lang

noun. passage; neck, passage; neck, *throat

A word for “neck” appearing in notes written around 1967, most notably as an element in tarlang “stiff-neck” = “proud” (PE17/92). It was derived from primitive ✶langō (< √LAƷA “cross, pass over, go beyond”) which meant “a passage (physical), originally applied to any route or connecting link between two places or large objects, especially such as enabled one to cross or surmount an obstacle: such as a mountain-pass, a ridge of higher land across fen-land, an isthmus etc.” (PE17/91-92). This word was then “later applied to narrower parts of a structure serving to join larger parts, especially the ‘neck’ of men and animals”. The word lang had the gloss “neck” (both in geography as well as for men and animals) in Tolkien’s Nomenclature of the Lord of the Rings as well (RC/536).

Conceptual Development: There was a similar noun N. {lhang >>} lhanc in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√LAK “swallow” (Ety/LANK). This earlier word was likewise an element in N. tarlanc “stiff-necked, obstinate” (Ety/TÁRAG).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I think it is unlikely that N. lhanc (or ᴺS. ✱lanc) “throat” can coexist with S. lang “neck”. However, since S. lang originally referred to a “passage”, I think it can be interpreted as referring to the passage from the mouth to the stomach and lungs, and hence also used with the sense “✱throat”. For the actual interior mechanism of the throat, however, I’d recommend the neologism ᴺS. lhunc “pharynx, gullet” < ᴹ√SLUK “swallow”.

lang

noun. a passage

n. a passage (physical). Originally applied to any route or connecting link between two places or large objects, esp. such as enable one to cross or surmount an obstacle: such as mountain-pass, a ridge of higher land across fen-land, an isthmus, etc. Later applied to narrower parts of a structure serving to join larger parts, esp. the 'neck' of men and animals. FAchad Tarlang

lang

noun. cutlass, sword

lanc

noun. throat

lanc

noun. sharp edge (not of tools), sudden end (as a cliff-edge, or the clean edge of things made by hand or built)

lang

cutlass

lang (sword), pl. laing

lang

sword

(cutlass), pl. leng.

lang

cutlass

(sword), pl. laing

lang

noun. cutlass, sword

langan(d)

noun. stringed instrument with a neck (lute, guitar, etc.)

@@@ Discord 2022-05-01

lanc

throat

lanc (neck), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath. Note: homophones mean ”naked” and also ”sharp edge, sudden end, brink”.

lanc

throat

(neck), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath. Note: homophones mean ”naked” and also ”sharp edge, sudden end, brink”.

lanc

neck

(throat), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath. Note: homophones mean ”naked” and also ”sharp edge, sudden end, brink”.

lanc

sudden end

(sharp edge, sudden end, brink), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath.

lanc

sharp edge

(sudden end, brink), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath. Note: homophones mean ”naked” and also ”neck, throat”.

lanc

brink

1) lanc (sharp edge, sudden end), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath. Note: homophones mean ”naked” and also ”neck, throat”. 2) rhîf (brim), no distinct pl. form, coll. pl. rhívath (VT46:11)

lanc

brink

(sharp edge, sudden end), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath. Note: homophones mean ”naked” and also ”neck, throat”.

anfalas

place name. Langstrand, (lit.) Long Beach

A coastal region in Gondor translated “Langstrand” (LotR/770), a compound of and “long” and falas “beach” (SA/an(d), falas), and thus literally meaning “Long Beach” (VT42/15).

Conceptual Development: This region was named as N. Anfalas “Langstrand” in the drafts of the Lord of the Rings as well (TI/310, WR/287).

lam

noun. language

Anfalas

place name. 'Langstrand'

topon. 'Langstrand'. Q. Andafalasse. >> falas

lam

noun. (physical) tongue; language, (physical) tongue; language, [G.] speech

annúnaid

noun. the "Westron" language (one of the names for Common Speech)

falathren

noun/adjective. Shore-language (one of the names for Common Speech)

ach

noun. neck, neck, *(upper) spine

A word for “neck” appearing in notes written around 1967, derived from primitive aks based on the root √AKAS “neck, ridge” (PE17/92), where the ks became ch (IPA [x]). Tolkien specified that it was “referring properly only to the vertebrae (the bony part of the neck not including throat)”, so a more accurate translation might be “✱(upper) spine”. A more ordinary word for “neck” as a passage from mouth to the stomach and lungs would be lang.

annúnaid

proper name. Westron

The Sindarin name for the “Westron” language (PM/316). Its initial element is clearly annûn “west”, but the meaning of the suffix -aid is unclear. It might be some variation on the gerund-suffix -ed/-ad seen in nouns like genediad “reckoning”, though this suffix usually forms nouns from verbs, not adjectives. Vyacheslav Stepanov suggested the final element might be from ancient adjectival ✱-etya based on √ET “out”, so that -aid = “✱out from”, as in “✱out from the West”.

maw

noun. hand

The Sindarin equivalent of Q. má, likewise derived from the root √MAH or √MAƷ “hand; handle, wield” (PE17/162; VT47/6). However, in Sindarin this word was archaic, used only in poetry, having been replaced in ordinary speech by other words like S. mâb and (less often) cam. Other remnants of this word can be seen in compounds like molif “wrist, (orig.) hand link” and directional words like forvo and harvo for left and right hand side.

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, G. mô from the early root ᴱ√MAHA was the normal word for “hand”, replacing mab “hand” (< ᴱ√MAHA) which in this document Tolkien decided was instead an irregular dual form of mô (GL/55). It had also had an irregular plural mabin based on this dual, replacing an older plural †maith. In the Gnomish Grammar, its archaic form was †mâ, with the usual Gnomish sound change of ā to ō (GG/14), as opposed to later Sindarin/Noldorin ā to au, spelt -aw when final. Tolkien seems to have abandoned mô as a non-archaic word for “hand” early on, preferring ᴱN. mab “hand” by the 1920s and introducing N. cam “hand” in the 1930s.

methed

noun. end

This word is attested in later writings as an element in the names Methed-en-Glad “End of the Wood” and possibly Methedras “Last Peak” (of the Misty Mountains). The latter name first appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s as N. Methen Amon and Methendol (TI/404), making it likely that methed is a revision from the earlier adjective N. methen (Ety/MET).

This new form likely changed from an adjective to a noun, since -ed/-ad is usually a gerundal suffix in Sindarin (forming nouns from verbs). This word is clearly a noun in the name Methed-en-Glad, and could also be a noun in Methedras (= “Peak of the End?”).

mâb

noun. hand, hand, [N.] grasp

The typical Sindarin word for “hand” (VT47/7, 20), usable in almost any context. It is most notable as an element in the name Mablung “Heavy Hand” (VT47/8). See below for a discussion of its etymology.

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, where G. mab “hand” appeared as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√MAPA “seize” (GL/55). Tolkien then revised the gloss to “hands”, saying instead it was an irregular dual of G. mô “hand”. The word reverted to singular ᴱN. mab “hand” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/149). These early versions of the word were already an element of Mablung “Heavy Hand(ed)” (LT2/38; LB/311), but also of Ermabwed “One-handed” (LT2/34; LB/119).

In the 1930s it seems Tolkien decided Ilk. mâb “hand” was primarily an Ilkorin word, and the usual word for “hand” in Noldorin was N. cam. Compare Ilkorin Ermabuin “One-handed” and Mablosgen “Empty-handed” with Noldorin Erchamion and Camlost of the same meaning. In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Tolkien had N. mab “grasp” under the root ᴹ√MAPA “seize”, but the version of the entry with that word was overwritten (EtyAC/MAP), leaving only the Ilkorin form mâb. In this period, Mablung may also have been an Ilkorin name.

After Tolkien abandoned Ilkorin in the 1950s, he kept S. Erchamion and Camlost based on cam, but also kept Mablung “Heavy Hand” which must have become Sindarin. In his later writings Tolkien again revisited the etymology of S. mâb “hand”. In a note from Jan-Feb 1968, he wrote:

> It [Q. má = “hand”] did not survive in Telerin and Sindarin as an independent word, but was replaced by the similar-sounding but unconnected C.E. makwā, Q. maqua, T. mapa, S. mab, of uncertain origin, but probably originally an adjectival formation from MAK “strike” ... (VT47/19).

This sentence was struck through, however. In drafts of notes on Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals written in or after 1968, Tolkien again derived mâb from √MAP (VT47/20 note #13), but in the final version of these notes he made the remarkable decision to discard this root despite it being a stable part of Elvish for nearly 50 years, declaring it was used only in Telerin and not Quenya or Sindarin (VT47/7). He coined a new etymology for S. mâb “hand” based on ✶makwā “handful” = ✶mā + ✶kwā (VT47/6-7), a variation on the above etymology from √MAK.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I prefer to ignore Tolkien’s 1968 removal of √MAP “seize”, and so would continue to derive S. mâb “hand” from that root. However, its ancient meaning may have been “✱grasp”, and its eventual use as “hand” might have been influenced by ancient ✶makwā “handful”.

achad

neck

n. neck, refeering properly to the vertebrae (the bony part of the neck not including throat). This is a 'geographical' form, S. ach. Q. akas (later akse) pl. aksi. Fach, AchadTarlang

Anfalas

Anfalas

Anfalas means "Long Shore/Beach" in Sindarin (and + falas). It is also translated as Andafalasse in Quenya and Langstrand in Westron. Tolkien noted that the shortening of long to lang is very frequent in English place-names.

megil

sword

1) megil (i vegil), no distinct pl. form except with article (i megil). This is a borrowing from Quenya macil (VT45:32). 2) magol (i vagol), analogical pl. megyl (i megyl), coll. pl. maglath (though analogical ?magolath may also be possible). In ”Noldorin”, this was the native word for ”sword” (derived from primitive makla, as is Quenya macil); it is unclear whether Tolkien definitely replaced it with megil when he turned ”Noldorin” into Sindarin, or whether both words coexist in the language. 3) lang (cutlass), pl. leng.

annúnaid

westron

(a language) Annúnaid

edhellen

elvish

edhellen (of language apparently = ”Sindarin”), pl. edhellin

iaeth

neck

1) iaeth; no distinct pl. form. 2) lanc (throat), pl. lainc, coll. pl. langath. Note: homophones mean ”naked” and also ”sharp edge, sudden end, brink”.

lam

tongue

(both body-part and = ”dialect, language”) lam (pl. laim, coll. pl. lammath). (WJ:394, 416) Not: lam is also used = ”echo, voice, echoing voice”.

magol

sword

(i vagol), analogical pl. megyl (i megyl), coll. pl. maglath (though analogical ?magolath may also be possible). In ”Noldorin”, this was the native word for ”sword” (derived from primitive makla, as is Quenya macil); it is unclear whether Tolkien definitely replaced it with megil when he turned ”Noldorin” into Sindarin, or whether both words coexist in the language.

paeth

noun. speech

Anfalas

noun. long strand

and (“long”) + falas (“coast, beach, shore”)

ach

noun. neck

n. neck, refeering properly to the vertebrae (the bony part of the neck not including throat). 'geographical' form achad. Q. akas (later akse) pl. aksi. Fachad

achad

noun. neck (properly referring only to the bony vertebral part not including the throat)

athan

preposition. beyond

athra-

verb. to cross

v. to cross (to and fro).

cam

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

edhellen

adjective. elvish, of the Elves

edhellen

adjective. Elvish

_ adj. _Elvish. annon edhellen edro hi ammen! 'Elvish gate open now for us'. >> edhel

ethir

noun. mouth (of a river), estuary

falathren

noun/adjective. of the shore

glam

noun. barbarous speech, shouting, confused noise

glam

noun. din, uproar, the confused yelling and bellowing of beasts

glam

noun. any body of Orcs

glamb

noun. barbarous speech, shouting, confused noise

glamb

noun. din, uproar, the confused yelling and bellowing of beasts

glamb

noun. any body of Orcs

glamm

noun. barbarous speech, shouting, confused noise

glamm

noun. din, uproar, the confused yelling and bellowing of beasts

glamm

noun. any body of Orcs

lam

noun. physical tongue

lam

tongue

_ n. _tongue. Q. lambe. >> lammen

mab-

noun. a hand-full, complete hand (with all five fingers)

maw

noun. hand

medui

adjective. end

adj. end, final, last. Ai na vedui Dúnadan. Mae g'ovannen. 'Ah! At last, Dúnadan ! Well met !'. m > v after preposition.

megil

noun. sword

The word was struck out in the Etymologies, but is well attested in late compounds such as Mormegil or Arvegil (with regular mutation). It is conceivably the Sindarinized form of Quenya makil, coexisting with magol (see tegil and tegol for a similar case)

megil

noun. sword

_ n. _sword. i·arben na megil and 'The Knight of the Long Sword'.

methed

noun. end

mâb

noun. a hand-full, complete hand (with all five fingers)

paeth

noun. speech

probably related to Q. pahta 'speech'. >> Golodhbaeth

rîw

noun. edge, hem, border

annúnaid

westron

athar

beyond

1) *athar (across). Suggested correction of the reading "athan" in SD:62. As prep. probably followed by soft mutation. 2) (adverbial prefix) thar- (across, athwart, over)

athar

beyond

(across). Suggested correction of the reading "athan" in SD:62. As prep. probably followed by soft mutation.

athra

cross

(verb) #athra- (isolated from the gerund athrad "crossing") (i athra, in athrar), also athrada- (traverse) (i athrada, in athradar)

athra

cross

(isolated from the gerund athrad "crossing") (i athra, in athrar), also athrada- (traverse) (i athrada, in athradar)

cam

hand

1) cam (i gam, o cham), pl. caim (i chaim), coll. pl. cammath; 2) mâb (i vâb; construct mab), pl. maib (i maib). 3) Archaic †maw (i vaw), pl. moe (i moe). A homophone means ”soil, stain”. (VT47:6) 4) (fist) dond (i dhond; construct don), pl. dynd (i nynd), coll. pl. donnath (VT47:23).

cam

hand

(i gam, o cham), pl. caim (i chaim), coll. pl. cammath

camlann

of the hand

(i gamlann, o chamlann), pl. cemlain (i chemlain).

crûm

left hand

(i grûm, o chrûm, construct crum), pl. cruim (i chruim), coll. pl. crummath. Also ✱hair (i chair), no distinct pl. form (not even with article). Note: hair is also used = ”left” as adjective. Cited in archaic form heir (LR:365 s.v. KHYAR).

dond

hand

(i dhond; construct don), pl. dynd (i nynd), coll. pl. donnath (VT47:23).

falas

shore, foaming shore

(pl. felais) (beach, coast, strand, line of surf; the word was especially used of the western seaboard of Beleriand) (VT42:15). Adj.

falathren

of the shore

(pl. felethrin)

faur

shore

(beach), pl. foer, coll. pl. forath (VT46:15)

forgam

right-handed

(pl. fergaim, for archaic förgeim)

fuir

right hand

pl. fŷr. Also used as adj. "right, north" (VT42:20). In ”Noldorin” the word appeared as (”foeir” =) föir, feir (LR:382 s.v. PHOR).

gobem

noun. mouth

habad

shore

(i chabad, o chabad), pl. hebaid (i chebaid). Archaic pl. hebeid (LR:386).

hathel

broadsword blade

(i chathel, o chathel) (axe blade), pl. hethil (i chethil)

iaeth

neck

; no distinct pl. form.

lam

tongue

(pl. laim, coll. pl. lammath). (WJ:394, 416) Not: lam is also used = ”echo, voice, echoing voice”.

lammas

account of tongues

lammen

my tongue

.

manadh

final end

(i vanadh) (fate, fortune [usually = final bliss]), pl. menaidh (i menaidh).

maw

hand

(i vaw), pl. moe (i moe). A homophone means ”soil, stain”. (VT47:6) 

megil

sword

(i vegil), no distinct pl. form except with article (i megil). This is a borrowing from Quenya macil (VT45:32).

meth

end

(noun) 1) meth (i veth), pl. mith (i mith). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”last”. 2) (rear, hindmost part) tele (i dele, o thele), pl. teli (i theli). In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was telei (LR:392 s.v. TELES). 3) ( maybe primarily ”last point in line; last of a series of items”) #methed (i vethed), pl. methid (i methid). Isolated from the name Methedras, the last in a line of mountain peaks.

meth

end

(i veth), pl. mith (i mith). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”last”.

methed

end

(i vethed), pl. methid (i methid). Isolated from the name Methedras, the last in a line of mountain peaks.

methen

end

(adj.) methen (lenited vethen; pl. methin) (VT45:34)

methen

end

(lenited vethen; pl. methin) (VT45:34)

mâb

hand

(i vâb; construct mab), pl. maib (i maib).

nass

sharp end

(point, angle, corner), construct nas, pl. nais.

rhast

shore

(?i thrast or ?i rast – the lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhaist (?idh raist).

rhîf

brink

(brim), no distinct pl. form, coll. pl. rhívath (VT46:11)

rîw

edge

*rîw (construct riw) (hem, border), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rîw). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” rhîf.

rîw

edge

(construct riw) (hem, border), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rîw). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” rhîf.

tele

end

(i dele, o thele), pl. teli (i theli). In ”Noldorin”, the pl. was telei (LR:392 s.v. TELES).

thar

beyond

(across, athwart, over)

thar

athwart

(adverbial prefix) thar- (across, over, beyond)

thar

athwart

(across, over, beyond)

tuilinn

swallow

(etymologically ”spring-singer”) *tuilinn (i duilinn, o thuilinn), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thuilinn). Form normalized from tuilind in source; the latter would be an archaic form.

tuilinn

swallow

(i duilinn, o thuilinn), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thuilinn). Form normalized from tuilind in source; the latter would be an archaic form.

lañ

root. *beyond

langa

adverb. langa

langō

noun. route or connection between to places; neck

lañna

adverb. athwart

labmē

noun. *language

lambē

noun. tongue, language, dialect

laʒ

root. cross, pass over, go beyond

Tolkien considered several similar roots for the Elvish words “neck”, “throat” and “beyond”.

In The Etymologies, the words for “throat” were ᴹQ. lanko and N. lhanc from the root ᴹ√LAK with nasal-infixion (Ety/LAK, Ety/TARAG). The Noldorin form also appeared as an element in the adjective N. tarlanc “stiff-necked, obstinate”. In The Lord of the Rings, it seems that this last word had shifted to S. tarlang, as in the place name Tarlang (LotR/790). The earlier words reappeared as S. lang and Q. lango “neck, passage”, whose roots were either √LAG (PE17/65) or √LAƷA (PE17/91-92).

Tolkien also established the word Q. lá as the Quenya element meaning “beyond”, most notably in the preposition pella (the Namárië poem, LotR/377), whose literal meaning was “beyond the border”. There is an early hint of this sense in The Etymologies in the root ᴹ√LĀ, unglossed but said to be related to the “ablative element” ᴹ√LŌ (EtyAC/LŌ). Other possible precursors are ᴱ√ALA “spread” and related ᴱ√LAHA or ᴱ√LĀ from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/29, 32, 50).

In notes from 1965, Tolkien stated that the root of lá “beyond” was √LAŊ, distinct from the root √LAG of lango (PE17/65). But in notes from 1967, Tolkien briefly considered using the root √ALA/LA for lá “beyond” (PE17/90), but quickly changed it to √LAƷA “cross, pass over, go beyond” (PE17/91-92), the same as the root of Q. lango “neck” as noted above. This leaves us with two scenarios: that lango “neck” and lá “beyond” had distinct origins from the roots √LAG and √LAÑ respectively (1965: PE17/65), or that lango “neck” and lá “beyond” had the same origin in the root √LAƷ “cross, pass over, go beyond” (1967: PE17/91-92).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin I prefer the 1967 scenario with the root √LAƷA “cross, pass over, go beyond”, and would assume “neck” is based on the sense “passage”, since it frees up the root √LAG to retain its meaning from The Etymologies: ᴹ√LAG “✱cut” (Ety/LAG). There are quite a few Quenya neologisms dependent the existence of √LAÑ “across”, however, so I would assume this exists as a variant of √LAƷ. For “throat” words, see the discusssion in the entry for ᴹ√LAK.

kwik(w)

root. languid

lā̆

preposition/adverb. beyond

makla

noun. sword

mā

noun. hand

lhang

noun. cutlass, sword

lhang

noun. cutlass, sword

Ossiriandren

noun. language of Ossiriand

language of Ossiriand

anfalas

place name. Langstrand

falathren

noun/adjective. Shore-language (one of the names for Common Speech)

iaeth

noun. neck

A word for “neck” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶yakta- under the root ᴹ√YAK (Ety/KEM), where the primitive k spirantalized and vocalized to i and the resulting diphthong ai became ae, sound changes that remain plausible in Sindarin as well.

Conceptual Development: There was a similar word G. gath “neck” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s from primitive ᴱ✶yatt- (GL/36), with the Gnomish sound change of initial y to g.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would use iaeth for “neck” as a joining between the head and torso, as opposed to lang as a passage from the mouth to stomach and lungs [including the “✱throat”] and S. ach referring the vertebrae in the neck [“✱(upper) spine”].

lamben

place name. Tongue

A transient name for the Naith in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, glossed “Tongue” (TI/280). It seems to be an elaboration or variant form of N. lham(b) “tongue”.

lhanc

noun. throat

athan

preposition. beyond

cam

noun. hand

lham(b)

noun. tongue

magol

noun. sword

meth

noun. end

athrada-

verb. to cross, traverse

cam

noun. hand

camb

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

esgar

noun. shore

ethir

noun. mouth (of a river), estuary

falathren

noun/adjective. of the shore

glamb

noun. barbarous speech, shouting, confused noise

glamb

noun. din, uproar, the confused yelling and bellowing of beasts

glamb

noun. any body of Orcs

glamm

noun. barbarous speech, shouting, confused noise

glamm

noun. din, uproar, the confused yelling and bellowing of beasts

glamm

noun. any body of Orcs

iaeth

noun. neck

lham

noun. physical tongue

lhamb

noun. physical tongue

lhanc

noun. throat

maethon

noun. sword

magl

noun. sword

The word megil (q.v.), probably introduced by the Ñoldor, was also used

magol

noun. sword

The word megil (q.v.), probably introduced by the Ñoldor, was also used

megil

noun. sword

The word was struck out in the Etymologies, but is well attested in late compounds such as Mormegil or Arvegil (with regular mutation). It is conceivably the Sindarinized form of Quenya makil, coexisting with magol (see tegil and tegol for a similar case)

megil

noun. sword

meth

noun. end

methen

adjective. end, final

mō

noun. hand

ON. hand

pendrad

noun. passage up or down slope, stairway

pendrath

noun. passage up or down slope, stairway

rhîf

noun. edge, hem, border

tele

noun. end, rear, hindmost part

tuilin

noun. swallow (bird)

tuilind

noun. swallow (bird)

tuilinn

noun. swallow (bird)

langwi -

verb. langwi -

langwi - see lango

lango

noun. neck, neck, [ᴹQ.] throat; [Q.] passages [that are] narrower parts of a structure serving to join larger parts, *corridor

A word for “neck” appearing in notes written around 1967, derived from primitive ✶langō < √LAƷA “cross, pass over, go beyond” (PE17/92). Its primitive form meant “a passage (physical), originally applied to any route or connecting link between two places or large objects, especially such as enabled one to cross or surmount an obstacle: such as a mountain-pass, a ridge of higher land across fen-land, an isthmus etc.” (PE17/91-92). This word was then “later applied to narrower parts of a structure serving to join larger parts, especially the ‘neck’ of men and animals”. The word lango “neck” also appeared in notes from 1965, but there it was derived from √LAG, as opposed to the then-distinct root for “beyond”: √LAŊ (PE17/65).

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to 1920s, where ᴱQ. lango “neck” appeared in Early Qenya Word-lists (PE16/136). It was glossed “neck” in drafts of the ᴱQ. Earendel poem (PE16/100), and as “throat” in the poem itself (MC/216). ᴹQ. lango “throat” appeared in the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s (PE21/8), but in The Etymologies of the 1930s it was {lango >>} ᴹQ. lanko “throat” from the root ᴹ√LAK “swallow” (Ety/LANK). In later writings, Q. lango “neck” was restored (see above).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I think lango can refer to both “neck” and “throat”, since its later derivation was from a word meaning “passage”, and hence refers to the passage from the mouth to the stomach and lungs. For the actual interior mechanism of the throat, however, I’d recommend the neologism ᴺQ. hlunco “pharynx, gullet” < ᴹ√SLUK “swallow”.

In a 2024-08-10 post in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), Raccoon suggested lango can also apply more generally to any passages that are “narrower parts of a structure serving to join larger parts”, such as a “✱corridor”, consistent with Tolkien’s notes on PE17/92 (see above). See ᴺQ. terma “passage, aperture” for an alternative with a slightly different meaning.

lango

throat

[lango (3) noun "throat"] (Tolkien also listed the plural form langwi_; in the _Etymologies as printed in LR, Christopher Tolkien improperly prefixed an asterisk as if it were an primitive or wrong form; see VT45:26. This indicates that lango has the stem-form *langu-. Compare ango "snake", stem #angu-, pl. angwi. But whatever the case, lango was changed to lanco.) (LANG, see LANK)

langë

surpassingly, superlatively, extremely

langë adv. "surpassingly, superlatively, extremely" (PE17:92)

langa-

to cross, go over, pass over

langa- vb. "to cross, go over, pass over" (VT49:65)

lango

broad sword

lango (1) noun "broad sword", also "prow of a ship" (LAG)

lango

passage

lango (2) noun "passage", especially across or over an obstacle, also "neck" (PE17:92)

langon

throat

langon noun "throat" (MC:216; this is "Qenya", possibly an inflected form of lango #2 above but Tolkien changed it to lanco)

langa

noun. thing that crosses, ferry, ford, crossway, bridge, cross-bar

langë

adverb. surpassingly, superlatively, extremely

langa-

verb. to cross, go over, pass over

langwes-

verb. to communicate, (lit.) report across

A neologism coined by Arael posted on 2024-05-14 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of √LAÑ “[a]cross” and √GWETH “report”.

langandë

noun. stringed instrument with a neck (lute, guitar, etc.)

@@@ Discord 2022-05-01

andafalassë

place name. Langstrand

The Quenya form of the name S. Anfalas “Langstrand” (PE17/135). It is a compound of anda “long” and falassë “shore”.

avarin

proper name. language(s) of the Avari, *of the Avari

Term referring to the languages of the Avari (WJ/410).

Conceptual Development: The term ᴹQ. Avarin appeared in the Comparative Tables from the 1930s, replacing the older term ᴹQ. Lemberin (PE19/19). Earlier still in the 1920s, Tolkien used the term ᴱQ. Ilkorin to refer to the languages of the Elves who remained behind in Middle-earth (PE14/62), but by the 1930s the term ᴹQ. Ilkorin referred only to the languages of the Elves of Beleriand (which in still later writings became Sindarin).

lindalambë

proper name. Language of the Lindar

The name the Lindar gave to their own language, and thus another name for Telerin (WJ/375). It is a compound of Linda and lambë “language”.

mátengwië

noun. language of the hands

The Quenya term for sign language, literally “language of the hands” (VT47/9). It is a compound of má “hand” and tengwië “language (✱signing)”.

Conceptual Development: Tolkien first wrote, then rejected, the word Málambe for this term (VT47/23). As pointed out by the editors of the article (@@@ give names), the term lambë was associated with vocal languages, and therefore inappropriate for signing with hands.

Andafalassë

langstrand

Andafalassë place-name "Langstrand" (long shore/beach) (PE17:135)

elda-lambë

proper name. Language of the Eldar

A term for Elvish languages as adopted by other peoples (WJ/369), a compound of Elda “Elf” and lambë “language”.

lambelë

language

lambelë noun "Language" (especially with reference to phonology), *"phonetics" (VT39:15)

mátengwië

language of the hands

mátengwië noun "language of the hands" (VT47:9)

tengwelë

language

tengwelë noun "Language" (in all its aspects), a general word for the grouping and composing of tengwi (linguistic "signs", phonemes) into a linguistic system (VT39:16)

tengwestië

language

tengwestië noun "Language" as abstract or phenomenon (WJ:394)

tengwië

language

#tengwië noun "language" in the compound mátengwië "language of the hands" (VT47:9). Compare tengwë, tengwesta.

lambë

noun. language, tongue, dialect

tengwestië

noun. language [as a concept]

lambë valarinwa

Language of the Valar

tengwelë

noun. language (general term), language (general term); [ᴱQ.] sense

tengwië

noun. reading; language (*signing)

This word appeared in the form tengwiesto “of your reading” in the sentence nai laurë lantuva parmastanna lúmissen tengwiesto “may (a) golden light fall on your book at the times of your reading” (VT49/47). On the same page, Tolkien gives its etymology as the gerund (verbal noun) of the verb tengwa- “to read written matter” (VT49/48). Other attested words for “reading” include cenda or hentië (both based on sight).

Elsewhere this word appears as an element in the word mátengwië “sign language, (lit.) language of the hands”, along with má “hand” (VT47/23). In this word, tengwië could be have the same meaning as above (“sign language” = “✱hand reading”). Alternately, it could be an abstract noun derived from tengwë “sign, token” combined with the abstract-noun suffix -ië, in which case a more literal meaning might be “✱signing” as in “✱the production of signs”. This hypothetical derivation fits nicely with its use in the Quenya word for sign language. More ordinary words for “language” include lambë “a (spoken) language” (LotR/1123, WJ/394) and tengwestië “language (as a concept)” (WJ/394).

vanyarin

proper name. *of the Vanyar; language of the Vanyar

An adjective describing the Vanya Elves, as well as a name for their dialect of Quenya (WJ/361; PE18/74), it is a combination of their tribal name with the language/adjective suffix -rin.

lambë

tongue, language

lambë noun "tongue, language" (the usual word for 'language' in non-technical use) (WJ:368, 394, ÑGAL/ÑGALAM), "the language or dialect of a particular country or people...never used for 'language' in general, but only for particular forms of speech" (VT39:15); also name of tengwa #27 (Appendix E). (In early "Qenya", lambë was defined as "tongue" of body, but also of land, or even = "speech" [LT2:339]. In LotR-style Quenya lambë only means "tongue = speech", whereas the word for a physical tongue is lamba.) Lambë Valarinwa "Valarin tongue" (WJ:397), lambë Quendion "the language of the Elves" (PM:395), Lambengolmor pl. noun "Loremasters of Tongues", a school founded by Fëanor (WJ:396); sg. #Lambengolmo. Spelt Lambeñgolmor in VT48:6.

quetil

tongue, language

quetil ("q")noun "tongue, language" (KWET)

-rin

suffix. -ian, racial-adjective, language

questa

noun. speech, language

tengwesta

noun. grammar, morphology, system or code of signs, collection of matter concerning writing, *language structure

quinqua

adjective. languid, *lazy, relaxed, drooping

quinquelë

noun. languor, *relaxation

quinquelëa

adjective. languorous, *relaxing

anto

noun. mouth, mouth [as a thing for eating]; [ᴱQ.] jaw

The basic Quenya word for “mouth”, appearing as the name of tengwa #13 [4] in The Lord of the Rings Appendix E (LotR/1123). It is likely derived from the root √MAT “eat” from primitive ✱amtō, and hence refers to the mouth as a thing for eating. Quenya has a number of other more specialized words for the mouth, however, such as Q. pé for the closed mouth, Q. ópa for the mouth opening, Q. songa for the interior of the mouth and Q. náva for the entire mouth apparatus (tongue, lips and teeth) used for speech.

Conceptual Development: ᴹQ. anto “mouth” first appeared in notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1940s, where it replaced ᴹQ. anta “jaws” (PE22/50 note #50). In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, ᴱQ. anto (antu-) was itself glossed “jaw” and was based on the early root ᴱ√MATA “eat” (QL/31, 59).

lamba

noun. (physical) tongue

A word for the physical tongue appearing in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60, derived from primitive ✶lab-mā = “✱lick-thing” (WJ/394, 416). It was distinct from Q. lambë “tongue” = “language” (WJ/394). ᴹQ. lamba “tongue” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√LAB “lick” (Ety/LAB), where it was likewise distinct from ᴹQ. lambe “language”, as in ᴹQ. parmalambe “book-language” (Ety/PAR).

má

noun. hand

The most common Quenya word for “hand”, which Tolkien usually derived from a root √MAH or √MAƷ “hand; handle, wield”. The weak consonant h or ʒ in the root was lost very early, so that primitive ✶mā was one of a rare set of ancient monosyllabic nouns ending in a vowel. Tolkien said that of the various hand words, má was “the oldest (probably) and the one that retained a general and unspecialized sense - referring to the entire hand (including wrist) in any attitude or function” (VT47/6).

As a part of the body, má “hand” was usually referred to in the singular (má) or dual (mát). This was true when referring to the hands of groups of people as well. For example, to say that “the Elves raised their hands”, you would say either i Eldar ortaner mánta (singular, one hand each) or i Eldar ortaner mántat (dual, both hands each), with the possessive suffix -nta “their”.

The plural form már “hands” (or archaic †mai) was almost never used, in part because it conflicted with Q. már “dwelling”. The singular form was also used in general statements and proverbs: “hand is cleverer than foot” má anfinya epe tál (ná). A collection of otherwise unrelated hands would likely use the partitive-plural form: máli “some hands”, which in this case could also serve as the general plural (VT47/12 Note 2). See the discussions on PE17/161 and VT47/6 for more information.

This word is also unusual in that it retains its long vowel before consonant clusters in inflected forms such as mánta “their hand” (PE17/161) or márya “his/her hand” (PE17/69). As Tolkien described it:

> Lá is usually shortened to la before 2 consonants, according to the usual Q. procedure, but the long vowel can be retained, especially for additional emphasis, as in other cases where pronominal affixes follow a long vowel, as in márya “his hand” (PE22/160).

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to ᴱQ. mā “hand” from Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√MAHA “grasp” (QL/57). ᴹQ. má “hand” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√MAƷ “hand” (Ety/MAƷ). Tolkien mentioned this word with great frequency, usually derived from √MAH or √MAƷ (as noted above) though he sometimes considered deriving it from √MAG instead.

carpa

mouth

carpa ("k") (1) noun "mouth", including lips, teeth, tongue etc. (PE17:126); also used for "language", in particular the phonetic system.Cf. náva and páva.

falas

shore, beach

falas (falass-), falassë noun "shore, beach" (LT1:253, LT2:339); falassë "shore, line of surf" (SA:falas), "shore especially one exposed to great waves and breakers" (VT42:15), "beach" (PHAL/PHÁLAS); Falassë Númëa place-name "Western Surf" (LT1:253), Andafalassë "Langstrand" (PE17:135)

lamba

tongue

lamba (1) noun "tongue" (physical tongue, while lambë = "language") (WJ:394, LAB; according to VT45:25, Tolkien first wrote lambe, but as noted, this alternative form is rather used for "tongue" in the sense of "language")

lanco

throat, swallow

lanco ("k")noun "throat, swallow" _(LAK1 , LANK). _Since this was changed by Tolkien from lango with stem *langu- and pl. langwi, it may be that lanco* should similarly have the stem lancu**- and pl. *lanqui.

má

hand

má noun "hand" (MA3, LT2:339, Narqelion, VT39:10, [VT45:30], VT47:6, 18, 19); the dual "a pair of hands" is attested both by itself as mát (VT47:6) and with a pronominal suffix as máryat "his/her (pair of) hands" (see -rya, -t) (Nam, RGEO:67). The nominative plural form was only máli, not **már (VT47:6), though plurals in -r may occur in some of the cases, as indicated by the pl. allative mannar "into hands" (FS). Mánta "their hand", dual mántat "their hands" (two hands each) (PE17:161). Cf. also the compounds mátengwië "language of the hands" (VT47:9) and Lungumá "Heavyhand" (VT47:19); also compare the adj. -maitë "-handed". See also málimë.

pahta

speech

pahta (2) noun "speech", i.e. language (PE17:126); accompanied by the intransitive verb pakta- "speak, talk", which would be *pahta- in Quenya, of which the transitive equivalent is quet-, q.v. The intransitive verb "speak" is also given as carpa-, q.v.

quenya

speech

quenya noun (original adj.) "speech" (PM:399); the language-name Quenya is said to mean properly "language, speech" (WJ:393); cf. the phrase coirëa quenya "living speech" (PM:399).However, Quenya (archaic Quendya, still so in Vanyarin) is also interpreted "Elvish" (Letters:176), sc. the adjective corresponding to Quendi (WJ:374), but it was no longer used as a general adjective. Quenya lambë"Quenya tongue" (WJ:407). The command queta Quenya! "speak Quenya!" was used in the sense of "speak precisely and intelligibly, put into actual words" (instead of using hand signs or looks); the word Quenya is here used adverbially (PE17:138). The variant queta quenyā (PE17:137) appears to use the distinct accusative (formed by lengthening a final vowel) known from "Book Quenya".

sindarinwa

grey-elven

sindarinwa (þ) adj. "Grey-elven" in the phrase hwesta sindarinwa "Grey-elven hw" (Appendix E); it may really be "Sindarin" (as a noun) with the possessive ending -va, -wa appended, hence literally "hw of [the] Sindarin [language]"

tengwesta

system or code of signs

tengwesta ("ñ")noun "a system or code of signs", "Language", referring particularly to structure, including morphology and grammar (VT39:15). As a technical term for "language", this includes languages not made up of sounds (WJ:394), but usually it means "spoken language" when unqualified (WJ:395). In the Etymologies, tengwesta is glossed "grammar" (TEK).

cambë

noun. hand, (hollow of) hand

han

preposition. beyond

hentië

noun. reading

lahta-

verb. to cross, pass over, go over; to surpass, excel

pahta

noun. speech

páva

noun. mouth

sindarin

noun. Grey-elven

sar-

verb. to cross

tel

noun. end

-ya

elvish

-ya (5) adjectival ending, as in the word Quenya "Elvish" itself; when added to a verbal stem it may derive a kind of short active participle, as in melumatya "honey-eating" (mat- "eat"), saucarya "evil-doing" (car- "do"). (PE17:68)

acas

neck

acas ("k") noun "neck" (the bony part of the neck, not including throat), pl. axi ("ks") (and so perhaps general stem-form ax-). Also sg. axë (said to be a "later" form apparently replacing acas). The word is also used geographically of rock ridges. (PE17:92)

acas

noun. neck

ailinë

shore, beach

#ailinë (nominative uncertain) noun "shore, beach" (in Tolkien's later Quenya rather hresta). Only attested in inflected forms: sg. ablative ailinello "shore-from" (MC:213), sg. locative ailinisse "on shore" (MC:221), pl. locative ailissen "on beaches" (for *ailinissen?) (MC:221)

anto

mouth

anto (1) noun "mouth", also name of tengwa #13 (Appendix E)

axo

noun. neck

axë

neck

axë ("ks")noun "neck" (the bony part of the neck, not including throat), pl. axi given. Also sg. acas (the alternative form axë is said to be "later" and seems to be an analogical back-formation from the pl. axi). The word is also used geographically of rock ridges. (PE17:92)

cimba

noun. edge, brink

han

beyond

han prep. "beyond" (compare the _postposition pella of similar meaning) (VT43:14)_

hresta

shore, beach

hresta noun "shore, beach", ablative hrestallo *"from (the) shore" in Markirya

lambe

noun. tongue

lanna

athwart

lanna prep. "athwart" (PE17:65)

lanya-

verb. to cross

lá

athwart, over, across, beyond

lá (2) prep. "athwart, over, across, beyond" (PE17:65), also used in phrases of comparison, e.g. "A ná calima lá B", A is bright beyond (= brighter than) B (VT42:32).

macil

sword

macil ("k")noun "sword" (MAK, LT1:259, VT39:11, VT45:32, VT49:17); macilya "his (or their) sword" (PE17:130), see -ya #4.

mentië

passage, journey, direction of travel

mentië noun "passage, journey, direction of travel" (PE17:13); the elements are men- "go, proceed" + tië "path, road". Not to be confused with the gerund of menta- #1.

metta

end

metta noun "end"; Ambar-metta "world-end, the end of the world" (EO); mettarë *"end-day" = New Years' Eve in the Númenórean calendar and the Steward's Reckoning, not belonging to any month (Appendix D). The word Mettanyë, heading the final part of the poem The Trees of Kortirion, would seem to be related (LT1:43)

má

noun. hand

hand

má

noun. hand

nimpa

drooping, ailing

nimpa adj. "drooping, ailing" (PE17:168)

nonda

hand, especially in [?clutching]

nonda noun "hand, especially in [?clutching]" (VT47:23; Tolkien's gloss was not certainly legible)

náva

mouth

náva ("ñ")noun "mouth", apparently not only the lips but also the inside of the mouth (VT39:13 cf. 8). Possibly, but probably not, the same element that is translated "hollow" in Návarot, q.v.

pella

beyond

pella "beyond", apparently a postposition rather than a preposition: Andúnë pella "beyond the West", elenillor pella "from beyond the stars" (Nam, RGEO:66, Markirya) In one version of the Quenya Lord's Prayer, Tolkien used pell' (evidently an elided form of pella) as a _preposition, but this version was abandoned (VT43:13)_

páva

mouth

páva noun "mouth" (including tongue, lips and teeth). Apparently changed by Tolkien to náva, q.v. (VT39:19)

réna

edge, border, margin

réna noun "edge, border, margin" (REG)

ríma

edge, hem, border

ríma noun "edge, hem, border" (RĪ)

songa

mouth

songa noun "mouth", in the sense of "interior cavity behind the teeth, containing tongue" (PE17:126)

tar

beyond

tar (2) prep. "beyond" (FS)

tarwë

cross, crucifix

tarwë noun "cross, Crucifix" (QL:89)

tengwesta

noun. grammar

grammar

tuilindo

swallow

tuilindo noun "swallow", etymologically "spring-singer" (TUY, LIN2, LT1:269, LT2:338)

tyel

end

tyel (1) noun "end", stem tyeld- as in the pl. form tyeldi (FS, KYEL; the pl. form tyeldi_ was misread as "tyelde" in the Etymologies as printed in LR; cf. VT45:25 for this correction)_. Cf. tyelma.

tyel-

end, cease

tyel- (2) vb. "end, cease" (KYEL)

yat

neck

yat (yaht-) noun "neck" (YAK)

yelca

sword

[yelca noun ?"sword" - Tolkien's gloss is not certainly legible, and the word was struck out anyway. (VT45:11)]

ópa

mouth

ópa noun "mouth", in the sense of mouth-opening with lips as the edges (PE17:126)

adûnayân

noun. language of Númenor

The language of Númenor, appearing in a 1965 document first published in Nature of Middle-earth in 2021 (NM/323). Prior to that point, various hypothetical words have been proposed for this language’s name, such as ✱Adûnaiyê (Andreas Moehn, EotAL), ✱Adûnâyê (Thorsten Renk, NBA/1), and Adûnâiyê (my own invention), modelled after Nimriyê “Elvish”.

-iyê Reconstructed

suffix. language suffix

A suffix used for the names of languages, appearing only in Nimriyê, the languages of the Nimir (SD/414). My best guess for the form of this suffix is ✱-iyê with Nimir reduced to Nimr- by the Adûnaic syncope. If the first element is instead Nimri (perhaps an adjective meaning “Elvish”), the suffix could be ✱-yê or even ✱-ê, with the y inserted as the usual glide-consonant after the final -i.

pâ

noun. hand

A noun translated “hand”, given as an example of an apparent Adûnaic uniconsonantal noun, which had a biconsonantal-root but lost one of its consonants from its ancient form ✶Ad. paʒa (SD/416, 426).

sakal Reconstructed

noun. shore

This word is attested only in Sakalthôr, whose Quenya name is Falassion (UT/223). The first element of the Quenya name seems to be falassë “shore”, so the first element of his Adûnaic name probably has the same meaning, as suggested by several authors (AAD/22, AL/Adûnaic, EotAL/SAK’L).

aglâb

noun. language

lambë

noun. language

-rin

suffix. -ian, racial-adjective, language

camba

noun. hand

mapa

noun. hand

má

noun. hand