king’s letter

King’s Letter

This document, the longest extent text in Sindarin, was part of the omitted epilogue to The Lord of the Rings written between 1948 and 1951 and first published by Christopher Tolkien on in Sauron Defeated in 1992 (SD/128-131). It was a letter from Aragorn to Sam informing Sam of the king’s impending visit. Christopher Tolkien described three versions of the text, with various translations. Another version, the earliest draft, was published in J.R.R. Tolkien, the Art of the Manuscript in 2023 (AotM/63).

The analysis here is based on the first version of the letter given by Christopher Tolkien, which has the clearest English translation on SD/128. However, the final uin is altered to ned as in the final version (SD/129). Other than this change, the only major differences in the three versions given by Christopher Tolkien is in word order and the inclusion of ar Arnor “and Arnor” among the lands ruled by Aragorn. The earliest draft has a few additional differences.

@@@ should be revised to use v3 of the letter from AotM

Ara-

prefix. king

pref. king. >> ar-, Arathorn

ar-

prefix. king

pref. king. >> ara-, Arathorn

ara

noun. king

_ n. _king. 

aragorn

masculine name. Revered King, Kingly Valour

The hero of the War of the Ring and first king of the reunited Arnor and Gondor.

Possible Etymology: Tolkien considered several etymologies of this name. Its initial element was clearly ar(a)- “noble” (Let/426). Tolkien variously indicated that the meaning of the second element was either S. gorn “revered" (PE17/31, 113) or “valour” (PM/xii), so that his name meant either “Revered King” or “Kingly Valour”. Of the two, the etymological discussion for the meaning “Revered King” is more complete, giving the older form †Arangorn (PE17/113).

In another place Tolkien gave the Quenya equivalent of this name as Q. Aracorno (PE17/71), but does not seem to match either of the etymologies dissussed above, so this perhaps represents a third conception of the origin of the name.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this character was initially a hobbit by the name of “Trotter” (RS/138). Tolkien eventually changed the character into a man, at which point the name N. Aragorn was given to the character (TI/6-7). Before the character became a man he briefly had the Elvish names N. Rimbedir >> Padathir (RS/198), Du-finnion (RS/361) and Ethelion (RS/395).

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).

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).

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

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

athelas

'King's foil'

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

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).

-dor

suffix. *king, lord

[properly the suffix is -tor, but it always undergoes soft mutation to -dor]

aran

noun. king, lord, chief, (lit.) high or noble person, king, lord, chief, (lit.) high or noble person; [N.] lord (of a specific region)

aran cîr lim

*king of swift ships

aran gondor ar arnor ar hîr i mbair annui

king of Gondor and Arnor and Lord of the Westlands

aran na chîr lim

*king of swift ships

Aradan

noun. king-man

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

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

Aranath

noun. kings

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

Torath

noun. kings

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

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).

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”.

arnad

noun. kingdom

Ardor

place name. 'kingly

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

aranarth

noun. *kingdom

arnad

noun. *kingdom

athelas

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

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.

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.

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).

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).

aran

king of a region

(pl. erain)

aran

king of a region

aran (pl. erain)

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.

ar(an)eg

noun. kinglet

aranas

noun. kingship

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)

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”.

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”.

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

The Sindarin word for “ship”, most notably appearing as an element in the name Cair Andros “Ship of Long Foam” (LotR/812; PM/371). It is derived from primitive ✶kiryā, with the ancient i becoming e via a-affection [kery(a)], then the y intruding into the main syllable to form the diphthong ei [keir], and ultimately ei becoming ai as usual in final syllables in Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s [kair]. This word has a somewhat unusual plural, since ī replaced final ā in its ancient plural [kiryā-ī > kirī], so that a-affection did not occur resulting in a modern plural form cîr “ships” (PE17/147). Its class plural is likewise the somewhat unusual ciriath “[all the] ships” for similar reasons.

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies from around 1937 had N. ceir “ship” under the root ᴹ√KIR “cleave” (Ety/KIR), since in Noldorin of the 1930s ei did not (usually) become ai in final syllables. In Primitive Quendian Structure: Final Consonants from 1936, Tolkien gave cīr “ship”, first marked “N.”, then “Ilk.”, then “N. & Ilk.” (PE21/57 and note #28). It had the class plurals círiath or ciriath but it is not clear which of these was the intended final form (PE21/57 note #28). I think ciriath is more phonologically plausible; compare class plural S. Firiath “Mortals” vs. ordinary plural Fîr (WJ/387).

Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s had the word ᴱN. cair followed by ᴱN. braithgair, but neither word was translated (PE13/139-140).

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.

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:

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

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)

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.

cair

noun. ship

caun

noun. prince, ruler

caun

prince

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

cund

noun. prince

ernil

noun. prince

gardh

noun. bounded or defined region

gardh

noun. world

gardh

noun. region

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

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".

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

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).

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)

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).

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).

hall

tall

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

luien

lórien

(suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” Lhuien)

main

chief

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

main

chief

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

raud

tall

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

telu

high roof

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

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.

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.

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.

ar-pharazônun kathuphazgân

King Ar-Pharazon is (was) a Conqueror

A phrase given by Tolkien as an example of how the subjective case can be used to represent the verb “to be” (SD/429). Since the first noun the subject, the second noun is the predicate and the verb “is” is implied. Depending on context, the sentenced could refer to the past so that the subjective would represent “was” instead. This sentence is contrasted with Ar-Pharazôn kathuphazgânun, where the second noun is inflected in the subjective instead, so that the entire noun phrase would be the subject: “King Ar-Pharazon the Conqueror...”.

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.

ar-pharazôn

King Pharazon

A short phrase illustrating the Adûnaic compositional genitive (SD/435).

ar-pharazôn kathuphazgânun

King Ar-Pharazon the Conqueror

A phrase given by Tolkien as an example of how a pair of nouns would be declined into the subjective case, with only the last noun inflected (SD/429). The entire noun phrase would be the subject of the sentence. It is contrasted with Ar-Pharazônun kathuphazgân, where the first noun is inflected instead. This would be a the sentences “Ar-Pharazôn (is) a conquerer”.

ar-pharazônun bâr ’nanadûnê

King Pharazon is Lord of Anadune

An example sentence illustrating Adûnaic grammar: it is a copula (a “to be” expression) without an explicit verb for “is” (SD/428). The subject of the sentence, Ar-Pharazônun, is in the subjective case, which represents the verb “to be”. The rest of the sentence, Bâr ’nAnadûnê “Lord of Anadune (Númenor)” is the predicate and is in the normal-case. This sentence also provides an example of the use of the genitive prefix an- “of”, here elided to ’n because of the preceding uninflected noun.

ârû ’nadûnâi

King of the Anadunians

An phrase illustrating Adûnaic grammar, in particular how the genitive prefix an- “of” must be used when a plural noun needs to be put into a genitive relationship with another noun (SD/429). Without the an-, the preceding noun would be in an objective relationship instead. Here the an- is elided to ’n because of the preceding uninflected noun.

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.

-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.

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.

taran

king

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

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

aran endór

proper name. King of Middle-earth

A (rejected) title of Morgoth, replaced by the more grandious title Tarumbar “King of the World” (MR/121). This name is a compound of aran “king” and Endórë “Middle-earth”, though for some reason the final -ë was omitted (perhaps a slip).

aranwë

masculine name. *King-person

Father of Voronwë (S/239), his name seems to be a compound of aran “king” and the (often masculine) name-suffix -wë.

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.

tarondor

masculine name. ?King of Stones

7th king of Arnor and 27th king of Gondor (LotR/1038). This name seems to be a compound of tar- “high, king” and the plural form of ondo “stone”.

tarostar

masculine name. ?King of the Lands

Given name of the 8th king of Gondor (LotR/1038). This name seems to be a compound of tar- “high, king” and the plural form of -sta “land”.

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”.

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".

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)

arandil

noun. king’s friend, royalist

aran linta ciryalíva

*king of swift ships

tar-

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

aran lestanórëo

King of Doriath

aran linta ciryalion

*king of swift ships

aran meletyalda

king your mighty

aráto

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

elwë, aran sindaron

Elwe, King of the Sindar

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.

asëa aranion

noun. kingsfoil, asëa of the Kings

The Quenya name of S. athelas “kingsfoil” (LotR/864), a combination of asëa and aranion, the genitive plural of aran “king”, hence = “asëa of the kings” (PE17/49, 100). The exact meaning of asea itself isn’t entirely clear. Tolkien sometimes implied asea was another name of athelas (PE17/148; PE22/166), but the translation “asëa of the kings” seems to imply it was a more general term (?healing herb) and that “kingfoil” was more specifically asëa aranion. For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I prefer to use asea for healing herbs of any kind, and use asëa aranion for the species “kingsfoil”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s, Tolkien had ᴹQ. asea aranaite, using a distinct adjective ᴹQ. aranaite “✱kingly, royal” instead of later aranion.

Aranwë

kingly person

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

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)

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.

aranië

noun. kingdom

aranus(së)

noun. kingship

túrinasta

noun. *kingdom

túrindië

noun. *kingdom

eldatár

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

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.

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.

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.

cánusse

 noun. mastership, mastery

Derived from attested incanus(se) 'mind mastership' and aranus(sse) 'kingship'.

#turco

chief

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

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)

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)_

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) )

condo

prince, leader; lord

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

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

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)

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.

melehta

mighty

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

meletya

adjective. mighty

ména

region

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

taura

mighty, masterful

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

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.

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)

âr

noun. king

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).

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”.

-dor

suffix. *king, lord

aran

noun. king, lord (of a specific region)

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

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)

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).

heledir

noun. kingfisher (bird)

heledirn

noun. kingfisher (bird)

ernil

noun. prince

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

ceir

noun. ship

ceir

noun. ship

cunn

noun. prince

cunn

noun. prince

cîr

noun. ship

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).

taur

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

durin

masculine name. king

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

tāra

adjective. high

¤kurwē

noun. power, ability

aráta

adjective. noble