fair

noun. mortal

fair

noun. right (hand)

fair

adjective. quick

_adj. _quick, ready, prompt. >> feir

fair

adjective. quick, ready, prompt

feir

adjective. quick

_adj. _quick, ready, prompt. >> fair

feir

noun. Mortal, Mortal, [N.] mortal man

A term used for Men meaning “Mortal”, appearing in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60, cognate to Q. Firya of the same meaning, both derived from √PHIR which was the basis of words for natural death (WJ/387). According to Tolkien this word was borrowed from Quenya, since the Noldor had pre-knowledge of the nature of Men having learned of them from the Valar. The plural form of Feir was Fîr and its class plural Firiath, the latter also appearing in contemporaneous Silmarillion drafts (WJ/219 footnote). It is unclear why this word did not become ✱Fair, since *ei* became *ai* in Sindarin monosyllables. Perhaps it remained Feir because it was an adaptation from Quenya, or it could be a conceptual remnant of its Noldorin form (see below).

Conceptual Development: Probably the first precursor to this word was ᴱN. fion “man, human being” from Index of Names for The Lay of the Children of Húrin compiled in the early 1920s (PE15/62), also appearing with the gloss “mortal man” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the same period (PE13/143). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gaven N. {fîr “man, mortal” >>} feir pl. fîr “mortals” under the root ᴹ√PHIR (Ety/PHIR; EtyAC/PHIR), hence with basically the same form, meaning and etymology as it had in later Sindarin.

feir

noun. mortal

fair

mortal man

(human) fair (fír-), pl. fîr, coll. pl. firiath. Archaic sg. feir (WJ:387). Wheareas the above-mentioned terms are apparently gender-neutral, the following are gender-specific:

fair

adjective. right (hand)

fair

mortal man

(fír-), pl. fîr, coll. pl. firiath. Archaic sg. feir (WJ:387). Wheareas the above-mentioned terms are apparently gender-neutral, the following are gender-specific:

gwain

adjective. fair

adj. fair. . This gloss was rejected.

bain

fair

_ adj. _fair, good, blessed, wholesome, favourable, without evil/bad element, not dangerous, evil or hostile. bân or bain << bân pl. bain. >> bân

bân

adjective. fair

_ adj. _fair, good, wholesome, favourable, not dangerous, evil or hostile. bân or bain << bân pl. bain. >> bain

gwân

adjective. fair

_ adj. _fair, pale.

gwana

noun/adjective. fair

lind

adjective. fair

eledhwen

feminine name. Elfsheen, Elven-fair

A sobriquet of Morwen translated “Elfsheen” (S/155) or “Elven-fair” (Let/281). Its initial element is †Eledh, an archaic Sindarin word for “Elf”, which in ordinary speech was Edhel (SA/êl, Let/281). The meaning of the second element is less clear. Given the translation, it might be a lenited variant of gwân “fair” (PE17/165) or of the root √GWEN (PE17/191), but could also be the suffixal form -wen of gwend “maiden” common in female names (Ety/WEN).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name appeared originally as N. Eledwen (SM/319), later revised to N. Eledhwen (LR/147). At this stage, N. Eledh was the ordinary Noldorin word for Elf, and was specifically given as an element of the name Eledhwen in The Etymologies (Ety/ELED). In these Silmarillion drafts, this name was already translated as “Elfsheen” (SM/319, LR/276), and in The Etymologies her name was initially translated “Elf-fair”, but this gloss was rejected and replaced by “Elf-maid” (Ety/ELED).

In Tolkien’s writing, the root √WEN(ED) (from which S. gwend “maiden” is derived) was usually associated with youth and virginity, but sometimes also with beauty, as for example in the rejected root √GWEN “fair, beautiful” (PE17/191). This vacillation may be reflected in the different translations of the name Eledhwen.

In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, Tolkien changed this name to S. Edhelwen to be consistent with the later Sindarin name for “Elf” (WJ/142, WJ/273), but Eledhwen also appeared in his later writings (e.g. Let/281 from 1958) and this is the form that appeared in the published version of The Silmarillion.

lad

noun. plain, valley, plain, valley; [G.] a level, a flat; fair dealing

An element meaning “plain” in many Sindarin names, such as S. Dagorlad “Battle-plain” (S/292) and S. Lithlad “Plain of Ashes” (LotR/636; RC/457). Christopher Tolkien translated it as “plain, valley” in The Silmarillion appendix, but it only seems to have had the sense “valley” in the word S. imlad as in S. Imladris “Rivendell”, so I think “plain” is the better translation.

Conceptual Development: This word was connected to flat things very early in Tolkien’s notions of the Elvish languages. It first appeared as G. lad “a level, a flat; fair dealing” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/52), probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√LATA (QL/51). The element -lad also appeared in many Noldorin names from the 1930s and 40s, though in this period it likely had the form N. lhad, as in N. lhaden “open, cleared” (Ety/LAT). It seems to appear in the earliest name for the “Gladden Fields” from Lord of the Rings drafts form the 1940s: N. Palath-ledin (TI/114). Here it has an unusual plural form ledin using the plural suffix -in, but whether that would have remained true in Sindarin is unclear.

laden

adjective. flat, wide, flat (and wide), *level; [N.] open, cleared; [G.] fair, equitable; [ᴱN.] smooth

The earliest iteration of this word was G. ladin in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s where it meant either “level, smooth” or “fair, equable” (GL/52). In this period it was an element in the name Tumladin and was mentioned as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√LAHA (QL/50). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s it became {lhadin &gt;&gt;} lhaden “flat, smooth” (PE13/148). N. lhaden reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with the gloss “open, cleared” under the root ᴹ√LAT “lie open” (Ety/LAT), consistent with the revised 1930s name N. Tumladen (Ety/TUB). The Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 had the form N. laden &lt; ᴹ✶lătĭna “flat (and wide)” (PE22/126). Tolkien’s continued use of S. Tumladen in his later writings indicates its ongoing validity.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume the proper form of this word was laden, since the unvoicing of initial *l* to *lh* was a feature of Noldorin in the 1920s and 30s and no longer occurred in Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s. I would assume its base meaning is “flat (and wide), ✱level”, and by extension “open, cleared”. I would assume this sense of the word is mostly used in describing landscapes. I would also retain its 1910s use for “fair, equable” as a more metaphorical meaning: sa laden “that’s flat/level” = “that’s fair” when speaking of a deal or arrangement.

Edhelvein

noun. 'fair as an Elf'

prop. n. 'fair as an Elf', a title of Arwen.

Vanedhel

noun. 'elven fair'

prop. n. 'elven fair', a title of Arwen. Q. Vanimelda, Eldavanima. >> Eldhelvein, Elrenniel, Wanedhel

Wanedhel

noun. 'elven fair'

prop. n. 'elven fair', a title of Arwen. Q. Vanimelda, Eldavanima. >> Eldhelvein, Elrenniel, Vanedhel

baen

fair-haired

_ adj. _fair-haired. Q. _waina late vaina_ blonde, fair of hair. . This gloss was rejected.

felagon

masculine name. *Fair-minded Lord

A “Sindarized” interpretation of the name Felagund, a combination of fael “fair-minded” and the suffix -gon “lord” (PM/352). See the entry for Felagund for further discussion.

linhir

place name. Fair Stream

A town in southern Gondor (LotR/875) whose name is translated “Fair Stream” (RC/587), a combination of lind “fair” and the lenited form of sîr “river”.

Conceptual Development: This name was already N. Linhir when it first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (WR/361).

bain

fair-haired

_ adj. _fair-haired. Q. vanya. . This gloss was rejected.

bain

adjective. fair, beautiful; good, wholesome, favorable; fair-haired, beautiful; good, wholesome, favorable; fair, fair-haired

edhelvein

adjective. elven fair

fael

adjective. fair-minded, just, generous

gwân

adjective. pale, fair

wanedhel

adjective. elven fair

fuir

right

1. (adj, of direction), also used as noun "right hand": fuir (north), pl. fŷr (VT42:20). In ”Noldorin” the word appeared as (”foeir” =) föir, feir (LR:382 s.v. PHOR). 2) (direction, not "correct") fôr (north), pl. fŷr. 3) (straight) tîr (lenited dîr, no distinct pl. form) Note: a homophone means ”looking, view, glance” (noun).

bain

adjective. beautiful, fair

bân

adjective. fair, good, wholesome, favorable

fael

adjective. fair minded, just, generous

maer

adjective. good, excellent, fair, good, excellent, fair; [N.] useful, fit, good (of things)

vanedhel

adjective. elven fair

fuir

right

(north), pl. f&#375;r (VT42:20). In ”Noldorin” the word appeared as (”foeir” =) föir, feir (LR:382 s.v. PHOR).

bain

fair

bain (beautiful). Lenited vain. No distinct pl. form.

bain

fair

(beautiful). Lenited vain. No distinct pl. form.

glaen

adjective. serene, clear, fair (espec. of weather)

glaenas

noun. fair weather; serenity

fael

fair-minded

fael (just, generous). No distinct pl. form. (PM:352)

fael

fair-minded

fael (just, generous). No distinct pl. form (PM:352). Note: a homophone means "gleaming brilliance".

fael

fair-minded

(just, generous). No distinct pl. form. (PM:352)

Fíriel

noun. mortal maid

firiath

noun. mortals, human beings

firieth

noun. mortal woman

firin

adjective. mortal

adj. mortal. >> firen

firion

noun. mortal man

forn

noun. right, north

forvo

noun. right hand

forvo

noun. right side

fíreb

adjective. mortal

fíreb

noun. Mortal

fíreb

adjective. mortal

An adjective meaning “mortal”, more literally “those apt to die”, a Sindarin adaptation of Q. fírima of the same meaning, both based on the root √PHIR having to do with natural death (WJ/387). It was also used as Fíreb to refer to Mortal Men, a variant of Feir of similar meaning. Tolkien said “Fíreb as compared with Fírima shows the use of a different suffix, since the S equivalent of Q -ima (✱-ef) was not current” (WJ/387).

brêg

quick

brêg (sudden, lively), lenited vrêg, pl. brîg

brêg

quick

(sudden, lively), lenited vrêg, pl. brîg

firieth

mortal woman

(pl. firith).

firin

mortal

?firin. No distinct pl. form.

firin

mortal

. No distinct pl. form.

firion

mortal man

firion (pl. firyn).

firion

mortal man

firion (pl. firyn) and

fíreb

mortal

(adj. and noun) fíreb (pl. fírib), coll. pl. firebrim. The literal meaning is "apt to die" (WJ:387).

fíreb

mortal

(pl. fírib), coll. pl. firebrim. The literal meaning is &quot;apt to die&quot; (WJ:387).

fôr

right

(north), pl. f&#375;r.

tîr

right

(lenited dîr, no distinct pl. form) Note: a homophone means ”looking, view, glance” (noun).

feir

noun. mortal

feir

noun. right (hand)

feir

adjective. right (hand)

bein

adjective. fair, beautiful

bein

adjective. beautiful, fair

firiel

noun. mortal maid

forgam

adjective. right-handed

forn

noun. right, north

fœir

noun. right (hand)

firë

mortal man

firë noun "mortal man" (PHIR), pl. firi given (the latter is not clearly glossed and may also be the archaic form from which firë is derived, since word-final short i became e in Quenya but since we would rather expect the spelling phiri if it were an archaic form, it is best taken as the pl. of firë.)

vanya

fair

vanya (1) adj. "fair" (FS), "beautiful" (BAN), a word referring to beauty that is "due to lack of fault, or blemish" (PE17:150), hence Arda Vanya as an alternative to Arda Alahasta for "Arda Unmarred" (ibid., compare MR:254). Nominal pl. Vanyar "the Fair", the first clan of the Eldar; the original meaning of this stem was "pale, light-coloured, not brown or dark" (WJ:382, 383, stem given as WAN), "properly = white complexion and blonde hair" (PE17:154, stem given as GWAN); stems BAN vs. WAN discussed, see PE17:150.

vanë

fair

vanë adj. "fair" (LT1:272; in Tolkien's later Quenya rather vanya)

vanë

adjective. fair, fair, [ᴱQ.] lovely

resta

noun. sown field, tilled ground, acre; *fair

A noun for “sown field, tilled ground” in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) derived from primitive ✶reddā (PE19/91). Later in the same document it was glossed “acre” (PE19/101). The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. resta “‘sown’, sown field, acre” also from primitive ᴹ✶reddā under the root ᴹ√RED “scatter, sow” (Ety/RED; EtyAC/RED). The form resta did not appear in The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road (LR/383), but Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne noted its existence in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (VT46/11).

Tolkien seems to have used this word to mean “✱fair” as in parma-resta “✱book-fair” in the untranslated phrase nai elen siluva parma-restalyanna meldonya from around 1964 (VT49/38). Carl Hostetter proposed that this phrase meant “✱may a star shine upon your book­-fair, my friend”, referring to the appearing of Martin Blackman at the World Book Fair in June of 1964 (VT49/39). Assuming this interpretation is correct, Hostetter suggested it might be due the use of fields as a common location for fairs.

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s had ᴱQ. arwa “field” derived from the early root ᴱ√ƷARA “spread, extend sideways” (QL/32), cognate to G. garw “sown-field” (GL/38). The word ᴱQ. milnar or milnarwa “sown field” under the early root ᴱ√MILI seems to be an elaboration of ᴱQ. arwa, prefixed by a reduced form of ᴱQ. milin “grain of seed” (QL/61).

vaina

adjective. blonde, fair of hair

A word for “blonde, fair of hair” appearing in notes probably from around 1959, part of a paradigm in which the Elvish tribe names were based on their predominant hair color; it was derived from a root √GWAY “pale, fair” distinct from √BAN “beautiful” (PE17/154-155). Although the note where this word appeared was deleted, a similar derivation of Vanyar appeared in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 from the root √WAN “fair” in reference to hair and complexion (WJ/383). [ᴺQ.] vaina “fair haired” could likewise be derived from that root.

vanima

adjective. beautiful, fair, beautiful, fair, *handsome; [ᴱQ.] proper, right, as it should be, fair

A word for “beautiful, fair” derived from the root √BAN of similar meaning (PE17/55, 143, 150, 165). Tolkien specified that this word was used “only of living things, especially Elves or Men” (PE17/150). Tolkien further stated that this would did not mean only “fair (blond)”, because it was applicable to Arwen who had dark hair (PE17/165). Thus it applied to any physically beautiful living creature.

Conceptual Development: The first appearance of this word was in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where ᴱQ. {vana &gt;&gt;} vanĭma was glossed “proper, right, as it should be, fair” under the early root ᴱ√VANA (QL/99). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was ᴹQ. vanima “fair” under the root ᴹ√BAN (Ety/BAN). In this document it was the basis for ᴹQ. Vanimo “the Beautiful”, indicating that by the 1930s its base meaning had shifted from “proper” to “beautiful”.

Neo-Sindarin: In the “Neologism of the Day” (NotD) series on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server as posted 2023-05-30, Delle pointed out that this word was not specifically feminine, so could also mean “✱handsome” when applied to males.

vanya

proper name. Fair Elves, the Fair

An Elf of the first tribe, known as “The Fair” (S/53). Their name developed from the primitive root √(G)WAN “pale, fair” referring to their fair hair (WJ/383).

Conceptual Development: Tolkien also considered deriving this name from primitive ✶banya “beautiful” (PM/402) from the root √BAN (PE17/165). In Quenya, these two roots were blended, so both origins could have been true in a sense.

alima

fair, good

alima adj. "fair, good" (also alya) (PE17:146)

alya

fair, good

alya (1) adj. "fair, good" (PE17:146), "prosperous, rich, abundant, blessed" (GALA). In a deleted entry in Etym, the glosses provided were "rich, blessed"; another deleted entry defined alya as "rich, prosperous, blessed". (GALA, [ÁLAM], VT42:32, 45:5, 14)

faila

fair-minded, just, generous

faila adj. "fair-minded, just, generous" (PM:352)

linda

fair, beautiful

linda adj. "fair, beautiful" (of sound) (SLIN, LIND; VT45:27), "soft, gentle, light" (PE16:96), "beautiful, sweet, melodious of sound" (PE17:150); for Linda as a noun, see Lindar.

melima

loveable, fair

melima adj. "loveable, fair" (MEL, VT45:34); Melimar a name of the Lindar (in Tolkien's former conception = the later Vanyar, not the Teleri) (MEL)

vanima

beautiful, fair

vanima adj. "beautiful, fair" (BAN, VT39:14) (glossed "proper, right, fair" in early "Qenya", LT1:272, though a later source says the word is used "only of living things, especially Elves and Men", PE17:150); nominal pl. vanimar "beautiful ones", partitive pl. genitive vanimálion, translated "of beautiful children", but literally meaning *"of [some] beautiful ones") (LotR3:VI ch. 6, translated in Letters:308). Arwen vanimalda "Beautiful Arwen", literally "Arwen your beauty" (see -lda for reference; changed to Arwen vanimelda in the second edition of LotR; see vanimelda).

waina

blonde, fair of hair

waina adj. "blonde, fair of hair"; the "late" form vaina is given (PE17:154)

úvanima

not fair, ugly

úvanima noun "not fair, ugly" (VT39:14). Negated form of vanima.

faila

adjective. fair-minded, just, generous

parma-resta

noun. *book-fair

vanimalda

adjective. most beautiful, exceeding fair; thou beautiful, thou beautiful; most beautiful, exceeding fair

vanimelda

adjective. beautiful and beloved, elven-fair

@@@ in one place indicates a name of Arwen rather than an adjective (PE17/56).

vanya

adjective. fair, beautiful, unmarred; fair-haired (yellow to golden), fair, beautiful, unmarred; fair-haired (yellow to golden); [ᴱQ.] good (not evil), holy

wenya

adjective. fair, beautiful

úvanima

adjective. not fair, ugly; hard to call beautiful, hideous

alima

adjective. fair, good

alya

adjective. fair, good, [ᴹQ.] rich, prosperous, abundant, blessed; [Q.] fair, good

linda

adjective. beautiful (of sound), sweet, melodious; soft, gentle, light, beautiful (of sound), sweet, melodious; soft, gentle, light, [ᴱQ.] kind; [ᴹQ.] fair

melima

adjective. loving, very affectionate, [ᴹQ.] loveable, fair; [Q.] loving, very affectionate

nai elen siluva parma-restalyanna meldonya

*may a star shine upon your book-fair, my friend

vana

adjective. fair-haired (yellow to golden)

vanima

noun. beautiful one, fair one

calleva

adjective. fair (weather or complexion)

callë

noun. fair weather, clear sky, blue sky

failassë

noun. justice, fair-mindedness

@@@ Discord 2022-04-01

vaina

adjective. blonde, fair of hair

vanita-

verb. to grow/become fair; to beautify, make fair/beautiful

@@@ Discord 2023-02-24, &lt; PE ✱banită/tā-; intrans. pa.t. vanintë, trans. pa.t. vanitánë

-ima

suffix. -able, -ible, adjective suffix, apt to do

-ima adjectival suffix. Sometimes it is used to derive simple adjectives, like vanima "fair" or calima "bright"; it can also take on the meaning "-able" (PE17:68), as in mátima "edible" (mat- "eat"), nótima "countable" (not- "count") and (with a negative prefix) úquétima "unspeakable" (from quet- "speak"). Note that the stem-vowel is normally lengthened in the derivatives where -ima means "-able", though this fails to occur in cenima "visible" (q.v., but contrast hraicénima, q.v.) and also before a consonant cluster as in úfantima "not concealable" (PE17:176). "X-ima" may mean "apt to X" (when the ending is added to an intransitive verbal stem), as in Fírimar "mortals", literally "those apt to die" (WJ:387). The adj. úfantima "not concealable" (PE17:176) also appears as úfantuma (PE17:180), indicating the existence of a variant ending -uma (possibly used to derive adjectives with a "bad" meaning; compare the ending *-unqua next to -inqua, q.v.)

ferya

adjective. quick, ready, prompt

@@@ Discord 2022-02-13

Fírimo

mortal

#Fírimo noun "mortal", see fírima

firya

proper name. Mortal

A shorter variant of Fírima (WJ/219, 387). It is the adjectival form of the root √PHIR produced by the suffix -ya.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies, the word ᴹQ. firya is glossed “human” and is derived from the same root ᴹ√PHIR (Ety/PHIR).

forya

right

forya adj. "right" (PHOR), "dexter" (VT46:10)

fírima

mortal

fírima adj. "mortal" (PHIR; firima with a short i in VT46:4); also used as noun: Fírima pl. Fírimar "those apt to die", "mortals", an Elvish name of Mortal Men (WJ:387). This adj. is also the source of an explicit noun, personalized #Fírimo = mortal, mortal man. Pl. Fírimor (VT49:10-11), dative pl. fírimoin "for men" in Fíriel's Song; cf. also the pl. allative fírimonnar in VT44:35.

limbë

quick, swift

limbë (1) adj. (stem limbi-, given primitive form ¤lĭmbĭ) "quick, swift" (PE17:18)

del

root. *fair

A root meaning “delicate” or “fair of form” that appears in a couple distinct etymological note from 1959; in one of them it was the basis for Q. Elda/S. Edhel (PE17/159). Given the revised etymologies for words for “Elf” in the Quendi and Eldar essay written soon thereafter, this root may have been short lived.

bani

adjective. fair

wanyā

adjective. fair

gwen

root. fair, beautiful; (probably originally) fresh, fair, unblemished (especially of beauty of youth)

This root appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives having to do with freshness and greenness, as in ᴹQ. wenya “green, yellow-green, fresh” and Ilk. gwên “greenness”. In that document it was also the basis for N. bein “fair, beautiful” by way of blending with ᴹ√BAN “beautiful”. In the entry for ᴹ√GWEN Tolkien said it needed to be distinguished from ᴹ√WEN(ED) “maiden”, but in the entry for ᴹ√WEN(ED) he said maiden words needed to be transferred to ᴹ√GWEN (Ety/WEN).

This connection between “fresh” and “maiden” reappeared in notes from 1959, where √GWEN was given with gloss “fair, beautiful (probably originally fresh, fair, unblemished especially of beauty of youth)” as this basis for “maiden” words (PE17/191). But Tolkien soon rejected this notion and reverted back to √WEN(ED); this may be a reflection of Tolkien’s ongoing vacillation between Q. wende versus vende as the proper Quenya word for “maiden”; wende (which seems to be his preference) would be better supported by an ancient root beginning with gw-, but that would also invalidate the Sindarin form gwend “maiden” (not ✱✱bend).

Tolkien seems to have given up on √GWEN for maiden words, and the sense “fresh” seems to have been reassigned to the root √KEW in later notes (VT48/7), so √GWEN may have been abandoned completely.

(g)wan

root. pale, fair

A root appearing several times in notes written on or shortly before 1960 with a general meaning “pale, fair” (PE17/150, 154, 165, 189; WJ/383), as opposed to √BAN which was simply “beautiful”. It seems Tolkien introduced this root when he realized that “VAN cannot only = fair (blonde), since vanima is applied in LR to Arwen who was like Lúthien dark” (PE17/165). In the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 he used this root for a new etymology for the tribal name of the Vanyar referring to their fair, blond hair.

This root appeared as √GWAN, √WAN and √GWAY, though the note where the last of these appeared was marked through (PE17/154). With √GWAN the root would merge with √BAN in both Quenya and Sindarin: Q. vanya and S. bain “fair and beautiful” (PE17/154). But with √WAN the two would remain distinct in Sindarin, as in bain “beautiful” vs. gwain “fair haired” (PE17/150). I find the second paradigm more interesting, and thus recommend assuming the ancient root was √WAN for the purposes of Neo-Eldarin.

This root might be a restoration of an earlier separation of ᴱ√ɃANA versus ᴱ√WANA in the Elvish languages as Tolkien conceived of them in the 1910s, though the semantic divisions in the earlier conception were not the same. See the entry on √BAN for further discussion.

ban

root. beauty (due to lack of fault or blemish); fair, beautiful

The root √BAN (or some variant) was connected to beauty for most of Tolkien’s life. One notable derivative was the name of the Valie Vána. In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s Tolkien gave this root as ᴱ√VANA (unglossed) with derivatives like ᴱQ. vane “fair, lovely” and ᴱQ. vanesse “beauty”, but also ᴱQ. Vanar as another name for the Valar (QL/99). The Gnomish words had distinct forms like G. Ban “Vala” (GL/18) vs. G. gwant “beautiful” (GL/44). Thus it seems that ᴱ√VANA in the 1910s is actually a blending of two roots, ✱ᴱ√BANA (or ᴱ√ɃANA) “divine” vs. ✱ᴱ√WANA “beautiful”. This second variant reappeared much later in the 1959 root √(G)WAN “fair, pale” (PE17/154; WJ/383); see below.

In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gave this root as ᴹ√BAN and it seems at this stage it was associated exclusively with beauty, given derivatives like ᴹQ. vanya and N. bein “beautiful, fair” (Ety/BAN). These words survived into later iterations of the languages as Q. vanya and S. bain (PE17/150). The root √BAN reappeared with these derivatives in several etymological notes written around 1959 (PE17/149-150, 165).

In these 1959 notes, Tolkien first connected √BAN to “fair” as it was in the 1930s (PE17/149), but reversed himself, noting “VAN cannot only = fair (blonde), since vanima is applied in LR to Arwen who was like Lúthien dark” (PE17/165). This prompted Tolkien to reintroduce the root √(G)WAN “fair”, as noted above, limiting √BAN to “beauty” only. He then refined its meaning, saying “√BAN ... appears originally to have referred simply to ‘beauty’, but with implication that it was due to lack of fault or blemish” (PE17/150). The root applied to Vána because she was perfect and unmarred in her beauty.

edelā

noun. the fair

gwenyā

adjective. fair, beautiful

wanya

adjective. fair-haired (yellow to golden)

gwen

root. fresh, *green, fair, unblemished, beautiful

@@@ might still be valid for Quenya derivations in the Etymologies

pheryā

adjective. quick, ready, prompt