ✧ VT47/35
Primitive elvish [MR/350; VT41/14; VT47/35] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kat

root. shape, shape, [ᴹ√] make

The root ᴹ√KAT “shape” first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives ᴹQ. kanta- “to shape”, ᴹQ. kanta “shaped”, and N. echad- “fashion, shape” (Ety/KAT). All these derivatives reappeared in Tolkien’s later writings, though Q. canta was more typically used as the noun “shape” (PE17/175; PE18/84, 90). The root appeared frequently in both the first and second version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa as an example of a biconsonantal root (TQ1: PE18/34, 46, 62; TQ2: PE18/84-85, 87, 89-90, 95).

Derivatives

  • aktō “artificer, artificer, [ᴹ✶] maker, wright” ✧ PE18/085; PE18/085; PE18/087
    • ᴺQ. ahto “wright, maker”
    • Q. ahto “wright, maker” ✧ PE18/085
  • kanta “shape; fashion” ✧ PE18/089
    • Q. canta “shape, framework, shape, framework, [ᴹQ.] frame; shaped”
  • kat- “to shape” ✧ PE18/095
  • katal “carving tool”
  • Q. canta “shape, framework, shape, framework, [ᴹQ.] frame; shaped” ✧ PE18/090
  • Q. cat- “to shape, fashion” ✧ PE18/090
  • Q. canwa “face”
  • S. cant “shape, shape; [N.] outline”

Element in

  • ᴺQ. cacátu- “to design, shape or fashion slowly”
  • S. echad- “to form, make, shape, cut out; (lit.) to shape out, to form, make, shape, cut out, [N.] fashion; [S.] (lit.) to shape out”
Primitive elvish [PE18/084; PE18/085; PE18/087; PE18/089; PE18/090; PE18/095] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

faun

noun. cloud

Noldorin [Ety/387, VT/46:15] Group: SINDICT. Published by

faun

noun. cloud

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. fána “cloud; white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶spāna “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
    • ᴹ√SPAN “white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶spāna > faun[spāna] > [spǭna] > [sɸǭna] > [sɸouna] > [ɸouna] > [founa] > [fauna] > [faun]✧ Ety/SPAN
Noldorin [Ety/SPAN] 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!

Middle Primitive Elvish

spāna

noun. cloud

Derivations

  • ᴹ√SPAN “white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivatives

  • N. faun “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
  • ᴹT. spania “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/SPAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Telerin

spania

noun. cloud

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. fána “cloud; white” ✧ Ety/SPAN

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶spāna “cloud” ✧ Ety/SPAN
    • ᴹ√SPAN “white” ✧ Ety/SPAN
Middle Telerin [Ety/SPAN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

glum

noun. cloud

lum

noun. cloud

Cognates

  • Eq. lumbo “dark lowering cloud” ✧ LT1A/Luvier

Derivations

  • ᴱ√LUVU “*dark (weather)” ✧ LT1A/Luvier

Element in

  • G. Lumfod “Gloomy End” ✧ GL/55
  • G. lumbri “foul weather” ✧ GL/55; LT1A/Luvier
  • G. lumbrin “overcast” ✧ GL/55; LT1A/Luvier

Variations

  • glum ✧ GL/55
Gnomish [GL/55; LT1A/Luvier] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

fanya

noun. cloud

Early Quenya [PE16/142] Group: Eldamo. Published by

aulo

noun. cloud

Early Quenya [PE16/142] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kolume

noun. body

A word for “body” in notes on parts of the body from the 1920s (PE14/117).

Element in

Early Quenya [PE14/117] Group: Eldamo. Published by