ezel

green

ezel, ezella adj. "green" (in Vanyarin Quenya only). Adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399)

laica

green

laica (1) adj. "green" (in older sources laiqua) (Letters:282, PE17:159). Laicolassë (laica + #olassë) "green-foliage" (PE17:46), Quenya cognate of Sindarin Laegolas (dialectal form Legolas); compare olassië. Adj. laicalassë "green as leaves", literally "green-leaf" (PE17:56).

laiqua

green

laiqua ("q")adj. "green" (LÁYAK, LT1:267, MC:214), "Qenya" pl. laiquali ("q")(MC:216). Occurs in the phrase laiqua'ondoisen ("q") "green-rocks-upon" (MC:221; this is "Qenya"), Laiqualassë ("q") masc. name "Legolas" (Greenleaf) (LT1:267). Used as noun in the phrase mi laiqua of somebody clad "in green" (PE17:71). In later material, the word for "green" appears as laica, and the cognate of Legolas is said to be Laicolassë, q.v. (PE17:56)

laica

adjective. green

laiqua

adjective. green

ezel(la)

adjective. green

laiquendi

collective name. Green-elves

Name for the Nandor of Beleriand meaning “Green-elves” (S/96), a compound of laica “green” and the plural of Quendë “Elf”. In one place (WJ/385), Tolkien said this name was not much used.

Conceptual Development: The earliest form of this name was ᴹQ. Laiqeldar (SM/270), because at the time Tolkien used Eldar as a generic term for Elves. This version contained an earlier Quenya word for “green”: ᴹQ. laiqa. The name changed to ᴹQ. Laiqendi when Tolkien revised his naming scheme for Elves (LR/176, Ety/LÁYAK). The name retained this form into the published version of The Silmarillion, despite the change of ᴹQ. laiqa >> Q. laica (PE17/84), though later it could have derived the “qu” from the element Quendë.

laicolassë

masculine name. Green-foliage

The Quenya name of Legolas, a compound of laica “green” and olassë “foliage” (PE17/56).

Conceptual Development: In the much earlier Lost Tales, ᴱQ. Laiqalasse was given as the Qenya equivalent of the similarly named G. Legolas (LT2/217), though this was a completely different character, unrelated to the Legolas who appeared in The Lord of the Rings.

lauya-

verb. to flourish (green), grow

A verb appearing in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969 as an example of a ya-formative verb based on the root √LAW, with both the root and the verb meaning “flourish (green), grow” (PE22/156).

Ezellohar

the green mound

Ezellohar noun "the Green Mound" where the Two Trees grew; adopted and adapted from Valarin; also translated as Coron Oiolairë, Corollairë (WJ:401). The name must have become *Erellohar in Exilic (Noldorin) Quenya.

Laiquendi

green-elves

Laiquendi noun "Green-elves", not much used (translated from Sindarin Laegil, Laegelrim) (WJ:385, SA:quen-/quet-, LÁYAK; spelt "Laiqendi" in the latter source)

Laiquendi

noun. Green Elves

Green Elves

Nanar

green-elves, *danians

Nanar pl. noun "Green-elves, *Danians", sg. *Nana (DAN)

laiquaninwa

green-blue

laiquaninwa ("q")adj. *"green-blue"? (cf. ninwa) (Narqelion)

wenya

green, yellow-green, fresh

wenya adj. "green, yellow-green, fresh" (GWEN), apparently "fair, beautiful" ("probably originally "fresh, fair, unblemished especially of beauty of youth") in a later deleted note (PE17:191).

laicalassë

adjective. green-leaf, green as leaves

lauya

verb. flourish (green), grow

sanomë tarnë olórin, aracorno, eomer, imrahil, mi mísë, mi telepta yo morna, mi laiqua yo ninquë, mi luinë, ta gimli mi lossëa

There stood Gandalf, Aragorn, Eomer and Imrahil in grey, in silver and black, in green and white, and in blue, and also Gimli in white

tuilë

noun. spring, spring, [ᴹQ.] spring-time, [ᴱQ.] (lit.) a budding; buds, new shoots, fresh green

laicelumir

noun. malachite (lit.) green-flowing-jewel

A neologism for “malachite” coined by Valerie on 2022-07-05 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of laica “green”, celumë “flowing”, and mírë “jewel”.

lëa

noun. green sward, glade

A neologism for “green sward, glade” coined by Christopher Gilson posted on 2025-05-09 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as a modernization of ᴱQ. lé, reconceived as a derivative of ✱layā < √LAY.

palis

noun. sward, green, lawn

Elessar

elf-stone

Elessar masc. name "Elf-stone" (Elen + sar, actually "Star-stone", cf. Elendil concerning elen "star" being used to mean "Elf") (LotR3:V ch. 8). Genitive Elesarno _(VT49:28, read _Elessarno?) indicates that the stem is -sarn-. As a common noun, elessar or "elf-stone" may signify "beryl" (in the chapter Flight to the Ford in the LotR, Aragorn finds "a single pale-green jewel" and declares: "It is a beryl, an elf-stone"). Elessar as a name may also be seen as a pun or variant of Elesser "Elf-friend".

laiquë

herb

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

laiquë

noun. herb

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

lassë

leaf

lassë noun "leaf"; pl. lassi is attested (Nam, RGEO:66, Letters:283, LAS1, LT1:254, VT39:9, Narqelion); gen. lassëo "of a leaf", gen. pl. lassion "of leaves" (earlier lassio) (WJ:407). The word lassë was only applied to certain kinds of leaves, especially those of trees (PE17:62), perhaps particularly _ear-shaped _leaves (cf. the entry _LAS1 _in the Etymologies, where Tolkien comments on the pointed or leaf-shaped Elvish ears and suggests an etymological connection between words for "ear" and "leaf"); see also linquë #3. Compound lasselanta "leaf-fall", used (as was quellë) for the latter part of autumn and the beginning of winter (Appendix D, Letters:428); hence Lasselanta alternative name of October (PM:135). Cf. also lassemista "leaf-grey, grey-leaved" (LotR2:III ch. 4, translated in Letters:224, PE17:62), lassewinta a variant of lasselanta (PM:376). Adj. laicalassë "green as leaves" (PE17:56). See also lillassëa, lantalasselingëa.

morna

dark, black

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

olassië

collection of leaves, foliage

olassië noun "collection of leaves, foliage" (Letters:283). A shorter form #olassë is apparently present in laicolassë "green-foliage" (PE17:56).

tol

island, isle

tol noun "island, isle" (rising with sheer sides from the sea or from the river, SA:tol, VT47:26). In early "Qenya", the word was defined as "island, any rise standing alone in water, plain of green, etc" (LT1:269). The stem is toll-; the Etymologies as published in LR gives the pl. "tolle" (TOL2), but this is a misreading for tolli (see VT46:19 and compare LT1:85). The primitive form of tol is variously cited as ¤tolla (VT47:26) and ¤tollo (TOL2).

tuilë

spring, spring-time

tuilë noun "spring, spring-time", also used = "dayspring, early morn" (VT39:7, TUY), in the calendar of Imladris a precisely defined period of 54 days, but also used without any exact definition. Cf. tuilérë, q.v. (Appendix D) - In early "Qenya", the word tuilë is glossed "Spring", but it is said that it literally refers to a "budding", also used collectively for "buds, new shoots, fresh green" (LT1:269). Cf. tuima in Tolkien's later Quenya.

lassë

noun. leaf, leaf; [ᴱQ.] petal

The basic Quenya word for “leaf”, derived from the root √LAS (PE17/62, 153; VT39/9). This word dates all the way back to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where ᴱQ. lasse “leaf” appeared as its own entry (QL/51). ᴹQ. lasse “leaf” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√LAS (Ety/LAS¹). In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s Tolkien said that lasse meant both “a leaf or petal” (GL/52). After that Tolkien translated it only as “leaf”. In one set of later notes Tolkien said it was even more restricted in meaning, and “only applied to certain kinds of leaves, especially those of trees, and would not e.g. be used of leaf of a hyacinth (linque)” (PE17/62).

Neo-Quenya: Despite Tolkien late declaration, I would use lassë as the general “leaf” word for purposes of Neo-Quenya, though more specialized words may also exist such as linquë “(leaf of a) hyacinth”. I would also use it metaphorically in its Early Qenya sense as the “petal” of a flower where the context is very clear, such as lassi indilo “leaves of a lily” = “lily petals”. But where ambiguous, I would use the neologism ᴺQ. lótelas for “petal”, more literally “flower leaf”.

Quende#

noun. Elf

Elf

céva

fresh, new

céva ("k")adj. "fresh, new" (VT48:7, 8)

hróva

dark, dark brown

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

ilin

pale blue

ilin adj. "pale blue" (GLINDI)

lóna

dark

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

lóna

island, remote land difficult to reach

lóna (2) noun "island, remote land difficult to reach" (LONO (AWA) ). Obsoleted by #1 above?

lúna

dark

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

lúrëa

dark, overcast

lúrëa adj. "dark, overcast" (LT1:259)

minquë

cardinal. eleven

minquë ("q") cardinal "eleven" (MINIK-W, LT1:260, VT48:4, 6, 8, VT49:57). Not to be confused with minquë as the pa.t. of miqu- "to kiss", q.v. Etymology discussed, VT48:7, 8 (where the unorthodox spelling "minkwe" occurs besides "minque").

minquë

cardinal. eleven

mori-

dark, black

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

morĭ

adjective. dark

PQ. dark

móri

dark

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

nulla

dark, dusky, obscure

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

núla

dark, occult, mysterious

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

palis

sward, lawn

palis noun "sward, lawn" (LT1:264)

quendë

elf

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

taniquelassë

leaf

taniquelassë noun name of tree (UT:167), perhaps Tanique(til) + lassë "leaf"

ulca

adjective. dark

dark, gloomy, sinister

vinya

pale blue

vinya (2) < windya adj. "pale blue" (WIN/WIND)(It is uncertain whether Tolkien rejected this word or not; in any case, vinya is only attested with the meaning "young, new" in his later Quenya.)

virya

fresh

virya (1) adj. "fresh" (VT46:22)

windya

pale blue

windya > vinya adj. "pale blue" (WIN/WIND)(It is uncertain whether Tolkien rejected this word or not; in any case, vinya means "new" in his later versions of Quenya.)

windë

pale blue

[windë > vindë adj. "pale blue" (VT45:16)]

paswa

noun. sward

calen

green

(galen) _ adj. _green (fresh, vigorous). galen after a sg. noun. Q. kălina (lit. illumined) sunny, light.

laeb

adjective. green

_ adj. _green. A theoretical equivalent to Q. laiqua but that did not exist in Sindarin.

laeg

green

_ adj. _green. >> Legolas

laeg

adjective. green

_ adj. _green (of leaves, herbage). Q. laika.

calen

adjective. green

ard-galen

place name. Green Region

The plain lying to the south of Angband, later named Anfauglith after it was desolated by the forces of Morgoth. The name was translated “Green Region” (WJ/113). Its second element galen is clearly the lenited form of calen “green”, and its initial element is probably some variation of gardh “region” (in early writings, N. ardh), as indicated by by the form Arðgalen in notes from around 1962 (PE17/133), hat-tip to Vyacheslav Stepanov for this reference.

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this region was named Bladorion of unclear meaning (LR/117); though it may be related to G. bladwen “plain”. In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, it was renamed Ard-galen (WJ/113).

calenardhon

place name. Green Province

The name of the Gondorian province that would become Rohan (LotR/678), translated “Green Province” (RC/477) or “(great) green region” (Let/383). The initial element is clearly calen “green” (SA/calen). Tolkien stated that its final element is the suffix -ond “commonly used in the names of regions or countries” (UT/318), but the translation “(great) green region” indicates he may also have considered the augmentative suffix -on. Its middle element is most likely (g)ardh “region”; if so, the ending of this word might be a lenited form of a noun ✱gardhon meaning “province”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this region was first named ᴹQ. Elenarda, revised to (mixed language?) Kalenarda or Kalinarda (WR/155-6). Tolkien soon changed the name again to Calenardan >> N. Calenardhon (WR/168), and kept this name thereafter.

calenhad

place name. Green Space

One of the beacon hills of Gondor (LotR/747), translated “Green Space” and a combination of calen “green” and the lenited form -had of sad “place” (VT42/19), though Tolkien said its final element could also be sâdh “sward, turf” (VT42/20).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this hill was named N. Calenhad when it first appeared (WR/233).

laegel

proper name. Green-elves

A Sindarin term for the Green Elves (WJ/385), a combination of laeg “green” and †Ell “Elf”.

laegolas

masculine name. Green-foliage

The true Sindarin form of Nan. Legolas, a combination of laeg “green” and the lenited form of golas “foliage” (Let/282, PE17/56). In some places this name also appeared as S. Legolas with the diphthong [ae] reduced to [e] in the compound (PE17/84, 159), probably via the [[s|usual reduction of [ae] to [e] in polysyllables]] (hat-tip to Parmandil for this suggestion).

Conceptual Development: See Nan. Legolas for the earlier developments of this name.

lasgalen

proper name. Green of Leaf

Another name for Q. Laurelin translated “Green of Leaf” (MR/155), a combination of las(s) “leaf” and the lenited form of calen “green”.

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name appeared as N. Lhasgalen (LR/210), and Lhasgalen also appeared in The Etymologies with the translation “Greenleaf” and essentially the same derivation given above (Ety/LAS¹).

parth galen

place name. Green Sward

Field by the shore of Nen Hithoel glossed “Green Sward” (LotR/417, RC/349), a combination of parth “sward” and the lenited form of calen “green”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Tolkien considered several names for this field, first N. Kelufain and Forfain revised to Calenbel >> N. Calembel (TI/371, TI/382). The name Calembel went through a number of revision starting with Cale(m)- before Tolkien settled on Parth Galen (WR/301, 307). Later, the name S. Calembel was reused for a town in Gondor (LotR/790).

pinnath gelin

place name. Green Ridges

A fiefdom in Gondor, glossed “Green Hills” in The Lord of the Rings (LotR/771) and elsewhere translated “Green Ridges”, “Green Downs” (RC/525), “Green Slopes” or “Green Crests/Ridges” (PE17/24). This name appears to be a combination of the class-plural of pind “crest, ridge” and the lenited plural form of calen “green”.

Conceptual Development: When it first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name was already N. Pinnath Gelin (WR/280).

tol galen

place name. Green Isle

An island in the river Adurant translated “Green Isle” (S/123), a combination of tol(l) “island” and the lenited form of calen “green” (SA/tol, calen).

Conceptual Development: The name N. Tol-galen also appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/305) and at one point in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s was considered as name for Tol Brandir (TI/271).

Ard-Galen

noun. green region, area

ardh (“realm, region”) + calen (“green”)

Calenardhon

noun. green province

calen (“green”) + ardh (“realm, region”) + ond (commonly used suffix in the names of regions and countries)

Calenhad

noun. green place

calen (“green”) + sad (“limited area naturally or artificially defined, a place, spot”)

Duilwen

noun. green river

duil (“river” [Etym. DUI-] #Ilk.“only”?) + gwên (Ilk. “green”)

Eryn Galen

noun. green forest

eryn (“wood”), calen (“green”)

Laegrim (Laegel(d)rim)

noun. green elves

laeg (“fresh and green”) + rim (collective plural suffix)

Legolas

noun. green leaves

leg (Nan. form of laeg “green”) + golas (“collection of leaves, foliage”) < gwa (“together”) + lass (“leaf”)

Legolas

noun. 'green foliage'

n. 'green foliage'. >> golas(s)

Parth Galen

noun. green sward

parth (“field or enclosed grassland”), calen (“green”)

Pinnath Gelin

noun. green ridges

pinnath (collective plural of ? [His.]), celin (pl. of calen- “green”)

Pinnath Gelin

'Green Slopes'

topon. 'Green Slopes', 'Green Crest/ridges'. Dialectal of late Gondorian Sindarin for the pl. pennath blended with other plural forms pinn, pind. >> pind, pinn

Pinnath Gelin

'Green-crests'

topon. 'Green-crests'. >> pind, pinn

Tol Galen

noun. green isle

toll (“island”) + calen (“green”)

laegel

noun. green elf

laeg (“fresh and green”) + el (from stem éled- “starfolk, elves”)

lasgalen

noun. leaf green

n. leaf green.

calen

adjective. green; fresh, vigorous; †bright, green; †bright, [N.] bright-coloured; [S.] fresh, vigorous

laeg

adjective. fresh and green, viridis, green (of leaves/herbiage), green, viridis, green (of leaves/herbiage), fresh

dân

proper name. *Green-elf

laeg

adjective. "viridis", fresh and green

Seldom used (replaced by calen )

laegel

noun. a Green Elf

laegeldrim

noun. the people of the Green Elves

laegrim

noun. the people of the Green Elves

calen

green

1. (etymologically "bright") calen (lenited galen), pl. celin (attested in lenited form in the name Pinnath **Gelin, "Green Ridges"). 2) laeg (fresh), no distinct pl. form. (Note: a homophone means ”keen, sharp, acute”.) In the Woodland dialect lêg, whence leg- in the name Legolas** ”Greenleaf” (Lettters:282, 386).

calen

green

(lenited galen), pl. celin (attested in lenited form in the name Pinnath Gelin, "Green Ridges").

laeg

green

(fresh), no distinct pl. form. (Note: a homophone means ”keen, sharp, acute”.) In the Woodland dialect lêg, whence leg- in the name Legolas ”Greenleaf” (Lettters:282, 386). 

Calenardhon

Green Province

Calenardhon is Sindarin, meaning "Green Province" or "the (great) green region" (calen "green" + ardhon "province, great region").

The hypothetical Old Sindarin would likely be *Kalinardondo.

Earlier names used by Tolkien for this region were Elenarda > Kalen(arda) > Kalinarda > Calenardan > Calenardon.

Calenhad

Green space

It is suggested in the Unfinished Tales that Calenhad probably means "green space" from calen "green" and sad (lenited to had) "place, spot". In "The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor" Tolkien suggested that the second element may be sâdh "sward, turf".

laegel

green-elf

pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK: *Lhoebenidh* or *Lhoebelidh*. The Green-elves of Beleriand were also called Lindel (pl. Lindil), also Lindedhel (pl. Lindedhil)  *(WJ:385)*.

laegel

green-elf

laegel, pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. _LÁ

laegel

green-elf

laegel, pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to imply that Tolkien had abandoned the ”Noldorin” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. _LÁ

lasgalen

leaf-green

(pl. lesgelin).

lasgalen

leaf-green

lasgalen (pl. lesgelin).

lasgalen

leaf-green

lasgalen (pl. lesgelin)

salch

noun. green cut grass, ensilage

send

grey-elf

(i hend, o send, construct sen) (probably a term only used by the Noldor, borrowed from Quenya Sinda), pl. sind (i sind), coll. pl. Sendrim (the only attested form).

Calenhad

Calenhad

It is suggested in the Unfinished Tales that Calenhad probably means "green space" from calen "green" and sad (lenited to had) "place, spot". In "The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor" Tolkien suggested that the second element may be sâdh "sward, turf".

Legolas

Legolas (name)

The name Legolas is a Silvan dialect form of pure Sindarin Laegolas, which means "Greenleaf". This shows that Greenleaf is not his surname, as is sometimes erroneously believed; nor is it an epithet (like Oakenshield), but a translation of his name. It consists of the Sindarin words laeg, green; and golas, a collection of leaves, foliage (being a prefixed collective form of las(s), "leaf"). The Qenya form (mentioned in the Book of Lost Tales in the context of another character of that name) is Laiqualassë. In later material by Tolkien, the Quenya cognate of Laegolas is said to be Laicolasse.

There might, however, be a certain meaning to his name: laeg is a very rare, archaic word for green, which is normally replaced by calen (cf. Calenhad, mutated Parth Galen and plural Pinnath Gelin) and is otherwise almost only preserved in Laegrim, Laegel(d)rim (Sindarin form of Quenya Laiquendi), the Green Elves of the First Age.

Legolas

Legolas

The name Legolas is a Silvan dialect form of pure Sindarin Laegolas, which means "Greenleaf". At one point he is called "Legolas Greenleaf" by Gandalf, coupling his name and its translation like an epithet.[note 1] Legolas consists of the Sindarin words laeg, a very rare, archaic word for "green" (cf. Laegrim, Laegel(d)rim, the Green Elves), which is normally replaced by calen (cf. Calenhad, Parth Galen and Pinnath Gelin); and golas, a collection of leaves, foliage (being a prefixed collective form of las(s), "leaf"). The Quenya cognate of Laegolas is said to be Laicolasse.

Parth Galen

Parth Galen

Parth Galen means "green sward" in Sindarin (parth "sward" + calen "green").

Pinnath Gelin

Pinnath Gelin

Usually translated as Green Hills, and sometimes as Green Downs, the meaning of the name Pinnath Gelin would be actually closer to Green Ridges, Green Slopes or Green Crests. The first word was the dialectical Sindarin or Gondor Sindarin pinnath. The second was the plural of the word calen, "green".

cîw

fresh

1. cîw (lenited gîw; no distinct pl. form) (new), 2) laeb (no distinct pl. form). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” lhoeb (LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK) 3) laeg (green), no distinct pl. form. (Note: a homophone means ”keen, sharp, acute”.) In the Woodland dialect lêg, whence leg- in the name Legolas ”Greenleaf” (Lettters:282, 386).

ell

noun. Elf

ethuil

noun. spring, spring [the season]

las(s)

noun. leaf, leaf; [G.] petal

The basic Sindarin word for “leaf”, derived from the root √LAS (PE17/62, 153; PE22/166). It appeared as both lass and las, but I believe the latter is the suffixal form, the result of the Sindarin sound change whereby final ss shortened in polysyllables (LotR/1115). Its plural form was lais, which is of interest because normally consonant clusters prevent i-intrusion]]; compare nern and resg the plurals of narn and rasg. I am of the opinion that the ss was a particular “weak” cluster and allowed intrusion anyway; see the entry on Sindarin plural nouns for further discussion.

Conceptual Development: G. lass “a leaf” appeared all the way back in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, but there Tolkien said it was sometimes used for “petal” = G. tethlas (GL/52). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s it became ᴱN. lhas “leaf” (PE13/148) and N. lhass “leaf” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶lassē under the root ᴹ√LAS (Ety/LAS¹). These 1920s-30s forms were due to the Noldorin sound change whereby initial l was unvoiced to lh. Tolkien abandoned this sound change in Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s, so that lass “leaf” was restored.

tuil

noun. spring

Teler

noun. an Elf, one of the Teleri

calben

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

calben

noun. all Elves but the Avari

celu

noun. spring, source

cîw

adjective. fresh, new

dúath

adjective. dark

_ adj. _dark, black shadow.

dúnedhel

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

dûr

adjective. dark, sombre

dûr

dark

_ adj. _dark, gloomy, 'hellish'.

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.

edhel

noun. Elf

edhelharn

noun. elf-stone

egladhrim

noun. "The Forsaken", Elves of the Falathrim

eglath

noun. "The Forsaken", Elves of the Falathrim

eithel

noun. issue of water, spring, well

eledh

noun. Elf

elen

noun. Elf

ell

noun. elf

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

elleth

noun. elf-maid

ellon

noun. elf

elvellon

noun. elf-friend

galadhrim

noun. Elves of Lothlórien

glinnel

noun. Elf, one of the Teleri

golodh

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

golodhrim

noun. Deep Elves, Gnomes

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)

laeb

adjective. fresh

laew

adjective. fresh

_ adj. _fresh.

laew

adjective. fresh

las

leaf

pl1. lais** **_ n. _leaf. Only applied to certain kinds of leaves, esp. those of trees, and would not e.g. be used of leaf of hyacinth. It is thus possibly related to LAS 'listen', and S-LAS stem of Elvish words for 'ear'. Q. lasse, pl1. lassi.

las

noun. leaf

lass

noun. leaf

lass

leaf

_n. _leaf. >> athelas, las

mimp

cardinal. eleven

mimp

cardinal. eleven

_ card. _eleven. Q. minque. >> imp. This gloss was rejected.

minib

cardinal. eleven

minib

cardinal. eleven

miniel

noun. an Elf, one of the Vanyar

mornedhel

noun. Dark-Elf

penedh

noun. Elf

sâdh

noun. sward, turf

tawarwaith

noun. Silvan elves

telerrim

noun. the Teleri, a tribe of Elves

tol

noun. island, (steep) isle rising with sheer sides from the sea or from a river

ódhel

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

ódhellim

noun. Deep Elves or Gnomes, the Wise Folk

avar

non-eldarin elf

pl. Evair, also called

calben

elf of the great journey

(i galben, o chalben), pl. celbin (i chelbin).

celos

water falling swiftly from a spring

(i gelos, o chelos) (freshet), pl. celys (i chelys).

celu

spring

(of water) 1) celu (i gelu, o chelu) (source), analogical pl. cely (i chely). Archaic celw; so the coll. pl. is likely celwath. 2) (well) eithel (source, issue of water), pl. eithil.

celu

spring

(i gelu, o chelu) (source), analogical pl. cely (i chely). Archaic celw; so the coll. pl. is likely celwath.

doll

dark

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

doll

dark

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

dúath

dark shadow

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

dúnedhel

elf of beleriand

(i Núnedhel), pl. *Dúnedhil*** (i Ndúnedhil*). (WJ:378, 386)*

dûr

dark

dûr (sombre), lenited dhûr, pl. duir

dûr

dark

(sombre), lenited dhûr, pl. duir

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.

edhel

elf

(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.

edhelharn

elf-stone

(a term for beryl) edhelharn (pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).

edhelharn

elf-stone

(a term for beryl) edhelharn (pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31). SEEING STONE (palantír) *gwachaedir (i **wachaedir), no distinct pl. form except with prefixed article (in gwachaedir), coll. pl. ?gwachaediriath or ?gwachadirnath (the latter form assuming that -dir is reduced from older -dirn) The form occurring in the primary source, gwahaedir, must represent the late Gondorian pronunciation with h for ch** (PM:186).

edhelharn

elf-stone

(pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).

eithel

spring

(source, issue of water), pl. eithil.

elleth

elf-woman

(pl. ellith) (WJ:363-64, 377)

ellon

elf-man

(pl. ellyn)

elu

pale blue

1. elu (analogical pl. ely). Archaic elw (pl. ilw?) 2) gwind (lenited wind; no distinct pl. form)

elu

pale blue

1. elu (analogical pl. ely). Archaic elw (pl. ilw?). 2) gwind (lenited wind; no distinct pl. form).

elvellon

elf-friend

(pl. elvellyn, coll. pl. elvellonnath (WJ:412);

ethuil

spring

(season) ethuil (no distinct pl. form). SPRING-SINGER, see SWALLOW

ethuil

spring

(no distinct pl. form).

golas

collection of leaves

(i ’olas) (foliage), pl. gelais (i ngelais = i ñelais), coll. pl. golassath. Archaic pl. göleis. ”

golas

collection of leaves

golas (i **olas) (foliage), pl. gelais (i ngelais = i ñelais), coll. pl. golassath. Archaic pl. göleis**.

golas

collection of leaves

golas (i **olas) (foliage), pl. gelais (i ngelais = i ñelais), coll. pl. golassath. Archaic pl. göleis**. ”

graurim

dark people

(VT45:16);

graw

dark

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

graw

dark

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

guldur

dark sorcery

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

gwanwel

elf of aman

(”departed” Elf), pl. gwenwil (in gwenwil), coll. pl. gwanwellath. (WJ:378) Also gwanwen; see

lasbelin

leaf-withering

(no distinct pl. form).

lass

leaf

lass (pl. #lais). (Letters:282, PM:135).

lass

leaf

(pl. #lais). (Letters:282, PM:135).

lefn

elf left behind

pl. lifn.

minib

cardinal. eleven

minib (VT48:6-8)

miniel

first elf

(i Viniel), pl. Mínil (i Mínil), coll. pl. Miniellath. (WJ:383)

morn

dark

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

morn

dark

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

mornedhel

dark elf

(i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: ?Mernedhil. **(WJ:409) Another term for ”Dark Elf” is Dúredhel (i Dhúredhel), pl. Dúredhil (i Núredhil**).

môr

dark

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

môr

dark

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

parth

sward

1. parth (i barth, o pharth) (field, enclosed grassland), pl. perth (i pherth), 2) sâdh (i hâdh, o sâdh, construct sadh) (turf), pl. saidh (i saidh) (VT42:20)

parth

sward

(i barth, o pharth) (field, enclosed grassland), pl. perth (i pherth)

pathu

sward

*pathu (i bathu) (level place), analogical pl. pethy (i phethy). Cited in archaic form pathw in the source (LR:380 s.v. PATH), hence the coll. pl. is likely pathwath.

pathu

sward

(i bathu) (level place), analogical pl. pethy (i phethy). Cited in archaic form pathw in the source (LR:380 s.v. PATH), hence the coll. pl. is likely pathwath.

peredhel

half-elf

(pl. peredhil) (PM:256, 348).

salab

herb

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

salab

herb

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

sâdh

sward

(i hâdh, o sâdh, construct sadh) (turf), pl. saidh (i saidh) (VT42:20)

toll

island

toll (i doll, o tholl, construct tol), pl. tyll (i thyll)

toll

island

(i doll, o tholl, construct tol), pl. tyll (i thyll)

tuia

spring

(verb) tuia- (i duia, i thuiar) (swell, sprout)

tuia

spring

(i duia, i thuiar) (swell, sprout)

ezel(la)

adjective. green

ezellohar

place name. Green Mound

twílë

noun. spring

lego

adjective. green

legolas

masculine name. Greenleaf

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.

las

noun. leaf

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.

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."

laikā

adjective. green

law

root. flourish (green), grow, flourish (green), grow, [ᴹ√] abound; warm

This root was variously connected to life and warmth throughout Tolkien’s life. The earliest iteration of the root was ᴱ√LAWA from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s whose meaning was described as “much same as KOẎO [have life], but used of a vegetable”; it had derivatives like ᴱQ. laule “life, mode of life”, ᴱQ. laute “living thing, (esp.) vegetable”, and ᴱQ. lauke “vegetable, plant (species)” (QL/52). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon it had derivatives like G. lauth “a plant, herb” and G. laug “(of plants) alive, having sap, green, vigorous” (GL/53).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was glossed “warm” with derivatives ᴹQ. lauka and N. lhaug of the same meaning (Ety/LAW). In the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 it was glossed “abound” with a Quenya verb ᴹQ. lauta- of the same meaning (PE22/103).

The root √LAW appeared in notes from the late 1950s serving as the basis for Q. loa “sun-year”, originally with the sense ✶lawā “growing, blooming”; it was also explicitly connected to its extended form √LAWAR with the sense “golden colour” (PE17/159). Its final appearance in currently published materials was in some Late Notes on Verbs from 1969, where it was given as √LAW “flourish (green), grow” with derivative Q. lauya- of the same meaning (PE22/156).

Despite all these minor variations, the general meaning of the root was fairly stable, having mainly to do with life and flourishing (especially of plants), and also connected to warmth and sunlight, probably by association with its extended form √(G)LAWAR “golden colour or light”, which applied to sunshine among other things.

gwen

root. fresh, *green, fair, unblemished, beautiful

@@@ might still be valid for Quenya derivations in the Etymologies

las

root. leaf

This root was connected to leaves throughout Tolkien’s life. It did not appear directly in the Qenya or Gnomish lexicons of the 1910s, but ✱ᴱ√LASA “leaf” is implied by ᴱQ. lasse and G. lass “leaf” (QL/51; GL/52). ᴹ√LAS appeared directly in The Etymologies of the 1930s with the derivatives ᴹQ. lasse and N. lhass (Ety/LAS¹), and the root √LAS “leaf” was also mentioned in Tolkien’s later writings (PE17/77; VT39/9).

dom

root. dark, dark, [ᴹ√] faint, dim

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

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

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

lassē

noun. leaf

mornā

adjective. dark

tollă

noun. island

du Reconstructed

root. dark

calen

adjective. green

calendil

place name. Green-tine

An earlier name for S. Egladil that appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s along with variant Calennil (TI/268), glossed “Green-tine” or “Green Spit” (TI/268, 288). It seems to be a combination of N. calen “green” and the lenited form of till “horn” also seen in its later name.

calenhir

place name. *Green River

A river in the early maps of Gondor (TI/312, WR/436), removed by the time The Lord of the Rings was published. It is a compound of calen “green” and -hir, the lenited form of sîr “river”.

lhoebelidh

proper name. Green-elves

Noldorin equivalent of ᴹQ. Laiqendi “Green-elves” appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, a combination of N. lhoeb “fresh” (cognate of ᴹQ. laiqa “green”) and the plural of N. Eledh “Elf” (Ety/LÁYAK). It also appeared in the variant form Lhoebenidh.

Conceptual Development: In an early form of this entry, it appeared as Lhebenidh or Lhebelidh (EtyAC/LÁYAK).

calen

adjective. green, (orig.) bright-coloured

dân

noun. Green-elf

lhasgalen

proper name. Green of Leaf

nifredil

noun. (green) snowdrop; *(lit.) pale point

pinnath gelin

place name. Green Hills

tol-galen

place name. Green Isle

salab

noun. herb

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

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

calenhad

place name. Calenhad

lhass

noun. leaf

lhoeb

adjective. fresh

celw

noun. spring, source

doll

adjective. dark, dusky, obscure

dolt

adjective. dark, dusky, obscure

dûr

adjective. dark, sombre

dûr

adjective. dark

edhel

noun. Elf

eithel

noun. issue of water, spring, well

ethuil

noun. spring

golodh

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

golodhrim

noun. Deep Elves, Gnomes

gwind

noun. pale blue

lhaeb

adjective. fresh

lhass

noun. leaf

lhoeb

adjective. fresh

penedh

noun. Elf

penn

noun. Elf

salab

noun. herb

toll

noun. island, (steep) isle rising with sheer sides from the sea or from a river

búrz

adjective. dark

búrz

adjective. dark

khibil

noun. spring

A noun translated “spring” and fully declined as an example of a Strong I noun (SD/430).

ella

noun/adjective. Elf

ello

noun. Elf

minipë

cardinal. eleven