kelu
verb. well forth, begin to flow
kelutā-
verb. to cause to spring forth, start (water) flowing, tap
sir
root. flow
sirya-
verb. to flow, to flow [smoothly]
sīru
noun. stream
celu-
verb. spring forth (of water)
celu
stream
celu _("k")_noun "stream" (LT1:257; rather celumë in LotR-style Quenya)
celumë
stream, flow
celumë ("k")noun "stream, flow" (KEL, LT1:257); locative pl. celumessen ("k") in Markirya (ëar-celumessen is translated "in the flowing sea", lit. *"in sea-streams").
celusindi
river
celusindi _("k")_noun "river" (LT1:257; hardly a valid word in Tolkien's later Quenya, where the terms sírë and sirya appear instead)
ehtelu-
verb. gush forth
hlóna
river, especially given to those at all seasons full of water from mountains
[hlóna (2) noun "a river, especially given to those at all seasons full of water from mountains" (VT48:27; the word is marked with a query and the note containing it rejected; it was apparently replaced by lón, q.v.)]
lutta-
verb. flow, float
lutta- vb. "flow, float" (LT1:249)
lutu-
verb. flow, float
lutu- vb. "flow, float" (LT1:249)
nen
river
nen noun "river" (LT1:248), "river, water" (LT1:262) (In Tolkien's later Quenya, nén with a long vowel means "water", but hardly "river" - that is sírë.)
nuinë
suffix. river
sindi
river
sindi noun "river" (LT1:265; rather sírë in LotR-style Quenya)
sir-
verb. flow
sir- (1) vb. "flow" (SIR)
sir-
verb. flow
sirya
river
#sirya noun "river", attested in the dual form siryat (VT47:11). Compare sírë.
sirya
verb. flow
sirya-
verb. to flow, to flow [smoothly]
This verb first appeared in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 as an example of ya-formative half-strong verb ᴹQ. siry(a)- “flow” (PE22/114), though its primitive form ᴹ✶siryă “flow smoothly” appeared a bit earlier in Quendian & Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (EVS1) from the late 1940s (PE22/98). This verb may have replaced the basic verb ᴹQ. sir- “flow” from The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/SIR), but see Conceptual Development below.
The verb sirya- continued to appear [albiet without translation] as an example of half-strong verb conjugation in Tolkien’s writings in the 1960s with a past form sirinye (PE17/77; PE22/164). In one place he conjugated it as a weak verb from primitive ✱siryā with weak past siryane (PE22/156), but this may have been a transient or experimental idea.
Conceptual Development: QVS from 1948 has a present-tense form síra as part of the sentence númen Endorello isse sí Vaia síra “westward of Middle-earth where now Ocean flows” (PE22/126). It is not entirely clear which verb it is the present tense for. It looks like the present tense of the basic verb ᴹQ. sir- “flow” from the 1930s, but could have been intended to be the present of the sirya- “flow” instead, since that is the verb for “flow” everywhere else in QVS.
Based on the discussion of half-strong verbs QVS, I would expected the present tense of sirya- to be the long imperfect ✱siryalya; compare the present imperfect taltalya “am slipping down” for half-strong talta- (PE22/115). Such long imperfects were used for the present tense of verbs with otherwise defective presents, the main example being a-verbs such as fara- “hunt” whose present was faralya “is hunting” (PE22/116). But Tolkien also said “some verbs make a strong present, so ōla-, is growing [from ola-]”. Thus síra might be an example of such a strong present for half-strong sirya.
Neo-Quenya: For purpose of Neo-Quenya, I would assume sirya- was the most common Quenya verb for “to flow”, conjugated as a ya-formative half-strong verb. I would further assume that, like in EVS1, sirya- has the implied meaning of “flow [smoothly]”. However, I would assume ᴹQ. sir- is a less commonly used verb for “flow”, especially applicable when flows are turbulent or not continuous, as in the “the Ocean is flowing [síra]” in the sentence given above. For example, Helge Fauskanger used sir- “flow” in his NQNT (NQNT).
sír
river
sír noun "river", shorter form of sirë (PE17:65, VT49:17)
sír(ë)
noun. river, river, [ᴱQ.] stream
The most common Quenya word for “river”, derived from the root √SIR “flow”.
Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as ᴱQ. sīre “stream” as a derivative of ᴱ√SIŘI [SIÐI] (QL/84), and this form and gloss also appeared in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/84). The form ᴹQ. siri- “river” appeared in the Declension of Nouns (DN) from the early 1930s, along with uninflected sire with short i and various inflected forms with siry- (PE21/10). The form sīre “river” with long ī appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of ᴹ√SIR “flow” (Ety/SIR; EtyAC/SIR). In several notes from the mid-1960s, it appeared in monosyllabic form sír (PE17/65) or sīr (VT49/17), but it had dual form siryat from the late 1960s implying a stem form of sirĭ- and a development similar to that of DN from the early 1930s (VT47/11).
Neo-Eldarin: Its form síre is probably better known and more commonly used in Neo-Quenya. For example this is the typical form in Helge Fauskanger’s NQNT (NQNT).
sírë
river
sírë noun "river" (SIR, VT46:13), "stream" (LT1:265). Also short form sír, q.v.Compare #sirya.
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.
tuilë
noun. spring, spring, [ᴹQ.] spring-time, [ᴱQ.] (lit.) a budding; buds, new shoots, fresh green
celon
noun. river
celw
noun. spring, source
duirro
noun. river-bank
eithel
noun. issue of water, spring, well
ethuil
noun. spring
rhib-
verb. to flow like a (torrent ?)
The reading of the gloss is uncertain
siria-
verb. to flow
siria-
verb. to flow
A verb in The Etymologies of the 1930s appearing as its Noldorin-style infinitive sirio “flow”, derived from ON. sirya- under the root ᴹ√SIR “flow” (Ety/SIR). In this document, its Quenya equivalent was ᴹQ. sir- “flow” (Ety/SIR), but by 1948 Tolkien had introduced ᴹQ. sirya- “flow” as well (PE22/114).
sirion
noun. great river
sîr
noun. river
sîr
noun. river
twílë
noun. spring
khibil
noun. spring
A noun translated “spring” and fully declined as an example of a Strong I noun (SD/430).
celu
noun. spring, source
duin
noun. (long and large) river (having strong current)
eithel
noun. issue of water, spring, well
ethuil
noun. spring, spring [the season]
rib-
verb. to flow like a (torrent ?)
The reading of the gloss is uncertain
sîr
noun. river
sîr
stream
_ n. _stream. >> Nanduhirion
tuil
noun. spring
celeth
stream
(noun) 1) celeth (i geleth, o cheleth), pl. celith (i chelith), 2) sirith (i hirith, o sirith) (flowing), no distinct pl. except with article (i sirith), 3) nên (water, lake, pool, waterland), construct nen, pl. nîn, 4) rant (watercourse, water-channel, lode, vein), pl. raint (idh raint), coll. pl. rannath.
celeth
stream
(i geleth, o cheleth), pl. celith (i chelith)
celon
river
(i gelon, o chelon), pl. celyn (pl. i chelyn)
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.
duin
river
(long, large river with strong current) duin (i dhuin), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nuin) (VT48:24)
duin
large river
(i dhuin), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nuin), coll. pl. duinath (Names:179, PM:54); compare the river-name Anduin, ”long river”.
eithel
spring
(source, issue of water), pl. eithil.
ethir
of a river
(estuary), no distinct pl. form, but coll. pl. ethiriath. Note: a homophone means "spy".
ethuil
spring
(season) ethuil (no distinct pl. form). SPRING-SINGER, see SWALLOW
ethuil
spring
(no distinct pl. form).
lind
river
”singer” may also be used of rivers (see
nên
stream
(water, lake, pool, waterland), construct nen, pl. nîn
rant
stream
(watercourse, water-channel, lode, vein), pl. raint (idh raint), coll. pl. rannath.
rimma
flow like a torrent
(i rimma, idh rimmar)
siria
flow
(vb.) siria- (i hiria, i siriar).
siria
flow
(i hiria, i siriar).
sirith
stream
(i hirith, o sirith) (flowing), no distinct pl. except with article (i sirith)
sîr
river
- (also = rill) sîr (i hîr, o sîr), in compounds sir- or -hir or -hír; no distinct pl. form except with article (i sîr), coll. pl. siriath. Note: sîr is also the adverb ”today”. 2) celon (i gelon, o chelon), pl. celyn (pl. i chelyn), 3) The word lind ”singer” may also be used of rivers (see . (WJ.309).
sîr
river
(i hîr, o sîr), in compounds sir- or -hir or -hír; no distinct pl. form except with article (i sîr), coll. pl. siriath. Note: sîr is also the adverb ”today”.
tuia
spring
(verb) tuia- (i duia, i thuiar) (swell, sprout)
tuia
spring
(i duia, i thuiar) (swell, sprout)
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!
kelu-
verb. to (begin to) flow, spring forth (of water)
A verb in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 given as the main example of a u-verb, with glosses like “flow”, “begin to flow” and “spring forth (of water)” and derived from the root √KEL “flow” (PE22/97, 110, 114). It seems that originally the u-extension to this verb was simply to make the form more distinct: “In addition many bases of simple √TAL form made verbs of a different sort, employing a fixed vocalic suffix (ū, or ā̆) after the base: as √KEL: kelu ‘flow, well up’ (PE22/98)”. But the u-verb extension often had an inceptive sense (indicating the beginning of things), so that the sense of celu- shifted: “But is also outside tense associated with the notion of ‘begin to do something now (completed later)’ so in u-verbs: kelu, begin to flow (PE22/97)”.
Tolkien discussed this at length in the section of QVS on u-verbs:
> The sense-difference between these and normal verbs is not so clear, since an additional -u seems often to have been added as a mere formative: to increase the phonetic content of the stem, as liru- “sing (gaily)”; or to distinguish between bases of identical (or similar) form with different senses, as kelu- “spring forth (of water)”: √KEL, √KYEL, run away especially downwards or to an end, cf. kelya “(it) sends running down = it rains”.
But often as in case kelu- above this suffix marks the beginning (more or less sudden) of an action that may continue later, and was thus anciently and still in Quenya often conjoined with the prefix ete/et- “out”: so in the ancient ektelu- (< etkelu) “gush forth” (PE22/114).
As such, I think this verb primarily has the sense “flow forth or spring forth (of liquids)”, indicating either a sudden new flow or the beginning place of an ongoing flow, such as Anduinë celu i Míse Orontillon “Anduin flows forth from the Grey Mountains”. For a more ordinary continuous “flow”, I think the verbs sirya- or [ᴹQ.] sir- would be used. I also think the related verb [ᴹQ.] ehtelu- < ᴹ✶ektelu- originally had the sense “✱flow out of an entrance”, so generally from underground hence = “well or bubble up”; see that entry for discussion.
Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. kelu- “flow” dates back all the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where it appeared under the early root ᴱ√KELE or ᴱ√KELU “flow, run; ooze, trickle” (QL/46), but there is no indication that it had an inceptive sense in the 1910s or 20s.
kelulinde
noun. spring
sir-
verb. to flow
A verb for “flow” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√SIR of the same meaning (Ety/SIR). It may have appeared later in its present-tense form síra in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 as part of the sentence [ᴹQ.] númen Endorello isse sí Vaia síra “westward of Middle-earth where now Ocean flows” (PE22/126). However, it is possible that síra was intended to be present of the verb [ᴹQ.] sirya- “flow” from elsewhere in QVS; see that entry for discussion.
Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. siri- “flow” under the early root ᴱ√SIŘI [SIÐI] (QL/84). See also the later verb Q. sirya-.
síre
noun. river
kelu-
verb. to flow
qelu-
verb. to well up
kelu(me)
noun. stream; fountain, spring
sindi
noun. river
A noun in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “river” derived from the root ᴱ√SIŘI [SIÐI] (QL/84). The same word appeared in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/84).
siri-
verb. flow
síre
noun. stream
tuilére
noun. Spring
welme
noun. spring
welwe
noun. spring
kelu-
verb. to flow, well up
ektelu-
verb. to well, bubble up, gush forth
kelun
noun. river
sir
root. flow
celon
noun. river
A noun meaning “river” developed from the primitive form ᴹ✶kelun (Ety/KEL), where the [[ilk|final [un] became [on]]].
Conceptual Development: This word was initially marked as Noldorin.
duil
noun. river
A noun meaning “river”, simply an elaboration of its root ᴹ√DUY (Ety/DUI).
aithl
noun. spring
aithyl
noun. spring
duif
noun. stream
hairen
feminine name. Spring
sîr
noun. river
tuil
noun. spring
sîr
noun. stream
nene
root. flow
siði
root. flow
siři
root. flow
sirya-
verb. flow
sīre
noun. river
The root √SIR and similar roots meant “flow” for most of Tolkien’s life. The earliest form of this root was ᴱ√SIŘI [SIÐI] “flow” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with variant sini and derived forms like ᴱQ. sindi “river” and ᴱQ. síre “stream” (QL/84). The latter word became “river” in Tolkien’s later writings, and words appearing in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon like G. sîr “river” and G. siriol “flowing” (GL/67-68) rather than ✱✱sidh- indicate Tolkien very early revised the root to ✱ᴱ√SIRI. Indeed, the root was ᴹ√SIR “flow” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, and the root appeared with this form and essential meaning several times in Tolkien’s later writings (PE22/127, 135).