leweg

noun. snake

_ n. _snake.

leweg

noun. worm

A word for “worm” in 1964 notes on Dalath Dirnen (DD), a derivative of the root √LEWEK of the same meaning.

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. tereg or terch “a worm” (GL/70), likely related to the early root ᴱ√TEÐE “pierce” from the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon which had a derivative ᴱQ. teste “small worm” (QL/91). The Gnomish Lexicon also had G. gwem “worm” (GL/45), probably derived from ᴱ√GWEVE (QL/103). Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s had ᴱN. lhiw “worm” < ᴱ✶slingwé (PE13/149).

Derivations

• √LEWEK “worm” ✧ PE17/160

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√LEWEK > leweg	[lewek] > [leweg]	✧ PE17/160

lýg

noun. snake

_ n. Zoo. _snake. Q. leuka.

lŷg

noun. snake

lŷg

noun. snake

The best known Sindarin word for “snake”, appearing in Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings (LotR/1115). In 1964 notes on Dalath Dirnen (DD), Tolkien said it was derived from the root √LEWEK “worm” (PE17/160), likely from ✱leukā where the ancient eu became ȳ as was usual in Sindarin (LotR/1115).

Cognates

• Q. leuca “snake” ✧ LotR/1115; PE17/121; PE17/160

Derivations

• √LEWEK “worm” ✧ PE17/160

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√LEWEK > lýg	[leukā] > [leuka] > [liuka] > [lȳka] > [lȳk] > [lȳg]	✧ PE17/160

Variations

• lýg ✧ PE17/160

lhûg

noun. snake, serpent

gwem

noun. worm

Cognates

• ᴺQ. vembë “worm”

Derivations

• ᴺ✶. WEB “*worm”

Element in

• ᴺS. gwemmel “weevil”

lŷg

snake

1) lŷg (constuct lyg), no distinct pl. form. 2) lhûg (construct lhug, with article ?i thlûg or ?i lûg the lenition product of lh is uncertain) (dragon, serpent), pl. lhuig (?i luig). See SERPENT.