kwar

root. press together, squeeze, wring, clench; clenched hand, fist

This root was the basis for Elvish “fist” words, most notably in S. Celebrimbor “Silver-fist” (PE17/42). It first appeared as ᴹ√KWAR “clutching hand, fist” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives ᴹQ. qár(e) and N. paur of similar meaning (Ety/KWAR), replacing a rejected entry where the gloss was “palm of hand” (EtyAC/KWAR). These derivatives and this root appeared regularly in Tolkien’s later writings, where the root had glosses like “squeeze, clench” (PE17/42), “press together, squeeze, wring” (PM/318), and “clenched hand, fist” (VT47/22).

Changes

• kwar → kwar “close tight, clench” ✧ VT47/22

Derivatives

• ✶kwāra “fist” ✧ PE17/042; PM/318; VT47/08
  • Q. quár(ë) “fist, closed hand” ✧ PE17/042; PM/318; VT47/08
  • S. paur “fist, closed hand” ✧ PE17/042; PM/318; VT47/08
  • T. pár “fist” ✧ PM/318; VT47/08

Variations

• KWĂR ✧ PE17/042; PE17/158
• kwar ✧ VT47/22 (kwar); VT47/22