gala

he/she grows

v. #he/she grows.

galadhon

masculine name. Galadhon

Father of Celeborn in one version of his history (UT/233, WJ/350). This name seems to be a combination galadh “tree” and the masculine suffix -on.

Conceptual Development: In a name list from the 1930s, N. Galadhon is given as a name of Oromë, equivalent to ᴹQ. Aldaron (LR/404), a replacement for earliest G. Aldor or Althor (GL/18-19).

galador

masculine name. Galador

The first lord of Dol Amroth (UT/248), perhaps a combination of S. galadh “tree” and S. -dor “lord”.

Conceptual Development: N. Galador appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s, where its first element was given as N. galadh (Ety/GALAD).

galadwen

feminine name. Galadwen

Sindarin name of Vidumavi (PM/260), perhaps a combination S. galadh or Nan. galad “tree” and the suffixal form of gwend “maiden”.

galathil

masculine name. Galathil

Brother of Celeborn in one version of his history (UT/233, WJ/350). This name may have the same elements and similar meaning as Galathilion “White Tree”, as suggested by David Salo (GS/350).

galadon

Galadon

>> Caras Galadon

Galadriel

noun. Strangers erroneously associated Galadriel with Silvan galad 'tree'

1c prop. n. Strangers erroneously associated Galadriel with Silvan galad 'tree'. Q. Ñaltariel, T. Altarielle.

galad

noun. radiance, glittering reflection; light, fire, brightness, shining; bliss, radiance, glittering reflection; light, fire, brightness, shining; bliss; [ᴱN.] dawn

A word for “radiance, glittering reflection” derived from primitive ✶ñ(g)alatā and the root √Ñ(G)AL “shine by reflection” (PM/347). Most notably it was an element in the names Galadriel and Gil-galad. In the latter name, since the ancient form began with ñg-, its mutated form was -galad rather than the more usual ’alad.

Conceptual Development: This word had a long and intricate history, and was intertwined with the shifting conceptions of various roots and names. It’s earliest iteration was G. {gâl(a) >>} gala “light, daylight” (GL/37), cognate to ᴱQ. kala of similar meaning, derived from the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44). Since ancient initial g- became k- in Early Qenya, is very likely the early root was actually ✱ᴱ√GALA. In early notes, Tolkien experimented with various alternate forms for this word such as gâl or gaul (GL/37; PE13/114), and in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had the word ᴱN. galad with the gloss “dawn” (PE13/144).

By the 1930s, Tolkien had revised the phonology of Quenya so that primitive initial g became ʒ and then vanished, but he wished to retain the kal-/gal- variation in “light” words, and so introduced a Noldorin-only variant ᴹ√GAL of the root ᴹ√KAL “shine” (Ety/GAL). In The Etymologies, Tolkien had both N. calad (Ety/KAL) and N. galad (EtyAC/GAL) for “light”, the former appearing in its mutated form as an element in the name N. Gil-galad “Starlight” (Ety/GIL).

S. calad continued to be the basis for the second element of S. Gil-galad in some later writings (PE17/50), but Tolkien began to have problems with another name from The Lord of the Rings, that is Galadriel. When Tolkien first introduced her name, it basically meant “Tree-lady” (TI/249), but this was no longer suitable for her more elevated role in the Legendarium, and in any case the proper Sindarin word for “tree” was galadh. In 1955 notes Tolkien considered making the initial element of her name mean “blessed” or “bliss” instead (NM/346).

In notes from the late 1950s or early 1960s Tolkien connected the names Gil-galad and Galadriel as sharing a common element meaning “light” and experimented with various derivatives of the roots √KAL and √GAL (PE17/50), but couldn’t contrive a satisfactory solution since the shared word would be mutated in Gil-Galad but unmutated in Galadriel. Eventually Tolkien resolved this quandary by introducing a new root √Ñ(G)AL in various notes from the late 1960s (PE17/59-60; NM/353) whose primitive form in Sindarin was strengthened ✶ñgalatā that would produce the correct result for both names. Tolkien discussed this new word at length in The Shibboleth of Fëanor from 1968:

> The name [Galadriel] was derived from the Common Eldarin stem ÑAL “shine by reflection”; ✱ñalatā “radiance, glittering reflection” (from jewels, glass or polished metals, or water) > Quenya ñalta, Telerin alata, Sindarin galad ... The whole = “maiden crowned with a garland of bright radiance” was given in reference to Galadriel’s hair. Galad occurs also in the epesse of Ereinion (“scion of kings”) by which he was chiefly remembered in legend, Gil-galad “star of radiance” (PM/347).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume (ñ)galad refers to radiant, glittering and reflected light, as opposed to S. calad (lit. = “shining”) which refers to direct light and the sources of such light, such as lamps and flames.

galadh

tree

_n. Bot._tree, like oak (nordh) and beech. A galadh was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

galadh

tree

{ð} n. tree. In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

galadh

In Sindarin

{ð}_ n. _In Sindarin, there was no much distinction in size between galað and orn. A galað was more thick, dense and branching than a orn. Birch, ash and oak are of the orn kind. Q. alda. >> orn

galadriel

feminine name. Glittering-garland

A Noldorin lady and only daughter of Finarfin, Galadriel was the ruler of Lórien at the end of the Third Age (LotR/353). Her name is a compound of galad “radiance, glittering reflection” and -riel “crowned maiden”. Its full meaning is “maiden crowned with a garland of bright radiance” (PM/347), but for the sake of brevity this entry uses the less literal translation “Glittering-garland” (Let/423).

Etymology: The history of Galadriel’s name is quite complex. Her birth names were Q. Nerwen and Q. Artanis, but her mother Eärwen was Telerin. Later in life Galadriel adopted the Telerin name T. Alatáriel, which in Quenya was Q. Altáriel (PM/346). This new name may have been due to the Telerin influence of her mother, or it may have been given to Galadriel by her husband, who may or may not have been a Telerin elf (see Celeborn for discussion). She was given this name because of her long golden hair (Let/428). Like her older brothers, Galadriel journeyed to Beleriand to aid in the war against Morgoth, where her name Altáriel was adapted into Sindarin as Galadriel (PM/347, PE17/60).

Many years later, when Galadriel became ruler of Lórien, her Silvan-elf subjects associated her name with Nan. galad “tree”. Sometimes her Sindarin name was altered to Galadhriel (S. galadh “tree”) to reflect this association (UT/267), but properly speaking her name had nothing to do with trees.

Conceptual Development: See the entry for the primitive form of her name, ✶Ñ(g)alatā-rigelle, for a discussion of the conceptual developments in this name’s etymology, and N. Galadhrien for a discussion of earlier forms of this name.

galadh

noun. tree

The basic Sindarin word for “tree” (LotR/1113), derived from primitive ✶galadā and very well attested. This word dates back at least to The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. galadh “tree” appeared under the root ᴹ√GALAD (Ety/GALAD). See also orn “(tall) tree” of similar meaning.

Conceptual Development: Gnomish of the 1910s had some earlier version of this “tree” word: G. galdon >> alwen “tree” in the Name-list to the Fall of Gondolin (PE15/24) and archaic/poetic G. †alwen “tree” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/19), the latter probably from the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” that was the basis for ᴱQ. alda “tree” (QL/29).

galadhremmen

adjective. tree-meshed

An adjective meaning “tree-meshed” appearing in the A Elbereth Gilthoniel poem in its plural form galadhremmin (LotR/238). It was a combination of galadh “tree” and remmen “meshed” (PE17/25-26). This word is probably poetic, not in common use.

galadhrim

collective name. Tree-people

A name for the Elves of Lórien translated “Tree-people” (LotR/341). This name is a combination galadh “tree” and the class-plural suffix -rim often used in the names of peoples (Let/426, PE17/50).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s and in the 1st edition of Lord of the Rings, this name appeared as N. Galadrim as part of Tolkien’s general trend to simplify dh [ð] to d (TI/239, RC/305). In the 2nd edition he restored the proper Sindarin form Galadhrim, deciding that Galadrim was the Nandorin form (PE17/50).

galadlóriel

proper name. Golden Rain, (lit.) Golden Tree

A Sindarin name for Q. Laurelin appearing in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s but not the published Silmarillion (MR/155). It is a combination of galadh “tree” and glóriel “golden” (Ety/GALAD, Ety/LÁWAR).

Conceptual Development: The name N. Galadlóriel appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/210). In The Etymologies, N. Galadloriel appeared with a short o, had the derivation given above and appeared beside a variant form N. Galagloriel (Ety/GALAD, Ety/LÁWAR). In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, N. Galagloriel was translated “Golden Rain”, but as Christopher Tolkien pointed out, this was not its actual meaning (RS/187).

galathilion

proper name. White Tree

A tree in Tirion made after Telperion and translated “White Tree” (S/59). It may be a combination of galadh “tree” and the root THIL “shine silver” (SA/sil). The final element seems to be the patronymic suffix -ion, the last of these perhaps indicating its decent from Telperion.

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, N. Galathilion was another name for Telperion (LR/209). In The Etymologies it was glossed the “White Tree of Valinor” and had the derivation given above (Ety/BAL, GALAD, THIL), though the final element -ion was not explained. In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, it was glossed “Silver Cherry”, but as Christopher Tolkien pointed out, this was not its actual meaning (RS/187).

Galadriel

noun. lady, crowned with a radiant garland

galad (“light, radiance”) + rî (“crown”) + iell (“daughter” [Etym. SEL-D] traditional ending for women’s names) Sindarin equivalent of Tel. Alatâriel(lë))

galad

radiance

1a _ n. _radiance. >> Galadriel, Gil-galad

galad

light

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

galadhon

suffix. of trees

{ð} n. & poss. suff. of trees. lais geledhion, ** galadhon 'the leaves of trees'.  >> geledhion, -on

galadhremmen

tree-tangled

pl1. galadhremmin {ð} adj. tree-tangled. _o galadh-remmin ennorath _lit. 'from tree-tangled middlelands'. Q. aldarembina.

galadhrim

noun. wood elves of Lórien

galadh (“tree”) + rim (collective plural suffix)

galadhrim

noun. 'Tree-people'

pl2. n. 'Tree-people'. True S. form of Galadrim. >> Galadrim

galadrim

noun. 'Tree-people'

pl2. n. 'Tree-people'. Sylvan word, true S. Galadhrim. >> Galadhrim

gala-

verb. to grow

galadhad

noun. the Two Trees of Valinor

Galadriel

noun. Altăriel

_prop. n. _Q. Altăriel. . This gloss was rejected.

Galadriel

noun. 'woman crowned with glory

1a prop. n. 'woman crowned with glory, radiance'. A sindarized version of original Q. Altariel(le).

Galadriel

noun. 'lady with the gleaming crown'

1b prop. n. 'lady with the gleaming crown', sc. golden head of hair. This form was a suggestion made by Tolkien in the course of his thought, see PE17:59-60. Q. Naldariel(le).

galad

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

galadh

noun. tree

galadhremmen

adjective. tree-woven, tree-tangled

galadhrim

noun. Elves of Lothlórien

galan

elm

pl1. gelain _ n. Bot. _elm. . This gloss was rejected.

alaf

noun. elm

_ n. Bot. _elm. Q. albe.

alaf

noun. elm

The Sindarin word for “elm” appearing in notes from 1959, derived from the root √ALAB of similar meaning (PE17/153).

Conceptual Development: Tolkien used similar “elm” words for much of his life. The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. lalm or larm “an elm, elm-wood” along with a more elaborate form G. {lalmin >>} lalmir “an elm tree” (GL/52). These were clearly cognates to ᴱQ. alalme “elm (tree)” under the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29). Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s had an unrelated form ᴱN. {aulin >>} ólin “elm” (PE13/151). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien reverted to N. lalf or N. lalven “elm-tree” under the root ᴹ√ÁLAM of the same meaning (Ety/ÁLAM). This root had a variant ᴹ√LÁLAM, under which Tolkien had N. lhalwen or lhalorn “elm-tree” (Ety/LÁLAM).

Neo-Sindarin: In theory the 1930s “elm” words might be used with some adaptations like ᴺS. lalorn for N. lhalorn, but I’d simply stick to the 1959 “elm” word alaf for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

gala

grow

gala- (i **ala, i ngalar** = i ñalar)

gala

grow

(i ’ala, i ngalar = i ñalar)

galadh

galadh

From Primitive Quendian galadā, derived from root GALA. Although the form galadh is similar to Silvan galad ("tree"), it should not be confused with Sindarin galad ("radiance").

Galadriel

Galadriel

Galadriel is a Sindarin name translated by Tolkien as "glittering garland", "Maiden crowned with gleaming hair", and "maiden crowned with a radiant garland". It has been suggested that Galadriel consists of galad ("light, radiance") + rî ("crown") + iell ("daughter"). Tolkien notes that the element galad had no relation to Sindarin galadh ("tree", or Silvan galad "tree"), but that such a connexion often was made and her name then became Galadhriel.

galadhrim

Galadhrim

Galadhrim is a Sindarin name meaning "Tree-people". The name consists of galadh ("tree") + rim(b) ("great number"). See also LotR (50th) p. 341. In the first edition of The Lord of the Rings, Galadhrim was spelt Galadrim. In later editions, this was emended to the former, which Tolkien had decided was the correct Sindarin form.

galad

radiance

1) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad) (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid), 2) glaw (i **law), pl. gloe (in gloe), 3) thîl; no distinct pl. form, coll. pl. ?thiliath**.

galad

radiance

(i ngalad = i ñalad) (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid)

galad

brilliance

(i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid)

galad

sunlight

1) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid). 2) glawar (i **lawar) (gold; radiance of the Golden Tree Laurelin), pl. glewair (in glewair**) (VT41:10)

galad

sunlight

(i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid).

galad

glittering reflection

galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid).

galad

glittering reflection

(i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid).

galad

reflection

(glittering reflection) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad) (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid)

galad

reflection

(i ngalad = i ñalad) (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid) **

galadh

tree

1) galadh (i **aladh), pl. gelaid (i ngelaidh = i ñelaidh) (Letters:426, SD:302). 2) orn (pl. yrn**). Note: a homophone means ”tall”.

galadhon

of or related to trees

(lenited ‘aladhon, pl. galadhoen). Archaic ✱galadhaun. The latter is based on David Salo’s analysis of the name Caras Galadhon; others have interpreted the last word as some kind of genitive plural, maybe influenced by Silvan Elvish.

galadhremmen

tree-tangled

*galadhremmen (pl. galadhremmin) (word used to describe the woodlands of Middle-earth)

galadhremmen

tree-tangled

(pl. galadhremmin) (word used to describe the woodlands of Middle-earth)

galadhrim

people of the trees

Galadhrim (Elves of Lórien)

galadhrim

people of the trees

Galadhrim (Elves of Lórien). Adj. OF OR RELATED TO TREES (?) galadhon (lenited aladhon, pl. galadhoen). Archaic *galadhaun. _The latter is based on David Salo_s analysis of the name Caras Galadhon; others have interpreted the last word as some kind of genitive plural, maybe influenced by Silvan Elvish.

galas

plant

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

galas

plant

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

galas

growth

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

galas

growth

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

galadh

tree

(i ’aladh), pl. gelaid (i ngelaidh = i ñelaidh) (Letters:426, SD:302).

galadhrim

people of the trees

(Elves of Lórien)

galadhrim

people of the trees

(Elves of Lórien). Adj.

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)

glaw

radiance

(i ’law), pl. gloe (in gloe)

rî

garland

rî (construct ri) (wreath, crown), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rî);

rî

garland

(construct ri) (wreath, crown), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rî);

calad

noun. light, fire, brightness, shining, light, brightness, shining, fire

A noun for “light” derived from the root √KAL of similar meaning (PE17/50, 84), and appearing in the phrase Lacho calad! Drego morn! “Flame light! Flee night!” (UT/65). In one place it was glossed “light, fire, brightness, shining” (PE17/84), so it seems it could refer to any shining thing or source of light. For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would only use it in reference to “fire” as a source of illumination, not as a flame.

Conceptual Development: N. calad “light” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above (Ety/KAL). In this document it was the basis for the final element of the name N. Gil-galad, and this was true in some later writings as well (PE17/50), but Tolkien eventually decided the second element of Gil-galad was (ñ)galad “radiance”, an element also seen in the name of Galadriel (PM/347).

calad

noun. light

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

geledhion

suffix. of trees

pl. n. & poss. suff. of trees. lais geledhion, ** galadhon 'the leaves of trees'.  >> galadhon

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

gelennil

masculine name. Lover of Trees

A name appearing only in some linguistic notes from the 1950s, beside variant form Gleðennil (PE21/83).

aglar

brilliance

1) aglar (glitter, glory), pl. eglair if there is a pl. 2) galad (i ngalad = i ñalad), (bright light, sunlight, brilliance, radiance, glittering reflection), pl. gelaid (in gelaid = i ñgelaid), 3) rill (construct ril) (flame, glittering reflected light), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

araw

oromë

also called Tauron (na Dauron, o Thauron). Other names: Galadhon (na ’Aladhon) or Tauros (na Dauros, o Thauros)

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).

remmen

netted

(tangled, woven), pl. #remmin attested (as part of the phrase galadhremmin ennorath, LotR Appendix E)

remmen

woven

remmen (tangled, netted), pl. #remmin attested (as part of the phrase galadhremmin ennorath, LotR Appendix E)

remmen

woven

(tangled, netted), pl. #remmin attested (as part of the phrase galadhremmin ennorath, LotR Appendix E)

remmen

tangled

remmen (woven, netted), pl. #remmin attested (as part of the phrase galadhremmin ennorath, LotR Appendix E): TREE-TANGLED *galadhremmen (pl. galadhremmin) (word used to describe the woodlands of Middle-earth)

remmen

tangled

(woven, netted), pl. #remmin attested (as part of the phrase galadhremmin ennorath, LotR Appendix E):

riel

princess

#riel (garlanded maiden), pl. ?rîl (idh rîl), coll. pl. riellath. Isolated from the name Galadriel.

riel

princess

(garlanded maiden), pl. ?rîl (idh rîl), coll. pl. riellath. Isolated from the name Galadriel.

riel

garlanded maiden

(princess), pl. ?rîl (idh rîl). Isolated from the name Galadriel.

alf

noun. flower

glast

noun. marble

remmen

noun. woven, netted, tangled

Lossoth

noun. the Snowmen

Teler

noun. an Elf, one of the Teleri

aglar

noun. radiance

_n. _radiance, glory. Q. alkar. >> aglareb

aglar

noun. glory, brilliance, splendour

aglar

brilliance

n. brilliance, glory. Q. alkar. o menel aglar elenath ! lit. 'from Firmament glory of the stars !'. aglar an|i Pheriannath  'glory to all the Halflings'.

anfangrim

noun. the Longbeards (a tribe of Dwarves)

anglennatha

verb. (he) will approach

anor

noun. Sun

The most common Sindarin name for the Sun derived from primitive ✶Anār, an augmented form of the root √NAR “fire” (PE17/38; Ety/ANÁR; SD/302-303, 306). The o is the result of ancient ā becoming au and then this au becoming o in polysyllables.

Conceptual Development: The term Anor was first mentioned in conjunction with early tales of Númenor (LR/41). It briefly appeared as N. {ánar >>} Anar “sun” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the entry for ᴹ√NAR (Ety/NAR¹; EtyAC/NAR¹), but as Anor under ᴹ√ANÁR (Ety/ANÁR). In The Notion Club Papers of the 1940s it was Anor, archaic †Anaur (SD/302-303, 306) and it retained this form thereafter.

araw

masculine name. Oromë

The Sindarin name of Oromë (LotR/1039), a derivation of his Valarin name Arǭmēz (WJ/400).

Possible Etymology: Tolkien considered several different derivations of this name. In The Etymologies of the 1930s and in some later writings, the name was derived from primitive ᴹ✶Orǭmē (Ety/ORÓM; PE17/99, 153), but in these derivations it is unclear how the initial element of his Sindarin name developed from O into A.

Later, Tolkien decided that his name developed from Val. Arǭmēz (PE17/138, WJ/400), making the initial A in the Sindarin name easier to explain. In the case of his Quenya name, the initial A changed to O by association with the Quenya root √ROM “noise of horns” (WJ/400).

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, the cognate of Orome was given as G. Orma (GL/63). In the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s, it appeared as G. Ormain >> Ormaid, both rejected and replaced by (unrelated) Tavros (LB/195).

In The Etymologies from the 1930s, the Noldorin name of Orome appeared first as (rejected) N. Goru (EtyAC/GÓROM), then Araw (Ety/ORÓM). In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, his name was written as (incomplete and rejected) Ramr... before being immediately changed to Araw (WR/292). This remained his Sindarin name thereafter.

avo

verb. don't!

Used as a negative adverb before an imperative: avo garo "don't do it!". Sometimes used as prefix: avgaro

avon

verb. I won't

calad

gerund noun. light

calben

noun. Elf of the Great Journey (lit. "light person")

calben

noun. all Elves but the Avari

cuio

verb. live!

dagorath

noun. all the battles

drúwaith

noun. the wilderness of the Drû-men (q.v.)

dúnedhel

noun. Elf of the West, Elf of Beleriand (including Noldor and Sindar)

edhel

noun. Elf

edhel

noun. Elf

_ n. _Elf, a general name for all the Elves (since the name Quendi had gone out of use in Sindarin). Probably related to or connected with Q. Elda. >> edhellen

edhel

Elf

pl1. edhil, pl2. edhellim {ð} _n. _Elf. A name used by the Sindar for themselves, characterizing other varieties by an adjective or prefix. >> Aredhel, Thinnedhel

edhel

Elf

{ð} _n. _Elf.

edhel

Elf

d _ n. _Elf. Q. elda.

edhelharn

noun. elf-stone

egladhrim

noun. "The Forsaken", Elves of the Falathrim

eglath

noun. "The Forsaken", Elves of the Falathrim

elanor

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

ell

noun. elf

n. elf, esp. [?in ?the ?South]. Noldorin form.

elleth

noun. elf-maid

ellon

noun. elf

elloth

noun. (single) flower

elvellon

noun. elf-friend

fael

noun. gleaming brilliance (of the sun)

falathrim

noun. people of the Falas

glinnel

noun. Elf, one of the Teleri

golodh

noun. "Deep Elf" or "Gnome", one of the Wise Folk

golodhrim

noun. Deep Elves, Gnomes

gâl

he/she grows

v. #he/she grows.

gódhel

noun. "Deep Elf" or "Gnome", one of the Wise Folk

gódhellim

noun. "Deep Elves" or "Gnomes", the Wise Folk

iathrim

noun. Elves of Doriath

lachend

noun. Deep Elf (Sindarin name for the Ñoldor)

lachenn

noun. Deep Elf (Sindarin name for the Ñoldor)

laegel

noun. a Green Elf

laegeldrim

noun. the people of the Green Elves

laegrim

noun. the people of the Green Elves

lalorn

noun. elm-tree

lalwen

noun. elm-tree

lammas

noun. account of tongues

lebethron

noun. a tree - its black wood was used by the woodwrights of Gondor

In the original manuscript, one of the earlier (rejected) form of this name was lebendron. Didier Willis proposed the etymology lebed+doron "finger-oak", actually a real tree name (Finger Oak or Quercus digitata)

loth

noun. flower, inflorescence, a head of small flowers

The noun is collective, a single flower being lotheg

loth

noun. flower

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

lotheg

noun. (single) flower

lâf

verb. (he) licks

lôd

verb. (he) floats

malhorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

mallorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

mallos

noun. a golden flower

malthorn

noun. golden tree of Lothlórien

miniel

noun. an Elf, one of the Vanyar

minuial

noun. "morrowdim", the time near dawn, when the star fade

mornedhel

noun. Dark-Elf

ninglor

noun. golden water-flower, gladden

niphredil

noun. a pale winter flower, snowdrop

noro

verb. run! ride!

Untranslated in LotR, but written nora-lim and rendered as "ride on" in RS/196 (not a literal translation) and later translated as "run swift" in RC/195. A verb nor- is attested in the old Gnomish lexicon, PE/11:61, with the meaning "to run, roll"

orn

noun. (any large) tree

oron

noun. tree

n. Bot. tree. Also in compound -(o)rŏnō. >> orn

pêd

verb. (he) says

raef

noun. net

raef

noun. net

raew

noun. net

raew

noun. net

rammas

noun. (great) wall

ril

brilliance

n. brilliance, esp. used of white radiation. >> mithril

rochirrim

noun. horse-lords, the people of Rohan

seregon

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

tawarwaith

noun. Silvan elves

telerrim

noun. the Teleri, a tribe of Elves

tôl

verb. (he) comes

According to WJ/301, the expression tôl acharn "vengeance comes" was later changed to tûl acharn by Tolkien

ódhel

noun. Deep Elf or Gnome, one of the Wise Folk

ódhellim

noun. Deep Elves or Gnomes, the Wise Folk

ónen

noun. I gave

Written onen in some editions of LotR. In the Qenyaqetsa, Qenya anta- is marked as having an irregular past tense áne. Assuming the same sound-shifts as observed in other words, this would indeed lead to onen in Sindarin, see PE/12:31 and TT/14:48-49

agar

glory

agar (brilliance, glitter), pl. eglair if there is a pl. Also claur (i glaur, o chlaur) (splendour), pl. cloer (i chloer), coll. pl. clorath.

agar

glory

(brilliance, glitter), pl. eglair if there is a pl. Also claur (i glaur, o chlaur) (splendour), pl. cloer (i chloer), coll. pl. clorath.

aglar

brilliance

(glitter, glory), pl. eglair if there is a pl.

anor

sun

(pl. Anoer if there is a pl.) Archaic Anaur (SD:306).

denwaith

people of denwe

(WJ:385);

edhel

elf

edhel (pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). _(WJ:363, 377-78; _the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > Elrim_ _may also occur). But since elin also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.

edlothia

flower

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

edlothia

flower

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

edlothiad

flowering

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

fael

gleaming brilliance

. No distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means "fair-minded, generous, just".

gell

joy

(i ’ell) (triumph), pl. gill (i ngill = i ñill).

glass

joy

1) glass (i **lass, constuct glas), pl. glais (in glais), 2) gell (i **ell) (triumph), pl. gill (i ngill = i ñill).

glass

joy

(i ’lass, constuct glas), pl. glais (in glais)

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)

glawar

sunlight

glawar (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

gwaith

people

gwaith (i **waith) (manhood, manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith**).

gwaith

people

(i ’waith) (manhood, manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

gwaloth

collection of flowers

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

gwathuirim

people of dunland

(”shadowy people”) (PM:330);

gwî

net

1) gwî (i **wî) (web), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwî), 2) raef, no distinct pl. form except with article (idh raef), coll. pl. raevath. Note: raef has a side-form raew, but since this also means ”fathom”, raef may be preferred for clarity. 3) rem (mesh), pl. rim (idh rim), coll. pl. remmath**. Verb

gwî

net

(i ’wî) (web), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwî)

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)*

haradrim

people of the south

(southerners, southrons);

huorn

walking tree of fangorn

(i chuorn, o chuorn), pl. huyrn (i chuyrn).

iathrim

people of doriath

(”Fence-people”) (WJ:378);

ilphen

 noun. everyone

il- (every/all) + pen (someone/somebody).

lebethron

oak tree

.

lim

light

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

loth

flower

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

loth

flower

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

lotheg

single flower

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

minuial

dawn

minuial (i vinuial) (morrowdim, twilight), pl. minuiail (i minuiail)

minuial

dawn

(i vinuial) (morrowdim, twilight), pl. minuiail (i minuiail)

naur

sun

(mainly in compounds as nar-, -nor) (flame, fire), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath.

nothlir

family tree

(family line); no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath.

orn

tree

(pl. yrn). Note: a homophone means ”tall”.

raef

net

no distinct pl. form except with article (idh raef), coll. pl. raevath. Note: raef has a side-form raew, but since this also means ”fathom”, raef may be preferred for clarity.

raen

netted

(enlaced). No distinct pl. form. (VT42:12)

rem

net

(mesh), pl. rim (idh rim), coll. pl. remmath. Verb

rill

brilliance

(construct ril) (flame, glittering reflected light), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

rill

light

(construct ril) (brilliance, flame), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

rohirrim

people of rohan

(Gondorian pronunciation of Rochirrim; see

thîl

radiance

; no distinct pl. form, coll. pl. ?thiliath.

toss

low-growing tree

(i** doss, o thoss, construct tos), pl. tyss (i** thyss). Tolkien mentioned ”maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, etc.” as examples of the low-growing trees covered by this word. Specific trees, see

galmā

noun. flower

gal

root. grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, grow (like plants), flourish, be healthy, be vigorous, bloom, [ᴹ√] thrive

A root meaning “grow, flourish” used in both Quenya and Sindarin, though in Quenya it was influenced by other roots such as √AL(A) “good, blessed”. Its precursors in the earliest versions of Tolkien’s languages seem to be ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29) and a Gnomish-only root ᴱ√cala [kala], unglossed but with derivatives like G. calw “green shoot, sapling, sprout” and G. caltha- “wax, grow, flourish” (GL/25).

The root ᴹ√GALA first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with various glosses, the last being “thrive” (Ety/GALA). The relevant entries went through considerable revision. For example, the meaning of this root was first given as “grow”, but this meaning was rejected and Tolkien said the verb for “grow” was ol- (EtyAC/GAL(AS)). This new verb seems to be based on a variant root ✱ᴹ√GOL, as indicated by ᴹQ. ola- “grow” < ᴹ✶golā- “grow” appearing in the Quenya Verbal System of the 1940s as a replacement for ᴹQ. ala- < ᴹ✶galā- (PE22/113, note #80), though the new root might also have been ᴹ√OL “grow” as indicated earlier in the same document (PE22/103). Since ᴹ√GALA was retained in The Etymologies, most likely the meaning of this root was changed from “grow” to “thrive” in the 1930s and 40s.

It seems ᴹ√OL “grow” survived into the 1950s (NM/84, 119-120), often with the sense “become” as well (PE22/134); see the entry on √OL for discussion. However, the sense “grow” as also restored to √GAL, but limited mainly to plants. For example, Common Eldarin: Verb Structure from the early 1950s had the primitive verbs ✶galā- “grow (of plants)” vs. ✶olā- “become, come into being, turn into (another state)” (PE22/134). This definition of √GAL as “growth” (along with “flourish” and “be healthy”) appeared regularly in Tolkien’s later writings, though it was often limited primarily to plants, especially in its connection to ✶galadā, the basis for tree words (PE17/25, 135, 153).

galadā

noun. great plant, tree

galādu

noun. thicket

galadarembinā

adjective. tree-meshed

galam

root. elm

gala(da)ndil

masculine name. Lover of Trees

galab

root. flower

galadā atta

2 trees

galadā kanta

4 trees

alab

root. elm

A root for “elm” in etymological notes probably written around 1959-1960 (PE17/146, 153). It seems to be a replacement for the root ᴹ√(L)ALAM from The Etymologies of the 1930s. This earlier root was connected to √AL(A) “blessed”, and the later variant may have had the same relationship. Tolkien made a point that the later version of this root was not related to √GAL “grow” or the words for “tree” after rejecting alternate roots √GALAB (?“flower”) and √GALAM for “elm” (PE17/146). The derivation ✶galmā > Q. alma “flower” was allowed to stand, so perhaps √GALAM remained valid with the alternate sense “flower”.

galā- Reconstructed

verb. to grow (of plants)

@@@ also agor variant past of S. car-

galast-

noun. marble, (orig.) thing pleasant to touch

ñ(g)alatā

noun. (reflected) radiance, glitter (of reflected light), glory

ñ(g)alatā-rigelle

feminine name. maiden crowned with a garland of radiance

anār

noun. Sun

kalat

noun. light

kalinā

adjective. bright

lot(h)

root. flower

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

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

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

These associations were also mentioned in etymological notes on roots for flowers from this same period, where Tolkien clarified that √LOT, √LOTH were the roots for “flower” and √LOS for “snow” (PE17/160-161). These roots were mentioned again in notes associated with The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from the late 1960s (VT42/18):

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

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

lotho/a

noun. flower

lotse

noun. flower

áse

noun. sunlight

galla

noun. tree

galada

noun. tree

cala

noun. light

alatáriel

feminine name. Galadriel

galadhor

proper name. Galadhor

A name appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, possibly containing galadh “tree” (Ety/GALA, GALAD).

galadhon

masculine name. Galadhon

galador

masculine name. Galador

galadriel

feminine name. Galadriel

galavan

masculine name. Galavan

A rejected name in The Etymologies from the 1930s, the cognate of ᴹQ. Kalamando “Light Mando”, replacing earlier variant Calavan (EtyAC/KAL).

galas

noun. growth, plant, plant, growth

A word in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “growth, plant” under the root ᴹ√GALA “thrive” (Ety/GALA). It seems to be an abstract elaboration of the verb N. gala- “to grow”, so perhaps refers both to “growth” as a process, as well as a “plant” as a thing that grows.

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. caltha “a plant, herb” based on the early root ᴱ√cala- “✱grow” (GL/25), apparently a precursor to √GAL(A) “grow” of the 1930s and later.

galadhrien

feminine name. Tree-lady

An early name for S. Galadriel appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s as a combination of galadh “tree” and the lenited form of rhien “lady” (TI/249). There were also (rejected) variants Rhien and Galdri(e)n.

Conceptual Development: Tolkien soon changed her name to Galadriel (TI/246), but it likely that at this early stage, her name still included galadh “tree”, since Tolkien often represented [ð] with “d” instead of “dh” in Lord of the Rings drafts: compare N. Caradras with S. Caradhras. The derivation of Galadriel’s name from S. galad “light” is probably a later innovation.

galadlevnar

proper name. Week of the Trees

Name of a holiday week in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/LEP), a combination of galadh “tree” and the lenited form of lhevnar “week” (EtyAC/LEP).

galathir

masculine name. Tree-lord

An early name for S. Celeborn appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s as a combination of galadh “tree” and the lenited form of hîr “lord” (TI/249).

gala-

verb. to grow

galadh

noun. tree

galadloriel

proper name. Golden Rain

galathilion

proper name. White Tree of Valinor

galad

noun. light

galadrim

collective name. Tree-folk

gala-

verb. to grow

galadh

noun. tree

galas

noun. growth, plant

gal-

prefix. light

gail

noun. bright light

glas

noun. joy

glas

noun. joy

glaw

noun. radiance

glaw

noun. radiance

caras galadon

place name. Caras Galadon

calad

noun. light

aglar

noun. glory, brilliance, splendour

anaur

noun. Sun

anor

noun. Sun

blâb

verb. (he) flaps, beats

The Etymologies seem to list this word as a noun, but it is clearly the third person singular of the verb

calad

gerund noun. light

edhel

noun. Elf

gell

noun. joy, triumph

glass

noun. joy

glaur

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

glawar

noun. sunlight, radiance (of the golden tree Laurelin)

glor-

noun. golden light (of the golden tree Laurelin)

golodh

noun. "Deep Elf" or "Gnome", one of the Wise Folk

golodhrim

noun. Deep Elves, Gnomes

gwî

noun. net, web

lalf

noun. elm-tree

lalven

noun. elm-tree

lhalorn

noun. elm-tree

lhalwen

noun. elm-tree

lhammas

noun. account of tongues

lhoth

noun. flower, inflorescence, a head of small flowers

The noun is collective, a single flower being lotheg

lhothod

noun. (single) flower

lhâf

verb. (he) licks

lhôd

verb. (he) floats

lothod

noun. (single) flower

nifredil

noun. a pale winter flower, snowdrop

orn

noun. (any large) tree

orn

noun. tree

orthor

verb. (he) masters, conquers

osgar

verb. (he) cuts, amputates

síla

verb. (he) shines white

sôg

verb. (he) drinks

thia

verb. it appears

tôg

verb. (he) leads, brings

tôl

verb. (he) comes

According to WJ/301, the expression tôl acharn "vengeance comes" was later changed to tûl acharn by Tolkien

galad

noun. tree

galadrim

collective name. Tree-people

caras galadon

place name. Caras Galadon

galad

noun. tree

>> Galadrim

galad

noun. tree

Derived from galadâ "great growth", "tree", applied to stout and spreading trees such as oaks and beeches (UT:266, Letters:426; in the latter source, the root GAL is defined as "grow", intransitive). It is interesting to notice that this word, given in a source much later than the Etymologies that provides most of the Nandorin material, nonetheless agrees well with the older words cited by Tolkien: again we see the loss of original final -â, whereas original post-vocalic d is unchanged as in the word edel.

galadon

of trees

>> Caras Galadon

galadrim

noun. Elves of Lothlórien

Note: "The Galadrim were 'Tree-people' (though the formation is Sindarin, + S [rim] = Q rimbë, great number) = true Sindarin galadhrim."

Danas

noun. Green-elves, Nandor

In Etym derived from the stem DAN (LR:353), simply defined as an "element found in names of the Green-elves", and tentatively compared to NDAN "back" (since the Nandor "turned back" and did not complete the march to the Sea). Tolkien's later view on the derivation of the name of the Green-elves, as set down in WJ:412, is that the stem dan- and its strengthened form ndan- do indeed have a similar meaning: these forms have to do with "the reversal of an action, so as to undo or nullify its effect", and a primitive form ndandô, "one who goes back on his word or decision", is suggested. However, it seems unlikely that the Nandor would have called themselves by such a name, and indeed Tolkien in WJ:385 states that "this people still called themselves by the old clan-name Lindai [= Quenya Lindar], which had at that time taken the form Lindi in their tongue". It may be, then, that Tolkien had rejected the idea that the Nandor called themselves Danas. - As for the ending -as, it is probably to be compared to the Sindarin class plural ending -ath; indeed a Sindarin ("Noldorin") form Danath evidently closely corresponding to Danas is given in LR:353.

cwenda

noun. elf

A doubtful word according to Tolkien's later conception; in the branch of Eldarin that Nandorin belongs to, primitive KW became P far back in Elvish linguistic history [WJ:375 cf. 407 note 5]. This was not a problem in Tolkien's earlier conception, in which the Danians came from the host of the Noldor, not the Teleri [see PM:76; the idea of the Nandor being of Noldorin origin also occurs in VT47:29]. In his later version of Nandorin, the word cwenda is probably best ignored; simply emending it to *penda would produce a clash with primitive pendâ "sloping" [cf. WJ:375].

In the Etymologies, Tolkien derived cwenda from kwenedê "elf" (stem KWEN(ED) of similar meaning, LR:366; as for the shift of original final -ê to Nandorin -â, compare hrassa "precipice" from khrassê). But later the primitive word that yielded Quenya Quende was reconstructed as kwende (WJ:360).

No certain example shows how original short final -e comes out in Nandorin, so we cannot say whether kwende is also capable of yielding cwenda, ignoring the question of kw failing to become p.

alda

noun. tree, tree, [ᴱQ.] branch

The basic Quenya word for “tree” (LotR/1113), derived from primitive ✶galadā and very well attested. This word dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where ᴱQ. alda “tree” appeared under the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29). Tolkien seems to have switched its derivation to ✱galadā in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where ᴹQ. alda “tree” appeared under the root ᴹ√GALAD of the same meaning (Ety/GALAD). See also ornë “(tall) tree” for a discussion of another similar word.

Conceptual Development: There were a few instances where the word alda had a different meaning. In Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s, alda was glossed “branch” (PE16/139). In notes from 1959 Tolkien said “✱galadā, originally only large flourishing plant, as tree, and especially one that flowered, Q alda, S galað; the general word for ‘tree’ was Q orne ‘upstanding plant’ (PE17/153)”. But in its numerous appearance elsewhere, alda was simply a general word for “tree”.

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.

alma

noun. flower

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

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

alda

tree

alda noun "tree" (GALAD, GÁLAD, SA, Nam, RGEO:66, LR:41, SD:302, LT1:249, LT2:340, VT39:7), also name of tengwa #28 (Appendix E). Pl. aldar in Narqelion; gen. pl. aldaron "of trees" in Namárië. Etymology of alda, see Letters:426 and UT:266-7. The latter source states that primitive ¤galadā, whence Quenya alda, originally applied to stouter and more spreading trees such as oaks or beeches, while straighter and more slender trees such as birches were called ¤ornē, Quenya ornë - but this distinction was not always observed in Quenya, and it seems that alda became the general word. According to PE17:25, primitive galada (sic) referred to "a plant (large) and was a general term". Place-name Aldalómë ""tree-night" or "tree-shade-night" (LotR2:III ch. 4, translated in PE17:82); Aldarion masc. name, *"Son of (the) Trees" (Appendix A), Tar-Aldarion a Númenorean King (UT:210). Aldaron a name of Oromë (Silm); aldinga "tree-top" (VT47:28), aldarembina (pl. aldarembinë attested) adj. "tree-tangled", the cognate of Sindarin galadhremmin**(PM:17:26).Aldúya fourth day of the Eldarin six-day week, dedicated to the Trees (Appendix D). The word seems to include Aldu, a dual form referring to the Two Trees. The Númenóreans altered the name to Aldëa (presumably < aldajā), referring to one tree (the White) only. The dual Aldu seems to occur also in Aldudénië** "Lament for the Two Trees" (a strange word, since Quenya does not permit intervocalic d as in this word perhaps the Vanyarin dialect of Quenya did) (Silm)

ala-

plant, grow

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

ala-

verb. grow

alas

marble

alas (alast-) noun "marble" (QL:30, GL:39).

alba

noun. flower

alda

noun. tree

alma

flower

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

alta

radiance

alta (2) noun "radiance" (VT42:32, PE17:50). Cf. variant ñalta.

alta

noun. radiance

cala

light

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

alas

noun. marble

altáriel

feminine name. Galadriel

The Quenya name of Galadriel, an adaptation of the Telerin name Alatáriel (UT/266, PM/347). See the entry on Galadriel for further discussion of this name’s history, and ✶Ñ(g)alatā-rigelle for a discussion of the conceptual development of its etymology.

naltariel

feminine name. Galadriel

What the Quenya name of Altáriel (S. Galadriel) would have been if it had been coined in Quenya instead of adapted from Telerin (PM/347). This name is a compound of nalta “radiance, glittering reflection” and riel(lë) “garlanded maiden”. See S. Galadriel and ✶Ñ(g)alatā-rigelle for further discussion.

Altariel

galadriel

Altariel fem. name "Galadriel", "maiden crowned with a radiant garland" (SA:kal; the form Alatáriel is Telerin; see PM:347) Stem Altariell- seen in the genitive Altariello, occurring in the superscript of the Tengwar transcription of Namárië in RGEO.

altariello nainië lóriendesse

Galadriel’s lament in Lórien

riendë

noun. garland

rië

garland

rië noun "garland", also apparently riendë (PE17:182).

rië

noun. garland, [ᴹQ.] crown, [Q.] garland

élicombë

noun. galaxy, collection of stars

A neologism for “galaxy” coined by Tamas Ferencz, the plural †éli of the archaic word Q. †él for “star” (still common in compounds) combined with Q. (o)combë “collection”, hence more literally “collection of stars”.

aldarembina

adjective. tree-meshed

Quenya cognate to S. galadhremmen “tree-meshed” (PE17/136) from the Sindarin poem A Elbereth Gilthoniel (LotR/238). It is a combination of Q. alda “tree” and Q. rembina “meshed” (PE17/25-26).

ornë

tree

ornë noun "tree" _(Letters:308, SD:302: "when smaller and more slender like a birch or rowan", Etym stem ÓR-NI: "tree, high isolated tree"). For the etymology, see Letters:426; for (original) difference in meaning between ornë and alda, see alda. In ornemalin "tree-yellow"; see laurelindórenan lindelorendor... (LotR2:III ch. 4; cf. Letters:308), also as final element in malinornë "yellow-tree, mallorn" (q.v.) Masc. name Ornendil *"Tree-friend" (Appendix A)_, compound Ornelië "tree-folk" (Quenya name of the Galadhrim, the tree-people of Lórien) (TI:239).

alassë

joy, merriment

alassë (1) noun "joy, merriment" (GALÁS) [VT42:32; a gloss "mirth" was deleted, VT45:14]

aldanil

masculine name. Lover of Trees

A name appearing only in some linguistic notes from the 1950s, beside variant form Alandil (PE21/83).

Quende#

noun. Elf

Elf

alalmino

elm

alalmino noun? "Elm"-something? (Narqelion)

alalmë

elm, elm-tree

alalmë (2) noun "elm, elm-tree" (ÁLAM, LÁLAM, LT1:249). Cf. alvë in a post-LotR source.

albë

noun. elm

alcar

noun. radiance

radiance, splendour

alta-

grow

[alta- (3) vb. "grow" (VT45:13) or "make grow" (VT45:14)]

alvë

elm

alvë noun "elm" (PE17:146), also pronounced albë. In an earlier source, the word for "elm" is given as alalmë, lalmë.

alvë

noun. elm

A word appearing as alve or albe “elm” in notes from 1959, derived from the root √ALAB of similar meaning (PE17/146, 153).

Conceptual Development: This word was ᴱQ. alalme (alalmi-) “elm (tree)” in the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√ALA “spread” (QL/29; PME/29). It was ᴱQ. alalme “elm” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/140), and ᴹQ. alalme or lalme “elm-tree” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the roots ᴹ√ALAM or ᴹ√LALAM (Ety/ÁLAM, LÁLAM). The change to alve/albe was fairly late, as noted above.

amaurëa

dawn, early day

†amaurëa noun "dawn, early day" (Markirya)

ambarónë

noun. dawn, dawn; [ᴹQ.] uprising, sunrise, Orient

anar

noun. Sun

The most common Quenya name for the Sun derived from primitive ✶Anār, an augmented form of the root √NAR “fire” (Let/425; PE17/38; Ety/ANÁR; SD/302, 306).

Conceptual Development: This term appeared in Silmarillion drafts of the 1930s with the gloss “Heart of Flame” (LR/240) and as ᴹQ. Anar “sun” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above (Ety/ANÁR, NAR¹).

aranel

princess

aranel noun "princess" (likely *aranell-) (UT:434)

aranel

noun. princess

aurë

sunlight, day

aurë noun "sunlight, day" (SA:ur), "day (of light), a day of special meaning or festival" (VT49:45). locative auressë "in (the) morning" in Markirya, allative aurenna *"on the day" (VT49:43-45). Also compare amaurëa.

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.

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”.

empanya-

plant

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

fairë

radiance

fairë (3) noun "radiance" (PHAY)

insil

noun. flower

TQ. flower, lily

laima

plant

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

laima

noun. plant

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

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

lie

noun. people

lië

people

lië noun "people" (LI, Narqelion, VT39:6), in Eldalië, losselië, Ornelië (q.v.); possessive #liéva in Mindon Eldaliéva (q.v.); maybe also compounded in #rohtalië, #ruhtalië (q.v.)

loa

growth

loa, noun literally "growth", used of a solar year (= coranar) when seasonal changes are considered (Appendix D; in PM:126 loa is translated "time of growth". Pl. loar, or "löar", in MR:426) The form loa is also mentioned as the hypothetical Quenya cognate of Sindarin lô ("swampy"), but precisely because it clashed with loa "year", this Quenya cognate was not in use (VT42:10)

lós

flower

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

lóte

noun. flower

lótë

flower

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

nalta

radiance, glittering reflection

nalta ("ñ")noun "radiance, glittering reflection" (from jewels, glass or polished metals, or water) (PM:347)

ol-

grow

ol- vb. "grow" (VT45:13; this may be a primitive root rather than a Quenya verb)

ola-

verb. grow

olmië

noun. growth

quendë

elf

quendë noun "Elf", the little-used analogical sg. of Quendi, q.v. (KWEN(ED), WJ:361)

raima

net

raima noun "net" (VT42:12)

raima

noun. net

remba-

net, entrap

remba- vb. "net, entrap" (VT42:12)

rillë

brilliance

rillë noun "brilliance" (both the word and the gloss are uncertain, VT46:11)

rincë

flourish, quick stroke

rincë ("k") (stem *rinci-, given the primitive form ¤rinki) noun "flourish, quick stroke" (RIK(H); the Etymologies as printed in LR reads "quick shake", but according to VT46:11 the correct reading is "quick stroke")

silpion

proper name. White Tree

A name for the White Tree of Valinor, the one of the Two Trees which shone with silver light (S/38). The exact meaning of this name is unclear, but its initial element is from the root √SIL “shine (white or silver)” (SA/sil) or possibly from its extended form ᴹ√SILIP (Ety/SIL).

Conceptual Development: The very first name of this tree was ᴱQ. Valpio “Holy Cherry”, appearing in the Qenya Lexicon from the 1910s (LTA2/Silpion, QL/55). In the earliest Lost Tales, however, it was called ᴱQ. Silpion (LT1/73). At this early stage, the name was translated “Cherry-moon” (LT2/215), using the same element ᴱQ. pio “cherry” as its predecessor Valpio. It is unlikely this meaning persisted into later writings. In The Etymologies from the 1930s, the name ᴹQ. Silpion was glossed “White Tree of Valinor” (Ety/BAL). Although not exact, "White Tree" is the best available later translation of this name.

ára

dawn

ára noun "dawn" (AR1). According to VT45:6, ára is also the name of the long vowel carrier of the Tengwar system; it would be the first letter of the word ára if spelt in Tengwar.

úr(in)

proper name. Sun

A late remnant of earlier names for the Sun: ᴱQ. Ûr and ᴹQ. Úrin. In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, this name was changed from Úrin >> Naira >> Vása (MR/198), but the form Úr(in) occasionally appeared in some later writings (PE17/148, MR/377). This name was a derivative of the root √UR “heat, be hot” (PE17/148).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this name was ᴱQ. Ûr, Ur or Úri “Sun”, but literally meaning “Fire” (LT1/187, QL/98). The name became ᴹQ. Úrin in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/240). It was rejected in The Etymologies along with the root form ᴹ√UR, but reappeared sometimes in later writing as noted above.

alassëa

`Cな#,F`C adjective. happy, joyous

Alassë (joy/merriment) + -a (adjectival suffix)

olasta

noun. growth

tyalmë

noun. game

vírina

adjective. woven

A neologism for “woven” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), based on the root √WIR “weave”. Another possibility is lanina “woven”, the passive participle of [ᴹQ.] lanya- “to weave” (Ety/LAN).

ûri

noun. sun

A noun translated “sun” (SD/306, 428). This word appears in the forms ûrê, ûri and ûrî, but Tolkien declared that the form with long î is actually the personified form Ûrî “Lady of the Sun” (SD/426), perhaps the Adûnaic name of Q. Arien. The form ûrê only appears once (SD/426), so ûri is probably to be preferred as the ordinary word for Sun, especially since it is a neuter noun, which ordinarily cannot end in a long -ê (SD/427). Tolkien lists the “later forms Uir, Ŷr” (SD/306), one of which may be the Westron word for “sun”, most likely Wes. uir. As suggested by several authors (AAD/24, EotAL/UR), ûri is probably derived from the Elvish root ᴹ√UR.

aglar Speculative

noun. glory

An element of the name Aglarrâma that might be a noun meaning “glory”; see the entry for that name for further discussion.