Quenya 

silma

silver, shining white

silma adj. "silver, shining white" (SIL), "crystal (white)" (PE17:23)

telpë

silver

telpë noun "silver" (in one example with generalized meaning "money", PE14:54), telep- in some compounds like Teleporno; assimilated telem- in Telemnar and the adj. telemna (KYELEP/TELEP, SA:celeb, LT1:255, 268; also tyelpë, telep-, UT:266). The true Quenya descendant of primitive ¤kyelepē is tyelpë, but the Telerin form telpë was more common, "for the Teleri prized silver above gold, and their skill as silversmiths was esteemed even by the Noldor" (UT:266). In various names: Telperion the White Tree of Valinor; Telperien ("Telperiën"), fem. name including telp- "silver" (Appendix A); Telperinquar "Silver-fist, Celebrimbor" (SA:celeb - also Tyelperinquar); Telporno, Teleporno "Silver-high" = Sindarin _Celeborn(Letters:347, UT:266). _It seems that Teleporno is properly Telerin, Quenyarized as Telporno. Compare adjectives telemna, telpina, telepsa, telepta (q.v.)

telpë

noun. silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money

Cognates

  • S. celeb “silver” ✧ PE17/036; SA/celeb; UT/266
  • T. telpe “silver” ✧ UT/266

Derivations

  • T. telpe “silver” ✧ NM/349
  • kyelepē “silver” ✧ PE17/036; PE21/80
  • Q. tyelpë “silver” ✧ UT/266

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
kelep/kyelep > telep-[kjelepe] > [kjelpe] > [tjelpe]✧ PE17/036
t/kjelepi > telpe[kjelepe] > [kjelpe] > [tjelpe]✧ PE21/80
Q. tyelpe > telpe[tjelpe] > [telpe]✧ UT/266

Variations

  • telpe ✧ Let/426; PE21/81; UT/266
  • telpe- ✧ PE18/093
Quenya [Let/426; NM/349; PE17/036; PE18/093; PE21/81; PM/356; SA/celeb; UT/266] Group: Eldamo. Published by

telempë

silver

telempë noun "silver" (LT1:268; in Tolkien's later Quenya telpë, which is actually also found in early "Qenya")

telepta

silver

telepta adj. "silver" (as adj.: silvery) (LT2:347), used as noun in the phrase mi telepta of someone clad "in silver", where the context (involving other colour-words) shows that this adj. describes something of silver colour(PE17:71). Compare telemna, telepsa, telpina.

telepta

adjective. silver, silver, [ᴱQ.] of silver

Element in

Elements

WordGloss
telpë“silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money”

tyelpë

silver

tyelpë noun "silver" (KYELEP/TELEP), etymology also in Letters:426 and UT:266. Tyelpë is the true Quenya descendant of primitive ¤kyelepē, but the Telerin form telpë was more common, "for the Teleri prized silver above gold, and their skill as silversmiths was esteemed even by the Noldor" (UT:266). In the Etymologies, tyelpë is also the name of Tengwa #1 with overposed dots, this symbol having the value ty (VT45:25). Cf. tyelpetéma as the name of the entire palatal series of the Tengwar system.

tyelpë

noun. silver

Cognates

  • S. celeb “silver” ✧ Let/426
  • T. telpe “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349

Derivations

  • kyelepē “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349
  • KYELEP “silver” ✧ UT/266

Derivatives

  • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ UT/266

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
kyelepē > tyelpe[kjelepē] > [kjelpē] > [tjelpē] > [tjelpe]✧ Let/426
kyelep- > tyelpë[kjelepē] > [kjelpē] > [tjelpē] > [tjelpe]✧ NM/349
kyelep- > tyelpe[kjelepē] > [kjelpē] > [tjelpē] > [tjelpe]✧ UT/266

Variations

  • tyelpe ✧ Let/426; UT/266 (tyelpe)
  • tyelep- ✧ NM/349
Quenya [Let/426; NM/349; PM/356; UT/266] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Sindarin 

ithildin

noun. a silver-colored substance, which mirrors only starlight and moonlight

Sindarin [LotR/II:IV] ithil+tinu "moon-star". Group: SINDICT. Published by

ithildin

noun. star-moon (metal)

Ithil (“moon”) + tinu, tint (“spark, little star”)

Sindarin [Tolkiendil] Group: Tolkiendil Compound Sindarin Names. Published by

ithildin

noun. 'moon-star'

n. 'moon-star(light)'. Tolkien notes also that it "Should be ithildim" (PE17:39).

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:39] < S. _Ithil_ the moon + S._ tin _spark, sparkle (esp. used of the twinkle of stars). Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

ithildin

'moon-star'

1b n. 'moon-star', the magic alloy starmoon. >> Ithil, tîn

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:66] < _ithil-din_ < ? + TIN sparkle, spark. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

ithildin

noun. magical alloy that glows in moonlight, (lit.) moon-star

The magic alloy from which the Moria-gate runes were made, a combination of S. Ithil “moon” and S. tîn “star” and hence “moon-star” (LotR/317; PE17/39, 66). In one place Tolkien considered the form ithildim (PE17/39). The term first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s (TI/180).

Elements

WordGloss
Ithil“Moon”
tîn“spark, sparkle, twinkle of stars”

Variations

  • Ithildin ✧ LotRI/Ithildin; RSI/Ithildin
  • ithildim ✧ PE17/039
  • ithil-din ✧ PE17/066
Sindarin [LotR/0317; LotRI/Ithildin; PE17/039; PE17/066; RSI/Ithildin; SA/tin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mithril

noun. true-silver, a silver-like metal

Sindarin [LotR] mith+rill "grey brilliance". Group: SINDICT. Published by

celeb

noun. silver

Sindarin [Ety/367, S/429, LotR/E, Letters/426] Group: SINDICT. Published by

celeb

silver

_n. _silver. >> Celebdil, Celebrant, celebrin

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:36:42:49] < _kelep_, _kyelep_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

celeb

noun. silver

Cognates

  • Kh. kibil “silver” ✧ PE17/036
  • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ PE17/036; SA/celeb; UT/266
  • Q. tyelpë “silver” ✧ Let/426
  • T. telpe “silver” ✧ NM/349

Derivations

  • kyelepē “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349; PE17/036
  • KYELEP “silver” ✧ UT/266

Element in

  • S. Argeleb
  • S. Celebdil “Silvertine” ✧ PE17/036; RC/775; TI/174
  • S. Celeborn “Silver-tree; Silver Tall” ✧ UT/266
  • S. Celeborn “Tree of Silver” ✧ SA/celeb; UT/266
  • S. Celebrant “Silverlode, Silver-course” ✧ PE17/049; RC/775; SA/celeb; TI/174
  • S. Celebrían “Silver-queen” ✧ Let/423
  • S. celebrin “like silver (in hue or worth), like silver (in hue or worth), [G.] of silver” ✧ PE17/042; SA/celeb
  • S. Celebros “Silver Foam, Silver Rain” ✧ SA/celeb

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
kyelepē > celeb[kjelepē] > [kelepē] > [kelepe] > [kelep] > [keleb]✧ Let/426
kyelep- > celeb[kjelepē] > [kelepē] > [kelepe] > [kelep] > [keleb]✧ NM/349
kelep/kyelep > celeb[kjelepē] > [kelepē] > [kelepe] > [kelep] > [keleb]✧ PE17/036
kyelep- > celeb[kjelepē] > [kelepē] > [kelepe] > [kelep] > [keleb]✧ UT/266

Variations

  • Celeb ✧ Let/423 (Celeb); RC/775; RC/775
Sindarin [Let/423; Let/426; LotR/1113; NM/349; PE17/036; PE17/042; PE17/049; RC/775; SA/celeb; TI/174; UT/266] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ithildin

Ithildin

In the legendarium, Gandalf translated ithildin as "starmoon". Tolkien stated that ithildin is a Sindarin name, meaning "moon-star(light"), "moonlight" or "starlight". The word contains the elements Ithil ("moon") + tin/tîn ("spark; star; twinkle of stars"). He noted that the correct Sindarin form should be ithildim.

Sindarin [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

ithildin

moon-star

(”magic”metal that only mirrors starlight and moonlight) ithildin

ithildin

moon-star

(”magic”metal that only mirrors starlight and moonlight) ithildin.

ithildin

moon-star

celeb

silver

1) (noun) celeb (i geleb, o cheleb), pl. celib (i chelib) if there is a pl. form. 2) (adj., "of/like silver") celebren (lenited gelebren, pl. celebrin; also celebrin- as first element of compounds, as in Celebrindal). Also celefn (lenited gelefn, pl. celifn). As for ”silver” as adjective, see also SHINING WHITE. Adj.

Telerin 

telpe

noun. silver

Cognates

  • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ UT/266
  • Q. tyelpë “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349
  • S. celeb “silver” ✧ NM/349

Derivations

  • kyelepē “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349
  • KYELEP “silver” ✧ UT/266

Derivatives

  • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ NM/349

Element in

  • T. Teleporno “Silver-tall; Silver-tree” ✧ NM/349; UT/266
  • T. telperin “like silver (in hue or worth)”
  • T. Telperion ✧ Let/426

Variations

  • telepi ✧ Let/426
  • telep- ✧ NM/349
  • telep-/telpe ✧ UT/266
Telerin [Let/426; NM/349; UT/266] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Khuzdûl

kibil

noun. silver

Cognates

  • S. celeb “silver” ✧ PE17/036

Element in

  • Kh. Kibil-nâla “Silverlode, Silver-course” ✧ PE17/036; PE17/037; TI/174

Variations

  • Kibil ✧ PE17/036; TI/174
Khuzdûl [PE17/036; PE17/037; TI/174] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Primitive elvish

kyelep

root. silver

This root and ones like it were used for Elvish words for “silver” throughout Tolkien’s life. The earliest iteration of the root began with T-, however, appearing as unglossed ᴱ√TELEPE in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. telpe “silver” (QL/91). Even at this early stage, however, the Gnomish equivalent was G. celeb (GL/25), but the reason for the t/c variation isn’t clear. The closest explanation is that palatal consonants like [c] became [tʲ] in Qenya vs. [k] in Gnomish (compare ᴱQ. tyava- vs. caf- “taste” from ᴱ√TYAVA) but this doesn’t explain why the Qenya form has initial t- rather than ty-.

Elsewhere in the Elvish languages of the 1910s there seem to be etymological variations of [k] vs. [t], such as ᴱQ. kitya- vs. G. tisca- “tickle” (QL/47; GL/70) and ᴱQ. talqe vs. G. celc “glass” (QL/88; GL/25), so perhaps ᴱQ. telpe vs. G. celeb “silver” is another example of this. Another explanation appeared in Early Noldorin word lists from the 1920s, where the primitive form was ᴱ✶kelekwé which produced ᴱN. celeb as usual but the Qenya form was ᴱQ. telqe with “k = t by dissimilation” (PE13/140), presumably away from q.

In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had the root ᴹ√KYELEP with variant ᴹ√TELEP, producing N. celeb but ᴹQ. tyelpe or ᴹQ. telpe (Ety/KYELEP). But Tolkien revised this entry, marking ᴹ√TELEP as questionable and introducing the Telerin form ᴹT. telpe < ᴹ√KYELEP, concluding that ᴹQ. telpe must be a loan from Telerin. This finally put N. celeb vs. ᴹQ. telpe (borrowed from Telerin) on a solid phonological foundation. Tolkien seems to have stuck with this explanation, mentioning this borrowing from Telerin to Quenya several times in his later writings, with the proper but now archaic Quenya form being Q. †tyelpë (Let/426; PM/356; UT/266).

Derivatives

  • kyelepē “silver”
    • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ PE17/036; PE21/80
    • Q. tyelpë “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349
    • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ UT/266
    • S. celeb “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349; PE17/036
    • At. tele(pe) “silver” ✧ PE21/71
    • Os. kele(pe) “silver” ✧ PE21/71
    • T. telpe “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349
    • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ NM/349
  • Q. tyelpë “silver” ✧ UT/266
    • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ UT/266
  • S. celeb “silver” ✧ UT/266
  • T. telpe “silver” ✧ UT/266
    • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ NM/349

Variations

  • kyelep- ✧ UT/266
Primitive elvish [PM/366; UT/266] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kyelepē

noun. silver

Derivations

Derivatives

  • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ PE17/036; PE21/80
  • Q. tyelpë “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349
    • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ UT/266
  • S. celeb “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349; PE17/036
  • At. tele(pe) “silver” ✧ PE21/71
  • Os. kele(pe) “silver” ✧ PE21/71
  • T. telpe “silver” ✧ Let/426; NM/349
    • Q. telpë “silver, silver; [ᴱQ.] money” ✧ NM/349

Variations

  • kyelep- ✧ NM/349
  • kelep/kyelep ✧ PE17/036
  • kjelep ✧ PE21/71
  • t/kjelepi ✧ PE21/80
Primitive elvish [Let/426; NM/349; PE17/036; PE21/71; PE21/80] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

ithildin

noun. *moon-star

Elements

WordGloss
Ithil“Moon”
TIN“sparkle, emit slender (silver pale) beams”

Variations

  • Ithildin ✧ TII/Ithildin
Noldorin [TI/180; TII/Ithildin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

celeb

noun. silver

Noldorin [Ety/367, S/429, LotR/E, Letters/426] Group: SINDICT. Published by

celeb

noun. silver

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. telpe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP; Ety/KYELEP

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KYELEP “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • On. kelepe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
    • ᴹ√KYELEP “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
On. kelepe > celeb[kelepe] > [kelep] > [keleb]✧ Ety/KYELEP
Noldorin [Ety/KYELEP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

celefn

adjective. of silver

Noldorin [Ety/367] Group: SINDICT. Published by

celebren

adjective. like silver (in hue or worth)

Noldorin [Ety/367, S/429, VT/45:25] Group: SINDICT. Published by

celevon

adjective. of silver

Noldorin [Ety/367] Group: SINDICT. Published by

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

Ancient telerin

tele(pe)

noun. silver

Derivations

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
kjelep > tele[kjelep] > [kjele] > [tele]✧ PE21/71

Variations

  • tele ✧ PE21/72
  • telepe ✧ PE21/72
Ancient telerin [PE21/72] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old sindarin

kele(pe)

noun. silver

Changes

  • keletele “silver” ✧ PE21/72
  • kelepetelepe ✧ PE21/72

Derivations

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
kjelep > kele[kjelep] > [kjele] > [kele]✧ PE21/71

Variations

  • kele ✧ PE21/72 (On. kele)
  • kelepe ✧ PE21/72 (On. kelepe)
Old sindarin [PE21/72] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

telpe

noun. silver

Cognates

  • N. celeb “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP; Ety/KYELEP
  • On. kelepe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • ᴹT. telpe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • Ilk. telf “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KYELEP “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP; Ety/KYELEP

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√KYELEP/TELEP > telpe[kjelepe] > [kjelpe] > [tjelpe]✧ Ety/KYELEP
ᴹ√KYÉLEP > telpe[kjelepe] > [kjelpe] > [tjelpe]✧ Ety/KYELEP

Variations

  • tyelpe ✧ Ety/KYELEP (tyelpe); Ety/KYELEP; EtyAC/KYELEP; PE22/023; PE22/052
Qenya [Ety/KYELEP; EtyAC/KYELEP; PE22/023; PE22/052] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tyelpe

noun. silver

Doriathrin

telf

noun. silver

A noun for “silver” derived from the root ᴹ✶KYÉLEP (Ety/KYELEP), most likely from a primitive form ✱✶kyelepē [kjelepē]. In Ilkorin, the initial [t] developed from [kj] because initial palatalized velars became dentals, the middle [e] vanished due to the Ilkorin syncope, and the [p] became [f] because [[ilk|voiceless stops became spirants after liquids (like [l])]]. These developments were all suggested by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Ilkorin/telf).

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. telpe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KYELEP “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√KYÉLEP > telf[kjelepē] > [kjelepe] > [kjelpe] > [kjelfe] > [telfe] > [telf]✧ Ety/KYELEP
Doriathrin [Ety/KYELEP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

kelepe

noun. silver

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. telpe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KYELEP “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Derivatives

  • N. celeb “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√KYÉLEP > kelepe[kjelepe] > [kelepe]✧ Ety/KYELEP
Old Noldorin [Ety/KYELEP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

telep

root. silver

Variations

  • TÉLEP ✧ Ety/KYELEP (TÉLEP); Ety/TELEP
  • TYELEP ✧ EtyAC/SIL
  • telpe ✧ PE18/066
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KYELEP; Ety/TELEP; EtyAC/KYELEP; EtyAC/SIL; EtyAC/TELEP; PE18/066] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kyelep

root. silver

Derivatives

  • Ilk. telf “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • ᴹQ. telemna “*silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • ᴹQ. telepsa “of silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • ᴹQ. telpe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP; Ety/KYELEP
  • ᴹQ. telpina “of silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP; Ety/KYELEP
  • N. celeb “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • N. celevon “*of silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • On. kelepe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
    • N. celeb “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
  • ᴹT. telpe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Variations

  • KYELEP/TELEP ✧ Ety/KYELEP (KYELEP/TELEP)
  • KYÉLEP ✧ Ety/KYELEP
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KYELEP; Ety/TELEP; EtyAC/KYELEP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Telerin

telpe

noun. silver

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. telpe “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP

Derivations

  • ᴹ√KYELEP “silver” ✧ Ety/KYELEP
Middle Telerin [Ety/KYELEP] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

celeb

noun. silver

Cognates

  • Eq. telpe “silver; money” ✧ GL/25; GL/25; LT1A/Ilsaluntë; LT1A/Telimpë

Derivations

  • ᴱ√TELEPE “*silver” ✧ LT1A/Telimpë

Element in

  • G. celebrin “of silver” ✧ GL/25; LT1A/Telimpë
  • G. celebriol “like silver” ✧ GL/25
  • G. Talceleb “Silver Feet” ✧ LT1A/Telimpë
  • G. Celebron “Moon” ✧ GL/25; LT1A/Telimpë
  • G. celeptha “silvern” ✧ GL/25
Gnomish [GG/12; GL/25; LT1A/Ilsaluntë; LT1A/Telimpë] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Ilkorin

þil[f]

noun. silver

Changes

  • þil[f]þilf “silver” ✧ PE13/154

Cognates

  • En. tlub “silver” ✧ PE13/154
Early Ilkorin [PE13/154] Group: Eldamo. Published by

helh

noun. silver

Cognates

  • Eq. telpe “silver; money” ✧ PE13/140

Derivations

Early Ilkorin [PE13/140] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

tlub

noun. silver

Changes

  • tlubtlí “silver” ✧ PE13/154

Cognates

  • Eilk. þil[f] “silver” ✧ PE13/154
  • Eq. telpe “silver; money” ✧ PE13/154

Derivations

Early Noldorin [PE13/154] Group: Eldamo. Published by

celeb

noun. silver

Cognates

  • Eq. telpe “silver; money” ✧ PE13/140

Derivations

Element in

  • En. celebren “of silver” ✧ PE13/140
  • En. celaith “of silver” ✧ PE13/140
  • En. urgeleb “without silver” ✧ PE13/156
Early Noldorin [PE13/140; PE13/156] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Solosimpi

celpe

noun. silver

Cognates

  • Eq. telpe “silver; money” ✧ PE13/140

Derivations

Solosimpi [PE13/140] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

t’lépe

noun. silver

Changes

  • t’lépet’lḗpe ✧ PE13/154

Derivatives

  • Eq. telpe “silver; money” ✧ PE13/154
  • En. tlub “silver” ✧ PE13/154
Early Primitive Elvish [PE13/154] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

telqe

noun. silver

telempe

noun. silver