Quenya 

fuine

noun. deep shadow

PQ. deep shadow, night shade

Quenya [PE 19:31] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

fuinë

deep shadow

fuinë noun "deep shadow" (PHUY; cf. "Qenya" fuin "night" in MC:221). According to VT41:8, fuinë is not a Quenya form at all, but Telerin for Quenya huinë (but unquestionably, fuinë is quoted as a Quenya form in certain earlier sources; cf. also Fuinur below - perhaps we may assume that fuinë was borrowed into Quenya from Telerin and thus came to co-exist with huinë?

Fui

night

Fui noun "Night" (PHUY) - variant Hui, which form is probably to be preferred in light of Tolkien's later insight that the related word fuinë (see below) is actually Telerin, the proper Quenya form being huinë.

huinë

deep shadow

huinë noun "deep shadow" (PHUY), "gloom" (VT41:8), "gloom, darkness" (SA:fuin), also used for "shadow" = Sauron (LR:56). Possessive (adjectival) form huinéva in the name Taurë Huinéva, q.v. In earlier sources, huinë is quoted as a variant of fuinë, but according to VT41:8, huinë is the proper Quenya form and fuinë is Telerin.With prefix nu- "under" and allative ending -nna in nuhuinenna (SD:246); also unuhuinë "under-shadow" (LR:47).

Hui

night

Hui noun "Night" (PHUY), in earlier "Qenya" defined as "evening" _(MC:214) or"fog, dark, murk, night" (LT1:253)._

lúna

dark

lúna adj. *"dark" in Lúnaturco and Taras Lúna, Quenya names of Barad-dûr (Dark Tower). (PE17:22). In the Etymologies, lúnë "blue" was changed by Tolkien from lúna (VT45:29).

lómin

shade, shadow

lómin noun "shade, shadow" (LT1:255)

mori

night

mori noun "night" (LT1:261, in Tolkien's later Quenya mórë, morë)

morĭ

adjective. dark

PQ. dark

Quenya [PE 19:81] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

ulca

adjective. dark

dark, gloomy, sinister

Quenya [PE 18:88] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

yaru

gloom, blight

yaru noun "gloom, blight" (GL:37)

laimë

shade

laimë noun "shade" (DAY; in an earlier version the gloss was "shadow (cast by an object or form)"; see VT45:8-9. Perhaps Tolkien transferred this meaning to lëo when giving laimë the more general meaning "shade".)

lumbë

gloom, shadow

lumbë noun "gloom, shadow" (LUM)

lóna

dark

?lóna (4) adj. "dark" (DO3/DŌ). If this is to be the cognate of "Noldorin"/Sindarin dûr, as the context seems to indicate, lóna is likely a misreading for *lóra in Tolkien's manuscript.

lúmë

darkness

lúmë (2) noun "darkness" (one wonders if Tolkien confused lúmë "time, hour" and lómë "night") (Markirya)

lúmë

noun. darkness

A noun in the 1960s versions of the Markirya glossed “darkness” (MC/222), perhaps derived from a root √DU as suggested by David Salo in a post to the Elfling mailing list in 2012 (Elfling/362.96).

Neo-Quenya: I’d generally use Q. huinë for “darkness” in Neo-Quenya, but that word is more for total darkness, whereas lúmë might be a less severe form of darkness, a variant of Q. lómë “night, dusk”.

Derivations

  • DU “dark”

Element in

Variations

  • lúme ✧ MC/222

mori-

dark, black

mori- "dark, black" in a number of compounds (independent form morë, q.v.):Morimando "Dark Mando" = Mandos (MBAD, VT45:33), morimaitë "black-handed" (LotR3:VI ch. 6, VT49:42). Moriquendi "Dark Elves" (SA:mor, WJ:361, 373), Moringotto "Black Foe", Sindarin Morgoth, later name of Melkor. The oldest form is said to have been Moriñgotho (MR:194). In late material, Tolkien is seen to consider both Moringotto and Moricotto _("k") _as the Quenya form of the name Morgoth (VT49:24-25; Moricotto also appears in the ablative, Moricottollo). Morion "the dark one", a title of Morgoth (FS). Morifinwë "dark Finwë", masc. name; he was called Caranthir in Sindarin (short Quenya name Moryo). (PM:353) In the name Morinehtar, translated "Darkness-slayer", the initial element is defined would thus seem to signify "darkness" rather than "dark" as an adjective (see mórë). (PM:384, 385)

morna

dark, black

morna adj. "dark, black" (Letters:282, LT1:261; also used of black hair, PE17:154), or "gloomy, sombre" (MOR). Used as noun in the phrase mi…morna of someone clad "in…black" (PE17:71). In tumbalemorna (Letters:282), q.v. Pl. mornë in Markirya**(the first version of this poem had "green rocks", MC:215, changed to ondolisse mornë** "upon dark rocks" in the final version; see MC:220, note 8).

móri

dark

móri adj. "dark" (MC:221; this is "Qenya"; in Tolkien's later Quenya mórë, morë)

nulda

secret

nulda adj. "secret" (DUL)

nulla

dark, dusky, obscure

nulla adj. "dark, dusky, obscure" (NDUL), "secret" (DUL). See also VT45:11.

núla

dark, occult, mysterious

núla ("ñ")adj. "dark, occult, mysterious" (PE17:125)

olo

night

?olo (reading uncertain), possibly a synonym of #1, hence noun "night" (VT45:28)

lúrëa

dark, overcast

lúrëa adj. "dark, overcast" (LT1:259)

mornië

darkness

mornië noun "darkness" (Nam, RGEO:67), "dark, blackness" (PE17:73). Early "Qenya" also has Mornië "Black Grief", "the black ship that plies between Mandos and Erumáni" (LT1:261). This is probably a compound of mor- "black" and nië "tear".

mor

darkness

mor noun "darkness" (Letters:308; probably just an Elvish "element" rather than a complete word; Namárië has mornië for "darkness")

night, a night

(1) noun "night, a night" (DO3/DŌ, VT45:28)

hróva

dark, dark brown

hróva adj. "dark, dark brown", used to refer to hair (PE17:154)

lëo

shade, shadow cast by any object

lëo noun "shade, shadow cast by any object" (DAY)

lomba

secret

lomba adj.or noun "secret" (LT1:255)

Sindarin 

fuin

noun. night, dead of night, gloom, darkness

Sindarin [Ety/354, Ety/382, S/431] Group: SINDICT. Published by

fuin

fuin

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:120] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

fuin

noun. night, gloom, darkness, night, gloom, darkness, [N.] dead of night

Cognates

  • Q. huinë “gloom, (unrelieved) darkness, deep shadow, night shade; dark (as a substance)” ✧ SA/fuin; VT41/08; NM/279

Derivations

  • phuinē “deep shadow, night shade, dark substance, vapour-like darkeness, deep shadow, night shade, [ᴹ✶] night” ✧ NM/279; NM/283
    • PHUY “breathe out, *darkness; breathe out” ✧ NM/279; NM/285

Element in

  • S. Emyn-nu-Fuin “Mountains of Mirkwood, (lit.) Mountains under Night” ✧ UTI/Emyn-nu-Fuin
  • S. Fuinur ✧ SA/fuin
  • S. Taur-nu-Fuin “Forest under Night(shade)” ✧ SA/fuin

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
phuinē > fuin[pʰuinē] > [pʰuine] > [ɸuine] > [fuine] > [fuin]✧ NM/279
phuinē > fuin[pʰuinē] > [pʰuine] > [ɸuine] > [fuine] > [fuin]✧ NM/283

Variations

  • Fuin ✧ UTI/Emyn-nu-Fuin
Sindarin [NM/279; NM/283; PE17/120; RC/727; SA/fuin; UTI/Emyn-nu-Fuin; VT41/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by

thurin

masculine name. Secret

A name that Finduilas gave to Túrin translated “Secret” (UT/157), simply the adjective thurin “secret, hidden” used as a name.

Elements

WordGloss
thurin“secret, hidden”
Sindarin [UT/157; UTI/Thurin; WJI/Thurin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwath

noun. stain

Sindarin [Ety/397, S/432] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lum

noun. shade

Sindarin [Ety/370, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

night

_ n. _night (when viewed favourably). Q. lóme.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:152] < _dōmē _< DOM. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

dûr

adjective. dark, sombre

Sindarin [Ety/354, S/430, UT/434] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dûr

dark

_ adj. _dark, gloomy, 'hellish'.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:152] < _(n)dūrā_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

dúath

adjective. dark

_ adj. _dark, black shadow.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:87] < _du-wath_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

dúath

noun. darkness, shadow

Sindarin [Ety/354, S/430] Either the collective plural of dû, or a compound dû+gwath "night shade" (hence dúwath). Group: SINDICT. Published by

dúath

noun. nightshade

Sindarin [Ety/354, S/430] Either the collective plural of dû, or a compound dû+gwath "night shade" (hence dúwath). Group: SINDICT. Published by

môr

noun. darkness, dark, night

Sindarin [Ety/373, Letters/382] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwath

noun. shade, shadow, dim light

Sindarin [Ety/397, S/432] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dae

shade

(i dhae) (shadow), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nae)

daw

gloom

1) daw (i dhaw) (nighttime), pl. doe (i noe), coll. pl. ?dawath or ?doath; 2) dim (i dhim) (sadness), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nim). Note: a homophone means ”stair”. 3) fuin (darkness, night, dead of night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form. 4) maur (i vaur), pl. moer (i moer) (VT45:35)

daw

gloom

(i dhaw) (nighttime), pl. doe (i noe), coll. pl. ?dawath or ?doath

doll

dark

doll (dusky, misty, obscure), lenited noll, pl. dyll. Note: In ”Noldorin”, this word appeared as dolt as well as doll, but the latter seems the best form in S.

doll

dark

(dusky, misty, obscure), lenited noll, pl. dyll. Note: In ”Noldorin”, this word appeared as dolt as well as doll, but the latter seems the best form in S.

graw

dark

graw (swart), lenited raw, pl. groe. (VT45:16)

graw

dark

(swart), lenited ’raw, pl. groe. (VT45:16)

gwâth

shade

(noun) 1) gwâth (i **wâth; construct gwath) (shadow, dim light), pl. gwaith (in gwaith) (UT:261), 2) dae (i dhae) (shadow), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nae), 3) lûm (pl. luim**).

gwâth

shade

(i ’wâth; construct gwath) (shadow, dim light), pl. gwaith (in gwaith) (UT:261)

môr

dark

môr (black), lenited vôr, pl. mŷr (Letters:382), also

môr

dark

(black), lenited vôr, pl. m**ŷr* (Letters:382)*, also

fuin

gloom

(darkness, night, dead of night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form.

fuin

darkness

(gloom, night, dead of night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form.

fuin

nightshade

(gloom, darkness, night, dead of night); no distinct pl. form.

fuin

dead of night

fuin (gloom, darkness, night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form.

fuin

dead of night

(gloom, darkness, night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form.

fuin

night, nightshade, dead of night

fuin (gloom, darkness). No distinct pl. form.

fuin

nightshade

fuin (gloom, darkness, night, dead of night); no distinct pl. form.

fuin

night, nightshade, dead of night

(gloom, darkness). No distinct pl. form.

thurin

secret

(adjective) 1) thurin (hidden); no distinct pl. form, 2) dolen (hidden), lenited dholen, pl. dolin;

thurin

secret

(hidden); no distinct pl. form

tinnu

early night without a moon

(i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

graurim

dark people

(VT45:16);

dim

gloom

(i dhim) (sadness), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nim). Note: a homophone means ”stair”.

night

1) (i dhû) (nightfall, dusk, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302), 2) morn (i vorn) (darkness), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”dark, black” (Letters:386).

darkness

1) (i dhû) (night, nightfall, late evening, dusk), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302), 2) fuin (gloom, night, dead of night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form. 3) môr (i vôr, construct mor), pl. mŷr (i mŷr) if there is a pl. (Letters:382); 4 morn (i vorn) (night), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word môr, morn is also used as an adjective ”dark, black”. (Letters:386)

darkness

(i dhû) (night, nightfall, late evening, dusk), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302)

night

(i dhû) (nightfall, dusk, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302)

golu

secret lore

(i ngolu = i ñolu, o n’golu = o ñgolu) (secret lore), analogical pl. gely (in gely = i ñgely) if there is a pl. Archaic golw, hence golwath as the likely coll. pl. 

maur

gloom

(i vaur), pl. moer (i moer) (VT45:35)

morn

dark

morn (black), pl. myrn, lenited vorn. Note: the latter word is also used as a noun ”darkness, night”. (Letters:386)

morn

dark

(black), pl. myrn, lenited vorn. Note: the latter word is also used as a noun ”darkness, night”. (Letters:386)

morn

night

(i vorn) (darkness), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”dark, black” (Letters:386).

dolen

secret

(hidden), lenited dholen, pl. dolin

dûr

dark

dûr (sombre), lenited dhûr, pl. duir

dûr

dark

(sombre), lenited dhûr, pl. duir

lûm

shade

(pl. luim).

dúath

dark shadow

(i dhúath) (nightshade), pl. dúaith (i núaith);

dúath

nightshade

dúath (i dhúath) (dark shadow), pl. dúaith (i núaith).

dúath

nightshade

(i dhúath) (dark shadow), pl. dúaith (i núaith).

guldur

dark sorcery

(i nguldur = i ñuldur), pl. gyldyr (in gyldyr = i ñgyldyr)

môr

darkness

(i vôr, construct mor), pl. m**ŷr (i m**ŷr) if there is a pl. (Letters:382); 4 morn (i vorn) (night), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word môr, morn is also used as an adjective ”dark, black”. (Letters:386)

daw

nighttime

(i dhaw) (gloom), pl. doe (i noe), coll. pl. ?dawath or ?doath.

Telerin 

fuinë

noun. gloom

Cognates

  • Q. huinë “gloom, (unrelieved) darkness, deep shadow, night shade; dark (as a substance)” ✧ VT41/08

Variations

  • fuine ✧ VT41/08

Quendya 

huine

noun. deep shadow

deep shadow, night shade

Quendya [PE 19:31 PE 19:71] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

Nandorin 

sciella

noun. shade, screen

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger] < SKAL. Published by

scella

noun. shade, screen

Probably noun. Primitive form given as skalnâ, derived from the stem SKAL1 "screen, hide (from light)" (LR:386). Since -nâ is an adjectival ending, often taking on the meaning of a kind of past participle, skalnâ must mean "screened, hidden (from light)"; this has become a noun "shade, screen" in Nandorin.

The word scella, sciella alone tells us that ln is assimilated to ll in Nandorin, and as in dunna, spenna a primitive final , usually lost, seems to persist as -a following a double consonant. The shift of a to e in skalnâ > scella is parallelled by the similar shift in spannâ > spenna, q.v. However, such a shift does not occur in what might seem to be similar environments (before a double consonant?); cf. hrassa, not hressa, from khrassê. It would seem that e might further break up into ie, scella having the alternative form sciella.

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (LR:386)] < SKAL. Published by

Black Speech

búrz

adjective. dark

Element in

  • Bs. burzum “darkness” ✧ PE17/011; PE17/012
  • Bs. Lugbúrz “Dark Tower” ✧ PE17/012; PE17/079

Variations

  • burz ✧ PE17/012
Black Speech [PE17/011; PE17/012; PE17/079] Group: Eldamo. Published by

burzum

noun. darkness

Element in

Elements

WordGloss
búrz“dark”
-um“particularizing suffix”
Black Speech [LotR/0254; PE17/011; PE17/012] Group: Eldamo. Published by

búrz

adjective. dark

Black Speech [PE17/11] Published by

burzum

noun. darkness

Black Speech [PE17/11] Published by

Adûnaic

dâur

noun. gloom

A noun translated as “gloom” derived from the root √DAWAR (SD/423). It is an example of how primitive [[ad|[w] and [j] became [u] and [i] before consonants and finally]], thereby producing diphthongs.

Derivations

  • ✶Ad. dāw’r “gloom” ✧ SD/423
    • √Ad. DAWAR “*gloom” ✧ SD/423

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
✶Ad. dāw’r > dâur[dāwr] > [dāur]✧ SD/423

Primitive elvish

dom

root. dark, dark, [ᴹ√] faint, dim

This root was the basis for the main Elvish words for “dusk, night”, which was established as Q. lómë in Quenya for most of Tolkien’s life. The earliest form of this root was ᴱ√LOMO in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, unglossed but with various derivatives having to do with “dusk” and “shadow” (QL/55). One notable derivative was ᴱQ. lóme “dusk, gloom, darkness”, which survived in Tolkien’s later writings as “night” and in the 1910s was the basis for ᴱQ. Hisilóme/G. Hithlum “Shadowy Twilights”. Another notable derivative was G. lómin “shady, shadowy, gloomy; gloom(iness)” (GL/45) used in the name G. Dor Lómin, which in the 1910s was translated as “Land of Shadow” (LT1/112).

The “shadow” meaning of this early root seems to have transferred to ᴹ√LUM from The Etymologies of the 1930s, which served as the new basis for N. Hithlum (Ety/LUM), as opposed contemporaneous N. Dor-lómen which was redefined as “Land of Echoes (< ᴹ√LAM via Ilkorin or in later writings, via North Sindarin). The “dusk” sense was transferred to a new root ᴹ√DOM “faint, dim”, which (along with ᴹ√DOƷ) was the basis for the pair words ᴹQ. lóme/N. “night” (Ety/DOMO).

These two words for “night” survived in Tolkien’s later writing in both Quenya and Sindarin (Let/308; SA/dú). In notes from the 1940s Tolkien clarified that it “has no evil connotations; it is a word of peace and beauty and has none of the associations of fear or groping that, say, ‘dark’ has for us” (SD/306). The Elves were quite comfortable being under the night sky, dating back to the time when the Elves lived under the stars before the rising of the Sun and the Moon. The root √DOM reappeared in etymologies for star-words from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/152). It appeared again in some very late notes from 1969 where it was glossed “dark” and served as the basis for words meaning “blind” as well as “night”, though this paragraph was rejected (PE22/153, note #50).

Derivatives

  • dōmē “night, twilight” ✧ PE17/152
    • Q. lómë “night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, [ᴹQ.] night-time, shades of night, gloom; [ᴱQ.] shadow, cloud” ✧ PE17/152; SA/dú
    • S. “night, dimness; dim, dark, night, dimness; [N.] night-fall, late evening; [S.] dim, dark” ✧ PE17/152; SA/dú
  • ᴺQ. lomba “blind”
  • Q. lomba “blind” ✧ PE22/153
  • Q. lómë “night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, night, dimness, twilight, dusk, darkness, [ᴹQ.] night-time, shades of night, gloom; [ᴱQ.] shadow, cloud” ✧ PE22/153
  • ᴺS. dom “blind”
  • S. dom “blind” ✧ PE22/153
Primitive elvish [PE17/151; PE17/152; PE22/153] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mornā

adjective. dark

Derivations

  • MOR “black, dark, darkness” ✧ Let/382

Derivatives

  • Q. morna “black, dark; black of hair, black, dark; black of hair; [ᴹQ.] sombre, gloomy” ✧ Let/382
  • S. morn “black, dark; night” ✧ Let/382; WJ/362
Primitive elvish [Let/382; WJ/362] Group: Eldamo. Published by

du Reconstructed

root. dark

Derivatives

  • durnu “dark of hue”
    • ᴺQ. nurno “dark, deep (of hue)”
  • Q. lúmë “darkness”
  • Q. lúna “*dark”

Noldorin 

fuin

noun. night, dead of night, gloom, darkness

Noldorin [Ety/354, Ety/382, S/431] Group: SINDICT. Published by

fuin

noun. night, dead of night

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. huine “deep shadow, nightshade” ✧ Ety/PHUY

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶phuine “night, deep shadow, nightshade” ✧ Ety/PHUY
    • ᴹ√PHUY “*darkness” ✧ Ety/PHUY
  • ᴹ√PHUY “*darkness” ✧ EtyAC/LOƷ

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶phuine > fuin[pʰuine] > [ɸuine] > [fuine] > [fuin]✧ Ety/PHUY

Variations

  • Fuin ✧ Ety/ÑGOROTH
Noldorin [Ety/DOƷ; Ety/ÑGOROTH; Ety/PHUY; EtyAC/LOƷ] Group: Eldamo. Published by

muin

adjective. secret

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. muina “hidden, secret” ✧ Ety/MUY

Derivations

  • ᴹ√MUY “*secret” ✧ Ety/MUY

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√MUY > muin[mujna] > [muina] > [muin]✧ Ety/MUY

Variations

  • muin ✧ EtyAC/MUY (muin)
Noldorin [EtyAC/MUY] Group: Eldamo. Published by

thurin

adjective. secret, hidden

Noldorin [LB/304, Ety/394] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwath

noun. stain

Noldorin [Ety/397, S/432] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhum

noun. shade

Noldorin [Ety/370, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhum

noun. shade

A word appearing as N. lhum “shade” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, derived from the root ᴹ√LUM, most notably an element in the name N. Hithlum (Ety/LUM). It was the cognate of ᴹQ. lumbe, and thus derived from primitive ✱lumbē, which explains why the final m survived as a reduction of mb.

Conceptual Development: The earliest iteration of this word was G. lôm {“pool, sl...” >>} “gloom, shade” from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, based on primitive ᴱ✶lou̯me (GL/54) and probably derived from the early root ᴱ√LOMO as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Hisilómë). In this early document, G. lum or glum was “a cloud” (GL/55), likely a derivative of ᴱ√LUVU for “✱dark weather” as also suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Luvier). In Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had ᴱN. {lom >>} lhom “shadow” (PE13/149). This became N. lhum “shade” in The Etymologies, as noted above.

Neo-Sindarin: In later writings, Hithlum was designated North Sindarin and its final element was based on a loan from Q. lómë “dusk”, with the m surviving only because it was from the North dialect (PE17/133; WJ/400). However, the root √LUM “shadow, darkness” also survived in later writings (PE17/168), so I think N. lhum “shade” can be salvaged, though if adapted to Neo-Sindarin it would need to become ᴺS. lum as suggested in HSD (HSD). Given the later use of Q. lumbo for “(dark) cloud”, I think the Gnomish sense G. lum “[dark] cloud” can be salvaged as well.

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. lumbe “gloom, shadow” ✧ Ety/LUM

Derivations

  • ᴹ√LUM “*shadow” ✧ Ety/LUM

Element in

  • N. Hithlum “Land of Mist, (lit.) Mist-and-Dusk” ✧ Ety/LUM
  • N. lhumren “shady” ✧ Ety/LUM

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√LUM > lhum[lumbe] > [lumbe] > [lumb] > [l̥umb] > [l̥umb] > [l̥umm] > [l̥um]✧ Ety/LUM

maur

noun. gloom

Noldorin [Ety/373] Group: SINDICT. Published by

maur

noun. gloom

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “gloom” appearing under the root ᴹ√MOR (Ety/MOR). A nearby primitive form ᴹ✶mǭri is the likely basis for this word as suggested by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne (EtyAC/MOR), where the primitive ǭ became au as was the usual sound change in both Noldorin and later Sindarin (PE18/46, 96).

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. móre “blackness, dark, night” ✧ Ety/MOR

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶mǭri “blackness, dark, night” ✧ EtyAC/MOR
    • ᴹ√MOR “*black, dark” ✧ Ety/MOR

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶mǭri > maur[mǭri] > [mǭre] > [moure] > [maure] > [maur]✧ EtyAC/MOR

dûr

adjective. dark, sombre

Noldorin [Ety/354, S/430, UT/434] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dûr

adjective. dark

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. lóna “dark” ✧ Ety/DOƷ

Derivations

  • ᴹ√DOƷ “night” ✧ Ety/DOƷ

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√DOƷ/DÔ > dûr[dōr] > [dūr]✧ Ety/DOƷ

Variations

  • Dûr ✧ WR/113
Noldorin [Ety/DOƷ; WR/113] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dúath

noun. darkness, shadow

Noldorin [Ety/354, S/430] Either the collective plural of dû, or a compound dû+gwath "night shade" (hence dúwath). Group: SINDICT. Published by

dúath

noun. nightshade

Noldorin [Ety/354, S/430] Either the collective plural of dû, or a compound dû+gwath "night shade" (hence dúwath). Group: SINDICT. Published by

dúwath

noun. darkness, shadow

Noldorin [Ety/354, S/430] Either the collective plural of dû, or a compound dû+gwath "night shade" (hence dúwath). Group: SINDICT. Published by

dúwath

noun. nightshade

Noldorin [Ety/354, S/430] Either the collective plural of dû, or a compound dû+gwath "night shade" (hence dúwath). Group: SINDICT. Published by

daw

noun. night-time, gloom

Noldorin [Ety/354] Group: SINDICT. Published by

doll

adjective. dark, dusky, obscure

Noldorin [Ety/355, Ety/376, Tengwestie/20031207] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dolt

adjective. dark, dusky, obscure

Noldorin [Ety/355, Ety/376, Tengwestie/20031207] Group: SINDICT. Published by

môr

noun. darkness, dark, night

Noldorin [Ety/373, Letters/382] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwath

noun. shade, shadow, dim light

Noldorin [Ety/397, S/432] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwath

noun. shade

Cognates

  • Ilk. gwath “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH

Derivations

  • On. watha “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH
    • ᴹ√WATH “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
On. watha > gwath[waθa] > [gwaθa] > [gwaθ]✧ Ety/WATH

Variations

  • gwath ✧ Ety/WATH
Noldorin [Ety/DYEL; Ety/WATH] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ogol < ogl

gloom

n/adj gloom, gloomy

Noldorin Group: Mellonath Daeron. 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!

Primitive adûnaic

dāw’r

noun. gloom

A Primitive Adûnaic word glossed “gloom” (SD/423), the only attested example of a single-vowel-form for a triconsonantal-root. Ordinarily such a form would not be possible, since final consonant clusters did not appear in Primitive Adûnaic (SD/418, 426). It is possible that such forms were valid in the case of medial semi-vowels [w] and [j], however, since [[ad|[w] and [j] became [u] and [i] before consonants and finally]], thereby preventing a cluster from forming.

Derivations

  • √Ad. DAWAR “*gloom” ✧ SD/423

Derivatives

  • Ad. dâur “gloom” ✧ SD/423

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
√Ad. DAWAR > dāw’r[dāwr]✧ SD/423
Primitive adûnaic [SD/423] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

fuine

noun. deep shadow

hui

proper name. Night

A name for (Primordial?) Night appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√PHUY, along with its (archaic?) variant Fui (Ety/PHUY).

Conceptual Development: This name is most likely a remnant of the name ᴱQ. Fui from the earliest Lost Tales, where it was another name for the goddess ᴱQ. Nienna (LT1/66, LT1A/Fui). According to the Qenya and Gnomish Lexicons from the 1910s, this earlier version of the name is derived from the root ᴱ√ǶUẎU (GL/36, QL/38).

Derivations

  • ᴹ√PHUY “*darkness” ✧ Ety/PHUY

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√PHUY > Fui > Hui[pʰui] > [ɸui] > [hui]✧ Ety/PHUY

ungwe

noun. gloom

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶ungwē “gloom” ✧ Ety/UÑG
    • ᴹ√UÑG “*gloom” ✧ Ety/UÑG

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶uñgwē > ungwe[uŋgwē] > [uŋgwe]✧ Ety/UÑG

Variations

  • uñgwe ✧ PE22/051
Qenya [Ety/UÑG; EtyAC/UÑG; PE22/022; PE22/051] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lóna

adjective. dark

Cognates

  • N. dûr “dark” ✧ Ety/DOƷ

Derivations

  • ᴹ√DOƷ “night” ✧ Ety/DOƷ

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√DOƷ/DÔ > lóna[doɣna] > [dōna] > [lōna]✧ Ety/DOƷ

Variations

  • lóna ✧ Ety/DOƷ

nulda

adjective. secret

núre

noun. night

Derivations

  • ᴹ√NDŪ “go down, sink, set (of Sun)”

Element in

Doriathrin

ungol

noun. darkness

A noun for “darkness” developed from the root ᴹ√UÑG (Ety/UÑG), perhaps from a primitive form ✱✶uñglē̆ [uŋglē̆] as suggested by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Ilkorin/ungol): after the [[ilk|primitive final [e] was lost]], the resulting [[ilk|final [l] would become syllabic and develop into [-ol]]].

Derivations

  • ᴹ√UÑG “*gloom” ✧ Ety/UÑG

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√UÑG > ungol[uŋgle] > [uŋgl] > [uŋgol]✧ Ety/UÑG
Doriathrin [Ety/UÑG] Group: Eldamo. Published by

môr

noun. night

A noun for “night” derived from primitive ᴹ✶mǭri (EtyAC/MOR), where the primitive [[ilk|[ǭ] became [ō]]].

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. móre “blackness, dark, night” ✧ Ety/MOR

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶mǭri “blackness, dark, night” ✧ EtyAC/MOR
    • ᴹ√MOR “*black, dark” ✧ Ety/MOR

Element in

  • Ilk. myrilind “nightingale” ✧ Ety/MOR

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶mǭri > môr[mǭri] > [mǭre] > [mōre] > [mōr]✧ EtyAC/MOR
Doriathrin [Ety/MOR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwath

noun. shade

A noun glossed “shade” (shadow) derived from the root ᴹ√WATH (Ety/WATH). It is a clear example of how [[ilk|initial [w] became [gw]]] in Ilkorin, and it appears in several names: Thuringwethil “(Woman of) Secret Shadow” and Urthin Gwethion (unglossed but presumably “✱Mountains of Shadow”).

Cognates

  • N. gwath “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH

Derivations

  • ᴹ√WATH “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√WATH > gwath[watʰā] > [watʰa] > [waθa] > [gwaθa] > [gwaθ]✧ Ety/WATH
Doriathrin [Ety/WATH; EtyAC/WATH] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

watha

noun. shade

Derivations

  • ᴹ√WATH “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH

Derivatives

  • N. gwath “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√WATH > watha[watʰa] > [waθa]✧ Ety/WATH
Old Noldorin [Ety/WATH] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

ungwē

noun. gloom

Derivations

  • ᴹ√UÑG “*gloom” ✧ Ety/UÑG

Derivatives

  • ᴹQ. ungwe “gloom” ✧ Ety/UÑG

Variations

  • uñgwē ✧ Ety/UÑG
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/UÑG] Group: Eldamo. Published by

doʒ

root. night

A root in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “night” that (along with ᴹ√DOM) was the basis for the ᴹQ. lóme/N. “night” (Ety/DOƷ). It replaced some rejected variants ᴹ√LOƷ and ᴹ√DAW (EtyAC/LOƷ). Many of the derivatives of ᴹ√DOƷ were later assigned to other roots: N. dûr “dark” became S. dûr “dark” < √NDU “under, down” in notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/152) and ᴹQ. lóna “dark” became Q. lúna (PE17/22). There are no signs of ᴹQ. “night” and N. daw “night-time, gloom” in Tolkien’s later writing. Future derivations of Q. lómë/S. only mention the root √DOM (PE17/152; PE22/153) and thus ᴹ√DOƷ may have been abandoned.

In a message to the Elfling mailing list from July 2012 (Elfling/362.96), David Salo suggested there might be a later root ✱√DU serving as the basis for Q. lúna “dark” and Q. lúmë “darkness”, though the latter might instead be from √LUM. Such a root ✱√DU is not attested in Tolkien writings, but if it existed, it could be a later iteration of ᴹ√DOƷ. Another possible example of the root ✱√DU is primitive ✶durnŭ “dark of hue”.

Derivatives

  • Ilk. daum “night-time, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • ᴹ✶doʒmē ✧ Ety/DOMO
    • Ilk. daum “night-time, gloom”
    • On. doume “night-time, gloom”
    • N. daw “night-time, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • ᴹQ. “night, a night” ✧ Ety/DOƷ; EtyAC/LOƷ
  • ᴹQ. lóme “night, night-time, shades of night, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ; Ety/LUM
    • Ad. lômi “(pleasant) night” ✧ SD/415
  • ᴹQ. lóna “dark” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • N. “night, night-fall, late evening” ✧ Ety/DOƷ; Ety/DYEL; Ety/DOMO
  • N. dúlin(n) “nightingale” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • N. dûr “dark” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • On. doume “night-time, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ
    • N. daw “night-time, gloom” ✧ Ety/DOƷ

Element in

  • Ilk. durgul “sorcery”
  • N. daw “night-time, gloom” ✧ EtyAC/LOƷ (daw)
  • N. Delduthling “Ungoliant, *(lit.) Horror Night Spider” ✧ Ety/DYEL; Ety/SLIG; Ety/UÑG
  • N. Dureledh “Dark-elf” ✧ Ety/MOR
  • N. Durion “Dark-elf” ✧ Ety/MOR
  • N. Magladhûr “Black-sword” ✧ Ety/MAK (DOƷ)

Variations

  • DOƷ/DÔ ✧ Ety/DOƷ
  • DOG ✧ Ety/UÑG
  • LOƷ ✧ EtyAC/LOƷ (LOƷ)
  • DAW ✧ EtyAC/LOƷ (DAW)
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/DOƷ; Ety/DOMO; Ety/DYEL; Ety/LUM; Ety/MAK; Ety/MOR; Ety/NDŪ; Ety/SLIG; Ety/UÑG; EtyAC/LOƷ; EtyAC/UÑG] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ndulna

adjective. secret

Derivations

  • ᴹ√(N)DUL “hide, conceal” ✧ Ety/DUL

Derivatives

  • ᴹQ. nulla “dark, dusky, obscure; hidden, secret” ✧ Ety/DUL
  • N. doll “obscure, dark, dusky, hidden, secret” ✧ Ety/DUL
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/DUL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wath

root. shade

Changes

  • GWATHWATH ✧ EtyAC/MBAT(H)

Derivatives

  • Ilk. gwath “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH
  • ᴹ✶wath ✧ Ety/WAƷ
  • On. watha “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH
    • N. gwath “shade” ✧ Ety/WATH

Element in

  • N. Dolwethil “(Woman of) Secret Shadow” ✧ Ety/THUR
  • Ilk. Thuringwethil “(Woman of) Secret Shadow” ✧ Ety/THUR

Variations

  • GWATH ✧ EtyAC/MBAT(H) (GWATH)
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/THUR; Ety/WAƷ; Ety/WATH; EtyAC/MBAT(H)] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

fuin

adverb. worse

fuin

adjective. secret, dark; hoarded

Cognates

  • Eq. foina “hidden, secret”
  • Eq. huiva “murky” ✧ LT1A/Fui

Derivations

  • ᴱ√FOƷO “hide, hoard, store up, lay up in secret” ✧ GL/36

Element in

  • G. Taurfuin “Forest of Night” ✧ LT1A/Fui

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√foχo > fuin[ɸoxna] > [foxna] > [foxn] > [foin] > [fuin]✧ GL/36

Variations

  • fuin ✧ GL/35 (fuin); GL/36; LT1A/Fui
Gnomish [GL/35; GL/36; LT1A/Fui] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fui

noun. night

Cognates

  • Eq. hui “dark, murk, fog; night, evening” ✧ LT1A/Fui; QL/041

Derivations

  • ᴱ√ǶUẎU “*darkness” ✧ GL/36; QL/041

Element in

  • G. fuior “deadly nightshade”
  • G. Durufui “Yule, (lit.) Log-night” ✧ LT1A/Turuhalmë
  • G. Fuil “Queen of the Dark” ✧ GL/36
  • G. Tarn Fui “Door of Night” ✧ LT1A/Tarn Fui

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√fuʒu > fui¹[xʷuɣu] > [fuɣu] > [fuɣ] > [fui]✧ GL/36
ᴱ√ǶUẎU > fui[xʷui] > [fui]✧ QL/041

Variations

  • fui¹ ✧ GL/36
  • Fui ✧ LT1A/Tarn Fui; LT1A/Turuhalmë
Gnomish [GL/36; LT1A/Fui; LT1A/Tarn Fui; LT1A/Turuhalmë; QL/041] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fien

adverb. worse

Derivations

  • ᴱ✶feı̯n ✧ PE13/114; PE13/114

Variations

  • fuin ✧ PE13/114

feigien

adjective. worse

Derivations

mugwen

adjective. secret

Changes

  • mugummugwen ✧ GL/58

Variations

  • mugum ✧ GL/58 (mugum)

cwist

noun. secret

Derivations

  • ᴱ√QISI “*whisper”

fegla

adjective. worse

Changes

  • fedronfegla ✧ GL/34

Variations

  • fedron ✧ GL/34 (fedron)

morth

noun. darkness

Derivations

  • ᴱ√MORO “*black, dark” ✧ LT1A/Mornië

Element in

Gnomish [GL/58; LT1A/Mornië] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

fuin

noun. night

Element in

  • En. Taur-na-Fuin “Deadly Nightshade” ✧ SM/026
  • En. urfuin “nightless” ✧ PE13/156

Variations

  • Fuin ✧ SM/026
Early Noldorin [PE13/143; PE13/156; SM/026] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hinar

adjective. dark

An adjective for “dark” from the Nebrachar poem written around 1930 (MC/217). Its etymology is unclear.

Element in

Early Noldorin [MC/217] Group: Eldamo. Published by

drú

adjective. dark

Early Noldorin [PE13/142] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dîr

noun. secret

Variations

  • dír ✧ PE13/142
Early Noldorin [PE13/142] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

failda

adjective. worse

Derivatives

  • Eq. felda “worse, worst” ✧ PE14/048; PE14/081
Early Primitive Elvish [PE14/048; PE14/081] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

fui

noun. night

hui

noun. dark, murk, fog; night, evening

Changes

  • fuihui ✧ PE16/077

Cognates

  • G. fui “night” ✧ LT1A/Fui; QL/041

Derivations

  • ᴱ√ǶUẎU “*darkness” ✧ QL/041

Element in

  • Eq. ala fuin oilimaite “after the last night” ✧ MC/221; MC/221; PE16/062; PE16/062; PE16/062; PE16/062; PE16/062; PE16/072; PE16/072; PE16/072; PE16/074; PE16/074; PE16/074
  • Eq. ala hui oilimaite “*before the last night” ✧ PE16/077; PE16/077; PE16/077
  • Eq. ettui “tomorrow night” ✧ QL/034
  • Eq. Fui “Death-goddess, Nienna” ✧ QL/038
  • Eq. hui oilima “[the last evening]” ✧ MC/214
  • Eq. huiva “murky” ✧ LT1A/Fui; QL/041
  • Eq. hui oilima man kiluva “Who shall see the last evening?” ✧ MC/214

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√ǶUẎU > hui[xʷuðʲ] > [xuðʲ] > [huðʲ] > [huj] > [hui]✧ QL/041

Variations

  • fui ✧ PE16/080 (fui); PME/038; PME/041
  • Fui ✧ QL/038
Early Quenya [LT1A/Fui; MC/214; MC/221; PE16/062; PE16/072; PE16/074; PE16/077; PE16/080; PME/038; PME/041; QL/034; QL/038; QL/041] Group: Eldamo. Published by

móri

noun. night

lomba

adjective. secret

Derivations

  • ᴱ√LOMO “*lurk; shadow” ✧ LT1A/Hisilómë; QL/055

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√LOMO > lomba[lombā] > [lomba]✧ QL/055
Early Quenya [LT1A/Hisilómë; QL/055] Group: Eldamo. Published by