Noldorin 

mann

noun. food

The earliest word for “food” in precursors to the Sindarin language was G. môs “food (of men)” (GL/56, 58), probably based on the early root ᴱ√M(B)ASA “cook, bake” (QL/59). This became ᴱN. math “food” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s, appearing only in its lenited form vath as an element in ᴱN. orvath “foodless” (PE13/155). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had N. mann “food” as a derivative of primitive ᴹ✶matna under the root ᴹ√MAT “eat”, but the version of the entry where this form appeared was struck out (EtyAC/MAT). The primitive form ✶matnā “food” did reappear in the early 1950s, however (PE22/136).

Neo-Sindarin: Of the above, I prefer ᴺS. math for “food”. I first saw math proposed as the Neo-Sindarin word for “food” in a list of neologisms by Elaran on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) from 2018. I prefer math because I tend to assume Q. matta is derived from ✱mattā rather than ✶matnā to avoid certain phonological difficulties; see that entry for discussion. If you are not concerned with those difficulties, ᴺS. mann “food” is also viable.

Noldorin [EtyAC/MAT] Group: Eldamo. Published by

aes

noun. cooked food, meat

A noun for “cooked food, meat” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√AP, likely from primitive ✱apsā given its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. apsa (Ety/AP). If so, the ae is the result of the vocalization of the ancient ap to ai, after which the diphthong ai became ae.

Neo-Sindarin: This 1930s Noldorin word presents two problems for its adaptation to Sindarin. First, the Sindarin vocalization of ancient p seems to be u rather than i, as in S. leutha- “pick up” < ✱lepta- (VT47/10). Second, it seems spirants no longer vocalized before s, as in S. ach “neck” < aks (PE17/92). Nevertheless, I would retain this word for purposes of Neo-Sindarin and assume it was the result of dialectical variations in Sindarin of the First Age.

laudh

noun. licking up (food or drink), gluttonous eating

Noldorin [PE19/045] Group: Eldamo. Published by

aes

noun. cooked food, meat

Noldorin [Ety/349] Group: SINDICT. Published by

salff

noun. broth, liquid food, soup

The form salf in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45:12

Noldorin [Ety/385, VT/46:12, X/PH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

salff

noun. broth

A noun appearing as N. salff “broth” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ON. salpha “liquid food, soup, broth” under the root ᴹ√SALAP “lick up” (Ety/SÁLAP; EtyAC/SÁLAP). In The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road the form was salf (LR/385), but Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne corrected this to salff in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (VT46/12).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin I would update the spelling of this word to ᴺS. salph “broth”, as suggested in HSD (HSD).

Noldorin [Ety/SÁLAP; EtyAC/SÁLAP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

salab

noun. herb

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “herb” derived from ᴹ✶SALÁK-(WĒ) and cognate to ᴹQ. salqe “grass” (Ety/SALÁK). Its Noldorin plural was seleb, but if adapted into Sindarin its plural would be ✱selaib.

Conceptual Development: A likely precursor is ᴱN. {halo >>} halb “grass, long mowing grass” from Early Noldorin word lists of the 1920s, which had a Quenya cognate ᴱQ. salqe (PE13/147). The variant half “grass” from elsewhere in the same document was likely also related (PE13/147). See also G. salc “green cut grass” from the 1910s.

Noldorin [Ety/SALÁK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

brôg

noun. bear

Noldorin [Ety/374] Group: SINDICT. Published by

brôg

noun. bear

A noun for “bear” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶morókō under the root ᴹ√MOROK (Ety/MORÓK), where the initial syllable reduced to m’rokō and then the initial mr became br.

Conceptual Development: A likely precursor to this word is ᴱN. gorch “bear” (also “fierce fighter”) from Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/145, 149).

Noldorin [Ety/LIS; Ety/MORÓK; EtyAC/LIS] Group: Eldamo. Published by

megli

noun. bear

Noldorin [Ety/369, Ety/371, X/DL] mad-+glî "honey-eater". Group: SINDICT. Published by

salab

noun. herb

Noldorin [Ety/385, X/EI] Group: SINDICT. Published by

Quenya 

matta

noun. food

A noun for “food” from the Common Eldarin: Verb Structure (EVS2) of the early 1950s, derived from primitive ✶matnā, originally an ancient adjective meaning “eaten” (PE22/136).

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s the word for “food” was ᴱQ. matl under the early root ᴱ√MATA (QL/59). This became ᴱQ. {masta} >> matso in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/141). In EVS2 the word was originally manna “food”, but this was struck through and replaced by matta (PE22/136 note #36), which likely reflects Tolkien’s shift in the phonetic developments of primitive tn, so that tn became tt rather than nn as it did in Tolkien’s earlier writings (PE19/85 and note #79).

Neo-Quenya: I find the phonetic developments associated with the above sound change to be problematic for various reasons. Therefore, I prefer to assume the primitive form of this word was an ancient noun: ✱mattā.

matl

food

matl noun "food"; read *matil in LotR-style Quenya (in which language final syllabic -l becomes -il) (QL:59); however, the word matso from a later source may be preferred.

matso

food

matso noun "food" (PE16:141)

matta

noun. food

Quenya [PE 22:136] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

apsa

cooked food, meat

apsa noun "cooked food, meat" (AP)

celvamatta

noun. animal food

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2022 specifically for Eldamo as a combination of Q. celva “animal” and Q. matta “food”, replacing earlier ᴱQ. koisimatl from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

laptë

noun. gluttonous eating

A noun appearing as Q. lapsa “gluttonous eating” in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) from the 1950s from primitive ✶labdā (PE19/91-92 note #110). It also appeared as ᴹQ. lapsa in Outline of Phonetic Development (OP1) from the 1940s with the glosses “licking up (food or drink), gluttonous eating”, the first of these presumably the original (archaic?) meaning (PE19/45). Both examples illustrate the sound change whereby pt becoming to ps. However, Tolkien abandoned this sound change and decided that pt became ꝑt [ɸt], though still spelt pt and later pronounced u̯t in Exhilic Quenya of the first age. As part of this conceptual change, Tolkien revised lapsa >> lapte with a new primitive form ✶labdē before deleting the entire section and rewriting it with new examples.

Neo-Quenya: I’d retain ᴺQ. laptë “gluttonous eating” for purposes of Neo-Quenya since the sound changes producing it remained valid.

laimamatta

noun. vegetable food, (lit.) plant food

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

nes

noun. food, feed, fodder

laiquë

herb

laiquë noun "herb" ("anything green, but especially as used for food") (PE17:159)

laiquë

noun. herb

A noun for “herb” appearing in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957, a combination of the roots √LAY and √KWĒ (PE17/159). Tolkien specified that it was used for “anything green, but especially [herbs] as used for food”.

col-

verb. bear, carry

#col- vb. "bear, carry", not attested by itself by suggested by colindo and colla, q.v.; also compare Tancol.

maita-

verb. feed

feed

Quenya [PE 18:95] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

mastima

adjective. edible

Quenya [PE 22:137] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

mastima

adjective. edible

matina

participle. eaten

Quenya [PE 22:107] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

mattima

verb. edible

Quenya [PE 22:111] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

maxe

noun. meat

Quenya [PE 22:120] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

morco

bear

morco ("k")noun "bear" (MORÓK)

mátima

edible

mátima adj. "edible" (PE17:68), cf. mat-.

mátima

adjective. edible

An adjective “edible” = “able to be eaten”, a combination of Q. mat- “eat” with the suffix -ima “able” which induces lengthening of the base vowel: á (PE17/68; PE22/155).

Conceptual Development: The suffix -ima “able” dates all the way back to the Early Qenya of the 1910s, but the way it interacted with the verb evolved over time. In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s the form was ᴱQ. matsima (QL/59) with the usual Early Qenya sound change of ti to tsi (PE12/23). In the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) of 1948 it was ᴹQ. mattima with consonant-doubling instead of vowel lengthening (PE22/111). In Common Eldarin: Verb Structure of the early 1950s it was Q. mastima with a variant suffix -tima and the usual sound change whereby t+t became st (PE22/137). The form mátima appeared in various notes from the 1960s (PE17/68; PE22/155).

Quenya [PE17/068; PE22/155] Group: Eldamo. Published by

matina

adjective. eaten

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

salpa

noun. broth

A neologism for “broth” created by Boris Shapiro in PPQ (PPQ) from the early 2000s, equivalent to N. salff.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

Sindarin 

saur

adjective. used in sense 'bad' of food etc

_adj. _used in sense 'bad' of food etc., putrid. Tolkien seems to have rejected the root SAWA, noting: "No. THAW-, cruel. saura, cruel. Gorthaur-."

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:183-4] < SAWA disgusting, foul, vile. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

saur

adjective. bad (of food), putrid

An adjective meaning “bad (of food), putrid” in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 based on the root √SAWA “disgusting, foul, vile” that was the basis of the (Quenya) name Sauron (PE17/183). In a marginal note Tolkien said “No. THAW-, cruel. Saura, cruel”, apparently rejecting this etymology, but then he wrote an “X” next to the marginal note (PE17/184).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. thaw “corrupt, rotten” under the root ᴹ√THUS, also connected to the name Sauron (Ety/THUS).

Neo-Sindarin: For purpose of Neo-Sindarin, I think saur “putrid” and thaw “corrupt” can coexist.

Sindarin [PE17/183] Group: Eldamo. Published by

salph

noun. broth, liquid food, soup

The form salf in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45:12

Sindarin [Ety/385, VT/46:12, X/PH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mann

noun. food

math

noun. food

mann

food

mann (i vann, construct man), pl. main (i main) (VT45:35).

mann

food

(i vann, construct man), pl. main (i main) (VT45:35).

laudh

noun. gluttonous eating

A noun appearing as S. laudh “gluttonous eating” in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) from the 1950s from primitive {✶labdā >>} ✶labdē (PE19/91-92 note #110). It also appeared as N. lauð in Outline of Phonetic Development (OP1) from the 1940s with the glosses “licking up (food or drink), gluttonous eating”, the first of these presumably the original (archaic?) meaning (PE19/45). In OP2, the section where it appeared was marked through when Tolkien revised the Quenya phonetic developments, but the Sindarin phonetic developments remain sound, so I’d retain ᴺS. laudh “gluttonous eating” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Sindarin [PE19/092] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laudh

noun. gluttonous eating, [N.] †licking up (food or drink)

aes

cooked food

aes (meat). No distinct pl. form.

aes

cooked food

aes (meat). No distinct pl. form.

aes

cooked food

(meat). No distinct pl. form.

mast

noun. fodder, feed, food, nourishment

salph

liquid food

(i halph, o salph) (soup, broth), pl. seilph (if the word goes like alph ”swan”), with article i seilph.

salph

liquid food

salph (i halph, o salph) (soup, broth), pl. seilph (if the word goes like alph ”swan”), with article i seilph.

salph

liquid food

salph (i halph, o salph) (soup, broth), pl. seilph (if the word goes like alph ”swan”), with article i seilph.

salph

liquid food

(i halph, o salph) (soup, broth), pl. seilph (if the word goes like alph ”swan”), with article i seilph.

aes

meat

aes (cooked food). No distinct pl. form.

aes

meat

(cooked food). No distinct pl. form.

salph

broth

salph (i halph, o salph) (liquid food, soup), pl. seilph (if the word goes like alph ”swan”), with article i seilph.

salph

broth

(i halph, o salph) (liquid food, soup), pl. seilph (if the word goes like alph ”swan”), with article i seilph.

graw

noun. bear

Sindarin [VT/47:12] Group: SINDICT. Published by

graw

noun. bear

A Sindarin word for “bear” in notes from the late 1960s, derived from primitive ✶grā (VT47/12).

Neo-Sindarin: Its Quenya cognate Q. roa had the revised meaning {“bear” >>} “dog”, so for purposes of Neo-Sindarin it is probably best to stick with [N.] brôg and ᴺS. medli [N. megli] as words for “bear”.

medli

noun. bear

Sindarin [Ety/369, Ety/371, X/DL] mad-+glî "honey-eater". Group: SINDICT. Published by

brôg

bear

(i vrôg, construct brog), pl. brŷg (i mrŷg)

graw

bear

(noun) 1) graw (i **raw), pl. groe (in groe), coll. pl. ?grawath or ?groath (VT47:12). 2) brôg (i vrôg, construct brog), pl. brŷg (i mrŷg**), 3) *medli (i vedli), no distinct pl. form except with article (i medli). The word literally means ”honey-eater”. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” megli.

graw

bear

(i ’raw), pl. groe (in groe), coll. pl. ?grawath or ?groath (VT47:12).

madui

adjective. edible

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

medli

bear

(i vedli), no distinct pl. form except with article (i medli). The word literally means ”honey-eater”. – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” megli.

medlin

bearish, of bears

(adjective derived from medli ”bear”), lenited vedlin, no distinct pl. form. – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” meglin.

salab

herb

salab (i halab, o salab), pl. selaib (i selaib). In ”N”, the pl. was seleb, LR:385 s.v. _ÁK-(W_Ē).

salab

herb

(i halab, o salab), pl. selaib (i selaib). – In ”N”, the pl. was seleb, LR:385 s.v. SALÁK-(WĒ).

salph

noun. broth

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

Primitive elvish

labdē

noun. licking up (food or drink)

Primitive elvish [PE19/092] Group: Eldamo. Published by

matnā

adjective. eaten, eaten, [ᴹ✶] food

Primitive elvish [PE22/136] Group: Eldamo. Published by

matjā-

verb. feed

Primitive elvish [PE 22:135] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

matˢtimā

adjective. edible

Primitive elvish [PE22/137] Group: Eldamo. Published by

morokō

noun. bear

Primitive elvish [PE21/82] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Telerin 

lauda

noun. gluttonous eating

Adûnaic

urug

noun. bear

A noun translated “bear” (SD/426), also given by Tolkien as an example of how common-nouns can be altered into masculine and feminine forms using the suffixes and : urgī “female bear, she-bear” (SD/435).

Adûnaic [SD/426; SD/435] 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!

Early Quenya

matl

noun. food

Early Quenya [QL/059] Group: Eldamo. Published by

matso

noun. food

Early Quenya [PE16/141] Group: Eldamo. Published by

koisimatl

noun. animal food

A noun in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “animal food”, a combination of ᴱQ. koite (koisi-) “animal” and ᴱQ. matl “food” (QL/48, 59).

Early Quenya [QL/048; QL/059] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lausimatl

noun. vegetable food

A word appearing as ᴱQ. lausimatl “vegetable food” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, a combination of ᴱQ. laute (lausi-) “living thing, (esp.) vegetable” and ᴱQ. matl “food” (QL/52, 59).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would update this word to ᴺQ. laimamatta “vegetable food, (lit.) plant food”, a combination of the later elements Q. laima “plant” and Q. matta “food”.

Early Quenya [QL/059] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nes

noun. food, feed, fodder

A word appearing as ᴱQ. nes (nest-) “food, feed, fodder” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√NESE “(give to feed); pasture” (QL/66).

Neo-Quenya: I think this word is salvageable as ᴺQ. nes (nest-) for purposes of Neo-Quenya as a derivative of the salvaged Neo-Root ᴺ√NES.

Early Quenya [QL/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

matsima

adjective. edible

Early Quenya [QL/059] Group: Eldamo. Published by

manta

adjective. eaten

An adjective (passive participle?) for “eaten” in Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/142), clearly based on ᴱQ. mat- “eat” (PE16/141).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I think it is safer to stick to the later passive participle form of the verb: ᴺQ. matina “eaten”.

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

matsile

noun. bear

A word appearing only as an element in the name ᴱQ. Oromatsile “Great Bear” from Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/149). It was a cognate of ᴱN. magli “bear” = “honey-eater”, and hence composed of the same elements: ᴱQ. mata- “eat” and ᴱQ. ile “honey”, where the s appeared because ti became tsi in Early Qenya, so that matile > matsile.

Early Quenya [PE13/149] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

matna

noun. food

Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/MAT] Group: Eldamo. Published by

labdā

noun. licking up (food or drink), gluttonous eating

Middle Primitive Elvish [PE19/045] Group: Eldamo. Published by

morókō

noun. bear

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/MORÓK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

math

noun. food

Early Noldorin [PE13/155] Group: Eldamo. Published by

madren

adjective. edible

An adjective appearing as ᴱN. madren “edible” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s based on the verb ᴱN. mad- “eat” (PE13/163, 165). It seems this was a pure adjective, as opposed to indeclinable ᴱN. medid “edible” which was based on the inflected verb form medi- (PE13/163, 165). In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s the adjective was instead G. madrin “edible, fit for food, wholesome” with variant form madriol (GL/56).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin I would update this to ᴺS. madui “edible” using the later adjective suffix -ui, as in únodui “uncountable” (PE17/144).

Early Noldorin [PE13/163; PE13/165] Group: Eldamo. Published by

medid

adjective. edible

Early Noldorin [PE13/163; PE13/165] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

madri

noun. food, edibles; a meal

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “food, edibles” also with the sense “a meal” (GL/55), a combination of the early root ᴱ√MATA “eat” (QL/59) with the abstract noun suffix -ri.

Gnomish [GL/20; GL/47; GL/55] Group: Eldamo. Published by

haimadri

adjective. lunch, food in morning, elevens

A noun in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “lunch, food in morning, elevens”, a combination of G. hai “early” and G. madri “meal” (GL/20).

mast

noun. feed, food, nourishment; fodder

A noun appearing as G. mast “feed, food, nourishment; fodder” in the Gnomish Lexicon (GL/56). Its etymology is unclear; it might be derived from the early root ᴱ√MATA “eat” or from ᴱ√M(B)ASA “cook, bake”.

Neo-Sindarin: This word can easily be adapted as Neo-Sindarin ᴺS. mast based on ancient √MAT “eat” + noun suffixes ✶-dā or ✶-ta, since d + t or t + t from suffixion resulted in st in Sindarin phonology. I would limit this word to animal feed or fodder, and would use ᴺS. math for “food” in general.

madrin

adjective. edible, fit for food, wholesome

madriol

adjective. edible, fit for food, wholesome

môs

noun. food (of men)

Gnomish [GL/30; GL/56; GL/58] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

apsa

noun. meat, cooked food

A noun for “cooked food, meat” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√AP (Ety/AP). The word apsa “meat” also appeared in notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1930s and 40s (PE22/21, 50), though in the 1940s version its gloss was revised to “juice” (PE22/50 note #181).

Neo-Quenya: For purposed of Neo-Quenya, I’d stick to the better-known meaning “(cooked) meat” from The Etymologies. I would use it for “meat” used in cooking and eating, as opposed to Q. hrávë “flesh” as part of a body.

Qenya [Ety/AP; PE22/021; PE22/022; PE22/050] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mat

noun. food, meal, meal, [ᴱQ.] meal time; [ᴹQ.] food

A noun glossed “food, meal” in the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s with a stem form matt- (PE21/27), clearly based on ᴹ√MAT “eat”. Tolkien specified that as the suffix -mat, it was the basis of names for meals (PE21/32). The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s also had ᴱQ. mat (matt-) “meal, meal time” under the early root ᴱ√MATA “eat” (QL/59).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya I would use this word only for “meal”, and would instead use Q. matta for “food”.

Qenya [PE21/20; PE21/27; PE21/32] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lapsa

noun. licking up (food or drink), gluttonous eating

makse

noun. meat

A noun for “meat” appearing in the Quenya Verbal System written in 1948.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I stick to the better-known word ᴹQ. apsa “meat” from The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/AP). This help avoids a conflict with ᴹQ. makse “dough”, also from The Etymologies (Ety/MASAG).

mattima

adjective. edible

morko

noun. bear

A noun for “bear” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶morókō under the root ᴹ√MOROK (Ety/MORÓK).

Doriathrin

ass

noun. cooked food, meat

A noun meaning “cooked food, meat” (Ety/AP). Given its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. apsa, it seems to be an example of how [[ilk|voiceless stops became [s] before [s]]] in Ilkorin.

Doriathrin [Ety/AP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laudh

noun. licking up (food or drink), gluttonous eating

@@@

Doriathrin [PE19/045] Group: Eldamo. Published by

broga

noun. bear

A word for “bear” developed from the primitive form ᴹ✶morókō (Ety/BIRÍT), because in Ilkorin unstressed initial syllables reduced to favored clusters, after which the [[ilk|initial [mr-] became [br-]]]. This word is unusual in that the primitive final vowel did not vanish, but instead developed into -a, as noted by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Ilkorin/broga). The conditions for this exception are unclear, but may have been due to the consonant [g] that developed from primitive [k].

Doriathrin [Ety/MORÓK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Telerin

lauda

noun. licking up (food or drink), gluttonous eating

Middle Telerin [PE19/045] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

salape

noun. herb, green food plant

Old Noldorin [Ety/SALÁK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

salpha

noun. liquid food, soup, broth

Old Noldorin [Ety/SÁLAP] Group: Eldamo. Published by