kem

root. soil, earth

This root was established as the basis for “earth” words early in Tolkien’s writing. It first appeared as ᴱ√KEME “soil” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, its most notable Qenya derivative being ᴱQ. kemen “soil, earth” (QL/46). The root ᴹ√KEM “soil, earth” reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s along with ᴹQ. kén (kem-) or kemen “earth”, as well as various other Quenya and Noldorin derivatives (Ety/KEM). Tolkien’s continued use of Q. cemen and S. ceven for “earth” or “the Earth” in later writings indicates the continued validity of this root.

Derivatives

• ✶keme “earth”
• ᴹ✶kēm “*earth” ✧ Ety/KEM
  • ᴹQ. kemen “soil, earth; Great Lands”
  • N. coe “earth” ✧ EtyAC/KEM
• ✶kemen “earth”
  • Q. cemen “the earth; earth, the earth; earth, [ᴹQ.] soil”
  • S. ceven “Earth, earth; Earth”
• ᴹQ. kemen “soil, earth; Great Lands” ✧ Ety/KEM
• ᴺQ. cemië “chemistry”
• ᴹQ. kemna “of earth, earthen” ✧ Ety/KEM
• ᴺS. cae “earth”
• N. coe “earth” ✧ Ety/KEM
• N. cef “soil” ✧ Ety/KEM
• N. cevn “of earth, earthen” ✧ Ety/KEM
• N. cennan “potter” ✧ Ety/KEM
• N. cevnor “potter” ✧ Ety/KEM

Element in

• ᴺQ. cemorva “potato(es)”
• ᴹQ. kemnaro “potter” ✧ Ety/KEM
• ᴹQ. kentano “potter” ✧ Ety/KEM (kentano)

kēm

noun. *earth

Derivations

• ᴹ√KEM “soil, earth” ✧ Ety/KEM

Derivatives

• ᴹQ. kemen “soil, earth; Great Lands”
• N. coe “earth” ✧ EtyAC/KEM