cûl

noun. flame

A word for “flame” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√KUL “golden-red”, but this word was deleted (EtyAC/KUL).

naur

noun. flame

naur

noun. flame

glingal

proper name. Hanging Flame

lhach

noun. (leaping) flame

naur

noun. fire

nár

flame

nár noun "flame", also nárë (NAR1).Translated "fire" in some names, see Aicanár(o), Fëanáro (where nár apparently has the masculine ending -o added to it). According to PE17:183, nár- is "fire as an element" (a concrete fire or blaze is rather called a ruinë).

nárë

flame

nárë, also short nár, noun "flame" (NAR1, Narqelion). Translated "fire" in some names, see Aicanáro, Fëanáro (where nár apparently has the masculine ending -o, though in the latter name it may also be the genitive ending since Fëa-náro** is translated "Spirit of Fire"). At one point, Tolkien mentioned "nār-" as the word for "fire (as an element)" (PE17:183). Cf. ruinë** as the word for "a fire" (a concrete instance of fire) in the same source.

velca

flame

velca ("k") noun "flame" (LT1:260; nár, nárë would be the normal word in Tolkien's later Quenya)

aicanáro

masculine name. Fell Fire; Sharp Flame

The mother-name of Aegnor, from which his Sindarin name was derived (PM/346-7). Tolkien gave two distinct interpretations of this name: “Sharp Flame” (MR/323) and “Fell Fire” (PM/347). In both cases, the second element of the name was nár “fire, flame”, but the interpretation of the initial element aica shifted between “sharp” and “fell”. It is hard to say which of these two interpretations was preferred by J.R.R. Tolkien himself and Christopher Tolkien included both translations in the published version of The Silmarillion. See the entry for S. Aegnor for one possible interpretation.

Conceptual Development: In some late notes (VT41/14), J.R.R. Tolkien wrote this name as Ekyanāro “sharp flame” (S. Eignor). As suggested by Carl Hostetter (VT41/19, note #19), Tolkien seems to have (temporarily) shifted aica “sharp” (from the root ᴹ√AYAK) to ekya “sharp” (from the root ᴹ√EK), from which ᴹQ. ehte “spear” was also derived. This was perhaps a reversion to the earlier name N. Egnor (also derived from ᴹ√EK). However, Tolkien apparently abandoned these changes.

narsil

proper name. Red and White Flame

The Sword of Elendil that was broken (LotR/243), later reforged as Andúril (LotR/277). This name is a combination of the primitive roots √NAR “fire” and √THIL “white light” (Let/425), and was translated “red and white flame” in the 1966 index of The Lord of the Rings (RC/231).

Conceptual Development: Its Quenya name first appeared as ᴹQ. Narsil in the draft of The Lord of the Rings chapter: “The Battle of the Pelennor Fields” (WR/370, 372 note #14).

nár

noun. fire (as an element), fire (as an element); [ᴹQ.] flame

The basic Quenya word for “fire” derived from the root √NAR of the same meaning (PE17/29, 38), more specifically “fire as an element” or as a force or abstract concept (PE17/183), versus ruinë “a fire, a blaze” which is an individual fire or blaze in the physical world. In The Etymologies of the 1930s it appeared as ᴹQ. nár or náre “flame” derived from the root ᴹ√NAR “flame, fire” (Ety/NAR¹).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had as a derivative of the root ᴱ√SAH(Y)A “be hot” the word ᴱQ. Sā “Fire, especially in temples, etc. A mystic name identified with Holy Ghost” (QL/81), and this “mystic name” was also mentioned in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/81). Thus it seems ᴱQ. sá was “mystic fire”, as opposed to ᴱQ. uru which was ordinary “fire” (QL/98).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use this word as [ᴹQ.] náre as an independent word, and use nár or nar in compounds only. This helps keep it distinct from nár the plural of ná- “to be”.

rúnya

noun. red flame

A word for a “red flame” mentioned in the Silmarillion appendix (SA/ruin). It is likely derived from the root √RUN “red, glowing” (PM/366).

Aicanáro

sharp flame, fell fire

Aicanáro ("k") masc. name "Sharp Flame, Fell Fire"; Sindarized as Aegnor. (So in SA:nár and PM:345; MR:323 has Aicanár. VT41:14, 19 instead gives Ecyanáro_ as the Q form of Aegnor.)_

Andúril

flame of the west

Andúril noun "Flame of the West", sword-name (LotR1:II ch. 3)

Naira

heart of flame

Naira (1) noun "Heart of Flame", a name of the Sun (MR:198)

Narmacil

flame-sword

Narmacil noun masc. name, *"Flame-sword" (Appendix A)

Telemnar

silver-flame

Telemnar masc.name, "Silver-flame" (Appendix A; for *Telep-nar)

andúril

proper name. Flame of the West

The name of Aragorn’s sword after it was reforged (LotR/277), rechristened from its original name Narsil. This new name is a combination of the prefix andú- “west” and the root √RIL “brilliance” (PE17/35, 47). It was translated “Flame of the West” (LotR/277, Let/425).

Conceptual Development: Aragorn’s sword was long called Branding in Lord of the Rings drafts, and ᴹQ. Andúril did not appear until a late typescript (WR/370).

culda

flame-coloured, golden-red

culda ("k")adj. "flame-coloured, golden-red" (KUL); maybe it can also be translated "scarlet", since this gloss was listed for the possible "Noldorin"/Sindarin cognate coll(VT45:24), though it was struck out

culina

flame-coloured, golden-red

culina ("k")adj. "flame-coloured, golden-red" (KUL; cullina ("k") in VT45:24 would seem to be a variant)

fá Archaic

noun. *ray of light, flame

An (archaic) Parmaquesta (PQ) noun in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) from the 1950s derived from primitive ✶phāy as an example of how ancient final *y* vanished after long vowels in monosyllables (PE19/104). A few pages earlier, primitive ✶phāy was glossed “flame, ray of light” (PE17/102), so perhaps this was the intended meaning of fá also. But Tolkien said it was given up in favor of the longer form fëa (PE19/104), which elsewhere was usually translated as “spirit”.

Neo-Quenya: Given that this word is archaic and is of uncertain meaning, I would avoid its use for purposes of Neo-Quenya, using words like ᴹQ. alka for “ray of light” and Q. fëa for “spirit”.

rúnya

red flame

rúnyanoun "red flame" (SA:ruin; PM:366 gives runya)

ruinalda

noun. flame tree, peacock flower, royal poinciana, phoenix flower, flame of the forest, Delonix regia

A neologism coined by Luinyelle posted on 2025-03-25 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a combination of ruinë “flame” and alda “tree”.

naur

noun. flame

lacho

verb. flame!

aegnor

masculine name. Fell Fire, Sharp Flame

Fourth son of Finarfin (S/61), variously translated “Fell Fire” and “Sharp Flame”. His name is an adaption of his Quenya mother name Aicanáro (PM/346). This name seems to be a compound of aeg “point” and the suffixal form -nor of naur “fire” (SA/nár).

Possible Etymology: His Quenya name was translated “Fell Fire”, from the element Q. aica “fell”, but Tolkien said that Aegnor was not a true Sindarin name, since there was no Sindarin word ✱✱aeg meaning “fell” (PM/347). Rather, a true translation of his name would be Goenor (PM/363).

There is, however, a Sindarin word aeg meaning “point; sharp, pointed, piercing”, attested in the name Aeglos “Snow-point” and in the word aeglir “range of mountain peaks” as in Hithaeglir “Misty Mountains”. Thus “Sharp Flame” might be a false etymology for this name. This alternate translation appeared in the Silmarillion Appendix (SA/nár) and some early writings from the 1950s (MR/323), but it may be that this was simply an earlier, rejected translation rather then a false etymology.

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, his name was N. Egnor (SM/15, 88; LR/116, 223), and at this stage the initial element of his name was N. êg “thorn” from the root ᴹ√EK “spear” (Ety/EK, NAR¹). In draft notes associated with The Shibboleth of Fëanor, Tolkien considered changing this name to S. Eignor (VT41/19 note #19), but this seems to have been a transient idea.

borlach

masculine name. ?Steadfast-flame

Son of Bór, an Easterling in Beleriand (S/157). His name is appears to be a combination of [N.] bôr “steadfast” and lach “flame” “flame” (as suggested by David Salo, GS/344). As this name was Sindarin, it was probably not his true name.

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name first appeared as N. Boromir, changed to Borlach in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (LR/134, WJ/240).

bragollach

noun. sudden flame

An element in the name Dagor Bragollach “Battle of Sudden Flame” (S/151; WJ/52), a replacement for earlier N. Dagor Vregedúr “Battle of Sudden Fire”.

Neo-Sindarin: Elsewhere all the words for “sudden” began with breg-, such as in Bregalad “Quickbeam” (LotR/482), so despite its possible replacement, I prefer the earlier word N. bregedur “wild fire”. If bragollach is used, I’d revise it to ✱bregollach.

dagor bragollach

proper name. Battle of Sudden Flame

Fourth great battle of the Wars of Beleriand, translated “Battle of Sudden Flame” (S/151), a combination of dagor “battle” and bragollach “sudden flame” (possibly = “wild fire”).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this battle was first named N. Dagor Húr-Breged “Battle of Sudden Flame” (SM/317) or “Fire” (LR/132). This was revised to N. Dagor Vregedúr “Battle of Sudden Fire” (LR/280), a form that also appeared in The Etymologies where the second element was indicated to be the lenited form of N. bregedur “wild fire” (Ety/BERÉK). The name took on its final form in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/52, 124).

finellach

masculine name. ?Flame of Hair and Eye

Another title or name for Gil-galad, (PM/351), perhaps a combination of fîn “hair” and lach “flame”. David Salo suggested the middle element is hen “eye”, so that the name means something like “Flame of Hair and Eye” (GS/349).

Conceptual Development: This name was first written Finlachen, changed to Finhenlach and finally Finellach; these preliminary forms support Salo’s theory that the middle element is hen (PM/351).

lach

noun. (leaping) flame

An element meaning “flame” appearing in many names. Christopher Tolkien gave its form as lhach “leaping flame” in the Silmarillion appendix (SA/lhach), but given Lachend “Flame-eyed” (WJ/384) and lacho calad! “flame light!” (UT/65), I think ✱lach is the likelier Sindarin form, which is the form also suggested by HSD (HSD).

Conceptual Development: ᴱN. lhacha “flame” appeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/148).

lacha-

verb. to flame

A verb for “to flame” appearing as an imperative in the phrase lacho calad! “flame light!” (UT/65), the verb form of lach “flame”.

lachend

proper name. Flame-eyed

A term the Sindarin used for the Elves of Aman because the piercing brightness of their eyes (WJ/384). This name is a combination of lach “flame” and the lenited form of hen(d) “eye”.

naur

noun. fire, fire, [N.] flame

The basic Sindarin word for “fire”, derived from the root √NAR of the same meaning (LotR/942; PE17/38) and very well attested. It is derived from primitive ✱nār- since primitive long *ā* became *au* in Sindarin. It appeared as N. naur “flame” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with the same derivation (Ety/NAR). As a suffix it usually reduces to -nor, since *au* usually becomes *o* in polysyllables. As a prefix, though, it is often Nar- before consonant clusters, no doubt because the ancient long ā was shortened before it could become au.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, the word for “fire” was G. sâ with archaic form †sai (GL/66) clearly based on the early root ᴱ√SAH(Y)A “be hot” as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Sári; QL/81). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s, the word for “fire” was ᴱN. byr or buir from primitive ᴱ✶ [mburyē] (PE13/139). Tolkien introduced naur in The Etymologies of the 1930s and stuck with it thereafter.

ruin

noun/adjective. red flame; fiery red

An element in the names Orodruin “Mountain of Fire” (LotR/899). In the Silmarillion appendix Christopher Tolkien translated it as “red flame”, cognate to Q. rúnya (SA/ruin). However, in The Shibboleth of Fëanor from 1968 Tolkien gave it the gloss “fiery red” and a Quenya cognate Q. runya, both derived from the root √RUN “red, glowing”. Finally in notes from 1964, Tolkien suggested it might be an element in Angruin “Iron Fire”, a possible replacement for the name Glaurung, and gave it the Quenya cognate ruinë “blaze, fire” based on the root √RUY “blaze (red)” (PE17/183).

Conceptual Development: The word N. rhuin was mentioned in The Feanorian Alphabet of the 1930s, but without translation. N. Orodruin “Fire-Mountain” appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/28, 39).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I think both the noun and adjective senses of this word can be retained.

Dagor Bragollach

noun. battle of sudden flame

dagor (“battle”), bragol (“sudden”) + lach (“flame”)

Lachen(n)

noun. flame-eyed (Noldo)

lach (“flame”) + hend (“eye”)

glingal

proper name. Hanging Flame

A Sindarin name for Q. Laurelin (S/126) translated “Hanging Flame” (LR/210). It is a combination of the verb [N.] gling- “to hang” and the root √KAL (Ety/LING, KAL).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales this name appeared as G. Glingol “Singing Gold”, a more direct equivalent of ᴱQ. Laurelin (LT2/216). The form N. Glingal appeared in late changes to the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (LB/80), and Tolkien revised its derivation and translation to the ones given above in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/LING, KAL).

lach

noun. (leaping) flame

lacha-

verb. to flame

lacho calad! drego morn!

Flame light! Flee night!

lhach

noun. leaping flame

lach

flame

(noun) 1) lach (leaping flame), pl. laich; 2) naur (in compounds nar-, -nor) (fire, sun), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath, 3) rill (construct ril) (brilliance, glittering reflected light), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

lach

flame

(leaping flame), pl. laich;  2) naur (in compounds nar-, -nor) (fire, sun), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath, 3) rill (construct ril) (brilliance, glittering reflected light), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

lacha

flame

(verb) *lacha- (i lacha, i lachar). Only the imperative form lacho is attested.

lacha

flame

(i lacha, i lachar). Only the imperative form lacho is attested.

ruindol

noun. flame tree, peacock flower, royal poinciana, phoenix flower, flame of the forest, Delonix regia, (lit.) blazing-head

A neologism coined by Echuidor posted on 2025-03-25 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a combination of ruin “blaze” and dol(l) “head”.

lach

leaping flame

lach (pl. laich)

lach

leaping flame

(pl. laich)

lachenn

flame-eyed

(adjective describing an Elf who had lived in the Blessed Realm) *lachenn, pl. lachinn (WJ:384, there cited in archaic form lachend).

lachenn

flame-eyed

pl. lachinn *(WJ:384, there cited in archaic form lachend)*.

ruin

red flame

ruin (no distinct pl. form except with article: idh ruin) (blazing fire). Also used as an adj. ”fiery red, burning”. (Silm app, entry ruin; PM:366)

ruin

red flame

ruin (no distinct pl. form except with article: idh ruin) (blazing fire). Also used as an adj. ”fiery red, burning”. (Silm app, entry ruin; PM:366)

ruin

red flame

(no distinct pl. form except with article: idh ruin) (blazing fire). Also used as an adj. ”fiery red, burning”. (Silm app, entry ruin; PM:366)

naur

noun. fire

nar

root. fire, fire, [ᴹ√] flame

A root for “fire” first appearing as ᴹ√NAR “flame, fire” in The Etymologies of the 1930s along with derivatives like ᴹQ. nár(e)/N. naur “flame” (Ety/NAR¹). There was also an augmented variant ᴹ√ANÁR that served as the basis for “Sun” words: ᴹQ. Anar and N. Anor (Ety/ANÁR). These roots and the various derivatives continued to appear in Tolkien’s later writings in the 1950s and 60s (PE17/38; Let/425), and in one place Tolkien specified that nār- was “fire as an element” as opposed to √RUYU for an actual blaze.

phāy

noun. flame, ray of light

ruy

root. blaze (red)

The root ᴹ√ROY “ruddy, red” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with Noldorin variant ᴹ√GROJ and derivatives ᴹQ. roina/N. gruin “ruddy” (Ety/ROY²). The latter seems to be an element in the names N. Dunruin “Red Valley” and N. Ruinnel “Redway” from Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/464; TI/114). These names eventually became S. Nanduhirion “Dimrill Dale” and S. Celebrant “Silverlode” (LotR/283; LotR/341).

A similar root √RUYU “blaze (red)” appeared in 1964 notes on Dalath Dirnen (DD), with derivatives like Q. ruinë “fire, blaze” and Q. ruimen/S. ruist “fireplace, hearth”. In this note Tolkien contrasted Q. ruine “fire, blaze” with nār- “fire as an element”. The note seems to be inspired by a proposed alternate name S. Angruin “Iron Fire” for S. Glaurung; this alternate name was rejected with an “X”, but the rest of the note was allowed to stand. It’s probable the element -ruin is the same one seen in S. Orodruin “Mountain of Fire” (LotR/899), a name that dates back to Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s.

The word ruin in turn was connected to the root √RUN “red, glowing” in notes associated with The Shibboleth of Fëanor from 1968, having derivatives Q. runya/S. ruin “fiery red” (PM/365-6 note #61). Thus we tentatively have the conceptual development: 1930s ᴹ√ROY² “ruddy, red” >> 1964 √RUY “blaze (red)” >> 1968 √RUN “red, glowing”.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I’d stick with 1964 √RUY “blaze (red)” as the version of the root having the largest and must useful set of derivatives.