kin

root. *small

nōrē

noun. kindred, race

kalta-

verb. cause to shine, kindle

kit

root. *small

Tolkien gave the roots √KIN and √KIT with the gloss “small” in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957; given Sindarin derivative S. cidinn, √KIT is the likelier of the two possibilities (PE17/157).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I recommend against using the Quenya derivative of this root, as there are other better-known Quenya words for “small”. In Sindarin, however, we have fewer options, and I think it is worth retaining this root for that branch of the Eldarin languages.

tā/taʒ

root. high, high, [ᴹ√] lofty; noble

This root and ones like it were used for “high” things for much of Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as unglossed ᴱ√TAHA in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. tā “high; high above, high up”, ᴱQ. tahōra or tayóra “lofty”, and ᴱQ. tāri “queen”; it had a variant form ᴱ√TAʕA where the ʕ might be a malformed Y (QL/87). The corresponding forms in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon were G. dâ “high” and G. dara “lofty” (GL/29), indicating the true form of the root was ᴱ√DAHA, since initial voiced stops were unvoiced (d- > t-) in Early Qenya (PE12/17). Primitive forms like ᴱ✶dagá > ᴱN. dâ/ᴱQ. tá “high” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s indicates the root continued to begin with D for the following decade (PE13/141, 161).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gave this root as ᴹ√TĀ/TAƷ “high, lofty; noble” with derivatives like ᴹQ. tára “lofty, high”, ᴹQ. tári “queen” and N. taen “height, summit of high mountain” (Ety/TĀ). In Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 Tolkien gave the root as √TAG or Tā- “high”, and in notes from around 1967 Tolkien gave √TAƷ as the explanation of the initial element of Q. Taniquetil and contrasted it with √TĂR “stand” (PE17/186). In 1970 green-ink revisions to the Outline of Phonology (OP2), Tolkien wrote a marginal note giving √TAƷ > TĀ “high”, but this note was rejected with a statement “transfer to Gen. Structure. No [ʒ] existed in Eldarin” (PE19/72-73 note #22).

This last rejection seems to be part of Tolkien’s general vacillation on the nature and phonetic evolution of velar spirants in Primitive Elvish in 1968-70. For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I would assume the root form was √TAH or √TAƷ > √TĀ as the basis for “high” words, much like √MAH or √MAƷ > ✶mā was the basis for “hand” words.

gardā

noun. region

kawāk

noun. crow

ndorē

noun. land

ndōro

noun. land

nis

root. woman

This root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹ√NIS “woman”, an extension of ᴹ√NĪ “female” (Ety/NIS). It also had a strengthened form ᴹ√NDIS, unglossed but apparently meaning “bride” based on its derivatives ᴹQ. indis/N. dîs of that meaning (Ety/NDIS). Unstrengthened ᴹ√NIS seems to have survived only in Quenya as the basis for ᴹQ. nis (niss-) “woman”, but this word was also blended with ✱ndis-sē to produce a longer form nisse of the same meaning.

In Tolkien’s later writings, both short Q. nís and longer nissë appeared as words for “woman” (MR/213; VT47/33) and Q. indis reappeared as well, though glossed “wife” (UT/8). As primitive forms, both unstrengthened √nis (VT47/33) and strengthened ✶ndī̆s “woman” also appeared in later writings, the latter given as the feminine equivalent of ✶[[p|n[d]ēr]] “man” (PE19/102).

tāra

adjective. high

¤kurwē

noun. power, ability

nos(së)

noun. kindred, family, kindred, family, [ᴹQ.] clan, ‘house’, [ᴱQ.] folk, kin, people

aranórë

place name. Kingsland

The Quenya equivalent of Arnor, with many variants (Aranórë being the most easily decomposed). It is a compound of either ar(a)- “royal” or aran “king”, with the second element either nórë or -ndor “land”. See the entry for Arnor for further discussion.

noldóran

proper name. King of the Ñoldor

A title of Finwë as king of the Noldor (PM/343). It is a compound of Noldo and aran “king”, where the o+a assimilated into a long ó.

sorontar

masculine name. King of Eagles

The Quenya name of Thorondor, a compound of the prefixal form soron- of soron “eagle” and the word element -tar “king” used in compounds (SA/thoron; Ety/TĀ, THOR).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this character’s name once appeared as ᴱQ. Ramandur (LT2/203) but in this instance it was replaced by ᴱQ. Sorontur “King of Eagles”, which was his usual Qenya name in the early stories (LT1/73, LT2/192). His name appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s as ᴹQ. Sorontar “King of Eagles”, and these entries are the source for the etymology given above (Ety/TĀ, THOR). This name appeared in Silmarillion revisions and notes from the 1950s (MR/410, WJ/272) and also in The Silmarillion appendix (SA/thoron), but Christopher Tolkien did not include it in the main text of the published version of The Silmarillion.

tarumbar

proper name. King of the World

A title of assumed by Morgoth when he lay claim to the world in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (MR/121), but not appearing in the published version of The Silmarillion. This name is a compound of tar- “king” and Ambar “World”, the second element appearing in its rarer alternate form: Umbar (see PE17/105).

Conceptual Development: The title was first written as (rejected) Aran Endór “King of Middle-earth”.

-ldë

kindler

-ldë (2) feminine agental suffix. Tolkien at one point commented that Vardas title Tintallë "Kindler" should be Tintaldë because the ending -llë was rather the suffix for plural "you" (PE17:69). Since this pronominal suffix -llë was later revised to -ldë, it is now the ending of Tintaldë itself that would be potentially problematic.

-tar

king

-tar or tar-, element meaning "king" or "queen" in compounds and names (TĀ/TA3), e.g. Valatar; compare the independent nouns tár, tári. Prefix Tar- especially in the names of the Kings and Queens of Númenor (e.g. Tar-Amandil); see their individual names (like Amandil in this case), cf. also Tar-Mairon "King Excellent", title used by Sauron (PE17:183). Also in Tareldar "High-elves"; see also Tarmenel.

Aranwë

kingly person

Aranwë masc. name *"Kingly Person" (Silm); Aranwion patronymic "son of Aranwë" (UT:50 cf. 32)

Noldóran

king of the noldor

Noldóran ("ñ")noun "King of the Noldor" (PM:343; evidently noldo + aran).

Sorontar

king of eagles

Sorontar (þ) masc. name "King of Eagles", Sindarin Thorondor, name of a great Eagle (SA:thoron, THOR/THORON, TĀ/TA3)

Tarumbar

king of the world

Tarumbar noun; apparently "King of the World" (possibly an ephemeral form): this would be tár "king" (q.v.) + umbar as a variant of Ambar "world".

Tintallë

kindler

Tintallë noun "Kindler", a title of Varda who kindled the stars (TIN, Nam, RGEO:67). From tinta- "kindle, make to sparkle" (MR:388). According to PE17:69, the form "should be Tintalde", apparently because -llë was at the time the ending for plural "you" and Tintallë could be taken as meaning *"you kindle" rather than as a noun "Kindler". However, Tolkien later changed the pronominal suffix, eliminating the clash of forms while leaving Tintallë correct (after the revision, it was *tintaldë itself that would be the verb "you kindle").

Tintanië

kindler

Tintanië noun "Kindler" = Varda (TIN; Tintánië under TAN, which according to VT46:17 Tolkien interpreted both as "Star-maker" and "Star-making")

aran

king

aran noun "king"; pl. arani (WJ:369, VT45:16, PE17:186); gen.pl. aranion "of kings" in asëa aranion, q.v.; aranya "my king" (aran + nya) (UT:193). Aran Meletyalda "king your mighty" = "your majesty" (WJ:369); aran Ondórëo, "a king of Gondor" (VT49:27). Also in arandil "king's friend, royalist", arandur "king's servant, minister" (Letters:386); Arantar masc. name, "King-Lord" (Appendix A); Arandor "Kingsland" region in Númenor (UT:165); the long form Arandórë appears as a name of Arnor in PE17:28 (elsewhere Arnanórë, q.v.) Othercompounds ingaran, Noldóran, Núaran, q.v.

aranië

kingdom

#aranië noun "kingdom" (aranielya "thy kingdom") (VT43:15). Cf. #aranyë in Ardaranyë "the Kingdom of Arda" (PE17:105)

aranus

kingship

aranus (#aranuss-), also aranussë, noun "kingship" (PE17:155)

aranyë

kingdom

#aranyë noun "kingdom", isolated from Ardaranyë "the Kingdom of Arda" (PE17:105)

ardaranyë

place name. Kingdom of Arda

This is another, more expansive term for Arda as the kingdom of Manwë, including the World (Ambar), Aman and the Solar System (PE17/105). Its second element seems to be a variant of aranië “kingdom”, which appears in Tolkien’s translation of the Lord’s Prayer: Átaremma (VT43/12, 15).

halatir

kingsfisher

halatir (halatirn-, as in dat.sg. halatirnen), also halatirno, noun "kingsfisher", etymologically "fish-watcher" (TIR, SKAL2, KHAL1)

haran

king, chieftain

haran (#harn-, as in pl. harni) noun "king, chieftain" (3AR, TĀ/TA3, VT45:17; for "king", the word aran is to be preferred in LotR-style Quenya). In a deleted entry in the Etymologies, haran was glossed "chief" (VT45:17)

narta-

kindle

narta- vb. "kindle" (VT45:37)

taran

king

taran (1) noun "king", possibly ephemeral variant of aran, q.v. (PE17:186)

tinta-

kindle, cause to sparkle

tinta- vb. "kindle, cause to sparkle", cf. Tintallë (TIN, SA:tin, MR:388)

tunda-

kindle

tunda- vb. "kindle" (LT1:270; rather tinta- or narta- in Tolkien's later Quenya)

turinasta

kingdom

#turinasta, #túrinasta noun "kingdom" (turinastalya, túrinastalya "thy kingdom", VT43:15). These words for "kingdom" Tolkien perhaps abandoned in favour of #aranië, q.v.

turindië

kingdom

#turindië, #túrindië noun "kingdom" (turindielya, túrindielya "thy kingdom", VT43:15). These words for "kingdom" Tolkien perhaps abandoned in favour of #aranië, q.v.

turu-

kindle

turu- (2) vb. "kindle" (a "Qenya" form from LT1:270; rather narta- or tinta- in LotR-style Quenya)

tár

king

tár noun "king" (only used of the legitimate kings of whole tribes); the pl. tári "kings" must not be confused with the sg. tári "queen" (TĀ/TA3). Prefix tar-, compare -tar above. The normal Quenya word for "king" is aran, but compare Tarumbar.

túr

king

túr, tur noun "king" (PE16:138, LT1:260); rather aran in LotR-style Quenya, but cf. the verb tur-. Also compare the final element -tur, -ntur "lord" in names like Axantur, Falastur, Fëanturi, Vëantur (q.v.)

vardar

king

vardar noun "king" (LT1:273; rather aran in LotR-style Quenya)

aran

noun. king

arandil

noun. king’s friend, royalist

aranië

noun. kingdom

aranus(së)

noun. kingship

aran meletyalda

king your mighty

calta-

verb. to kindle, to kindle, [ᴹQ.] (cause to) shine, light up, [ᴱQ.] set light to

This causative verb meaning “kindle, cause to shine” was based on the root √KAL “light; shine” and had a lengthy history in Tolkien’s Elvish languages. ᴱQ. kalta- “kindle, set light to” first appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44), but in The Etymologies of the 1930s ᴹQ. kalta- was only glossed “shine” (Ety/KAL). However in the Quenya Verbal System of the 1940s kaltā́ was given as an example of causative verbs and glossed “cause to shine, light up, or kindle (lamp etc.)” (PE22/114). In Common Eldarin: Verb Structure from the early 1950s (primitive) kalta- was glossed “cause to shine, kindle” (PE22/156). This verb also appeared in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969 as an element in the adjective Q. lacaltaima “not possible to be kindled”.

tintallë

feminine name. (Star) Kindler

A title of Varda as maker of the stars (LotR/377). The first element of this name is the verb tinta- “to kindle” (SA/tin, MR/388), and the second element is the feminine agental suffix -llë (PE17/69).

Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Tintalle appears in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/200, 212), as well as in The Etymologies (Ety/TIN). In The Etymologies, the variant form ᴹQ. Tintánie “star-maker, star-making” also appeared (Ety/TIN, TAN; EtyAC/TAN), which seems to be a combination of the roots ᴹ√TIN “sparkle” and ᴹ√TAN “make” with the abstract noun ending ᴹQ. -ie; this name did not appear in the narratives, however.

In Notes on Galadriel’s Song (NGS) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien considered and rejected the root √TAN “construct” as an element in the name Tintallë (PE17/69). After this rejection, he decided that the final element -lle was a feminine agental suffix, but this unfortunately clashed with the contemporaneous 2nd-plural pronominal suffix -llë “you”. Tolkien considered changing Varda’s title to Tintalde to avoid this conflict (PE17/69). In later writings, he revised the 2nd-plural pronoun to -ldë instead (VT49/16, 51), which allowed Tintallë to stand unchanged.

asëa

beneficial, helpful, kindly

asëa (þ) 1) adj. "beneficial, helpful, kindly" _(so according to a late note where the word is derived from *ATHAYA)_; hence also: 2) asëa (þ) noun,name of the healing plant called in Sindarin athelas(PE17:148), in English (representing Westron) called "kingsfoil", cf. longer Quenya name asëa aranion (þ) "asëa of kings" (LotR3:V ch. 8). Cf. aran.

nostalë

species, kind

nostalë noun "species, kind" (LT1:272)

tar-

affix. high, high; [ᴹQ.] king or queen (in compounds)

aráto

noun. champion, eminent man, noble, lord, king

rendë

noun. kinship, kin, kindred, clan

nossë

clan, family, 'house'

nossë noun "clan, family, 'house' " (NŌ), "kindred, family" (PM:320), "kin, people" (LT1:250, LT1:272, LT2:338)

verrendo

noun. brother in law, kinsman by marriage

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2022 specifically for Eldamo, a combination of ᴺ√BES “wed” and ᴺQ. rendo “male relative”, inspired by G. bedhren.

verressë

noun. sister in law, kinswoman by marriage

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2022 specifically for Eldamo, a combination of ᴺ√BES “wed” and ᴺQ. ressë “female relative”, inspired by G. bedhres.

eldatár

`Vm#1~C6 noun. elf-king, elfking, elven-king

-llë

one of several suffixes indicating feminine agent

-llë (1) "one of several suffixes indicating feminine agent", as in Tintallë "kindler" vs. the verb tinta- "to kindle". In the source _(PE17:69) _Tolkien noted that -llë was little used because of the clash with the pronominal ending -llë (see #2 below), but the latter ending was later revised.

-ndur

friend

-ndur (also -dur), ending in some names, like Eärendur; as noted by Christopher Tolkien in the Silmarillion Appendix it has much the same meaning as -ndil "friend"; yet -ndur properly means "servant of" (SA:(noun)dil), "as one serves a legitimate master: cf. Q. arandil king's friend, royalist, beside arandur 'king's servant, minister'. But these often coincide: e.g. Sam's relation to Frodo can be viewed either as in status -ndur, in spirit -ndil." (Letters:286)

Endor

middle-earth

Endor place-name "Middle-earth" (SA:dôr, NDOR), "centre of the world" (EN); also long form Endórë "Middle-earth" (Appendix E); allative Endorenna "to Middle-earth" in EO. The form Endór in MR:121 may be seen as archaic, intermediate between Endórë and Endor (since long vowels in a final syllable are normally shortened: Endór > Endor). Endór functions as an uninflected genitive in the source: Aran Endór, "King of Middle-earth".

Ingwë

chief

Ingwë masc. name, "chief", name of the "prince of Elves" _(PM:340, ING, WEG, VT45:18). Pl. Ingwer "Chieftains", what the Vanyar called themselves (so in PM:340, but in PM:332 the plural has the more regular form Ingwi). Ingwë Ingweron "chief of the chieftains", proper title of Ingwë as high king (PM:340)_. In the Etymologies, Ingwë is also said to be the name of a symbol used in writing: a short carrier with an i-tehta above it, denoting short i (VT45:18).

Ondonórë

gondor

Ondonórë, #Ondórë place-name "Gondor" (Stone-land). The shorter form of the name is attested in the genitive in the phrase aran Ondórëo, "a king of Gondor". (VT42:17, VT49:27)

ambar

a-mbar

ambar (1) ("a-mbar") noun "oikumenē [Greek: the earth as the human habitation], Earth, world" (MBAR), stem ambar- (PE17:66), related to and associated with mar "home, dwelling" (VT45:33); in VT46:13 the latter glosses are possibly also ascribed to the word ambar itself (the wording is not clear). The form ambaren also listed in the Etymologies was presumably intended as the genitive singular at the time of writing (in LotR-style Quenya it would rather be the dative singular); in the printed version in LR, the misreading "ambaron" appears (see VT45:33). Ambar-metta noun "the end of the world" (EO); spelt ambarmetta in VT44:36. The element #umbar in Tarumbar "King of the World" (q.v.) would seem to be a variant of ambar, just like ambar #2 "doom" also alternates with umbar (see below).

arato

noble

arato noun "a noble" (PE17:147), in PE17:118 given as aratō and there glossed "lord" (often = "king"). Cf. aráto. The form cited in the latter source, aratō with a long final vowel, is evidently very archaic (compare Enderō under Ender); later the vowel would become short. (PE17:118)

cirya

ship

cirya _("k")_noun "ship" (MC:213, 214, 220, 221), "(sharp-prowed) ship" (SA:kir-, where the word is misspelt círya with a long í; Christopher Tolkien probably confused it with the first element of the Sindarin name Círdan. It seems that Círyon, the name of Isildur's son, is likewise misspelt; read Ciryon as in the index and the main text of the Silmarillion. Cf. also kirya_ in Etym, stem KIR.) _Also in Markirya. In the Plotz letter, cirya is inflected for all cases except plural possessive (*ciryaiva). The curious dual form ciriat occurs in Letters:427, whereas Plotz gives the expected form ciryat. Locative ciryasse "upon a ship" (MC:216). Compounded in ciryaquen "shipman, sailor" (WJ:372), also ciryando (PE17:58), cf. also ciryamo "mariner" (UT:8). Masc. names Ciryaher* "Ship-lord" (Appendix A), Ciryandil "Ship-friend" (Appendix A), Ciryatan "Ship-builder" (Appendix A), also Tar-Ciryatan**, name of a Númenórean king, "King Shipbuilder" (SA:kir-)

ingwë

masculine name. Chief

Lord of the first tribe of the Elves and the high king of Elvenkind (S/52, 62). His name is ancient and its original meaning is unclear, but it is sometimes translated as “Chief”, and is interpreted as a combination of the root √ING “first, foremost” and the suffix -wë common in ancient names (PM/340).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this character was first named ᴱQ. Ing, but this was soon changed to ᴱQ. Inwe (LT1/22). The form become ᴹQ. Ingwe in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/13, LR/214), and the derivation for Ingwë discussed above had already emerged in The Etymologies (Ety/ING, WEG).

meletya

mighty

#meletya adj. "mighty", isolated from meletyalda adjective with suffix "your mighty" = "your majesty" (see -lda; meletya = *"mighty"). In full Aran Meletyalda "king your mighty" = "your majesty" (WJ:369). Compare melehta.

umbar

fate, doom

umbar (umbart-, as in dat.sg. umbarten) noun "fate, doom" (MBARAT), also name of tengwa #6 (Appendix E).Cf. Umbarto. In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, umbar was the name of letter #18 (VT45:33), which tengwa Tolkien would later call malta instead changing its Quenya value from mb to m. In the word Tarumbar "King of the World" (q.v.), umbar appears to be a variant of Ambar (q.v.) instead.

sacillë

noun. splinter

A neologism for “splinter” created by Boris Shapiro in PPQ (PPQ) from the early 2000s, derived from the root ᴹ√STAK “split, insert”. I prefer instead to adapt the early word ᴱQ. kinda “splinter” as ᴺQ. cirda.

lissë

noun. grace

melehta

adjective. mighty

An adjective for “mighty” derived from the root √MBELEK in a page of notes having to do with “large & small” words, probably from the late 1960s (PE17/115), apparently from the primitive form ✱✶mbelektā (with [kt] > [ht]). A variant form meletya appears with the 2nd-plural possessive suffix -lda as Meletyalda “your mighty” in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 (WJ/369), likely from the primitive form ✱✶mbelekya (with [kj] > [tj]). This variant form has a more typical primitive adjective suffix ✶-ya, but is inconsistent with the attested Sindarin cognate S. belaith, so I’d stick with melehta for purposes of Neo-Quenya.

#turco

chief

#turco (1) noun "chief" (isolated from Turcomund "chief bull", Letters:423). Turco, masc. name, see Turcafinwë.

-ndil

friend

-ndil (also -dil) ending occurring in many names, like Amandil, Eärendil; it implies devotion or disinterested love and may be translated "friend" (SA:(noun)dil); this ending is "describing the attitude of one to a person, thing, course or occupation to which one is devoted for its own sake" (Letters:386). Compare -ndur. It is unclear whether the names derived with the ending -ndil are necessarily masculine, though we have no certain example of a woman's name in -ndil; the name Vardilmë (q.v.) may suggest that the corresponding feminine ending is -(n)dilmë.

-ndor

land

-ndor, final element in compounds: "land" (Letters:308, UT:253)

-ser

friend

-ser noun "friend" (SER)

Ambarenya

middle-earth

Ambarenya, older [MET] Ambarendya place-name "Middle-earth" (but the more usual word is Endor, Endórë) (MBAR)

Ara-

noble

Ara-, ar- a prefixed form of the stem Ara- "noble" (PM:344). In the masc. names Aracáno "high chieftain", mothername (amilessë, q.v.) of Fingolfin (PM:360, cf. 344), Arafinwë "Finarfin" (MR:230)

Endamar

middle-earth

Endamar place-name "Middle-earth" (EN, MBAR, NDOR). However, Middle-earth is normally called Endor, Endórë.

Ingolondë

land of the gnomes

Ingolondë place-name "Land of the Gnomes" (Beleriand, "but before applied to parts of Valinor") (ÑGOLOD)

Lindissë

woman

Lindissë fem.name, perhaps lin- (root of words having to do with song/music) + (n)dissë "woman" (see nís). (UT:210)

Lórien

lórien

Lórien (from lor-, q.v.), place-name also used as the name of a Vala, properly the place where he dwells, whereas his real name is Irmo (WJ:402, LOS (ÓLOS, SPAN) ). Alternative forms Lorien (with a short o) and Lorion, MR:144.

Ondor-

place name. Gondor

Vala

power, god, angelic power

Vala (1) noun "Power, God, angelic power", pl. Valar or Vali (BAL, Appendix E, LT2:348), described as "angelic governors" or "angelic guardians" (Letters:354, 407). The Valar are a group of immensely powerful spirits guarding the world on behalf of its Creator; they are sometimes called Gods (as when Valacirca, q.v., is translated "Sickle of the Gods"), but this is strictly wrong according to Christian terminology: the Valar were created beings. The noun vala is also the name of tengwa #22 (Appendix E). Genitive plural Valion "of the Valar" (FS, MR:18); this form shows the pl. Vali, (irregular) alternative to Valar (the straightforward gen. pl. Valaron is also attested, PE17:175). Pl. allative valannar *"to/on the Valar" (LR:47, 56; SD:246). Feminine form Valië (Silm), in Tolkiens earlier material also Valdë; his early writings also list Valon or Valmo (q.v.) as specifically masc. forms. The gender-specific forms are not obligatory; thus in PE17:22 Varda is called a Vala (not a Valië), likewise Yavanna in PE17:93. Vala is properly or originally a verb "has power" (sc. over the matter of Eä, the universe), also used as a noun "a Power" _(WJ:403). The verb vala- "rule, order", exclusively used with reference to the Valar, is only attested in the sentences á vala Manwë! "may Manwë order it!" and Valar valuvar "the will of the Valar will be done" (WJ:404). However, Tolkien did not originally intend the word Valar to signify "powers"; in his early conception it apparently meant "the happy ones", cf. valto, vald- (LT2:348)_. For various compounds including the word Vala(r), see below.

Yón

region, any (fairly extensive) region between obstacles such as rivers or mountains

yón (2), variant of yondë, q.v. Defined as "a region, any (fairly extensive) region _between obstacles such as rivers or mountains" (PE17:43)_

accal(a)-

verb. shine

shine (suddenly and) brilliantly, blaze

amarto

fate

amarto noun "Fate" (also ambar) (LT2:348; in LotR-style Quenya rather umbar, umbart-)

ambar

fate, doom

ambar (2) noun "fate, doom" (variant of umbar?) in Turambar (SA:amarth); stem ambart- (PE17:66), instrumental ambartanen "by doom" (Silm ch. 21, UT:138, PE17:66). The early "Qenya" lexicon has ambar "Fate", also amarto (LT2:348)

arata

high, lofty, noble

arata adj. "high, lofty, noble" (PE17:49, 186). Also used as a a noun with nominal pl. form Aratar "the Supreme", the chief Valar, translation of the foreign word Máhani adopted and adapted from Valarin (WJ:402). Aratarya "her sublimity"; Varda Aratarya "Varda the lofty, Varda in her sublimity" (WJ:369). In one source, Aratar is translated as a singular: "High One" (PE17:186)

arquen

noble

arquen noun "a noble" (WJ:372), "knight" (PE17:147)

aráto

champion, eminent man

aráto noun "champion, eminent man" (SA:ar(a) )

cal-

shine

#cal- vb. "shine", future tense caluva ("k") "shall shine" _(UT:22 cf. 51). Compare also early "Qenya" cala- ("k")"shine" (LT1:254)_. It is possible that the verbal stem should have a final -a in later Quenya as well, since this vowel would not appear in the future tense caluva (compare valuvar as the pl. future tense of vala-, WJ:404).

calta-

shine

calta- ("k")vb. "shine" (KAL)

carco

crow

[carco ("k")noun "crow" (KARKA)] (Changed by Tolkien to corco.)

condo

prince, leader; lord

condo ("k")noun "prince, leader; lord" (PE17:113,117); possibly replaces cundu, q.v.

corco

crow

corco ("k")noun "crow" (KORKA, see KARKA)

cundu

prince

†cundu ("k")noun "prince" (KUNDŪ; the "†_" indicating that this word is poetic or archaic was omitted in the Etymologies as printed in LR; see VT45:24)._ Cf. condo.

endor

noun. Middle-earth

halda

adjective. high, tall

helda

friendly, having love (for)

[helda (2) adj. "friendly, having love (for)" (VT46:3)]

heldo

friend

[heldo, also helmo, fem. heldë, noun "friend" (VT46:3)]

hos

folk

hos noun "folk" (LT2:340)

héra

chief, principal

héra adj. "chief, principal" (KHER)

irmin

the world, all the regions inhabited by men

irmin noun "the world, all the regions inhabited by Men" (LT2:343; hardly a valid word in Tolkien's later Quenya)

lie#

noun. race

race

linga-

hang, dangle

linga- vb. "hang, dangle" (LING/GLING, VT45:15, 27)

maira

admirable, excellent, precious

maira adj. "admirable, excellent, precious"; "splendid, sublime" ("only of great, august or splendid things") (PE17:163, 172). Cf. Mairon.

mairon

masculine name. Admirable

The original name of Sauron before his corruption by Melkor (PE17/183). Even after his corruption, he still called himself Mairon or Tar-Mairon sometimes, at least until he lost his beautiful form after the fall of Númenor (PE17/183). This name seems to be a masculinized form of the adjective maira “admirable”.

marta

fate

marta (3) noun "fate" (VT45:33, VT46:13) Cf. marto.

meldo

friend, lover

meldo noun "friend, lover". _(VT45:34, quoting a deleted entry in the Etymologies, but cf. the pl. #_meldor in Eldameldor "Elf-lovers", WJ:412) **Meldonya *"my friend" (VT49:38, 40). It may be that meldo is the distinctly masculine form, corresponding to feminine #meldë** (q.v.)

meldë

friend

#meldë noun "friend", feminine (meldenya "my friend" in the Elaine inscription [VT49:40], Tolkien referring to Elaine Griffiths). Compare meldo.

melehta

mighty

melehta adj. "mighty" (PE17:115), cf. meletya

meletya

adjective. mighty

milya

soft, gentle, weak

milya (1) adj. "soft, gentle, weak" (VT45:34)

milyar

noun. soft

soft [sonants]

miquelis

soft, sweet kiss

miquelis (miquelis(s)-) noun "soft, sweet kiss" (PE16:96)

moica

gentle, soft

moica ("k")adj. "gentle, soft" (GL:58)

mussë

soft

mussë adj. "soft" (VT:39:17), also used as a noun (perhaps primarily in the pl. form mussi) with the same meaning as mussë tengwi, see below. (VT39:17)

mussë

adjective. soft

málo

noun. friend

friend, comrade

málo

friend

málo noun "friend" (MEL, VT49:22)

ména

region

ména noun "region" (MEN). Not to be confused with the present/continuative tense of #men- "go".

nilda

friendly, loving

nilda adj. "friendly, loving" (NIL/NDIL)

nildo

friend

nildo noun "friend" (apparently masc.; contrast nildë) (NIL/NDIL)

nildë

friend

nildë noun "friend" (fem.) (NIL/NDIL)

nilmo

friend

nilmo noun "friend" (apparently masc.) (NIL/NDIL)

nissë

woman

nissë noun "woman" (NDIS-SĒ/SĀ, NI1, NIS, VT47:33); see nís. Note: nissë could apparently also mean "in me", the locative form of the 1st person pronoun ni, q.v.

nissë

noun. woman

norië

race, running

norië, also normë, noun "race, running" (PE17:169)

ní

woman, female

†ní (2) noun "woman, female" (NI1, INI (NĒR ) ). Not to be confused with ní as a stressed form of the pronoun ni "I".

nína

woman

#nína (gen.pl. nínaron attested) noun "woman" (VT43:31; this word, as well as some other experimental forms listed in the same source, seem ephemeral: several sources agree that the Quenya word for "woman" is nís, nis [q.v.])

nís

woman

nís (niss-, as in pl. nissi) noun "woman" _(MR:213. The Etymologies gives _nis (or nissë), pl. nissi: see the stems NDIS-SĒ/SĀ, NI1, NIS (NĒR), VT46:4; compare VT47:33. In Tolkien's Quenya rendering of Hail Mary, the plural nísi occurs instead of nissi; this form is curious, since nísi would be expected to turn into *nízi, *_níri** (VT43:31). VT47:33 suggests that Tolkien at one point considered _niþ- as the older form of the stem, which etymology would solve this problem (since s from older þ does not become z > r). Even so, the MR forms, nís with stem niss-, may be preferred. - Compare †ní, #nína, nisto, Lindissë.

nís

noun. woman

The usual Quenya word for “woman” or more exactly a “female person” of any race, in later writings appearing as both nís (MR/213, 226, 229) and nisse (VT47/18, 33). Even in the cases where its singular was nís, its plural form was given as nissi, indicating a stem form of niss-. In rough notes from 1968 Tolkien said “The monosyllabic nouns (especially those with only one stem-consonant) were a small dwindling class often replaced by strengthened forms (as nis- was [by] nisse)” (VT47/18).

Thus it seems the ancient form was ✱nis- from the root √NIS, which like its male counterpart Q. nér “man” inherited a long vowel from the ancient subjective form ✱nīs. But the voiceless s was felt to be intrinsic to word, and it was thus strengthened to niss- in inflected forms to avoid the sound changes associated with an isolated s. From this a longer form nisse was generalized. In practice I think either form can be used, with singular nís being preserved by analogy with nér. However, I think inflected forms are probably all based on nisse, such as genitive nisseo “of a woman” rather than ✱✱nisso.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien had both ᴹQ. nis and nisse “woman” derived the root ᴹ√NIS, with plural nissi in both cases (Ety/NIS, NDIS). He explained this variation as follows: “nis was a blend of old nīs (nisen) and the elab[orated] form ✱nis-sē” (EtyAC/NĪ¹). Hence it is was essentially the same as the scenario described above, but in the 1930s the long vowel in ancient nīs did not survive in the later short form nis.

In Quenya prayers of the 1950s, Tolkien experimented with some alternate plural forms nínaron [genitive plural] >> nísi [ordinary plural] (VT43/26-29, 31), the former apparently representing a variant singular form ✱nína, but in later writings plural nissi was restored.

nór

land

nór noun "land" (stem nor-, PE17:106) this is land as opposed to water and sea (nor in Letters:308). Cf. nórë.

nór

noun. land

A term for “land” as in “(dry) land as opposed to the sea”, mentioned in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 (WJ/413) and again in notes from around 1968 (PE17/106-107).

Possible Etymology: In the Quendi and Eldar essay this term was derived from primitive ✶ndōro, but in the aforementioned 1968 notes Tolkien clarified that its stem form was nŏr-. This means it was probably derived from ancient ✱ndŏr-, where the long vowel in the uninflected form was inherited from the Common Eldarin subjective form ✱ndōr, a phenomenon also seen in words like nér (ner-) “man”. I prefer this second derivation, as it makes the independent word more distinct from the suffixal form -ndor or -nóre used in the names of countries.

nóre

noun. land

nórë

land

nórë noun "land" (associated with a particular people) (WJ:413), "country, land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live, race, clan" (NŌ, NDOR, BAL), also used = "race, tribe, people" (SA:dôr, PE17:169; however, the normal word for "people" is lië). Early "Qenya" hasnórë "native land, nation, family, country" (in compounds -nor) (LT1:272)

quáco

crow

quáco ("q")noun "crow" _(WJ:395; _Etym also has corco, q.v.)

quáco

noun. crow

A word in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 for “crow”, derived from primitive ✶k(a)wāk (WJ/395). In notes from the late 1960s Tolkien instead had Q. {koake >>} quácë “frog” < ✶kāwāk, with primitive ✶kā for “crow” (VT47/36).

See ᴹQ. korko for a discussion of earlier forms.

sermo

friend

sermo noun "friend" (evidently masc., since sermë is stated to be fem.) (SER)

sermë

friend

sermë noun "friend" (fem.) (SER)

seron

friend

seron noun "friend" (SER)

sil-

shine

sil- vb. "shine" (white), present tense síla "shines, is shining" (FG); aorist silë, pl. silir (RS:324), frequentative sisíla- (Markirya comments), future tense siluva (VT49:38), dual future siluvat (VT49:44, 45)

sondo

friend

[sondo noun "friend" (VT46:15)]

taura

mighty, masterful

taura adj. "mighty, masterful" (TUR, PE17:115), "very mighty, vast, of unmeasured might or size" (VT39:10). Cf. túrëa.

tulco

support, prop

tulco ("k") noun "support, prop". Given the primitive form ¤tulku, the word would have the stem-form *tulcu*- and the plural form tulqui**. (TULUK)

turco

noun. chief

tá

high

tá 2) adj. "high" (LT1:264; there spelt tâ. This is hardly a valid word in Tolkien's later Quenya, but cf. tára "lofty".)

tána

high, lofty, noble

tána (meaning unclear, probably adj. "high, lofty, noble") (TĀ/TA3). Compare tára.

wenci

woman, maiden

wenci ("k") noun, apparently a diminutive form of the stem wēn- "woman, maiden". It is possible that this is meant to be Common Eldarin rather than Quenya; if so the Quenya form would be *wencë (compare nercë "little man") (VT48:18)

yelda

friendly, dear as friend

[yelda] adj. "friendly, dear as friend" (YEL, struck out)

yón

noun. region

arata

high, lofty, noble

arata adj. "high, lofty, noble" (PE17:49, 186). Also used as a a noun with nominal pl. form Aratar "the Supreme", the chief Valar, translation of the foreign word Máhani adopted and adapted from Valarin (WJ:402). Aratarya "her sublimity"; Varda Aratarya "Varda the lofty, Varda in her sublimity" (WJ:369). In one source, Aratar is translated as a singular: "High One" (PE17:186)

gwanur

noun. kinsman, kinswoman

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s for “kinsman” derived from ON. wanūro < ᴹ✶wanōrō (Ety/NŌ, TOR) also used of a “kinswoman” due to blending with feminine ON. wanūre (Ety/THEL).

aran chithlum

proper name. King of Hithlum

The name of Fingolfin as the King of Hithlum appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/TĀ), a combination of aran “king” with the lenited form of the region’s name.

aran dinnu

proper name. King of Twilight

The Noldorin equivalent of Thingol’s title Ilk. Tor Tinduma, a combination of aran “king” and the lenited form of tinnu “twilight” (Ety/THIN, TIN).

heledir(n)

noun. kingsfisher, (lit.) fish-watcher

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s for a kingfisher derived from primitive ᴹ✶khalatirnō̆ “fish watcher” with variants heledir and heledirn (Ety/KHAL¹, SKAL², TIR). Tolkien also considered and rejected the form haledir without i-affection (EtyAC/KHAL¹).

sern aranath

place name. King Stones

Earlier name for the Argonath appearing in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/366), a combination of the plural of sarn “stone” and the class-plural of aran “king”. It also appeared with the ordinary plural Sern Erain, and the singular form Sarn Aran (WR/98).

taur egledhrim

proper name. King of the Exiles

Title of Fingolfin as the king of the Noldor appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/TĀ, EtyAC/TĀ), a combination of taur “king” and the class-plural of egledhron “exile”.

taur

noun. king (of a whole tribe)

thorondor

masculine name. King of Eagles

aran

noun. king (used of a lord or king of a specified region)

argonath

place name. King Stones

heledir

noun. kingfisher (bird)

heledirn

noun. kingfisher (bird)

nos

noun. kindred, family, clan

noss

noun. kindred, family, clan

taur

noun. king (only used of the legitimate kings of whole tribes)

In LotR/IV:IV, Frodo is called Daur, which might be the mutated form of this word

âr

noun. king (used of a lord or king of a specified region)

âr

noun. king

nartha-

verb. to kindle, to kindle, *ignite, inflame, set fire to

A verb in The Etymologies of the 1930s for “kindle” given in the Noldorin infinitive form nartho and derived from the root ᴹ√NARTA of the same meaning (EtyAC/NARTA). This root is probably just a causative verb formation from ᴹ√NAR “flame, fire”, and thus more literally “✱make fire”. Hence I think this verb can be used in the general sense of “✱ignite, inflame, set fire to”, etc.

gwanur

noun. brother or kinsman, kinswoman

milui

adjective. friendly, loving, kind

milui

adjective. friendly, loving, kind

nartha-

verb. to kindle

ernil

noun. prince

mîl

noun. love, affection

nûr

noun. race

ammarth

noun. fate, doom

angolonn

place name. Land of the Gnomes

Noldorin equivalent of ᴹQ. Ingolonde “Land of the Gnomes” appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/ÑGOLOD). It seems to be an example of how [[on|initial syllabic [m], [n], [ŋ] became [am], [an], [aŋ]]] in Old Noldorin.

balan

noun. Vala, divine power, divinity

bess

noun. (young) woman

bess

noun. wife

ceir

noun. ship

ceir

noun. ship

corch

noun. crow

corch

noun. crow

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “crow” derived from the root ᴹ√KORKA of the same meaning, replacing rejected N. carach derived from ᴹ√KARKA (Ety/KARKA).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. crunc “crow”, probably related to G. crug “beak” (GL/27) and possibly also to ᴱQ. karon “crow” from the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon (QL/45). The forms crunc and crwnc “crow” appeared in Gnomish Lexicon Slips modifying that document (PE13/111), and ᴱN. crunc “crow” appeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/141). The word ᴱN. corch also appeared in the same Early Noldorin Word-lists, but was unglossed, so it is not clear whether it was connected to 1930s N. corch “crow”.

cunn

noun. prince

cunn

noun. prince

cîr

noun. ship

dess

noun. young woman

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

dî

noun. woman, lady

elf

noun. friend

elwe

masculine name. Elwe

geleidhien

place name. Land of the Gnomes

Noldorin name for the Land of the Gnomes (Ety/ÑGOLOD), a combination of the plurals of Golodh “Gnome” and the suffix -ian(d) “land”.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, this name was G. Goldobar or Goldomar “Gnomeland” (GL/41). The name ᴱN. Geleidhian emerged in Early Noldorin notes from the 1920s, along with several variants (PE13/145, 162).

gling-

verb. to hang, dangle

gwanur

noun. a pair of twins

meldir

noun. friend

meldis

noun. friend

mellon

noun. friend

mellon

noun. friend

moe

adjective. soft

nothlir

noun. family line (esp. as family tree, genealogical tree)

nûr

noun. race

síla-

verb. to shine white

taur

adjective. mighty, vast, overwhelming, huge, awful, high, sublime

thond

noun. friend

tulu

noun. support, prop

athelas

noun. kingsfoil, a healing herb

The Sindarin name of the “kingsfoil” (LotR/864), a combination athae and lass, hence literally “✱healing leaf”.

Conceptual Development: ᴱN. athelas appeared in the margins of The Lay of Leithian from the 1920s next to the phrase “of all the herbs of healing chief” (LB/269), and it already had the form N. athelas when it first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s (RS/190).

aranrúth

proper name. King’s Ire

The name of Thingol’s sword (S/201), translated by Christopher Tolkien as “King’s Ire” (SI/Aranrúth), a combination aran “king” and rûth “anger, wrath” (SA/ar(a), rûth).

thoniel

adjective. kindler (in the past)

An element in the name Gilthoniel “Star-kindler” which Tolkien explained as “an archaic perfect participle/adjective of √THAN, kindle” in a 1955 letter to David Masson (PE17/82).

Neo-Sindarin: This perfect participle implies the existence of a verb ✱than- “to kindle”, but since Tolkien said the participle was archaic, the verb may be as well, and it is probably better to use attested [N.] nartha- for “kindle” in Neo-Sindarin.

thorondor

masculine name. King of Eagles

The King of the Eagles (S/110), his name is a combination of thoron “eagle” and the suffix -dor “king” (SA/thoron, Let/427).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this character was named Thorndor “King of Eagles” (LT2/192), a form that also appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/34, 102; LR/126). The form Thorondor first appeared as a late change in the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (LB/292), and this new form gradually supplanted the old one in the Silmarillion drafts (LR/145, 256). N. Thorondor was the only form to appear in The Etymologies, where it was translated “King of Eagles” and given the derivation described above (Ety/THOR).

Aranath

noun. kings

aran (“king”) + ath (collective plural suffix)

Torath

noun. kings

taur (“legitimate king of a tribe”) + ath (collective plural suffix)

Ara-

prefix. king

pref. king. >> ar-, Arathorn

ar-

prefix. king

pref. king. >> ara-, Arathorn

ara

noun. king

_ n. _king. 

findegil

masculine name. King’s Writer

A scribe who worked on the Red Book in the Fourth Age, described as the “King’s Writer” (LotR/14). It seems likely that the second element of his name is the lenited form of tegil “pen”, but the meaning of the initial element is unclear. David Salo suggested it might be find “hair” (GS/349).

Aradan

noun. king-man

ar(a) (prefix “high, noble, royal”) + adan (“man”)

aramund

masculine name. Kingly Bull

A name coined by Tolkien as a possible Elvish name for a bull (Let/423). The initial element of the name is the prefix ar(a)- “noble” and its final element is mund “bull”.

aran

noun. king (used of a lord or king of a specified region)

aranarth

noun. kingdom, "king-holding"

In Tolkien's manuscript, this form was rejected in favor of arnad

arnad

noun. kingdom

craban

noun. kind of crow of large size, raven

noss

noun. kindred, family, clan

nost

noun. kindred, family, house

nothrim

noun. kindred, family, house

The word was rejected in favor of nost , but it may be interpreted as a valid class plural "those of the house"

toniel

noun. kindler

Arannor

'King's land'

topon. 'King's land', the North kingdom (at first the most important of Elendil's realms). An older form, still used in literature, later reduced in Arnor. Q. Arandóre.Another name that soon fell out of general colloquial use was Arthor na Forlonnas. >> Arthor na Forlonnas

Ardor

place name. 'kingly

topon. 'kingly, chief land', the pure Sindarin form of Arnor. >> Arnor

Arnor

'King's land'

topon. 'King's land', the North kingdom (at first the most important of Elendil's realms). Q. Arandóre.A reduced form of older (and still used in literature especially so) arannor. _Arnor _is 'colloquial' < aranōre = noble land, with usual loss of second of two short vowels of same quality. Another name that soon fell out of general colloquial use was Arthor na Forlonnas. >> Arthor na Forlonnas

Celeborn

noun. a kinsman of Thingol

_prop. n. _a kinsman of Thingol. A S. name. >> celeb, orn

athelas

'King's foil'

n.Bot.'King's foil'. Q. asea aranion. F athae, athe, lass

nos(s)

noun. family, kindred, clan, house; race, tribe, people

athelas

noun. "kingsfoil", a healing herb brought to Middle-earth by the Númenóreans

rennas

noun. kinship, relation

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2018 specifically for Eldamo as a replacement for G. rest and gwais, an abstract noun based on the Neo-Root ᴺ√RE(N)D having to do with kin.

aran

king

1) (king of a region) aran (pl. erain). Coll. pl. aranath. Also †âr with stem-form aran- (also with pl. erain; the longer form aran may be a back-formation from this plural). 2) (king of a people) †taur (i daur, o thaur) (said in LR:389 s.v. _T_Ā to refer to ”legitimate kings of the whole tribes”), pl. toer (i thoer), coll. pl. torath.

mîl

kindness

mîl (i vîl) (affection, kindness), no distinct form in pl. except with article (i mîl), coll. pl. míliath

mîl

kindness

(i vîl) (affection, kindness), no distinct form in pl. except with article (i mîl), coll. pl. míliath

taur

king

(i daur, o thaur) (said in LR:389 s.v. TĀ to refer to ”legitimate kings of the whole tribes”), pl. toer (i thoer), coll. pl. torath.

thoniel

kindler

(feminine) #thoniel (pl. thonil). Isolated from Vardas title Gilthoniel, Star-kindler.

aranas

noun. kingship

aran

king

(pl. erain). Coll. pl. aranath. Also †âr with stem-form aran- (also with pl. erain; the longer form aran may be a back-formation from this plural).

aran

king of a region

(pl. erain)

aran

king of a region

aran (pl. erain)

arnad

kingdom

arnad (pl. ernaid) (VT44:23)

arnad

kingdom

(pl. ernaid) (VT44:23)

athelas

kingsfoil

(a healing plant brought to Middle-earth by the Númenoreans) athelas (pl. ethelais)

athelas

kingsfoil

(pl. ethelais)

gwanur

kinsman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanur

kinsman, kinswoman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanur

kinswoman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanur

kinsman, kinswoman

gwanur (i **wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr**). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanur

kinswoman)

gwanur (i **wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr**). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanur

kinsman)

gwanur (i **wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr**). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

heledir

kingfisher

(bird) heledir (i cheledir, o cheledir), no distinct pl. form, not even with article (i cheledir). Since the final element is derived from primitve -tirno, it may be that the otherwise lost final n would be preserved in the coll. pl. ?heledirnath. The literal meaning of the word is ”fish-watcher”.

heledir

kingfisher

(i cheledir, o cheledir), no distinct pl. form, not even with article (i cheledir). Since the final element is derived from primitve -tirno, it may be that the otherwise lost final n would be preserved in the coll. pl. ?heledirnath. The literal meaning of the word is ”fish-watcher”.

milui

kind

(adj.) milui (lenited vilui; no distinct pl. form) (loving, friendly)

milui

kind

(lenited vilui; no distinct pl. form) (loving, friendly)

nartha

kindle

(i nartha, in narthar) (VT45:37)

nartha

kindle

nartha- (i nartha, in narthar) (VT45:37)

bethren

noun. brother in law, kinsman by marriage

bethres

noun. sister in law, *kinswoman by marriage

list

noun. grace, favour, kindness

ernil

noun. prince

A noun for “prince” appearing in phrases like Ernil i Pheriannath “Prince of the Halflings” (LotR/768) and Dor-en-Ernil “Land of the Prince” (UT/245). Its initial element is likely a reduced form of aran “king, noble person”; compare to ar(a)- “noble” of similar origin. If so, the a became e due to i-affection. The final -il is harder to explain, because normally -il is a feminine suffix. Perhaps it is a reduction of hîl “heir”, so that the literal meaning is “✱king’s heir, royal heir”.

Conceptual Development: N. ernil also appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (WR/287).

Aranrúth

noun. royal anger

aran (“king”) + rûth (“anger”) The archaic origin of the name can probably explain why assimilation nr > dhr doesn't take place.

Gondor

Gondor

In earlier times, it was called the South Kingdom, or Hyaralondie, Hyallondie and Turmen Hyallondiéva in Quenya, and Arthor na Challonnas in Sindarin from the Númenórean point of view: the elements londie and lonnas mean "harbour, landing". The name Gondor was likely adopted from the lesser people's terminology and translates from Sindarin as "Stone-land", from the words gond, "stone", and (n)dor, "land". The (generally not used) Quenya form of the name was Ondonóre. Gondor received its name because of the abundance of stone in the Ered Nimrais, and the usage of it in great stone cities, statues, and monuments, such as Minas Tirith and the Argonath. In Rohan, it was known as Stoningland (a modernization of Old English Stāning-(land)), and Ghân-buri-Ghân of the Drúedain also recognized their use of stone.

ar

noble

(adjectival prefix) ar- (high, royal). In the form ar(a)- this is an element in the names of the kings of Arnor and Arthedain.

ar

noble

(high, royal). In the form ar(a)- this is an element in the names of the kings of Arnor and Arthedain.

arn

noble

(adjective) 1) arn (royal), pl. ern, also arth (lofty, exalted), pl. erth, or arod (archaic *araud), pl. aroed. 2) brand (high, lofty, fine), lenited vrand, pl. braind; 3) raud (eminent, high), in compounds -rod, pl. roed. 4) taur (also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime; vast, masterful, mighty, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”. Also used as noun ”a noble”; see below.

beleg

mighty

1) beleg (great), lenited veleg, pl. belig; 2) taur (also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, masterful, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

gwanûn

pair of twins

(in gwanûn) (WJ:367). Also gwanur (in gwanur) (LotR Appendix A). Note: a homophone of gwanur means ”brother; kinsman or kinswoman”

milui

friendly

milui (lenited vilui; no distinct pl. form) (loving, kind)

milui

friendly

(lenited vilui; no distinct pl. form) (loving, kind)

or

high

(adjectival pref.) or- (above, over), also ar- (noble, royal). In the form ar(a)- this is an element in the names of the kings of Arnor and Arthedain. Nouns:

or

high

(above, over), also ar- (noble, royal). In the form ar(a)- this is an element in the names of the kings of Arnor and Arthedain. Nouns:

raud

noble

(eminent, high), in compounds -rod,  pl. roed.  4) taur (also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime; vast, masterful, mighty, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”. Also used as noun ”a noble”; see below.

taur

tall

(also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, masterful, mighty, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

taur

mighty

(also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, masterful, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

cair

noun. ship

dôr

noun. land, land, [N.] region where certain people live, [ᴱN.] country; [G.] people of the land

Gondor

noun. stone land

gond (“great stone, rock”) + (-n)dor (“land, dwelling”)

region

noun. holly-tree area

[HKF] reg (Dor. regorn “holly tree”) + ion (Dor. gen. pl. suffix) = Dor. Regornion [Etym. ERÉK-]

Ara-

prefix. high, noble, royal

adaneth

noun. (mortal) woman

amarth

noun. fate, doom

amarth

noun. fate

n. fate. Q. umbar. >> Amon Amarth

amarth

fate

1b n. fate, doom. Q. ambar (ambart-). >> Amon Amarth

amarth

fate

n. fate, doom. Q. umbar. . This gloss was rejected.

ammarth

fate

n. fate, doom. ammarth > amarth. . This gloss was rejected.

ar-

prefix. high, noble, royal

ardhon

noun. great region, province

ardhon

noun. world

ardhon

place name. The World

A Sindarin name for the world appearing only in the name Mîr n’Ardhon “Jewel of the World” (PM/348). Since this name is the translation of Q. Ardamírë, it follows that Ardhon may be a cognate of Q. Arda: “The World, (lit.) Realm”. As such, it may be a combination of some form of S. gardh “region” (in early writings, N. ardh) with a suffixal element -on, possibly the augmentative suffix -on. It is also possible that this form is lenited, and the proper form is gardhon.

arod

adjective. noble

arod

noble

1b _adj._noble. >> raud

arod

adjective. noble

adj. #noble.

arod

adjective. noble

d adj. noble. Q. arata. >> raud

arod

adjective. noble

arphen

noun. a noble

arth

adjective. (unknown meaning, perhaps (?) noble, lofty, exalted)

arwen

noun. noble woman

balan

noun. Vala, divine power, divinity

belaith

adjective. mighty

adj. mighty. Q. melehta.

belaith

adjective. mighty

An adjective for “mighty” derived from the root √MBELEK in a page of notes having to do with “large & small” words, probably from the late 1960s (PE17/115), apparently from the primitive form ✱✶mbelektā with the ekt vocalizing to eith and then the ei becoming ai in the final syllable.

bess

noun. (young) woman

bess

noun. wife

cair

noun. ship

caun

noun. prince, ruler

caun

prince

pl1. cónin {ō} n. prince, chief, head.

cund

noun. prince

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

dôr

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

ernil

noun. prince

gardh

noun. bounded or defined region

gardh

noun. world

gardh

noun. region

gwanunig

noun. a twin (one of a pair of twins)

gwanunig

noun. twin

gwanûn

noun. a pair of twins

gwenyn

noun. twins

mellon

noun. friend

mellon

noun. friend

_ n. _friend. Pedo mellon a minno! 'Say friend and enter'. 

mellon

noun. friend

nos(s)

noun. race

_ n. _race, tribe, people. Q. nóre.

adaneth

mortal woman

(pl. edenith), also firieth (pl. firith).

amarth

fate

amarth (doom), pl. emerth; also manadh (i vanadh) (doom, final end, fortune [usually = final bliss]), pl. menaidh (i menaidh);

andrath

high pass

(literally "long climb"), pl. endraith.

ardh

region

1) ardh (realm), pl. erdh, also in augmented form ardhon (great region, great province, world), pl. erdhyn, coll. pl. ardhonnath. 2) dôr (i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, land), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr) (WJ:413), 3) gardh (i **ardh) (bounded or defined place), pl. gerdh (i ngerdh = i ñerdh), 4) gwaith (i **waith) (manhood, manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people, wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

ardh

region

(realm), pl. erdh, also in augmented form ardhon (great region, great province, world), pl. erdhyn, coll. pl. ardhonnath.

arn

noble

(royal), pl. ern, also arth (lofty, exalted), pl. erth, or arod (archaic ✱araud), pl. aroed.

arphen

noble

(noun, "a noble") 1) arphen, pl. erphin; 2) raud (eminent man, champion), pl.roed (idh roed), coll. pl. rodath.

arphen

noble

pl. erphin

arwen

noble woman

(pl. erwin).****

beleg

mighty

(great), lenited veleg, pl. belig

bess

woman

bess (i vess, construct bes) (wife), pl. biss (i miss). The word etymologically means ”wife”, but the meaning was generalized.

bess

woman

(i vess, construct bes) (wife), pl. biss (i miss). The word etymologically means ”wife”, but the meaning was generalized.

brand

noble

(high, lofty, fine), lenited vrand, pl. braind

brand

tall

(lofty, noble, fine), lenited vrand, pl. braind.

bâl

divine power

construct bal, pl. bail (divinity). Note: the word can also be used as an adj. "divine".

bâr

land

(dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

cair

ship

cair (in compounds cír-) (i gair, o chair), pl. cîr, i chîr; coll. pl. ciriath.

cair

ship

(in compounds cír-) (i gair, o chair), pl. cîr, i chîr; coll. pl. ciriath.

cirion

shipman

(i girion) (sailor), pl. ciryn (i chiryn), coll. pl. cirionnath.

conin

prince

(i chonin), occurring in the Cormallen Praise, is translated "princes" (Conin en Annûn = "princes of the west", Letters:308), but it is unclear what the singular would be. (David Salo suggests caun, though this word has two different meanings already; see

corch

crow

corch (i gorch, o chorch), pl. cyrch (i chyrch). Also *craban (i graban, o chraban), pl. crebain (i chrebain). Only the pl. crebain* is attested. The sg. could be either craban, creban or croban**, but the first of these seems the most likely.

corch

crow

(i gorch, o chorch), pl. cyrch (i chyrch). Also ✱craban (i graban, o chraban), pl. crebain (i chrebain). Only the pl. crebain is attested. The sg. could be either ✱craban, ✱creban or ✱croban, but the first of these seems the most likely.

cund

prince

(i gund, o chund, construct cun), pl. cynd (i chynd) (VT45:24).

círdan

shipbuilder, shipwright

(i gírdan, o chírdan) (shipwright), pl. círdain (i chírdain).

dess

young woman

(i ness, o ndess, constuct des), pl. diss (i ndiss).

dornhoth

thrawn folk

(WJ:388, 408)

drúnos

folk

Drúnos (i Dhrúnos), pl. Drúnys (in Drúnys), coll. pl. Drúnossath. See WILD MAN.

drúnos

folk

Drúnos (i Dhrúnos), pl. Drúnys (in Drúnys), coll. pl. Drúnossath

drúnos

folk

Drúnos (i Dhrúnos), pl. Drúnys (in Drúnys), coll. pl. Drúnossath.

duinen

high tide

(i dhuinen), pl. duinin (i nuinin). (VT48:26).

dôr

region

(i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, land), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr) (WJ:413)

dôr

land

1) dôr (i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413), 2) bâr (dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

dôr

land

(i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413)

ennor

middle-earth

Ennor, also in coll. pl. ennorath = lands of Middle-earth (RGEO, Letters:384). Apparently less usual is the term Emerain.

ernil

prince

1) ernil (no distinct pl. form), 2) †cund (i gund, o chund, construct cun), pl. cynd (i chynd) (VT45:24). 3) The plural form conin (i chonin), occurring in the Cormallen Praise, is translated "princes" (Conin en Annûn = "princes of the west", Letters:308), but it is unclear what the singular would be. (David Salo suggests caun, though this word has two different meanings already; see SHOUT, VALOUR)

ernil

prince

(no distinct pl. form)

gardh

region

(i ’ardh) (bounded or defined place), pl. gerdh (i ngerdh = i ñerdh)

gilwen

region of stars

(Quenya Ilmen), also Gilith. In the Etymologies, this word is derived from a root GIL (LR:358) and would then have the form ’Ilwen (’Ilwith) when lenited. But in a later source, Tolkien cited the relevant root as ÑGIL (MR:388), and the lenited form would then be Ngilwen (Ngilwith).

glinga

hang

*glinga- (i **linga, in glingar**) (dangle). Cited as ”gling” in the source (LR369 s.v. LING)

glinga

hang

(i ’linga, in glingar) (dangle). Cited as ”gling” in the source (LR369 s.v. LING)

glóren

shining with golden light

(glórin-) (golden), lenited ’lóren; pl. glórin.

gondrath

highway

(i ’ondrath) (street of stone, causeway), pl. gendraith (i ngendraith = i ñendraith). Archaic pl. göndreith. (WJ:340). Possibly the pl. can also be gondraith, without umlaut of the first element.

gwaith

region

(i ’waith) (manhood, manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people, wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

gwaith

troop of able-bodied men

(i ’waith) (manhood, manpower, host, regiment, people, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

gwanunig

twin

gwanunig (i **wanunig**), a singular formed from:

gwanunig

twin

(i ’wanunig), a singular formed from:

gwanur

pair of twins

(in gwanur), also gwanûn (in gwanûn) (WJ:367)

gwenyn

pair of twins

(PM:353, 365)

hall

tall

(exalted); lenited chall; pl. hail. Note: a homophone means ”veiled, hidden, shadowed, shady”.

luien

lórien

(suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” Lhuien)

mae

soft

mae (lenited vae; no distinct pl. form). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” moe. Note: a homophone is the adverb mae = ”well”.

mae

soft

(lenited vae; no distinct pl. form). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” moe. Note: a homophone is the adverb mae = ”well”.

main

chief

(adj.) main (lenited vain; pl. mîn) (prime, prominent) (VT45:15)

main

chief

(lenited vain; pl. mîn) (prime, prominent) (VT45:15)

meldis

friend

(i veldis), no distinct pl. form except with article (i meldis), coll. pl. meldissath.

mellon

friend

1) (masc.) mellon (i vellon) (lover), pl. mellyn (i mellyn), coll. pl. mellonnath. Also meldir (i veldir), no distinct pl. form except with article (i meldir). Also seron (i heron, o seron), pl. seryn (i seryn), coll. pl. seronnath. 2) (fem.) meldis (i veldis), no distinct pl. form except with article (i meldis), coll. pl. meldissath.

mellon

friend

(i vellon) (lover), pl. mellyn (i mellyn), coll. pl. mellonnath. Also meldir (i veldir), no distinct pl. form except with article (i meldir). Also seron (i heron, o seron), pl. seryn (i seryn), coll. pl. seronnath.

nand

wide grassland

(construct nan) (valley), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath **(VT45:36);

noss

clan

noss (construct nos, pl. nyss) (family, house)

noss

clan

(construct nos, pl. nyss) (family, house)

noss

family

noss (construct nos, pl. nyss) (clan, house), also nost (pl. nyst) (house) (PM:360) or nothrim (house) with no distinct pl. form (PM:360). Also bâr (dwelling, house, home; land, earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). The element appears in the forms -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

noss

family

(construct nos, pl. nyss) (clan, house), also nost (pl. nyst) (house) (PM:360) or nothrim (house) with no distinct pl. form (PM:360). Also bâr (dwelling, house, home; land, earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). The element appears in the forms -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

nothlir

family line, family tree

(no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. nothliriath)

nûr

race

(group of related people) nûr (construct nur, pl. nuir). Note: homophones mean ”sad” and ”deep”.

nûr

race

(construct nur, pl. nuir). Note: homophones mean ”sad” and ”deep”.**

parth

enclosed grassland

(i barth, o pharth) (field, sward), pl. perth (i pherth);

raud

tall

(eminent, noble), in compounds -rod,  pl. roed. Also used as noun ”champion, eminent man, [a] noble”.

silef

shining white

is listed in LR:385 s.v. SIL as the cognate of Quenya silma of this meaning, but silef is there asterisked, apparently to indicate that it only appears as part of the word Silevril ”Silmaril”. The word silef may also be used = Quenya silima (noun), the crystal substance of the Silmarils.

síla

shine white

(i híla, i sílar) Adj.

telu

high roof

(i delu, o thelu) (dome), pl. tely (i thely).

tulu

support

tulu (i dulu, o thulu) (prop), pl. tyly (i thyly)

tulu

support

(i dulu, o thulu) (prop), pl. tyly (i thyly)

tûr

power

tûr (i dûr, o thûr, construct tur) (victory, mastery, control; master, victor, lord), pl. tuir (i thuir), coll. pl. túrath.

tûr

power

(i dûr, o thûr, construct tur) (victory, mastery, control; master, victor, lord), pl. t**uir (i th**uir), coll. pl. túrath.

ar-

prefix. king or queen

A prefix appearing before the Adûnaic names of kings and queens, the equivalent of Q. Tar- “High” (SA/ar(a)). It is most likely either a prefixal form of Ad. ârû “king” or derived from the same root. Conceptual Development: This prefix was introduced in the earliest versions of Adûnaic from the 1940s (SD/311, SD/248), and survived in the later Adûnaic names of The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.

ârû

noun. king

A noun translated as “king” (SD/429). The Adûnaic word for “queen” is not attested, but could be a feminized form of this word, such as ✱ârî.

phazân

noun. prince, king’s son

A noun translated as “prince, king’s son”, given as an example of a noun with a long vowel in its final syllable that (archaically) uses the declension for a strong-noun, the rare class of Strong-Ib nouns (SD/436-7). By the time of Classical Adûnaic, it could be declined as an ordinary weak-noun instead.

nitir- Reconstructed

verb. to kindle

A verb attested only as an agental-formation in the names Gimilnitîr “Star-kindler” and gimlu-nitîr “kindler of a (particular) star” (SD/428). Thorsten Renk suggested (NBA/32) the base verb is nitir-, and this seems to me to be the likeliest possibility. Andreas Moehn instead suggested (EotAL/NIT’Y) that the verb stem may be nit-, and that the -îr is some kind of feminine agental suffix.

balak

noun. ship

The noun for “ship”, attested only in the plural (balîk) and objective (balku) forms (SD/247, PM/151). Its plural form indicates that it is a strong-noun (Strong I), so its final vowel must be short. In theory its final vowel could be any of a, i or u, each of which would be replaced by long î in plural nouns. However, its attested objective form uses the variant objective-with-syncope form balku instead of ordinary ✱baluk. Since the Adûnaic syncope seems only to occur for nouns with two identical short vowels, this indicates the singular form of this word is balak.

kali

noun. woman

A noun translated “woman” (SD/434).

khô

noun. crow

A noun translated “crow” (SD/426). Tolkien listed this noun in two forms, khâu and khô, both as examples of seemingly uniconsonantal nouns that prehistorically were biconsonantal (from prehistoric ✶khaw). Most authors have suggested these are simply variations on the same noun illustrating different paths of phonetic development (AAD/18, AL/Adûnaic). Another interesting possibility is that khâu is an (archaic?) subjective form of khô, produced from the usual a-fortification of primitive ✶khaw → ✶khāw, which would develop phonetically in Classical Adûnaic to khâu and khô. As support for this idea, the plural form of khâu is given as khāwī(m), which appears to include the subjective plural suffix -im.

This line of reasoning is quite speculative. Nevertheless, it is probably easier to use the form khô over khâu, since the inflections of khô would be more regular: plural khôi, dual ✱khôwat, objective ✱khôwu, etc.

lâi

collective noun. folk

A noun appearing only as an element in kadar-lâi “city folk” (SD/435). It may be related to Q. lië “people”, as suggested by various authors (AAD/18, AL/Adûnaic, EotAL/LAI). In at least one Avari dialect, this word was lai (WJ/410).

thâni

noun. land

A noun translated “land” (SD/435) appearing in the Adûnaic names for the Blessed Realm: Amatthâni and thâni’nAmân. Its Primitive Adûnaic form was also ✶thāni, though its primitive was glossed “realm" (SD/420).

zâyan

noun. land

An Adûnaic word for “land” (SD/423). It has an irregular plural form zâin which is the result of the phonetic change (SD/423): [[pad|medial [w] and [j] vanished before [u] and [i]]]. Thus, the archaic plural changed from †zâyîn > zâîn > zâin.

Conceptual Development: In earlier names this word appeared as zen (SD/378, 385).

durin

masculine name. king

-hai

suffix. folk

aráta

adjective. noble

dóri-

noun. land

Isolated from Lindórinan. The independent form of the word may differ; it is unclear where the i of the compound Lindórinan comes from. In the Etymologies, the Eldarin words for "land" are derived from a stem NDOR "dwell, stay, rest, abide" (LR:376).

No Nandorin word is there listed, but Sindarin dor is derived from primitive ndorê. Notice, however, that Tolkien many years later derived the Eldarin words for "land" from a stem DORO "dried up, hard, unyielding" (WJ:413). However, this later source does confirm that the Primitive Quendian form was ndorê, now thought to be formed by initial enrichment d > nd. This is defined as "the hard, dry land as opposed to water or bog", later developing the meaning "land in general as opposed to sea", and finally also "a land" as a particular region, "with more or less defined bounds".

Whether dóri- actually comes from ndorê is highly doubtful (this would rather yield *dora in Nandorin), but it must be derived from the same set of stems.