lot(h)

root. flower

This root and ones like it were connected to flowers for all of Tolkien’s life. The earliest manifestation of this root was ᴱ√LOHO or ᴱ√LO’O from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s; the entry for ᴱ√LOHO appears immediately below ᴱ√LO’O, and Tolkien indicates they are related roots, both extended from ᴱ√OLO “tip” (QL/55). These roots include derivatives like ᴱQ. lōte “flower”, ᴱQ. lotōrea “flourishing” and ᴱQ. lokta- “sprout, bud, put forth leaves or flowers”. There are also derivatives of these roots in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon: G. lost “blossom, bloom”, G. lothli “floret”, G. luitha- “to bloom” (GL/54-55), though G. lôs “flower” was said to be unrelated, connected to G. lass “leaf” instead (GL/55). ᴱQ. losse “rose” probably had a similar derivation (QL/56).

This confusion of √LOT(H) and √LOS carried forward into Tolkien’s later writings. In The Etymologies of the 1930s ᴹ√LOT(H) was given as the root for “flower” (Ety/LOT(H)), but this entry originally included a variant ᴹ√LOS (EtyAC/LOT(H)). Tolkien then said ᴹQ. losse “blossom” (< ᴹ√LOT(H)) was “usually, owing to association with olosse snow, only used of white blossom” (Ety/LOT(H)), where ᴹQ. olosse was derived from ᴹ√GOLOS “✱snow, white” (Ety/GOLÓS). This intermingling carried forward into etymological notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s, where Tolkien said (PE17/26):

> The stems √LŎS, √LOTH, √LOT are much entangled both for formal reasons, and because of actual associations of meaning (probably from beginning of Primitive Quendian and explaining the approach of the forms). Quenya word for “flower, a single bloom” is lóte, but S loth (< lotho/a), but Quenya also has lōs. Q. for snow is losse (S los).

These associations were also mentioned in etymological notes on roots for flowers from this same period, where Tolkien clarified that √LOT, √LOTH were the roots for “flower” and √LOS for “snow” (PE17/160-161). These roots were mentioned again in notes associated with The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69 (VT42/18):

> S. loss is a derivative of (G)LOS “white”; but loth is from LOT. Sindarin used loss as a noun, but the strengthened form gloss as an adjective “(dazzling) white”. loth was the only derivative of LOT that it retained, probably because other forms of the stem assumed a phonetic shape that seemed inappropriate, or were confusible with other stems (such as LUT “float”), e.g. ✱lod, ✱lûd. loth is from a diminutive lotse and probably also from derivative lotta-.

In this last note, Tolkien seems to have abandoned √LOTH, explaining S. loth “flower” as derived from √LOT via ✱lotse. In any case, starting in the 1930s Tolkien was consistent that the roots for “flower” and “snow” were distinct but often confused, and that snow-words were derived from roots like √(G)LOS and flower words from roots like √LOT(H), though he waffled a bit on the exact details.

galab

root. flower

galmā

noun. flower

lotho/a

noun. flower

lotse

noun. flower

loth

noun. inflorescence

alma

noun. flower

A word for “flower” derived from primitive ✶galmā in notes on flowers in the same bundle containing Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 (PE17/153). Initially Tolkien said alma meant both “a blessed thing and a flower”, then said that Q. almë was “a blessed thing” and alba was “flower” (< √GAL-AB), before saying that alma was “flower”. Tolkien implied that alma was a usual or general word for “flower” in Quenya. These same notes also said the word alda < ✶galadā was used mainly of flowering trees. It seems in this instance Tolkien connected the root √GAL (normally just “grow, flourish”) specifically to flowers, giving it the gloss “bloom” along with other glosses like “grow, flourish, be vigorous”.

Neo-Quenya: Elsewhere alda was the general word for a “tree” and √GAL had no special connection to flowers. I think alma as a “flower” word was a transient idea. I would use lótë “flower” instead for purposes of Neo-Quenya, since it is much better established.

alma

flower

alma (2) "flower" (PE17:153), said to be the "usual Quenya word" or "general Quenya word" (i.e. for flower), but its coexistence with #1 is problematic. Compare lós, lótë, lotsë, indil.

insil

noun. flower

TQ. flower, lily

lós

flower

lós (þ?) noun "flower" (PE17:26). If this is to be the cognate of Sindarin loth, as the source suggests, the older Quenya form would be *lóþ.

lótë

flower

lótë noun "flower", mostly applied to larger single flowers (LOT(H), LT1:259, VT42:18). (The shorter form -lot occurs in compounds, e.g. fúmellot, q.v.) In the names Ninquelóte *"White-flower" (= Nimloth), Vingilótë "Foam-flower", the name of Eärendil's ship (SA:loth), also in Lótessë fifth month of the year, "May" (Appendix D). See also olótë, lotsë.

alba

noun. flower

lóte

noun. flower

ambalotsë

noun. uprising-flower

Quenya cognate for S. amloth “uprising flower” in the name Ægamloth (archaic for Egamloth) “Pointed Helm-crest” (WJ/318). It is a combination of amba “up” and lotsë “flower”. Tolkien said this word is “referring to the flower or floreate device used as a crest fixed to point of a tall helmet”, and thus only refers to a type of “helm-crest”, not any kind of flower.

eldalótë

feminine name. Elven-flower

The Quenya name of the wife of Angrod (PM/346). This name is a compound of Elda “Elf” and lótë “flower”.

eälótë

proper name. *Sea Flower

A variant Quenya name of Eäredil’s ship appearing in only place (PM/143); the ship was usually called Vingilótë. This name is probably a compound of ëar “sea” and lótë “flower”.

indil

noun. lily, other large single flower

A Quenya noun for “lily” or more generally any “large flower”, cognate of Ad. inzil.

Conceptual Development: This word appeared in two forms with competing etymologies. In the early 1950s, it appeared as Q. insil, a loan word from Atani inzil, where the [[aq|[nz] became [ns]]] (PE19/99). A similar word indil appeared in the 1959-60 essay Quendi and Eldar, where it was a derivative of Valarin iniðil (WJ/399), with the middle i lost due to the Quenya syncope and then the [[q|spirant [ð] becoming the stop [d] after the nasal [n]]].

In the second scenario, Tolkien did not directly connect Q. indil to Ad. inzil, but the coincidence of forms is too great: Tolkien must have imagined a reverse loan from Valarin > Quenya > Atani. Perhaps this loan took place before the [ð] became [d] in Quenya ([[q|[nð] > [nd]]]), and the voiced spirant was adapted as the sibilant [z] in Atani because that language did not possess spirants in its earliest historical stages.

I personally prefer this second scenario and the form indil, because using the first scenario would require discarding one of our few Valarin words (iniðil).

lotsë

noun. small (single) flower

A word for a “smaller flower” or a “small single flower” based on the root √LOT (PE17/160; VT42/18). In one place it had a variant lotte (PE17/160), but I think lotsë is more distinct. The general word for a “(large) flower” was lótë; see that entry for discussion.

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, ᴱQ. tetl was “small flower” based on the early root ᴱ√TETE “bud, blossom” (QL/92; PME/92)

lótë

noun. flower, single blossom, flower, single blossom; [ᴱQ.] bloom

The best known Quenya word for “flower”, which Tolkien used for most of his life. Most notably it was an element in Vingilótë “Foam-flower”, the name of Eärendil’s ship (S/246).

Conceptual Development: The word dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where ᴱQ. lōte was glossed “a flower, bloom (usually of large single flowers)” under the early root ᴱ√LO’O (QL/55). It appeared regularly in documents in the 1910s, 20s and 30s with glosses like “flower” and “blossom” (PME/56; MC/220; PE16/77; PE21/7). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was ᴹQ. lóte “(large single) flower” under the root ᴹ√LOT(H) “flower” (Ety/LOT(H)).

The word continued to appear in Tolkien’s writings of the 1950s and 60s with glosses like “flower” or “a single blossom” and derived from √LOT (PE17/26, 160; VT42/18). In one place Tolkien said it meant “a flowering plant, especially one that produces (large) separate flowers of distinct shape; also used of any single bloom of such a plant” (PE17/160). However, generally it was used of individual (large) flowers. Smaller flowers could use other words like lotsë (PE17/\160; VT42/18), but I think lótë was the most general term for “flower”.

númellótë

masculine name. Flower of the West

The secret Quenya birth-name of Inziladûn translated “Flower of the West”, later called Tar-Palantir when he became the 24th ruler of Númenor (UT/227). This name is a compound of númen “west” and lótë “flower”, with the final -n of númen assimilate to the l.

pirindë

noun. flower that opened and shut quickly with any change of light

A word in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 for a “flower that opened and shut quickly with any change of light” based on √PIRI “blink” and with variant forms pirinde and pirne (PE17/146). These flower names were part of an attempt by Tolkien to come up with a new etymology for S. alfirin after he decided that √LA was not a negative element, so that alfirin could no longer mean “immortelle”.

vingilótë

proper name. Foam-flower

Name of the ship of Eärendil, translated “Foam-flower” (S/246). It is a compound of vingë (vingi-) “foam” and lótë “flower”, and often appeared in the shorter form Vingilot.

Conceptual Development: This name dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, always with essentially the same etymology and meaning. In the earliest stories it appeared as ᴱQ. Wingilot (LT1/21), and was ᴹQ. Wingelóte in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/LOT(H), WIG).

Although Tolkien was consistent on the meaning of this name and its elements, he could never quite make up his mind on its exact form. The name appeared in a wide variety of forms, from his earliest to his latest writings. The variations were:

• The initial letter could be V- or W-.

• The middle vowel could be i, e or a.

• The final syllable be -lótë or -lot.

The first of these variation probably reflects Tolkien’s uncertainty on the development of the phoneme [w] in Quenya; in one place Tolkien said it “is in intention formed to resemble and ‘explain’ the name of Wade’s ship Guingelot” (PM/371). The second variation indicates different possible primitive forms of vingë “foam”. The third variation is simply the ordinary variation in the short and long forms of the name, also seen in names like Valinor/Valinórë and Silmaril/Silmarillë.

Vingilot/Vingilótë was the form adopted by Christopher Tolkien for the published Silmarillion, since it replaced earlier forms (sometimes but not always) in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/246).

Vingelot

foam-flower

Vingelot, Vingilot, Vingilótë ship-name; "Foam-flower", name of Eärendil's ship (SA:wing, Silm)

Wingelot

foam-flower

Wingelot, Wingelótë ship-name, "foam-flower", name of Earendel's [sic] boat (WIG, LOT(H) )

ambalotsë

uprising-flower

*ambalotsë noun "uprising-flower", referring to "the flower or floreate device used as a crest fixed to point of a tall [illegible word: ?archaic] helmet". Curiously, the word is asterisked as unattested (WJ:319)

lossë

noun. inflorescence (of white flowers), [ᴹQ.] (white) blossom, flower, [ᴱQ.] (white) flower; [Q.] inflorescence (of white flowers); [ᴱQ.] rose

This word was associated with white flowers for much of Tolkien’s life. In the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, ᴱQ. losse was “rose” (QL/65; PME/56), but in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s its plural was translated as “flowers” (PE14/56), while its gloss became “white-flower” in notes associated with the Earendel poem from around 1930 (PE16/100).

The Etymologies written around 1937, Tolkien derived ᴹQ. losse from the root ᴹ√LOT(H) and translated it as “blossom” or “flower”, but specified that it was “usually, owing to association with olosse snow, only used of white blossom” (Ety/LOT(H); GOLÓS). In notes from around 1959, Tolkien said losse was used of “snow” but also as “the laden inflorescence of flowers on trees or shrubs, especially infoliate or pale” (PE17/161).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would assume lossë mainly meant “snow”, but that it could also be used of white flowers, either an individual white flower or a scattering of white flowers on a plant, as if covered by snow (though in the latter case, I would use plural lossi “white flowers” to be less ambiguous).

lotsë

small single flower

lotsë noun "small single flower" (VT42:18)

niquis

frost-patterns; ice-flake or snowflake also petal (loose) of a white flower

niquis noun "frost-patterns; ice-flake or snowflake also petal (loose) of a white flower" (stem niquits- or niquiss-), also niquessë by association with quessë "feather" (WJ:417, PE17:168). In early "Qenya", the gloss was simply "snow" (LT1:266).

pirindë

flower that opened and shut quickly with any change of light at [?some ?not] even a pansy closed

pirindë noun "a flower that opened and shut quickly with any change of light at [?some ?not] even a pansy closed" (PE17:146; reading uncertain and meaning obscure; read perhaps "…at [which] not even a pansy closed") Also pirnë.

lótessë

noun. May, *(lit.) Flower-ness

alfirin

noun. ’immortal’ as a flower name

insil

noun. flower, lily

lottë

noun. small flower

pirnë

noun. flower that opened and shut quickly with any change of light

carpalos

noun. tulip, (lit.) hat-flower

A neologism coined by Valerie posted on 2024-05-07 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a variant form of carpë “hat” combined with LOTH “flower”. Thus its more archaic form would be maltaloþ.

lótecas

noun. vase, (lit.) flower-vessel

A neologism for “vase” coined by Echuidor posted on 2024-10-20 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of lótë “flower” and a reduced form of [ᴹQ.] capsa “vessel”.

lótelas

noun. petal, (lit.) flower-leaf

A neologism for “petal” coined by Paul Strack specifically for Eldamo in 2023, a combination of lótë “flower” and lassë “leaf”, inspired by the alternate meaning of ᴱQ. lasse as both “leaf or petal” in the 1910s (GL/52).

maltalos

noun. buttercup (lit.) flower of gold

A neologism coined by Parmandil posted on 2024-05-07 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of malta “gold” and LOTH “flower”. Thus its more archaic form would be maltaloþ.

nendalaurë

noun. golden water-flower, yellow iris

A neologism for “golden water-flower, yellow iris” by Vyacheslav Stepanov posted on 2022-05-01 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of nenda “wet” and laurë “gold (colour)”, analogous to S. ninglor.

alalmë

noun. inflorescence

A word appearing as {alalbe >>} alalme “inflorescence” in notes from around 1959, derived from √GAL (PE17/153). Compare this to [ᴹQ./ᴱQ.] alalme “elm” from The Etymologies of the 1930s and the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (Ety/ÁLAM; QL/29); in the 1959 notes Tolkien decided “elm” was albe.

Neo-Quenya: In these 1959 notes, the root √GAL had a connection to flowers seen nowhere else; see alma “flower” for discussion. As such, I think this “inflorescence” word was a transient idea, and I would use other words like lós and olos “inflorescence” for purposes of Neo-Quenya.

ninquelótë

proper name. White Blossom

A name for Telperion (S/38). It is a compound of ninquë “white” and lótë “flower” (SA/min, loth).

Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Ninquelóte also appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/209) and Lord of the Rings drafts (SD/58).

lotarwa

noun. [flower] garden

lórelot

noun. poppy, *(lit.) flower of sleep

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”.

helinillë

noun. violet [flower]

nehtanna

noun. melliferous flower, any plant which supplies bees with a lot of nectar

A neologism coined by Luinyelle and Fëastorno, posted on 2025-03-25 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a combination of nehtë “honey” and anna “gift”.

indil

lily

indil noun "lily", or other large single flower. Adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399)

nieninquë

noun. snowdrop, snowdrop, [ᴹQ.] (lit.) white tear

A word for “snowdrop”, perhaps a reference to that species of flower, appearing in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a combination of ᴹQ. nie “tear” and ᴹQ. ninqe “white”, so literally “white tear” (Ety/NEI, NIK-W). ᴱQ. nieninqe also appeared with the same form, meaning and etymology in the Qenya Lexicon and the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s (QL/68; PME/68). In later writings, it appeared in adjectival form nieninquëa “like a snowdrop” in the 1950s version of the Nieninquë poem (PE16/96); the same form appeared in the version of the poem written around 1930, and its drafts (MC/215; PE16/90, 92). The word nieninquë likewise served as the title of that poem.

ninquë

white, chill, cold, palid

ninquë adj. "white, chill, cold, palid" (WJ:417, SA:nim, PE17:168, NIK-W - spelt "ninqe" in Etym and in LT1:266, MC:213, MC:220, GL:60), pl. ninqui in Markirya. Compounded in Ninquelótë noun "White-Flower" (SA:nim), = Sindarin Nimloth, the White Tree of Númenor; ninqueruvissë ("q") "white-horse-on" _(MC:216; this is "Qenya", read _ninqueroccossë or *ninquiroccossë in LotR-style Quenya). Normally ninquë would be expected to have the stem-form ninqui-, given the primitive form ¤ninkwi; Ninquelótë rather than *Ninquilótë must be seen as an analogical form.

Eldalótë

Eldalótë

Eldalótë means "High-elven Flower" in Quenya (from Elda = "High Elf" and lótë = "flower"). The Sindarin version of her name is Edhellos (also spelled Eðellos; pron. [eˈðelːos]).

Calainis

may

Calainis _("k")_noun "May" (LT1:252, 254; in Tolkien's later Quenya Lótessë)

Nando

valley, wide valley

nando (2) "valley, wide valley", variant of nandë #1, q.v. (PE17:80)

ala-

verb. plant, grow

ala- (4) vb. "plant, grow" _(the first gloss would suggest that the following one is transitive: to "grow" plants) (PE17:100). _Compare al- "thrive, *grow" (which however seems intransitive).

alalbë

noun. inflorescence

alalmë

inflorescence

alalmë (1) noun "inflorescence" (PE17:153), cf. alma #2.

alfirin

adjective. immortal

alfírima/alfírimo

immortal

alma

good fortune, weal, wealth

alma (1) noun "good fortune, weal, wealth". In a deleted entry in Etym, the glosses were "riches, (good) fortune, blessedness"; in another deleted entry, Tolkien provided the glosses "growth" and maybe "increase" (reading uncertain), also "good fortune, riches" (GALA [ALAM], VT45:5, 13, 14)

empanya-

verb. plant

*empanya- vb. "plant" (deduced from the "Qenya" pl. past tense empannen, VT27:20-22)

fána

white

fána, fánë (1) adj. "white" (Markirya - fánë as a sg. form in may be a misreading). Compare fanya.

fána

adjective. white, white; [ᴹQ.] cloud

@@@ as suggested by Helge Fauskanger, the form fánë “white” in the Markirya poem may be a slip or misreading

fánë

adjective. white

fúmella

poppy

fúmella noun "poppy" (also fúmellot) (LT1:253). Read perhaps *húmella in a LotR-compatible form of Quenya, since Tolkien later decided that fu- tended to become hu-.

fúmellot

poppy

fúmellot noun "poppy" (also fúmella) (LT1:253) Read perhaps *húmellot in a LotR-compatible form of Quenya, since Tolkien later decided that fu- tended to become hu-.

ilfirin

immortal

ilfirin adj. "immortal" (PHIR)

ilpirin

immortal

*ilpirin (hypothetical form; the word actually appears in Q as ilfirin) adj. "immortal" (PHIR)

laima

plant

laima noun "plant" (PE17:159). Cf. olvar.

laima

noun. plant

A noun for “plant” appearing in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957 derived from the root √LAY (PE17/159).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. laute (lausi-) “living thing, (esp.) vegetable” and ᴱQ. lauke (lauki-) “vegetable, plant species”, both derived from the early root ᴱ√LAWA (QL/52). The word lauke also appeared in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa with the gloss “plant” (PME/52) and appeared again in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s with the gloss “vegetable” and an accusative form of lautya (PE16/141), indicating a new stem form lauty-.

lossë

blossom

lossë (2) noun "blossom" ("usually, owing to association with olosse snow, only used of white blossom") (LOT(H) )

nalda

valley

nalda adj. "valley" (used as an adjective), also "lowly" (LT1:261, QL:66)$

nandë

valley

nandë (1) noun "valley" in Laurenandë (UT:253), elided nand in the name Nand Ondoluncava (k") "Stonewain Valley" (PE17:28). Possibly the complete word is here meant to be the variant nando (PE17:80), as suggested by the alternative form Ondoluncanan(do) ("k") "Stonewain Valley". Also nan, nand- noun "valley" (Letters:308); Nan-Tasarion "Vale of Willows" (LotR2:III ch. 4) (Note that this and the next nandë would be spelt differently in Tengwar writing, and originally they were also pronounced differently, since nandë "harp" was ñandë in First Age Quenya.)

nandë

noun. valley

nieninquë

snowdrop

nieninquë ("q") noun "snowdrop", etymologically "white tear" (NIK-W, LT1:262, 266)

quín

crest, ridge

quín, quínë noun "crest, ridge" (PE17:24)

quín, quínë

crest, ridge

quín, quínë noun "crest, ridge" (PE17:24. 173)

merillë

noun. rose

A neologism for “rose” coined by Tamas Ferencz, inspired by S. meril of the same meaning.

loth

noun. flower

_n._flower, a single bloom. Q. lóte, lōs.

alf

noun. flower

edhellos

feminine name. Elven-flower

The Sindarin name of the wife of Angrod, a direct translation of her Quenya name Eldalótë (PM/346). This name is a compound of Edhel “Elf” and -los “flower”.

gwingloth

proper name. Foam-flower

Sindarin name of Q. Vingilótë (PM/370), a combination of gwing “foam” and loth “flower” (Ety/LOT(H), WIG).

Conceptual Development: In Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, the elements of this name were inverted as Lothwing(a) “Foam Flower” (GL/46, 55) and also appeared as Gwingalos (GL/46). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, it became N. Gwingloth, and this is the source of the derivation given above (Ety/LOT(H), WIG; EtyAC/LOT(H)).

imloth melui

place name. Lovely or Sweet Flower-valley

A rose-filled valley in Gondor (LotR/866) translated “Lovely Flowery Vale” (RC/582) or “Sweet Flower-valley” (VT42/18), a combination of †im “valley” and loth “flower” (VT42/18) with otherwise unattested melui “lovely”. In this position, an adjective like melui would ordinarily undergo soft mutation to velui, but in notes from around 1969 Tolkien indicated this was an example of the graduation loss of m-mutation in late Sindarin (PE23/138 note #12).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name was already N. Imloth Melui.

loth

noun. flower, single blossom; inflorescence, head of small flowers

The best known Sindarin word for “flower”, usable individually or collectively. It behaves somewhat like the English word “sheep” that is its own plural, since loth can likewise refer to a single flower or a group of flowers. It occasionally takes the form -los in compounds like Edhellos “Elven-flower” (PM/346) and mallos [< ✱malthoth] “golden flower” (PE17/100), probably due to the dissimilation of dental spirants with final -th becoming -s due to a preceding dh or th.

Conceptual Development: The earliest iteration of this word was G. lôs “flower” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, which Tolkien said was related to G. lass “leaf, petal” (GL/52, 55). This word also appeared in the Name-list to the Fall of Gondolin (PE15/28). In drafts to the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s, Tolkien had ᴱN. loth “flower”, also translated “lily” in the name ᴱN. Loth-a-ladwen “Lily of the Plain” (LB/149).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had N. lhoth “flower(s)” under the root ᴹ√LOT(H) (Ety/LOT(H); EtyAC/LOT(H)). In The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road the gloss was “flower” (LR/370). Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne indicated the actual gloss was “flower(s)” in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies so that lhoth could be use singly or collectively, and it was followed by a specifically singular form N. lhothod (VT45/29).

In Tolkien’s later writings it became S. loth and was mostly glossed “flower” (PE17/26, 48, 161) but the notion that it could be used collectively appeared in some notes from the late 1960s where Tolkien said:

> ... loth, meaning “inflorescence, a head of small flowers”. Loth is actually most often used collectively in Sindarin, equivalent to goloth; and a single flower denoted by elloth (er-loth) or lotheg (VT42/18).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I assume loth can be used individually or collectively and thus functions as its own plural, though in compounds it is generally singular. If necessary, a collection of flowers may be designated goloth, and an individual flower by elloth or lotheg.

mallos

noun. golden flower

Name of a “golden flower” in Middle-Earth (PE17/100), more accurately described as a “golden bell-shaped flower” (PE22/153). It is a combination of malt “gold” and a variant suffixal form of loth “flower”.

ninglor

noun. golden water-flower, golden water-flower, *yellow iris

Name for a flower appearing as an element in the names Sîr Ninglor “Gladden River” (UT/280) and Loeg Ningloron “Gladden Fields” (S/295). According to Christopher Tolkien, a fuller translation of Loeg Ningloron would be “Pools of the golden water-flowers” (SI/Loeg Ningloron), so that ninglor likely means “golden water-flower”, perhaps a type of “✱yellow iris” (see below). The elements of this word are likely nîn “wet” and glaur “gold (colour)”.

Conceptual Development: An earlier name for “Gladden Fields” was N. Palath-ledin in Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s, where Tolkien specified that N. palath meant “iris” (TI/114). Earlier still, in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s Tolkien had G. nalairin “iris”, an elaboration of G. nâla “yellow-lily” (GL/59).

pirin

noun. flower that opened and shut quickly with any change of light

A word in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 for a “flower that opened and shut quickly with any change of light” based on √PIRI “blink” (PE17/146). This flower name was part of an attempt by Tolkien to come up with a new etymology for S. alfirin after he decided that √LA was not a negative element, so that alfirin could no longer mean “immortelle”.

si loth a galadh lasto dîn

*here flower and tree listen [in] silence

The third phrase of Lúthien’s Song (LB/354). Three translations of this phrase are:

• Patrick Wynne: “✱Here/now let flower and tree listen in silence/below” (NTTLS/11)

• David Salo: “✱now flower and tree, listen silent” (GS/211)

• Bertrand Bellet and Benjamin Babut: “✱then flower and tree, listen in silence” (GTLC)

The first word si resembles the Sindarin word sí “here”, though that word usually appears with a long vowel. All of Wynne, Salo, Bellet and Babut suggested instead that it might in this particular case be used temporally like its Quenya cognate Q. sí “now”. However, in notes published after all of their analyses, Tolkien stated that S. sí only meant “here”, and used hí for “now” (PE17/27). I think it is safer to assume that si means “here”.

The second word is loth “flower” joined by the conjunction a “and” to galadh “tree”. The fifth word lasto is the imperative form of the verb lasta- “to listen”. The last word is probably the noun dîn “silence”, though Wynne suggested it might be some form of di “beneath” (NTTLS/9).

alfirin

noun. a flower name

n. Bot. a flower name. >> al-, firin

amloth

noun. high flower

am (prefix “up”) + loth (“flower”)

elloth

noun. single flower

A word for a “single flower” in note from the late 1960s, a combination of er “one” and loth “flower(s)” (VT42/18), where rl became ll as sometimes happened in (old) Sindarin compounds. This word can be necessary because loth refers to both a single flower or a group of flowers; see that entry for details.

lissuin

noun. a fragrant flower

Name of a sweet-smelling flower of Númenor (UT/189). Its initial element could be liss “?fragrant, sweet”, an otherwise unattested cognate to Q. lissë “sweet”.

loth

noun. flower, inflorescence, a head of small flowers

The noun is collective, a single flower being lotheg

loth

noun. a flower

a flower (of defined shape). Q. lóte. >> Lothlórien, Lothlúrien, Lothlýrian

lotheg

noun. single flower, single [small] flower, *floret

A word for a single flower in notes from the late 1960s, a singular form of loth (VT42/18). This word is sometimes necessary because loth can refer to either a single flower or a collection of flowers; see that entry for details.

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. lhothod as a singular form of N. lhoth “flower(s)” under the root ᴹ√LOT(H) (EtyAC/LOT(H)). The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. lothli “floret”, perhaps a diminutive form of G. lôs “flower” (GL/54) with sl &gt; thl.

Neo-Sindarin: Since -eg acts as both a singular suffix and a diminutive suffix, I would assume lotheg refers to single smaller flower or floret, as opposed to elloth for a larger individual flower.

mallos

noun. golden flower

n. Bot. golden flower.

niphredil

a pale white flower

n.Bot. a pale white flower (like snowdrop). >> -il, niphred, til

pirin

noun. a flower that opened ans shut quickly with any change of light at [some? not?] even a pansy closed

n. Bot. a flower that opened ans shut quickly with any change of light at [some? not?] even a pansy closed. Q. pirinde, pirne.

Imloth Melui

noun. sweet flower valley

im (“between, within”) + loth (“a head of small flowers”), mel (“dear”) + ui (adjective suffix) #M sometimes resists lenition when otherwise may cause confusion.

Nimloth

noun. white flower

nimp (“pale, white”) + loth (“a head of small flowers”)

lothron

noun. May, *Flower-ness

@@@ GS/363 raun

alfirin

noun/adjective. name of a flower, bell-like and running through many soft and gentle colours

alfirin

noun/adjective. also used for another small white flower

amloth

noun. flower or floreate device used as crest fixed to the point of a tall helmet

edlothia-

verb. to blossom, flower

The sentence from WR/293 is hardly legible and is not translated, but this word is however a plausible form

eirien

noun. daisy (flower)

elanor

noun. a flower, a kind of enlarged pimpernel bearing golden and silver flowers

elanor

noun. star-sun (flower)

êl (“star”) + anor (“sun”)

elloth

noun. (single) flower

imloth

noun. flower-valley, flowery vale

This word only occurs in the place name Imloth Melui, a vale where roses grew

lotheg

noun. (single) flower

mallos

noun. a golden flower

mallos

noun. golden-white (flower, plant)

mall ([Etym. SMAL-] malt “gold”) + loss (“snow”) Final s in loss is dropped at the end of a polysyllable [HKF].

meril

noun. rose (flower)

ninglor

noun. golden water-flower, gladden

niphredil

noun. a pale winter flower, snowdrop

uilos

noun/adjective. a small white everlasting flower also called simbelmynë or "evermind"

Elanor (flower)

Elanor (flower)

The word elanor means "Sun-star" in Sindarin (from êl = "star" and anor = "Sun").

goloth

noun. inflorescence, a head of small flowers

seregon

noun. "Blood of Stone", a plant of the kind called in English "stonecrop", with deep red flowers, that grew on Amon Rûdh

goloth

flower

(i ’oloth) (collection of flowers), pl. gelyth (i ngelyth = i ñelyth). Archaic pl. gölyth. Also in the form gwaloth (i ’waloth), pl. gwelyth (in gwelyth). Also goloth.

loth

flower

loth, pl. lyth (but loth is also glossed ”blossom” and may itself function as a collective term: all the flowers of a plant. For individual flowers cf. the following:)

loth

flower

pl. lyth (but loth is also glossed ”blossom” and may itself function as a collective term: all the flowers of a plant. For individual flowers cf. the following:)

edlothia

flower

(verb) #edlothia- (i edlothia, in edlothiar) (to blossom);

edlothia

flower

(i edlothia, in edlothiar) (to blossom);

edlothia-

verb. to flower, blossom

A neologism coined by David Salo (GS/230), a verbalized form of ed “out” and loth “flower”. I prefer ᴺS. losta- for this purpose.

lotheg

single flower

lothod (”singulars” derived from the more collective term loth; it is unclear whether lotheg, lothod can themselves have ”plural” forms. If so it would be lethig, lethyd, for archaic löthig, löthyd.) (VT42:18, VT45:29) Another word for a single flower is elloth (pl. ellyth) (VT42:18). An alternative to loth is loss (construct los; pl. lyss), but the form loth seems to be more common (and loss also means ”fallen snow” and ”wilderness”).

lotheg

single flower

lotheg, lothod (”singulars” derived from the more collective term loth; it is unclear whether lotheg, lothod can themselves have ”plural” forms. If so it would be lethig, lethyd, for archaic löthig, löthyd.) (VT42:18, VT45:29) Another word for a single flower is elloth (pl. ellyth) (VT42:18). An alternative to loth is loss (construct los; pl. lyss), but the form loth seems to be more common (and loss also means ”fallen snow” and ”wilderness”). COLLECTION OF FLOWERS gwaloth (i **waloth) (blossom), pl. gwelyth (in gwelyth). Also goloth (i **oloth) (blossom), pl. gelyth (i ngelyth = i ñelyth). Archaic pl. gölyth. (VT42:18)._ _Specific flowers, see DAISY, GLADDEN, SNOWDROP, FLOWER OF GOLD, HORNFLOWER.

mallos

flower of gold

(a species of flower growing in Lebennin) mallos (i vallos), pl. mellys (i mellys)

goloth

flower),

also goloth (i **oloth) (collection of flowers), pl. gelyth (i ngelyth = i ñelyth). Archaic pl. gölyth. Also in the form gwaloth (i **waloth), pl. gwelyth (in gwelyth). Also goloth.

elanor

feminine name. Elanor

Sam Gamgee’s eldest child, who was named after the flower of Lórien elanor “sun-star” (LotR/1026, SD/129). In Tolkien’s unfinished epilogue to The Lord of the Rings, this name also appeared in the diminutive form Elanorellë (SD/122).

lurloth

noun. poppy, (lit.) flower of sleep

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”.

Loth i-Lonnath

noun. Flower of the Havens

amloth

uprising-flower

R” (crest of a helmet) amloth (pl. emlyth). The source also mentions a dialectal form almoth.

amloth

uprising-flower

(pl. emlyth). The source also mentions a dialectal form almoth.

mallos

flower of gold

(i vallos), pl. mellys (i mellys)

nenloth

noun. water-flower

edlothiad

flowering

(blossoming), pl. edlothiaid if there is a pl.**

imloth

flowering valley

(pl. imlyth) (VT42:18).

gwaloth

collection of flowers

(i ’waloth) (blossom), pl. gwelyth (in gwelyth). Also goloth (i ’oloth) (blossom), pl. gelyth (i ngelyth = i ñelyth). Archaic pl. gölyth. (VT42:18). Specific flowers, see

Imloth Melui

Imloth Melui

The name Imloth Melui is translated as "sweet flower-valley".

alfirin

immortal

alfirin (no distinct pl. form). Note: the word alfirin is also used as name of a flower.

alfirin

immortal

(no distinct pl. form). Note: the word alfirin is also used as name of a flower.

edlothia

blossom

(verb) #edlothia- (i edlothia, in edlothiar) (flower);

edlothia

blossom

(i edlothia, in edlothiar) (flower);

mallos

Mallos

Mallos is a Sindarin name meaning "golden flower", apparently consisting of elements related to malt ("gold") + loth/loss ("flower"/"snow"). The Westron name of the flower is given as Goldenbell.[source?]

nínim

snowdrop

(a flower) nínim (”white tear”), no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nínimmath. The niphredil seems to be a flower similar to the snowdrop (no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. niphrediliath)

im

noun. valley, valley; [N.] dell, deep vale

An archaic element meaning “valley” that survived only in compounds, a derivation of ✶imbi “between” (VT47/14). The basic sense “valley” was transferred to its more elaborate form imlad as in Imladris “Rivendell”, and †im “valley” fell out of use due to its conflicted with other words like the reflexive pronoun im.

Conceptual Development: N. imm “dell, deep vale” was mentioned in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√IMBE, alongside its elaboration N. imlad of the same meaning (Ety/IMBE).

edlothiad

blossoming

(flowering), pl. edlothiaid if there is a pl.

alfirin

noun/adjective. immortal

eirien

feminine name. Daisy

A Sindarin translation of the name of Sam’s daughter “Daisy”, presumably of the same meaning, appearing in Tolkien’s unpublished epilogue to The Lord of the Rings and in the King’s Letter (SD/126, 129). Presumably it is eirien “daisy” used as a name.

Conceptual Development: In earlier versions of the epilogue the name appeared as N. Arien or Erien (SD/117, 121).

eirien

noun. daisy

A word for “daisy” as the name of one of the daughters of Samwise (SD/126). Its origin is unclear, but David Salo suggested it might be a loan from Q. Arien “Sun-maiden” (GS/228).

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s the word for “daisy” was G. hetheglon derived from primitive {ᴱ✶heth·seg·glôn >>} ᴱ✶heth·thed·’lon, effectively a combination of G. heth “white”, G. thed “eye”, and the genitive glôn of G. glâ “day” (GL/49), so literally “✱white eye-of-day”. G. glonthen “dandelion” from the same document had a similar derivation = “eye of the day” (GL/40).

fain

noun/adjective. white

fain

noun/adjective. cloud

glawar

blossom

n. (golden) blossom. Q. loar, lávar.

glân

adjective. white, [bright shining] white; [N.] clear; [G.] pure, †bright; [ᴱN.] clean

imlad

noun. deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides (but a flat habitable bottom)

imrad

noun. a path or pass (between mountains, hills or trackless forest)

imrath

noun. long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise

lúth

noun. blossom

_ n. Bot. _blossom, inflorescence. >> Lúthien

meril

feminine name. Rose

A Sindarin translation of the name of Sam’s daughter “Rose”, presumably of the same meaning, appearing in Tolkien’s unpublished epilogue to The Lord of the Rings and in the King’s Letter (SD/126, 129). The etymology of the name is unclear.

Conceptual Development: In earlier versions of the epilogue the name appeared as N. Beril (SD/117).

meril

noun. rose

A word for “rose” in the name Meril “Rose” of one of Samwise’s daughters (SD/126). The name was initially given as Beril (SD/117).

nim

white

_adj. _white. >> Nimbrethil

nim

white

_adj. _white (usual word). >> nimp, nimras

nim

adjective. white

pind

noun. crest

n. crest, ridge, esp. used of long (low) hill with a sharp ridge against skyline. Q. quíne. >> pend 1/2, pinn, Pinnath Gelin

pinn

noun. crest

n. crest, ridge, esp. used of long (low) hill with a sharp ridge against skyline. Q. quíne. >> pend 1/2, pind, Pinnath Gelin

silivren

adjective. (white) glittering

tum

noun. deep valley, under or among hills

uilos

noun/adjective. always white, ever white as snow

eirien

daisy

eirien (pl. eirin) (SD:128:31)

eirien

daisy

(pl. eirin) (SD:128:31)

faen

white

(radiant). No distinct pl. form.

fain

white

; no distinct pl. form.

galas

plant

galas (i **alas) (growth), pl. gelais (i ngelais = i ñelais), coll. pl. galassath**

galas

plant

(i ’alas) (growth), pl. gelais (i ngelais = i ñelais), coll. pl. galassath

gloss

white as snow, dazzling white

(in compounds -los), lenited ’loss; pl. glyss.

glân

white

1) glân (clear), lenited lân, pl. glain. (UT:390, VT45:13). Note: a homophone means ”hem, border”. 2) nimp (nim-) (pale); no distinct pl. form. 3) faen (radiant). No distinct pl. form. 4) fain; no distinct pl. form.

glân

white

(clear), lenited ’lân, pl. glain. (UT:390, VT45:13). Note: a homophone means ”hem, border”.

imrath

valley

(long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise) imrath (pl. imraith)

loth

blossom

loth (see

loth

blossom

(see

lothron

may

Lothron

lothron

may

lâd

valley

(lowland, plain), construct lad, pl. laid

meril

rose

meril (i veril), no distinct pl. form except with article (i meril), coll. pl. ?merillath. The word is attested as the Sindarin equivalent of the name Rose (SD:128-31)

meril

rose

(i veril), no distinct pl. form except with article (i meril), coll. pl. ?merillath. The word is attested as the Sindarin equivalent of the name Rose (SD:128-31)

nand

valley

1) nand (construct nan) (wide grassland, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. nannath (VT45:36), 2) lâd (lowland, plain), construct lad, pl. laid, 3) (long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise) imrath (pl. imraith).

nand

valley

(construct nan) (wide grassland, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath **(VT45:36)

nimp

white

(nim-) (pale); no distinct pl. form.

silivren

glittering white

(lenited hilivren; pl. *silivrin**). *Verb

talath

wide valley

(i** dalath, o thalath) (flat surface, plane, flatlands, plain), pl. telaith (i** thelaith). *Tolkien changed this word from ”Noldorin” dalath, LR:353 s.v.*

talath

dal

Dirnen or ”Guarded Plain” mentioned in the Silmarillion.

inzil

noun. flower, lily

A noun meaning “flower” or more specifically “lily” (PE19/99). It appears as an element in Adûnaic names from the 1940s (Rôthinzil, SD/360) and later (Inziladûn, LotR/1035).

inziladûn

masculine name. Flower of the West

Son of Ar-Gimilzôr and Inzilbêth and the 24th ruler of Númenor, whose Quenya name was Tar-Palantir “The Farsighted” (LotR/1035). The meaning of his Adûnaic name is “Flower of the West” (UT/227), so he is an example of a Númenorean ruler whose Adûnaic and Quenya names had different meanings. The name Inziladûn was his given name and he adopted Palantir when he ascended the throne.

As pointed out by Andreas Moehn (EotAL/JIL), the ordering of the elements in this name are inconsistent with the rules outlined in Lowdham’s Report, which indicate that the adjectival element “West” should come before the noun “Flower” that it modifies (SD/428), so that the name properly should be ✱Adûninzil, similar to Adûnakhôr “Lord of the West”. The name as written would mean “West of the Flower”. Perhaps Tolkien relaxed or altered those rules in his later writings.

inzilbêth

feminine name. Flower-?word

The wife of Ar-Gimilzôr who was the 23rd ruler of Númenor (S/268). She was a secret Elf-friend and raised her son Inziladûn to be faithful to the Valar. Her name has the same initial element as her son: inzil “flower”. The second element might be bêth “word”.

rothinzil

proper name. Foam-flower

The Adûnaic name of Eärendil’s ship Vingilótë “Foam-flower”, of the same meaning (S/249). This name appears in earlier writings as Rôthinzil with a long ô (SD/360). Its later form is a violation of the phonetic rules laid out by Tolkien in Lowdham’s Report, which said that the vowels [ē] and [ō] could only be long in Adûnaic (SD/423). The later form could be an Anglicanized or a Westronized form (where a short [o] could appear), or it could indicate that Tolkien changed his mind about Adûnaic phonetic rules. Some linguistic notes from the 1930s suggest Tolkien at one point considered making the name Quenya (P19/49).

Inziladûn

Inziladûn

The word inziladûn is an Adûnaic word meaning "flower of the west", derived from inzil, "flower", and adûn, "west". However, as inzil comes first, it is standing in object position; the meaning actually is "West of the Flower".

lhoth

noun. flower, inflorescence, a head of small flowers

The noun is collective, a single flower being lotheg

gwingloth

proper name. Foam-flower

lhoth

noun. flower(s)

lothron

noun. May, *Flower-ness

lhothod

noun. (single) flower

lhothod

noun. single flower

lothod

noun. (single) flower

nifredil

noun. a pale winter flower, snowdrop

nínim

noun. snowdrop (flower)

gwaloth

noun. blossom, collection of flowers

This form replaced deleted goloth in the manuscript of The Etymologies, see VT/45:29. The deleted form is however also later attested in VT/42:18

arien

feminine name. Daisy

beril

feminine name. Rose

beril

noun. rose

brassen

adjective. white-hot

fein

noun/adjective. white

fein

noun/adjective. cloud

imlad

noun. deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides (but a flat habitable bottom)

nínim

noun. snowdrop

tum

noun. deep valley, under or among hills

duban

noun. valley

nimbi

adjective. white

nimbi

adjective. white

About Nimrodel: "Nim is evidently the Telerin word nimbi 'white'." >> Nimrais >> Nimrodel

nand

noun. valley

Isolated from Lindórinand, Lórinand (q.v. for reference). While this word is not given in the Etymologies, it is clearly derived from the stem NAD (LR:374) and hence a close cognate of the similar Doriathrin word nand "field, valley". The Quenya cognate nanda (meaning "water-mead, watered plain") indicates a primitive form *nandâ; as in most cases, the final -â is lost in Nandorin.