Quenya 

cala

light

cala ("k")noun "light" (KAL). Concerning the "Qenya" verb cala-, see #cal- above.

cala

noun. light, light; [ᴱQ.] daytime (sunlight), 12 hours

This is the most common Quenya word for “light”, derived from the root √KAL of similar meaning (RGEO/62; PE17/84). It appears in numerous compounds, either in its full form or in a reduced form cal-.

Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. kala appeared all the way back in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “daytime (sunlight), 12 hours” and derived from the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44), but it had the sense “light” in the phrase ᴱQ. i·kal’antúlien “Light hath returned” (LT1/184), and it was given as the cognate of G. gala “light, daylight” in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon (GL/37).

ᴹQ. kala “light” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√KAL “shine” (Ety/KAL). Somewhat curiously in that document its primitive form was given as ᴹ✶k’lā́ (EtyAC/KAL), a form that also appeared in the first version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa (TQ1) from the 1930s (PE18/38). Tolkien may have used this variant form to explain N. glaw “radiance” (< ᴹ✶g’lā́), but in later writings S. glaw “sunshine” was derived from √LAW.

Derivations

  • KAL “light; shine, be bright, light; shine, be bright, [ᴱ√] shine golden” ✧ PE17/084

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
CAL > Cala[kala]✧ PE17/084

Variations

  • Cala ✧ PE17/084; RGEO/62
Quenya [PE17/084; PE17/143; RGEO/62; VT39/14] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ílë

star

ílë noun "star" (LT1:269; rather elen, él in LotR-style Quenya.)

cálë

light

cálë ("k")noun "light" (Markirya; in early "Qenya", cálë meant "morning", LT1:254)

cálë

noun. light

A noun for “light” appearing in the versions of the Markirya poem from the 1960s (MC/222-223).

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, ᴱQ. kále “morning” was a derivative of the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44), and kāle was mentioned again Gnomish Lexicon Slips as a cognate of G. gaul “a light” (PE13/114). The form ᴱQ. kale “day” appeared in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s, but was deleted (PE14/43). It might also be an element in ᴹQ. yúkale “twilight” (= “both lights”) from The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/KAL).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d stick to the better attested Q. cala “light”.

Element in

Variations

  • kále ✧ MC/222; MC/223
Quenya [MC/222; MC/223] Group: Eldamo. Published by

calima

bright

calima adj. "bright" (VT42:32); cf. ancalima; in PE17:56, arcalima appears as another superlative "brightest" (see ar- #2).

calina

light

calina ("k")adj. "light" (KAL), "bright" (VT42:32) "(literally illumined) sunny, light" (PE17:153) but apparently a noun "light" in coacalina, q.v.

él

star

él noun "star", pl. éli given (WJ:362, EL)

él

noun. star

An archaic or poetic word for star (WJ/362), somewhat common in compounds but in ordinary speech typically appearing as elen. It was derived directly from the primitive root √EL “behold”, the basis for other star words (PM/340; WJ/360).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as poetical ᴹQ. él “star” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above, though in this document the root ᴹ√EL meant “star” (Ety/EL), a common gloss for the root in later writings as well.

Cognates

  • T. él “star” ✧ WJ/362

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ PM/340
  • ēl “star” ✧ WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
el- > el[el]✧ PM/340
ēl > él[ēl]✧ WJ/360

Variations

  • el ✧ PM/340
Quenya [PM/340; WJ/362] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elen

star

elen noun "star" (SA:êl, elen, EL, VT49:39); pl. eleni (occasionally in verse: eldi) (WJ:362, PE17:127); partitive pl. elelli for elenli (PE17:127), gen. pl. elenion in the phrase Elenion Ancalima "brightest of stars" (LotR2:IV ch. 9; see Letters:385 for translation); elen atta "two stars" (VT49:44), genitive elen atto "of two stars" (VT49:45), eleni neldë "three stars", archaic elenion neldë = "of stars three". Genitive "of 3 stars" = elenion neldë (for archaic elenion neldëo) (VT49:45). Allative elenna "starwards" used as name of Númenor _(Silm; see Elenna)_; ablative pl. elenillor "from stars" in Markirya. **Nai elen siluva ***"may a star shine", VT49:38.

elen

noun. star

The most common Quenya word for “star”, mentioned very frequently, derived from an extended form ✶elen of the root √EL “behold” (PE17/67; WJ/360, 362). Its usual plural form is eleni, but it has an archaic plural †eldi sometimes used in verse, the result of the Ancient Quenya sound whereby [[aq|[ln] became [ld]]] after the ancient plural underwent the Quenya syncope, ✶elenī > AQ. elni; its normal modern plural form eleni was actually a reformation from the singular (PE17/57, 151; WJ/362).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, though in the original entry for the root ᴹ√EL Tolkien said it was poetical and gave variants ellen and elena (Ety/EL).

Cognates

  • S. êl “star” ✧ PE17/024; PE17/024; PE17/067; PE17/127; PE17/151; SA/êl; WJ/362
  • T. él “star” ✧ WJ/367
  • T. elen “star” ✧ WJ/362

Derivations

  • elen “star” ✧ PE17/067; PE17/151; WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360
  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ PE17/151; PM/340; RGEO/65; SA/êl

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
elen > elen[elen]✧ PE17/067
elni > eldi[eleni] > [elni] > [eldi]✧ PE17/151

Variations

  • Elen ✧ LotR/0081; WJ/367
Quenya [Let/265; Let/385; LotR/0081; LotR/0377; LotR/0720; LotR/0915; MC/222; PE17/012; PE17/024; PE17/025; PE17/056; PE17/057; PE17/067; PE17/090; PE17/091; PE17/101; PE17/127; PE17/151; PE19/096; PM/340; RGEO/58; RGEO/59; RGEO/65; SA/êl; UT/213; VT49/39; VT49/44; VT49/45; WJ/362; WJ/367] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hahta

noun. fence

fence, hedge

Quenya [PE 19:91] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

yonwa

fence, border, boundary

yonwa noun "fence, border, boundary" (PE17:43)

Sindarin 

gail

silver spark

pl1. gîl, pl2. giliath _ n. _silver spark. >> gail, geil

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:30:152] < Eldarin *_gilyā_ < GIL shine (white). Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gail

noun. silver spark, silver spark, [ᴱN.] star; sign, token, heavenly body

gil

noun. star, bright spark

In The Etymologies (Ety/358, corrected by VT/45:15), this word was given as geil , plural gîl. However, later in LotR/E and RGEO/73, Tolkien seems to consider gil as a singular (with no hints in the sources of what the plural would be, besides the collective plural giliath )

Sindarin [LotR/E, S/431, RGEO/73] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gil

noun. star; (bright) spark, silver glint, twinkle of light

The usual word for “star” in Sindarin which replaced archaic/poetic êl; it originally meant “(bright) spark” (RGEO/65; VT42/11). It was derived from the root √(Ñ)GIL meaning “shine (white)” (PE17/152) or “silver glint” (MR/388; PE17/22).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as G. gail “a star” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/42), derived from the early root ᴱ√Gil- (GL/38). In the Early Noldorin Grammar Tolkien said ᴱN. gail meant “sign, token, heavenly body” (PE13/123); earlier in this document he gave it the gloss {“life” >>} “sign” (PE13/120 and note #6). In Early Noldorin Word-lists written somewhat later, gail again simply meant “star” (PE13/143), and it was used this way in the Nebrachar poem from around 1930 (MC/217).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gave it as N. geil “star” from primitive ᴹ✶gilya under the root ᴹ√GIL “shine (white or pale)” (Ety/GIL; EtyAC/GIL). Christopher Tolkien incorrectly marked geil as a plural form in The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road (LR/358), but Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne corrected this in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (VT45/15). Remnants of this 1930s derivation can be seen in the forms geil/gail in notes from the 1950s, derived from ancient ✶gilyā “silver spark” (PE17/30, 152). Mostly, however, Tolkien represented this word as gil in later writings, including in The Lord of the Rings Appendix E (LotR/1113).

Possible Etymology: The etymology of gil is complicated by Tolkien’s vacillation with the singular form gail (†geil) < ✶gilyā, where the diphthong ai is the result of a-affection of the base vowel from i to e, which after i-intrusion produced ei and this diphthong became ai as usual in final syllables and monosyllables: gilyā [ >✱geli(a)] > geil > gail. Signs of this etymology can be seen in the class plural giliath as in S. Dagor-nuin-Giliath “Battle-under-Stars” (S/106).

With this alternate derivation, the plural form would still be gîl, since the ancient plural prevented a-affection, and the prefixal form likewise would have been gil- (PE17/152). However, this derivation conflicts with Tolkien’s usual presentation of the singular form as gil. In some places Tolkien gave a primitive form like ✶(ñ)gillē (PE17/23) or a Sindarin form gill (PE17/50), but I think it is best to assume primitive ✱gili- to explain singular gil and class-plural giliath.

Cognates

  • Q. nillë “silver glint; Valinorian imagines [images of real stars]” ✧ MR/470; PE17/022; MR/388; MR/471

Derivations

  • (Ñ)GIL “shine (white); silver glint; white or silver light” ✧ MR/388; PE17/022; PE17/152
  • gilyā “silver spark” ✧ PE17/152
    • (Ñ)GIL “shine (white); silver glint; white or silver light” ✧ PE17/152

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
gilyā > geil > gail[giljā] > [gilja] > [gelja] > [gelia] > [geli] > [geil] > [gail]✧ PE17/152
GIL > gîl[gilji] > [gilī] > [gil] > [gīl]✧ PE17/152

Variations

  • gil- ✧ PE17/023; PE22/159
  • geil ✧ PE17/030 (geil)
  • gail ✧ PE17/030; PE17/152
  • Gill ✧ PE17/050
Sindarin [Let/427; LotR/1113; MR/388; MR/470; MR/471; PE17/022; PE17/023; PE17/030; PE17/050; PE17/152; PE22/159; RC/232; RGEO/61; RGEO/65; S/106; SA/gil; VT42/11] Group: Eldamo. Published by

cail

noun. fence or palisade of spikes and sharp stakes

Sindarin [UT/282] Group: SINDICT. Published by

cail

noun. fence, palisade of spikes or sharp stakes

Derivations

  • keglē “fence or palisade of spikes or sharp stakes” ✧ UT/282
    • KEG “snag, barb” ✧ UT/282

Element in

  • S. thangail “shield-fence, shield-wall” ✧ UT/281

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
keglē > cail[keglē] > [kegle] > [keɣle] > [keile] > [keil] > [kail]✧ UT/282
Sindarin [UT/281; UT/282] Group: Eldamo. Published by

geil

silver spark

pl1. gîl, pl2. giliath _ n. _silver spark. >> gail

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:30:152] < Eldarin *_gilyā_ < GIL shine (white). Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

gil-

noun. star

Sindarin [PE 22:159] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

gill

noun. star

galad

noun. light, radiance, glittering, reflection (from jewels, glass or polished metal, or water)

Sindarin [VT/45:13, PM/347, Letters/425] Group: SINDICT. Published by

galad

light

_ n. _light, fire, brightness, shining. >> calad, Caras Galadon

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:84] < GAL. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

Sindarin [Ety/358, RC/232] Group: SINDICT. Published by

calad

gerund noun. light

Sindarin [Ety/362, UT/65] Group: SINDICT. Published by

calad

noun. light

_ n. _light, fire, brightness, shining. >> galad

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:84] < GAL. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

glân

adjective. bright, shining white

The word is deduced from its mutated form, but it is worth mentioning that a stem GALÁN "bright", with glan "daylight" (and later "clear") as derivative, is listed in the Etymologies (not included in the published text, but see VT/45:13). Most of the words meaning "white" in the Indo-Eureopean languages come from the original notion of "brightness", e.g. Greek leukós "white" is cognate with Latin lucere "to shine", lux "light". This association of sense is also found in Gnomish, PE/11:39 (glan "clean, pure", from "bright" originally) and in Early Noldorin (PE/13:144, glann "clean"). The similarity with Welsh glan (where the vowel, incidentally, is also long, though this is concealed by Welsh orthographic convention) is also striking

Sindarin [Curunír 'Lân UT/390] Group: SINDICT. Published by

el

star

n. star.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:55] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

elen

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath _n._star. Its collective plural (pl2.) designates 'the (host of all the) stars, (all) the (visible) stars of the firmament'. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni. o menel aglar elenath ! lit. 'from Firmament glory of the stars !'. >> êl

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:20-1:24-5:67:139:151] < EL star. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

elen

noun. star

iath

noun. fence

Sindarin [S/433, WJ/370, WJ/378] Group: SINDICT. Published by

iath

noun. fence

Element in

  • S. Doriath “Land of the Fence” ✧ SA/iâth; SI/Doriath; UTI/Doriath; WJ/370; WJI/Iathrim
  • S. Echoriath “Encircling Mountains, (lit.) Encircling Fence” ✧ SA/echor
  • S. Iathrim “*People of the Fence” ✧ WJ/378; WJI/Iathrim

Variations

  • iâth ✧ SA/iâth; UTI/Doriath
  • Iâth ✧ SI/Doriath; WJ/370; WJI/Iathrim
Sindarin [SA/echor; SA/iâth; SI/Doriath; UTI/Doriath; WJ/370; WJ/378; WJI/Iathrim] Group: Eldamo. Published by

êl

noun. star (little used except in verses)

Sindarin [WJ/363, MR/373, RGEO/73, Letters/281] Group: SINDICT. Published by

êl

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath** ** n. star. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni, pl2. elelli. >> elen

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:24:67:127:139-40:151] < EL star. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

êl

noun. star

A Sindarin word for “star” that is largely archaic and poetic, and is mainly used as element in names like Elrond (Let/281; WJ/363; Ety/EL); the more usual word for “star” in ordinary speech was gil (RGEO/65). However, the collective form elenath is still used in common speech to refer to the entire host of stars (WJ/363). The plural of êl is elin, as this word was derived from ancient ✶elen, and the final n that was lost in the singular was preserved in the plural. In some cases Tolkien posited a restored analogical singular elen from the plural form (PE17/24, 67, 139), but this isn’t in keeping with the notion that the word was archaic, so I would ignore this for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: This word and its root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. el “star” was derived from the root ᴹ√EL of similar meaning, but was “only [used] in names” (Ety/EL). It seems Tolkien introduced the root to give a new etymology for names like N. Elrond and N. Elwing, which initially appeared under the root ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” (Ety/ƷEL).

Cognates

  • Q. elen “star” ✧ PE17/024; PE17/024; PE17/067; PE17/127; PE17/151; SA/êl; WJ/362

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; RGEO/65; SA/êl
  • elen “star” ✧ PE17/067; PE17/139; PE22/150; WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360

Element in

  • S. Anglachel “*Iron-of-the-flaming-star”
  • S. Anguirel “*Iron-of-the-fiery-star”
  • S. Eladar “Starfather”
  • S. elanor “pimpernel, small golden star-shaped flower, (lit.) sun-star” ✧ PE17/055
  • S. Elbereth “Queen of Stars, (lit.) Star-queen” ✧ PE17/022; RGEO/65
  • S. Elrond “Star-dome”
  • S. Elros “Star-foam”
  • S. Elu ✧ PM/369
  • ᴺS. elui “starry”
  • S. Elwing “Star-spray” ✧ PM/369
  • S. Nan Elmoth “*Valley of Starry Dusk”
  • S. Narn en·Êl “*Tale of the Star” ✧ MR/373
  • S. Narn e·Dant Gondolin ar Orthad en·Êl “*Tale of the Fall of Gondolin and the Raising of the Star” ✧ MR/373
  • S. o menel aglar elenath “from heaven on high the glory of the starry host” ✧ LotR/0238; PE17/024; RGEO/63; RGEO/64

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
EL > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ Let/281
elen > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ PE17/067
ELEN > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ PE17/139
elenī > elin[elenī] > [eleni] > [elini] > [elin]✧ PE22/150
EL > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ RGEO/65
ele > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ SA/êl
elen > êl[elen] > [ele] > [el] > [ēl]✧ WJ/360

Variations

  • Êl ✧ MR/373
  • el- ✧ PE17/022
  • elen ✧ PE17/024; PE17/067; PE17/139
  • el(en) ✧ PE17/025
  • el ✧ PE17/055; PM/369
Sindarin [Let/281; LotR/0238; MR/373; PE17/022; PE17/024; PE17/025; PE17/055; PE17/067; PE17/127; PE17/139; PE17/151; PE22/150; PM/369; RGEO/63; RGEO/64; RGEO/65; RGEO/67; SA/êl; WJ/363] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ephel

noun. outer fence, encircling fence

Sindarin [S/436, LotR/E] et+pêl. Group: SINDICT. Published by

iâth

noun. fence

Sindarin [S/433, WJ/370, WJ/378] Group: SINDICT. Published by

iâth

noun. fence

gail

bright

gail (light), lenited ngail; no distinct pl. form (VT45:18). The adj. calen etymologically means "bright", but is used = "green" (q.v.).

gail

bright

(light), lenited ngail; no distinct pl. form (VT45:18). The adj. calen etymologically means "bright", but is used = "green" (q.v.).

gail

light

(adjective) 1) gail (bright), lenited ngail, no distinct pl. form (VT45:18), 2) lim (clear, sparkling), no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means ”fish”.

gail

light

(bright), lenited ngail, no distinct pl. form (VT45:18)

cail

fence

(i gail, o chail) (palisade); no distinct pl. form except with article (i chail).

gîl

star

gîl (i ngîl = i ñîl, o n**gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath** (RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

gîl

star

(i ngîl = i ñîl, o n’gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath **(RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. **elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

gîl

bright spark

(i ngîl = i ñîl, construct gil) (star, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. *giliath** (RGEO, MR:388)*

thangail

shield fence

(shield wall). No distinct pl. form? (UT:281)

gildin

silver spark

gildin (i ngildin = i ñildin, o n**gildin = o ñgildin), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gildin** = i ñgildin). ”

gilion

of stars

(lenited ngilion; pl. gilioen). Archaic ✱giliaun.

calad

light

_(noun) _1) calad (i galad, o chalad), pl. celaid (i chelaid), 2) gaul (i **aul), pl. goel (i ngoel = i ñoel), coll. pl. golath. Note: A homophone means "wolf-howl", but has different mutations. 3) (bright light) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid). 4) gâl (gal-, -al in compounds, with article i **âl), pl. gail (i ngail = i ñail).

calad

light

(i galad, o chalad), pl. celaid (i chelaid), 2) gaul (i ’aul), pl. goel (i ngoel = i ñoel), coll. pl. golath. Note: A homophone means "wolf-howl", but has different mutations. 3) (bright light) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid). 4) gâl (gal-, -al in compounds, with article i ’âl), pl. gail (i ngail = i ñail).

glaur

golden light

(i ’laur), pl. gloer (in gloer).

glawar

sunlight

(i ’lawar) (gold, radiance of the Golden Tree Laurelin), pl. glewair (in glewair) if there is a pl. (VT41:10)

glóren

shining with golden light

(glórin-) (golden), lenited ’lóren; pl. glórin

lim

light

(clear, sparkling), no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means ”fish”.

lest

fence

(girdle, boundary), pl. list

pêl

fence, fenced field

(i bêl, construct pel) (enclosure, garth), pl. peli (i pheli), the latter forms reflecting the stem pele- (root PEL(ES), LR:380)

ephel

fence

(pl. ephil)

iâd

noun. fence

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

thora

fence

(verb) *thora- (the curious form ”thoro-” occurs in the primary source, LR:393 s.v. THUR). The passive participle thoren ”fenced, guarded, hidden” is cited (pl. thorin).

thora

fence

(the curious form ”thoro-” occurs in the primary source, LR:393 s.v. THUR). The passive participle thoren ”fenced, guarded, hidden” is cited (pl. thorin).

iâth

fence

(noun) 1) iâth (construct iath, pl. iaith) (WJ:370, 378), also ?iâd (construct iad), pl. iaid. 2) lest (girdle, boundary), pl. list, 3) (outer/encircling fence) ephel (pl. ephil), 4) (with spikes and sharp stakes) cail (i gail, o chail) (palisade); no distinct pl. form except with article (i chail).

iâth

fence

(construct iath, pl. iaith) (WJ:370, 378), also ?iâd (construct iad), pl. iaid.

Telerin 

cala

noun. light

él

noun. star

Cognates

  • Q. él “star” ✧ WJ/362
  • Q. elen “star” ✧ WJ/367

Derivations

  • ēl “star” ✧ WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

Variations

  • ēl ✧ WJ/362; WJ/407
Telerin [WJ/362; WJ/407] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elen

noun. star

Cognates

  • Q. elen “star” ✧ WJ/362

Derivations

  • elen “star” ✧ WJ/360
    • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360

hacta, hatta

noun. fence

fence, hedge

Telerin [PE 19:91] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

Primitive elvish

gilyā

noun. silver spark

Derivations

  • (Ñ)GIL “shine (white); silver glint; white or silver light” ✧ PE17/152

Derivatives

  • S. gil “star; (bright) spark, silver glint, twinkle of light” ✧ PE17/152
Primitive elvish [PE17/152] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kalat

noun. light

Derivatives

Variations

  • kalā́t- ✧ PE18/087
Primitive elvish [PE18/087; PE21/71] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kalinā

adjective. bright

Derivatives

  • Q. calina “light, bright, sunny, (lit.) illumined”

Elements

WordGloss
kal-“to shine, be bright”
-nā“adjective suffix; passive participle”
Primitive elvish [PE22/136] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ēl

noun. star

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ WJ/360

Derivatives

  • Q. él “star” ✧ WJ/360
  • T. él “star” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

  • eledā “star-folk, of the stars” ✧ WJ/360
  • elen-barathī “star-queen” ✧ PE17/066

Variations

  • el ✧ PE17/066
Primitive elvish [PE17/066; WJ/360] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elen

noun. star

Derivations

  • EL “lo, behold; star, lo, behold; star, [ᴹ√] starry sky” ✧ Let/281; PE17/067; VT42/11; WJ/360

Derivatives

  • elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ PE17/139
    • Q. Elda “Elf, (lit.) one of the Star-folk” ✧ PE17/139; PE17/152
    • S. Ell “Elf” ✧ PE17/141
      • S. Elleth “Elf-maid” ✧ PE17/141
      • S. Ellon “Elf-man” ✧ PE17/141
    • Q. elenya “adjective referring to the stars, *of the stars, stellar” ✧ WJ/360
    • S. Eledh “Elf” ✧ PE17/139; WJ/360
  • Q. elen “star” ✧ PE17/067; PE17/151; WJ/360
  • S. êl “star” ✧ PE17/067; PE17/139; PE22/150; WJ/360
  • T. elen “star” ✧ WJ/360

Element in

  • elenā “connected with or concerning the stars” ✧ WJ/360
  • elen-barathī “star-queen” ✧ MR/387
  • Q. Elentári “Queen of the Stars, Star-queen” ✧ PE17/022
  • S. Elbereth “Queen of Stars, (lit.) Star-queen” ✧ PE17/022; PE17/023

Variations

  • ĕlĕn ✧ Let/281
  • ELEN ✧ PE17/022; PE17/139; PE17/152
  • el-en ✧ PE17/023
  • elen- ✧ VT42/11
Primitive elvish [Let/281; MR/387; MR/388; NM/060; PE17/022; PE17/023; PE17/067; PE17/139; PE17/151; PE17/152; PE22/150; VT42/11; WJ/360] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

gail

noun. bright light

Noldorin [Ety/362] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gail

adjective. bright, light

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶galyā “bright, light” ✧ Ety/KAL
    • ᴹ√GAL “shine” ✧ Ety/KAL

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶galyā > gail[galjā] > [galja] > [galia] > [geli] > [geil] > [gail]✧ Ety/KAL
Noldorin [Ety/KAL; EtyAC/KAL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gal-

prefix. light

Noldorin [galvorn, etc.] Group: SINDICT. Published by

geil

noun. star, bright spark

Noldorin [Ety/358, VT/45:15] Group: SINDICT. Published by

geil

noun. star

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶gilya “star” ✧ Ety/GIL
    • ᴹ√GIL “shine (white or pale)” ✧ Ety/GIL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶gilya > gíl[gilji] > [gilī] > [gil] > [gīl]✧ Ety/GIL
ᴹ✶gilya > geil[gilja] > [gelja] > [gelia] > [geli] > [geil]✧ Ety/GIL

Variations

  • gîl ✧ EtyAC/GIL
Noldorin [Ety/GIL; Ety/OT; EtyAC/GIL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

galad

noun. light

Derivations

  • ᴹ√GAL “shine” ✧ Ety/GAL

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√GAL > galad[galata] > [galat] > [galad]✧ Ety/GAL
Noldorin [EtyAC/GAL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gildin

noun. silver spark

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “silver spark”, a combination of the root ᴹ√GIL and ᴹ√TIN (Ety/TIN). Presumably this refers to stars, since both roots also have derivatives referring to stars.

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

Noldorin [Ety/358, RC/232] Group: SINDICT. Published by

calad

gerund noun. light

Noldorin [Ety/362, UT/65] Group: SINDICT. Published by

calad

noun. light

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KAL “shine” ✧ Ety/KAL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√KAL > calad[kalata] > [kalat] > [kalad]✧ Ety/KAL
Noldorin [Ety/KAL; Ety/KIL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glaur

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

Noldorin [Ety/358, Ety/368] Group: SINDICT. Published by

glor-

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

Noldorin [Ety/358, Ety/368] Group: SINDICT. Published by

el

noun. star

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. él “star” ✧ Ety/EL
  • ᴹQ. elen “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EL “star, starry sky” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Element in

  • N. elanor “sun-star”
  • N. Elbereth “Queen of Stars, (lit.) Star Queen” ✧ Ety/EL
  • N. Elrond “Starry-dome, Sky” ✧ Ety/EL
  • N. Elros “Star-foam”
  • N. Eldûn “*West-star”
  • N. Elrûn “*East-star”
  • N. Elwing “Star-spray” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√EL > el[elen] > [ele] > [el]✧ Ety/EL

ephel

noun. outer fence, encircling fence

Noldorin [S/436, LotR/E] et+pêl. Group: SINDICT. Published by

thora-

verb. to fence

Noldorin [Ety/393] Group: SINDICT. 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!

Valarin 

ithīr

noun. light

Qenya 

kala

noun. light

Cognates

  • N. glaw “radiance” ✧ Ety/KAL

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶k’lā “light” ✧ Ety/KAL
    • ᴹ√KAL “shine” ✧ Ety/KAL; PE18/038

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶k’lā́ > kala[kala]✧ Ety/KAL

kalina

adjective. light

Cognates

  • N. calen “green, (orig.) bright-coloured” ✧ Ety/KAL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KAL “shine” ✧ Ety/KAL

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√KAL > kalina[kalina]✧ Ety/KAL

él

noun. star

Cognates

  • Ilk. el “star” ✧ Ety/EL
  • N. el “star” ✧ Ety/EL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EL “star, starry sky” ✧ Ety/EL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√EL > él[ēl]✧ Ety/EL

elen

noun. star

Cognates

  • Ilk. el “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL
  • N. el “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EL “star, starry sky” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√EL > elen[elen]✧ Ety/EL
ᴹ√EL > elen[elen]✧ Ety/EL
ᴹ√EL > ellen[ellen]✧ Ety/EL

Variations

  • ellen ✧ Ety/EL
  • elena ✧ Ety/EL
  • Elen ✧ RS/324
Qenya [Ety/EL; PE17/014; RS/324; VT28/11; WR/223] Group: Eldamo. Published by

elena

noun. star

ellen

noun. star

Doriathrin

gad

noun. fence

A Doriathrin noun meaning “fence” derived from the root ᴹ√GAT(H) (Ety/GAT(H)), most likely from a primitive form ✱✶gat-. As pointed out by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Doriathrin/gad), its gloss is a bit peculiar, given that the other derivatives of its root same to have meanings associated with caves. As Mr. Fauskanger suggested, this may represent a transition in Tolkien’s thinking on the meaning of the associated name Doriath: “Land of the Cave” (Ety/GAT(H)) >> “Land of the Fence” (WJ/370).

Derivations

  • ᴹ√GAT(H) “*cave” ✧ Ety/GAT(H)

Element in

  • Ilk. argad “exterior, outside, (lit.) outside the fence” ✧ Ety/GAT(H)

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√GAT(H) > gad[gat] > [gad]✧ Ety/GAT(H)
Doriathrin [Ety/GAT(H)] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gôl

noun. light

A (rejected?) Doriathrin noun for “light” derived from primitive ᴹ✶gālæ appearing in The Etymologies (Ety/KAL, EtyAC/KAL). According to Christopher Tolkien’s notes, it was part of a rejected etymology for the name Thingol, but it isn’t clear whether this noun was rejected or if it was just the etymology. Its long primitive vowel [[ilk|[ā] became [ō]]] as was the norm in Ilkorin.

Derivations

  • ᴹ✶gālæ “light” ✧ Ety/KAL
    • ᴹ√KAL “shine” ✧ Ety/KAL

Element in

  • Ilk. ThingolGrey-wise” ✧ Ety/KAL (Thingol*)

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ✶gālæ > gôl[gālæ] > [gāla] > [gōla] > [gōl]✧ Ety/KAL

Variations

  • gôl ✧ Ety/KAL (Dor. gôl); EtyAC/KAL (N. gôl)
Doriathrin [Ety/KAL; EtyAC/KAL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gelion

adjective. bright

An adjective meaning “bright” derived from the root ᴹ√GAL, the basis of the river name Gelion (Ety/GYEL). There isn’t enough information to deduce its primitive form, but Helge Fauskanger suggested ✱✶galjānā (AL-Ilkorin/gelion), which seems reasonably plausible.

Derivations

  • ᴹ√GAL “shine” ✧ Ety/GYEL

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√GAL > gelion[galjānā] > [galjāna] > [galjōna] > [galiōna] > [geliōna] > [geliōn] > [gelion]✧ Ety/GYEL
Doriathrin [Ety/GYEL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

el

noun. star

A Doriathrin noun meaning “star”, a simple derivative of the root ᴹ√EL (Ety/EL).

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. él “star” ✧ Ety/EL
  • ᴹQ. elen “star” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√EL “star, starry sky” ✧ Ety/EL; Ety/EL

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√EL > el[el]✧ Ety/EL
Doriathrin [Ety/EL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

galan

root. bright

Derivatives

  • ᴹQ. ala “day” ✧ EtyAC/GAL¹
  • ᴹQ. alan “daytime” ✧ EtyAC/GAL¹
  • ᴺS. glaen “serene, clear, fair (espec. of weather)”
  • S. glân “white, [bright shining] white; [N.] clear; [G.] pure, †bright; [ᴱN.] clean”
  • N. glan “clear” ✧ EtyAC/GAL¹
  • ᴺS. glanna- “to cleanse, purify, purge, *to clear, make clear”

Variations

  • GALÁN ✧ EtyAC/GAL¹
Middle Primitive Elvish [EtyAC/GAL¹] Group: Eldamo. Published by

galyā

adjective. bright, light

Derivations

  • ᴹ√GAL “shine” ✧ Ety/KAL

Derivatives

  • N. gail “bright, light” ✧ Ety/KAL
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KAL; EtyAC/KAL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gilya

noun. star

Derivations

  • ᴹ√GIL “shine (white or pale)” ✧ Ety/GIL

Derivatives

  • N. geil “star” ✧ Ety/GIL

Element in

  • ᴹQ. tingilya “twinkling star” ✧ Ety/GIL
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/GIL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gālæ

noun. light

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KAL “shine” ✧ Ety/KAL

Derivatives

  • Ilk. gôl “light” ✧ Ety/KAL
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KAL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kalat

noun. light

Variations

  • kalat- ✧ PE21/56
Middle Primitive Elvish [PE21/56] Group: Eldamo. Published by

k’lā

noun. light

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KAL “shine” ✧ Ety/KAL; PE18/038

Derivatives

  • ᴹQ. kala “light” ✧ Ety/KAL

Element in

  • ᴹQ. Kalion “Son of Light, Valinorian Elda” ✧ PE21/37 (kalion)

Variations

  • k’lā́ ✧ Ety/KAL
  • klā́ ✧ PE18/038
  • kalĭ ✧ PE21/37 (kalĭ)
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KAL; EtyAC/KAL; PE18/038; PE21/37] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

gail

noun. star

Cognates

  • Eq. íle “star” ✧ GL/37; LT1A/Tinwetári

Derivations

  • ᴱ√GILI “*shine (pale)”

Element in

Variations

  • Gail ✧ GL/37
Gnomish [GL/37; LT1A/Tinwetári] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gaul

noun. light

glarw(ed)

adjective. bright, light

Changes

  • glarglarw ✧ GL/39

Derivations

  • ᴱ√KALA “shine golden”

Variations

  • glarw ✧ GL/39
  • glarwed ✧ GL/39
  • glar ✧ GL/39 (glar)
  • glaur ✧ PE13/114
Gnomish [GL/39; PE13/114] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Ilkorin

fels

noun. fence

Cognates

  • En. helai “fence” ✧ PE13/147

Derivations

  • ᴱ✶pelesa “fence” ✧ PE13/147
    • ᴱ√PELE “fence in”
Early Ilkorin [PE13/147] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

gail

noun. star; sign, token, heavenly body

Changes

  • gailgail “life” ✧ PE13/120

Element in

Early Noldorin [MC/217; PE13/120; PE13/123; PE13/143] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glaiw

noun. light

Derivations

  • ᴱ√KALA “shine golden”
Early Noldorin [PE13/144] Group: Eldamo. Published by

helai

noun. fence

Cognates

  • Eilk. fels “fence” ✧ PE13/147
  • Eq. peler “fence” ✧ PE13/147
  • Et. pelera “fence” ✧ PE13/147

Derivations

  • ᴱ✶pelesa “fence” ✧ PE13/147
    • ᴱ√PELE “fence in”
Early Noldorin [PE13/147] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glarweb

adjective. bright, light

Changes

  • gladglaid ✧ PE13/126

Element in

Elements

WordGloss
glarw“ray, radiance”

Variations

  • glaid ✧ PE13/126 (glaid)
  • glad ✧ PE13/126 (glad)
Early Noldorin [PE13/126; PE13/141] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Solosimpi

pelera

noun. fence

Cognates

  • En. helai “fence” ✧ PE13/147

Derivations

  • ᴱ✶pelesa “fence” ✧ PE13/147
    • ᴱ√PELE “fence in”
Solosimpi [PE13/147] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

pelesa

noun. fence

Derivations

  • ᴱ√PELE “fence in”

Derivatives

  • Eilk. fels “fence” ✧ PE13/147
  • Eq. peler “fence” ✧ PE13/147
  • En. helai “fence” ✧ PE13/147
  • Et. pelera “fence” ✧ PE13/147
Early Primitive Elvish [PE13/147] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

íle

noun. star

Cognates

  • G. gail “star” ✧ GL/37; LT1A/Tinwetári

Derivations

  • ᴱ√GILI “*shine (pale)”

Element in

Variations

  • īle ✧ GL/37
  • ílë ✧ LT1A/Tinwetári
Early Quenya [GL/37; LT1A/Tinwetári] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tinwe

noun. star

Cognates

  • G. tim “spark, gleam, (star)”

Derivations

  • ᴱ√TINI “twinkle” ✧ LT1A/Tinwë Linto; QL/092

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√TINI > tinwe[tinwē] > [tinwe]✧ QL/092

Variations

  • tinwë ✧ LT1A/Tinwë Linto
Early Quenya [LT1A/Tinwë Linto; MC/213; MC/214; MC/220; PE16/056; PE16/057; PE16/060; PE16/062; PE16/072; PE16/074; PE16/077; PE16/142; PME/092; QL/052; QL/092] Group: Eldamo. Published by

peler

noun. fence

Cognates

  • En. helai “fence” ✧ PE13/147

Derivations

  • ᴱ✶pelesa “fence” ✧ PE13/147
    • ᴱ√PELE “fence in”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ✶pelesa > peler[pelesa] > [pelesǝ] > [peles] > [peler]✧ PE13/147
Early Quenya [PE13/147] Group: Eldamo. Published by

selka

adjective. bright

Derivations

  • ᴱ√SELE “*bright” ✧ QL/083

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴱ√SELE > selka[selkā] > [selka]✧ QL/083
Early Quenya [PME/083; QL/083] Group: Eldamo. Published by