Quenya 

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.

Quenya [MRI/Silpion; PMI/Silpion; S/038; SA/sil; SI/Silpion] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Sindarin 

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).

Elements

WordGloss
galadh“tree”
THIL“shine silver; white light”
-ion“-son”
Sindarin [LotRI/Galathilion; MRI/Galathilion; PMI/Galathilion; S/059; SA/sil; SI/Galathilion] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

galathilion

proper name. White Tree of Valinor

Changes

  • GalathilvionGalathilion ✧ Ety/GALAD

Variations

  • Galathilvion ✧ Ety/GALAD (Galathilvion)
Noldorin [Ety/BAL; Ety/GALAD; Ety/THIL; LR/209; LRI/Galathilion; RS/187; RSI/Galathilion; SDI1/Galathilion] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Qenya 

silpion

proper name. White Tree of Valinor

Cognates

  • On. Balthil “White Tree of Valinor” ✧ Ety/BAL
  • N. Belthil “Divine Radiance” ✧ Ety/BAL
  • N. Silfion ✧ Ety/SIL

Derivations

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√SÍLIP > Silpion[silpion]✧ Ety/SIL
Qenya [Ety/BAL; Ety/ROS¹; Ety/SIL; EtyAC/SIL; LRI/Silpion; RSI/Silpion; SDI1/Silpion; SMI/Silpion] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

balthil

proper name. White Tree of Valinor

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. Silpion “White Tree of Valinor” ✧ Ety/BAL

Derivatives

  • N. Belthil “Divine Radiance” ✧ Ety/BAL

Elements

WordGloss
BAL“*power”
THIL
Old Noldorin [Ety/BAL] Group: Eldamo. Published by