maka-glawar

masculine name. maka-glawar

makwā

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

makla

noun. sword

mā

noun. hand

karandi

noun. making

aktō

noun. artificer, artificer, [ᴹ✶] maker, wright

kar-

verb. do, make

kat

root. shape, shape, [ᴹ√] make

The root ᴹ√KAT “shape” first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives ᴹQ. kanta- “to shape”, ᴹQ. kanta “shaped”, and N. echad- “fashion, shape” (Ety/KAT). All these derivatives reappeared in Tolkien’s later writings, though Q. canta was more typically used as the noun “shape” (PE17/175; PE18/84, 90). The root appeared frequently in both the first and second version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa as an example of a biconsonantal root (TQ1: PE18/34, 46, 62; TQ2: PE18/84-85, 87, 89-90, 95).

mazgō

noun. sticky substance

glin(d)

root. sing

karani

adjective. red

lind

root. sing

ndakta-

verb. to slay

brath

root. cook

A hypothetical Sindarin-only Neo-Root, used to salvage G. brath- “cook” and related words from the Gnomish Lexicon, possibly originally related to √MBAS “bake”.

feria-

verb. make ready

_v. _make ready (promptly). Q. ferya-. >> fair, feir, fergar, ferui

northa-

verb. make run

_v. _make run, specially of riding horses or other animals. Q. norta-. >> nor-

teitha-

verb. make marks or signs

_ v. _make marks or signs, write, inscribe. >> taith, teith, teithant

taith

noun. mark

feria-

verb. to make ready (promptly)

caro

verb. do! make!

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”.

cared

making

#cared (i gared, o chared) (doing), pl. cerid (i cherid). Isolated from ceredir "doer, maker", where the word appears in umlauted form (cared + dîr).

cared

making

(i gared, o chared) (doing), pl. cerid (i cherid). Isolated from ceredir "doer, maker", where the word appears in umlauted form (cared + dîr).**

tân

maker

1) ?tân (i dân, o thân), only attested as -dan or -than as the final element of compounds, e.g. Círdan ”Ship-maker”). Construct tan, pl. tain (i thain), 2)

tân

maker

(i dân, o thân), only attested as -dan or -than as the final element of compounds, e.g. Círdan ”Ship-maker”). Construct tan, pl. tain (i thain)

taith

mark

(noun) taith (i daith, o thaith), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thaith). Archaic teith.

taith

mark

(i daith, o thaith), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thaith). Archaic teith.

car

make

(i gâr, i cherir), pa.t. agor (do, build) (WJ:415)

car

make

1) car- (i gâr, i cherir), pa.t. agor (do, build) (WJ:415), 2) echad- (i echad, in echedir) (fashion, shape), pa.t. echant (VT45:19)

ceredir

maker

ceredir (i geredir, o cheredir) (doer), no distinct pl. form except with article (i cheredir)

ceredir

maker

(i geredir, o cheredir) (doer), no distinct pl. form except with article (i cheredir)

dagra

make war

(do battle) (i nagra, i ndagrar), also dagrada- (i nagrada, i ndagradar)

dagra

make war

dagra- (do battle) (i nagra, i ndagrar), also dagrada- (i nagrada, i ndagradar)

echad

make

(i echad, in echedir) (fashion, shape), pa.t. echant (VT45:19)

glanna

make clear

*glanna- (i **lanna, in glannar**) (VT45:13; this is how David Salo would normalize the form ”glantha-” occurring in the primary source)

lhûn

making sound

lenited ?thlûn or ?lûn (the lenition product of lh is uncertain), pl. lhuin. Verb

lhûn

making sound

(a speculative interpretation of this adj.) lhûn, lenited ?thlûn or ?lûn (the lenition product of lh is uncertain), pl. lhuin. Verb

rada

make a way

rada- (find a way) (i rada, idh radar)

rada

make a way

(find a way) (i rada, idh radar)

rada

make/find a way

rada- (i rada, idh radar).

tangada

make firm

(confirm, establish) (i dangada, i thangadar)

tangada

make firm

tangada- (confirm, establish) (i dangada, i thangadar)

tangada

make firm

tangada- (confirm, establish) (i dangada, i thangadar)

covad-

verb. bring together

_ v. _bring together, make meet.

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)

magor

noun. swordsman

car

do

car- (i gâr, i cherir), pa.t. agor (make, build) (WJ:415),

car

do

(i gâr, i cherir), pa.t. agor (make, build) (WJ:415)

ceredir

doer

ceredir (i geredir, o cheredir) (maker), no distinct pl. form except with article (i cheredir)

ceredir

doer

(i geredir, o cheredir) (maker), no distinct pl. form except with article (i cheredir)

echad

shape

(verb) echad- (i echad, in echedir) (fashion, make), pa.t. echant (VT45:19)

echad

shape

(i echad, in echedir) (fashion, make), pa.t. echant (VT45:19)

echad

fashion

(verb) echad- (i echad, in echedir) (make, shape), pa.t. echant (VT45:19)

echad

fashion

(i echad, in echedir) (make, shape), pa.t. echant (VT45:19)

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.

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.

cant

noun. shape, shape; [N.] outline

Rest

noun. cut

andaith

noun. long-mark, sign used in writing alphabetic tengwar over a vowel, to indicate that it is lengthened.

anwar

noun. awe

anwar

noun. awe

auth

noun. a dim shape, spectral or vague apparition

boda

verb. refuse, forbid

cam

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

car-

verb. to do

caran

adjective. red

caran

red

_ adj. _red, ruddy. >> Caradhras

caran

adjective. red

dag-

verb. to slay, to slay, [ᴱN.] kill

A verb meaning “to slay” derived from the root √NDAK, best known from its passive participle dangen as in Haudh-en-Ndengin “Hill of Slain” (S/197). Tolkien wrote a set of possible past forms aðag, aðanc, aðarch in notes from 1962 (PE17/131), and the verb appeared in its Noldorin-style infinitive form degi “to slay” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√NDAK “slay” (Ety/NDAK), along with another couple of (Noldorin) past forms: danc, degant (EtyAC/NDAK). The verb form ᴱN. (n)dag- “to slay” appeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/141), but its present form dág was glossed “kills” and in the contemporaneous Early Noldorin Grammar the form dagion was likewise glossed “I kill” (PE13/130). Thus “slay” and “kill” are both viable translations.

Possible Etymology: In notes from around 1962, Tolkien gave ✶dankĭnā as the primitive form of its passive participle dangen, indicating a root √DAK rather than √NDAK, which is also consistent with its nasal mutated plural form on that page: {i dengin >>} i nengin (PE17/133). The 1964 past forms aðag and aðanc also seem to indicate derivation from √DAK (PE17/131). In notes from around 1967, however, Tolkien had the mixed mutated form n(d)engin in the phrase i·m(b)air en N(d)engin, indicating √NDAK, and he consistently gave nac- for the equivalent Quenya forms, so the early 1960s flirtation with √DAK seems to have been a transient idea.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume the root is √NDAK, and hence I’d give it the past form ✱annanc “slayed” rather than aðanc.

fân

shape

_n._shape, with the added notion of light and whiteness. It was thus often used where we might use 'a vision' (of something beautiful and sublime). Q. fana-. Tolkien notes that "Yet being elvish, though it may be used of things remote, it has no implication either of uncertainty or unreality" (PE17:26). In the name Fanuilos of Elbereth, the Fân was the vision of majesty of Elbereth upon the mountain where she dwelt.

gaer

adjective. red, copper-coloured, ruddy

glandagol

noun. boundary mark

hebin

verb. I keep, I have kept

Because of the mutation triggered by the first person pronominal ending, it is impossible to guess whether the stem of this should be heb-, hab- or hob-. The root KHEP listed in VT/41:6 apparently implies that heb- is the correct form

hwest

noun. puff, breath, breeze

leithian

noun. release, freeing, release from bondage

linna-

verb. to sing

linna-

verb. sing

linnathon

verb. I will sing, I will chant

linnon

verb. I sing

mab-

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

maer

adjective. excellent

_ adj. _excellent. Q. maira admirable, excellent, precious. >> maer-, maeron

maetha-

verb. to handle

v. to handle. Q. mahta-.

maetha-

verb. to handle

_ v. _to handle, treat, manage, etc. Q. mahta-. >> maeth

magor

noun. swordsman

maw

noun. hand

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.

megil

noun. sword

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

men

noun. way, road

mâb

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

naergon

noun. woeful lament

nimmid-

verb. to whiten

othlonn

noun. paved way

pen

preposition. without, lacking, -less

pen-

without

(ben-) _ pref. _without,**less. pen-adar 'fatherless'. >> ben-, ú-

pâd

noun. way

raef

noun. net

raef

noun. net

raew

noun. net

raew

noun. net

A noun given as raef or raew “net” in notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69 based on the root √RAY “net, knit, contrive network or lace; involve in a network, enlace”, a blending of the ancient forms of its Quenya equivalents Q. raima “net” and Q. raiwë “lace” (VT42/12). In a draft of this etymology appearing in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969, the only form given was raef, equivalent to Q. raima “a net” (PE22/159). Since usually [[s|final -m > -f [v] > -w after the diphthong ae]], I suspect raef is an archaic form and raew is modern Sindarin.

raud

excellent

_ adj. _excellent, noble, eminent.

rem

noun. mesh, net (esp. for catching, hunter's or fisher's net)

rista-

verb. to cut

rista-

verb. to rend, rip

romru

noun. sound of horns

ruin

adjective. (fiery) red

rû

noun. loud-sound, trumpet-sound

taug

adjective. firm

adj. firm, strong, ?withstand. Q. tauka stiff, wooden.

tharbad

noun. cross-way

toniel

noun. kindler

Rest

cut

(noun) 1) rest (ravine, cleft), pl. rist (idh rist), 2) criss (i griss, o chriss, construct cris) (cleft, slash), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chriss)

adleitha

release

(verb, = "to free") adleitha- (i adleitha, in adleithar); also adleg- (i adleg, in edlegir), pa.t. adlenc, pp. adlengen, pl. edlengin). RELEASE (noun) 1) adleithian, pl. adleithiain, 2) leithian (freeing), pl. leithiain

adleitha

release

(i adleitha, in adleithar); also adleg- (i adleg, in edlegir), pa.t. adlenc, pp. adlengen, pl. edlengin).

adleithian

release

pl. adleithiain

aes

meat

aes (cooked food). No distinct pl. form.

aes

meat

(cooked food). No distinct pl. form.

anwar

awe

anwar (pl. enwair if there is a pl.)

anwar

awe

(pl. enwair if there is a pl.)

ar

without

(adv. prefix) ar- (outside)

ar

without

(outside)

auth

war

auth (battle), pl. oeth, coll. pl. othath. Note: a homophone means "dim shape, apparition".

auth

war

(battle), pl. oeth, coll. pl. othath. Note: a homophone means "dim shape, apparition".

bad

go

#bad- (i vâd, i medir), pa.t. bant. Isolated from trevad- ”traverse”.

bad

go

(i vâd, i medir), pa.t. bant. Isolated from trevad- ”traverse”.

band

safekeeping

(i mand, o mband; construct ban) (custody, prison, duress, doom, hell), pl. baind (i mbaind), coll. pl. bannath.

born

red

(hot), lenited vorn, pl. byrn

cad-

z2# verb. to shape; mold

Derived from the primitive root '√KAT' found in compound of 'etkat-': Out-Shape (later becoming Sindarin Echad: To Fashion). Cognate of Quenya Cat-.

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).

cant

shape

(noun) cant (i gant, o chant) (outline), pl. caint (i **chaint). The mutated pl. -chaint is attested as part of the compound morchaint**; see SHADOW.

cant

shape

(i gant, o chant) (outline), pl. caint (i chaint). The mutated pl. -chaint is attested as part of the compound morchaint; see SHADOW.

caran

red

1) caran (lenited garan, pl. cerain). Also carn (lenited garn, pl. cern), 2) coll (scarlet), lenited goll, pl. cyll (VT45:15, 24). Note: homophones mean "hollow" and also "cloak". 3) born (hot), lenited vorn, pl. byrn, 4) (fiery red) naru (analogical pl. nery). The archaic fom narw is also listed (LR:374 s.v. _NAR_1). 5) rhosc (russet, brown), lenited ?throsc or ?rosc (the lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhysc. Cf. also

caran

red

(lenited garan, pl. cerain). Also carn (lenited garn, pl. cern)

coll

red

(scarlet), lenited goll, pl. cyll (VT45:15, 24). Note: homophones mean "hollow" and also "cloak".

cov-

verb. to bow

A neologism for “to bow” coined by Elaran in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) on 2023-04-09, the Sindarin equivalent of [ᴹQ.] cuv-, with short u becoming o as usual in Sindarin.

crann

ruddy

(lenited grann, pl. crain).

criss

cut

(i griss, o chriss, construct cris) (cleft, slash), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chriss)

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).

círdan

shipwright

(i gírdan, o chírdan) (shipbuilder), pl. círdain (i chírdain). Compare Círdan as a proper name.****

dadbenn

do

(downhill, sloping down, inclined), lenited dhadbenn, pl. dedbinn. Verb

dag

slay

dag- (i nâg, i ndegir), pa.t. danc or dagant, passive participle dangen "slain" (pl. dengin, lenited nengin) (VT45:37)

dag

slay

(i nâg, i ndegir), pa.t. danc or dagant, passive participle dangen "slain" (pl. dengin, lenited nengin) (VT45:37)

dagras

noun. slaughter

dond

hand

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

dortha

dwell

dortha- (i northa, i ndorthar) (stay)

dortha

dwell

(i northa, i ndorthar) (stay)

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).

gaer

red, reddish

(copper-coloured, ruddy); lenited ’aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea".

gala

grow

gala- (i **ala, i ngalar** = i ñalar)

gala

grow

(i ’ala, i ngalar = i ñalar)

gar

hold

gar- (i **âr, i ngerir = i ñerir) (have, possess; be able, can); pa.t. garant**. (AI:92, VT45:14)

gar

hold

(i ’âr, i ngerir = i ñerir) (have, possess; be able, can); pa.t. garant. (AI:92, VT45:14)

gartha

keep

(defend) (i ’artha, i ngarthar = i ñarthar). Noun

glir

sing

1) glir- (i **lîr, in glirir) (recite poem), 2) linna- (i linna, i linnar**) (chant)

glir

sing

(i ’lîr, in glirir) (recite poem)

golwen

learned in deep arts

(wise), lenited ngolwen, pl. gelwin (archaic pl. ✱gölwin)

gwedh

bind

*gwedh- (i **wêdh, in gwedhir), pa.t. gwedhant, in older language also gwend**. In LR:397 s.v.

gwedh

bind

(i ’wêdh, in gwedhir), pa.t. gwedhant, in older language also gwend. In LR:397 s.v.

gwî

net

1) gwî (i **wî) (web), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwî), 2) raef, no distinct pl. form except with article (idh raef), coll. pl. raevath. Note: raef has a side-form raew, but since this also means ”fathom”, raef may be preferred for clarity. 3) rem (mesh), pl. rim (idh rim), coll. pl. remmath**. Verb

gwî

net

(i ’wî) (web), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwî)

hathel

broadsword blade

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

heb

keep

(verb) 1) heb- (i chêb, i chebir) (retain); 2) gartha- (defend) (i **artha, i ngarthar** = i ñarthar). Noun

heb

keep

(i chêb, i chebir) (retain)

heltha

strip

(verb) heltha- (i cheltha, i chelthar). (VT46:14; in LR:386 s.v. SKEL the erroneous reading ”helta” appears.)

heltha

strip

(i cheltha, i chelthar). (VT46:14; in LR:386 s.v. SKEL the erroneous reading ”helta” appears.)

heria

set vigorously out to do

(i cheria, i cheriar) (have an impulse, be compelled to do something, begin suddenly and vigorously) (VT45:22)

hwest

puff

(i chwest, o chwest) (breath, breeze), pl. hwist (i chwist)

hwest

puff

hwest (i chwest, o chwest) (breath, breeze), pl. hwist (i chwist)

lammad

sound of voices

pl. lemmaid. May also be spelt with a single m.

lang

sword

(cutlass), pl. leng.

law

noun. sound

leithian

release

(freeing), pl. leithiain

lend

way

(journey), pl. lind, coll. pl. lennath. Note: a homophone means ”tuneful, sweet”

linna

sing

(i linna, i linnar) (chant)

linnas

noun. music

mae

soft

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

mae

soft

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

mae

adjective. soft, pliant

maeas

dough

maeas (i vaeas), pl. maeais (i maeais) if there is a pl. (but coll. pl. maeassath). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” moeas.

maeas

noun. dough

maeas

dough

(i vaeas), pl. maeais (i maeais) if there is a pl. (but coll. pl. maeassath). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” moeas.

maenas

art

maenas (i vaenas) (craft, handicraft), pl. maenais (i maenais), coll. pl. maenassath.

maenas

art

(i vaenas) (craft, handicraft), pl. maenais (i maenais), coll. pl. maenassath.

maeth

fight

(noun) (of two or a few, not a general host) maeth (i vaeth) (battle), no distinct pl. except with article (i maeth)

maeth

fight

(i vaeth) (battle), no distinct pl. except with article (i maeth)

maetha

fight

(verb) maetha- (i vaetha, i maethar). A later source defines maetha- as ”handle, wield, manage, deal with” (VT47:6)

maetha

fight

(i vaetha, i maethar). A later source defines maetha- as ”handle, wield, manage, deal with” (VT47:6)

maetha

handle

(i vaetha, i maethar) (wield, manage, deal with). In Tolkien’s earlier material, the verb maetha- meant ”fight”.

magor

swordsman

magor (i vagor), analogical pl. megyr (i megyr)

magor

swordsman

(i vagor), analogical pl. megyr (i megyr)

matha

handle

(i vatha, i mathar) (stroke, feel; wield)

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).

mâb

hand

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

mên

way

1) mên (i vên, construct men, in compounds -ven) (road), pl. mîn (i mîn), 2) lend (journey), pl. lind, coll. pl. lennath. Note: a homophone means ”tuneful, sweet”, 3) #pâd (construct pad), i bâd, pl. paid (i phaid). Isolated from Tharbad ”Crossroad”. 4) tê (i dê, o thê) (line), pl. tî (i thî), coll. pl. ?teath.

mên

way

(i vên, construct men, in compounds -ven) (road), pl. mîn (i mîn)

naergon

woeful lament

(pl. naergoen)

naru

red

(analogical pl. nery). The archaic fom narw is also listed (LR:374 s.v. NAR1).

nellad

sound of bells

(pl. nellaid);

nimmida

whiten

nimmida- (i nimmida, in nimmidar), pa.t. nimmint(relative pronoun), see THAT

nimmida

whiten

(i nimmida, in nimmidar), pa.t. nimmint

nod

bind

nod- (i nôd, i nedir) (tie), pa.t. likely *nunt since the root is __ (LR:378).

nod

bind

(i nôd, i nedir) (tie), pa.t. likely ✱nunt since the root is NUT (LR:378).

noe

lament

(noun) *noe (no distinct pl. form). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” nui.

noe

lament

(no distinct pl. form). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” nui.

oeth

noun. war

pen

without

1) pen (lenited ben) (lacking, -less) (WJ:375) Not to be confused with the pronoun pen ”one, somebody, anybody”. When prefixed to a noun, the resulting phrase can be treated as an adjective in that it is lenited (pen- appears as ben-) where an adjective would be lenited. 2)

pen

without

(lenited ben) (lacking, -less) (WJ:375) Not to be confused with the pronoun pen ”one, somebody, anybody”. When prefixed to a noun, the resulting phrase can be treated as an adjective in that it is lenited (pen- appears as ben-) where an adjective would be lenited.

penia

fix

penia- (i benia, i pheniar) (set);

penia

fix

(i benia, i pheniar) (set);

pâd

way

(construct pad), i bâd, pl. paid (i phaid). Isolated from Tharbad ”Crossroad”.

pân

fixed board in a floor

(i bân, o phân, construct pan) (plank), pl. pain (i phain). Not to be confused with the adj. ✱pân ”all”.

raef

net

no distinct pl. form except with article (idh raef), coll. pl. raevath. Note: raef has a side-form raew, but since this also means ”fathom”, raef may be preferred for clarity.

raen

netted

(enlaced). No distinct pl. form. (VT42:12)

rem

net

(mesh), pl. rim (idh rim), coll. pl. remmath. Verb

rem

mesh

rem (net), pl. rim (idh rim), coll. pl. remmath

rem

mesh

(net), pl. rim (idh rim), coll. pl. remmath

remmen

netted

(tangled, woven), pl. #remmin attested (as part of the phrase galadhremmin ennorath, LotR Appendix E)

rest

cut

(ravine, cleft), pl. rist (idh rist)

rhosc

red

(russet, brown), lenited ?throsc or ?rosc *(the lenition product of rh is uncertain)*, pl. rhysc. Cf. also

romru

sound of horns

pl. remry (idh remry) for archaic römry;

síla

shine white

síla- (i híla, i sílar) Adj.

síla

shine white

síla- (i híla, i sílar)

tanc

firm

(adj.) tanc (lenited danc; pl. tainc)

tanc

firm

(lenited danc; pl. tainc)

teitha

write

teitha- (i deitha, i theithar) (draw)

teitha

write

(i deitha, i theithar) (draw)

thala

firm

1) thala (steady, stalwart), pl. ?theili, 2) thand (true, abiding), pl. thaind (VT46:16; notice that the forms “thenid” and “thenin” in LR:388 s.v. STAN represent misreadings of Tolkiens manuscript).

thala

firm

(steady, stalwart), pl. ?theili

thand

firm

(true, abiding), pl. thaind (VT46:16; notice that the forms “thenid” and “thenin” in LR:388 s.v. STAN represent misreadings of Tolkien’s manuscript).

thavron

wright

thavron (carpenter, builder), pl. thevryn, coll. pl. thavronnath.

thavron

wright

(carpenter, builder), pl. thevryn, coll. pl. thavronnath.

thoniel

kindler

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

tê

way

(i dê, o thê) (line), pl. tî (i thî), coll. pl. ?teath.

ú

without

(adverbial prefix) ú-, u- (e.g. udalraph ”without stirrups; stirrupless”, uluithiad *”without quenching” (SD:62) = ”unquenchable”). The prefix ar- has a similiar meaning, as in:

ú

without

u- (e.g. udalraph ”without stirrups; stirrupless”, uluithiad ✱”without quenching” (SD:62) = ”unquenchable”). The prefix ar- has a similiar meaning, as in:

ahto

noun. maker

maker, wright

car-

make, do, build, form

car- (1) vb. "make, do, build, form" (1st pers. aorist carin "I make, build"; the aorist is listed with all pronominal endings in VT49:16, also in pl. and dual forms carir, carit). Regarding the form carize- (PE17:128), see -s #1. Pa.t. carnë (KAR, PE17:74, 144). The infinitival aorist stem carë ("k") (by Patrick Wynne called a "general aorist infinitive" in VT49:34) occurs in ecë nin carë sa "I can do it" (VT49:34), also in áva carë "don't do it" (WJ:371) and uin carë (PE17:68); in the last example Tolkien calls carë an example of the "simplest aorist infinitive", the same source referring to carië as the "general infinitive" of the same verb. Pl. aorist carir "form" in the phrase i carir quettar ("k") "those who form words" (WJ:391, cf. VT49:16), continuative cára, future caruva (PE17:144), carita ("k"), infinitive/gerund "to do" or "doing" (VT42:33), with suffixes caritas "to do it" or "doing it", caritalya(s) "your doing (it)" in VT41:13,17, VT42:33. Past participle #carna, q.v.; VT43:15 also gives the long form carina ("k"), read perhaps *cárina. (Carima as a passive participle may be a mistake, VT43:15.) PE17:68 refers to a "simple past passive participle" of the form carinwa ("kari-nwa"). "Rare" past participle active (?) cárienwa* ("k") "having done" (PE17:68), unless this is also a kind of passive participle (the wording of the source is unclear). Some alternative forms in Fíriel's Song: past tense cárë ("káre") "made"; this may still be an alternative to the better-attested form carnë (LR:362) even in LotR-style Quenya. Cf. ohtacárë "war-made", made war (see #ohtacar-). Also cárië with various suffixes: cárier ("kárier") is translated "they made"; in LotR-style Quenya this could be seen as an augmentless perfect, hence "they have made", "they" being simply the plural ending -r. The literal meaning of cárielto* ("k") must also be "they made" (cf. -lto). Derived adjectives urcárima and urcarnë "hard to make / do", urucarin "made with difficulty" (PE17:154), saucarya "evil-doing" (PE17:68).

ferya-

make ready (promptly)

ferya- vb. "make ready (promptly)" (PE17:181)

norta-

make run, specially used of riding horses or other animals

norta- vb. (1) "make run, specially used of riding horses or other animals", onortanen rocco "I rode a horse", nortanen "I rode" (with ellipsis of object; the prefix o- must apparently be included if the animal one rides on is mentioned as a direct object) (PE17:168)

raita-

make network or lace

raita- 1) vb. "make network or lace" (also rëa-)(VT42:12)

rëa-

make network; make lace

rëa- vb. "make network; make lace" (VT42:12)

carie

making, doing

maita-

verb. to make with art, design, compose

A transitive verb meaning “to make with art, design, compose” in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957 based on the root √MAY “make (in artistic sense)” (PE17/163).

finta-

to make, finish off, or decorate a thing with delicate work

finta- (1) vb. "to make, finish off, or decorate a thing with delicate work" (PE17:17)

maita-

to make with art, design, compose

maita- (2) transitive vb. "to make with art, design, compose" _(PE17:163). _Cf. maitar, maitalë.

tinga-

to twang, make a twang

tinga- vb. (not glossed, evidently meaning *"to twang, make a twang") (TING/TANG)

ferya-

verb. to make ready (promptly), to make ready (promptly), *prepare

car-

verb. do, make

tancata

verb. to make firm, fix

mac-

verb. to hew with a sword, to hew (with a sword), *swing (a sword); [ᴱQ.] to slay; to die

A verb in notes associated with the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60, appearing in its aorist form make “hews with a sword” and derived from the root √MAK “cut, hew with a sharp edge” that was also the basis for sword words.

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s ᴱQ. maka- meant “slay” under the early root ᴱ√MAKA (QL/57), while in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s, ᴱQ. maka- meant “die” with a causative variant ᴱQ. maktya- “kill” (PE14/58). This early root was also the basis for ᴱQ. makil “sword”, so the shifting meanings of the Quenya verb seem to be based on the shift meanings of the root; see √MAK for further discussion.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use mac- as a general word for “hew”, with a particular connotation of “hew with a sword”. Furthermore, I think this verb originally applied to the motion of hewing (= swing a blade) as opposed to Q. nac- for the result of hewing (= cut with a blade), though in practice the two verbs often overlap. I think mac- “hew” is more commonly used, since [ᴹQ.] nac- also means “bite”.

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.

carasta-

verb. to build, to build, construct

A verb meaning “to build” derived from √KAR “do, make” and related to carassë “built fort or dwelling” (PE17/84).

-ina

general 'passive' participle

-ina ending for what Tolkien called "general 'passive' participle" (VT43:15); compare nótina "counted", rácina "broken", hastaina "marred" (q.v.). The stem-vowel is usually lengthened when the ending is added to the stem of a primary verb (as in the two first examples above), though the lengthening fails to occur (or is not denoted) in carina as the passive participle of car- "make, do" (VT43:15).

Tintallë

kindler

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

Tintanië

kindler

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

alta-

grow

[alta- (3) vb. "grow" (VT45:13) or "make grow" (VT45:14)]

ava-

without

ava- (3) prefix "without" (AR2, AWA). In some cases apparently used as a mere negation prefix: The form avalerya in VT41:6 is seemingly a negated form of the verb lerya- "release, set free"; the verb avalerya- is suggested to have the same meaning as the root KHAP = "bind, make fast, restrain, deprive of liberty". Likewise, the verb avalatya- from the same source seems to mean "to close, shut", this being a negated form of a verb *latya- "open" (q.v.)

carnë

red

carnë adj. "red", "scarlet, red" (SA:caran, PE17:154, MC:214, KARÁN - spelt with a k in the two latter sources), not to be confused with the past tense of car- "do, make". Stem carni- as in Carnimírië, Carnistir.

lelya-

go, proceed (in any direction), travel

lelya- (1) vb. "go, proceed (in any direction), travel", pa.t. lendë / elendë (WJ:363, VT14:5, PE17:139) At one point Tolkien assigned a more specific meaning to the underlying root LED: "go away from the speaker or the point in mind, depart" (PE17:52), which would make lelya- a near synonym of auta-. The same source denies that the derivatives of _LED _were used simply for "go, move, travel", but elsewhere Tolkien assigns precisely that meaning to lelya-.

lerya-

release, set free, let go

lerya- vb. "release, set free, let go"; negated avalerya- "bind, make fast, restrain, deprive of liberty" (VT41:5, 6)

lindalë

music

lindalë noun "music". Cf. Ainulindalë "Music of the Ainur". (The word is cited as lindelë in the printed Etymologies, entry LIN2, but according to VT45:27, this is a misreading for lindalë in Tolkien's manuscript.) The word lindalë may argue the existence of a verbal stem #linda- "sing, make music".

mína

desiring to start, eager to go

mína adj. "desiring to start, eager to go", also verb mína- "desire to go in some direction, to wish to go to a place, make for it, have some end in view" (VT39:11)

ohtacar-

káre

#ohtacar- stem of the past tense ohtacárë (-"káre")vb. "war-made", made war (+ allative = make war upon) (LR:47, SD:246; ohtacárië in LR:56). The past tense could probably also be *ohtacarnë with the better-attested pa.t. of car- "make".

quir-

stir

#quir- vb. "stir" or make spin (actually cited as quiri-, perhaps with the connecting vowel of the aorist included); pa.t. quindë (QL:77)

raima

noun. net

A word for “a net” in notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69, derived from the root √RAY “net, knit, contrive network or lace” (VT42/12). Tolkien briefly changed this word to raime “network, lace”, but then wrote “stet [let it stand]” indicating a restoration of the original form (VT42/28 note #24), giving raiwë for “lace” instead (see that entry for discussion). This word was also contrasted with rembë “net (for catching)” on the same page, so it seems raima applied to woven or crafted nets for any purpose, not just catching prey. The word raima “a net” also appeared in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969 as a derivative of √RAY “net, knit (contrive a network)”, but in that (probably earlier) document the root also meant “catch, involve (in a net)” (PE22/159).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. makse “net” based on the early root ᴱ√MAKA [ŊʷAKA] (QL/58).

macar

noun. swordsman; †forger

nahtalë

noun. slaughter

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2022 specifically for Eldamo, an abstract noun form of nahta- “to slay”, serving as a replacement for ᴱQ. makka “slaughter”.

maxo

noun. mire, mire, [ᴹQ.] sticky substance

A word in both the Outline of Phonetic Development (OP1) of the 1940s and the Outline of Phonology (OP2) of the 1950s, where it was glossed “sticky substance, mire” (PE19/48) and “mire” (PE19/101). In both places, it was derived from ✶mazgō, and served to illustrated the sound change whereby [[aq|[z] plus voiced stop became unvoiced]] (zg > sk > ks = x) in Ancient Quenya.

men

noun. way, way, *direction; [ᴹQ.] place, spot [only in compounds]

A noun or word element, most notably appearing in the four cardinal directions formen, hyarmen, númen, and rómen, which Christopher Tolkien translated as “way” in The Silmarillion appendix (SA/men). This is consistent with the later meaning of its root: √MEN “go, move, proceed”, and in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 Tolkien had a primitive form ✶mēn- “a way, a going, a mov[ement]” (PE17/165) which might be the source of Christopher Tolkien’s translation of Q. men.

Conceptual Development: The situation in Tolkien’s earlier writings was different. In The Etymologies of the 1930s ᴹQ. men was translated “place, spot” under the root ᴹ√MEN (Ety/MEN). In this document, it seems the literally meaning of direction words were “✱north-place”, “✱south-place”, etc., as opposed to later “✱north-direction, ✱south-direction”. This can be seen in other words Tolkien used in this period, such as ᴹQ. Ilmen “Place of Light” (SM/241).

This ambiguity continued into Tolkien’s later writings, as can be seen in a 1965 letter to Dick Plotz, where Tolkien translated númen “the direction or region of the sunset” (Let/361). Another example is menel “firmament, high heaven, the region of the stars”, which Tolkien said was “a Q. invention from men (direction, region) + el (the basis of many stars)” in The Road Goes Ever On as published in 1967 (RGEO/65). There are other Quenya words where men refers to a location rather than a direction: ruimen “fireplace, hearth” (PE17/183) and turmen “realm” = “✱mastered-region” (PE17/28), both from the mid-1960s.

However, some words are hard to explain as locations, such as alamen “a good omen on departure”, also from DLN of 1959 (PE17/162). Tolkien used men as an element in the terms coimen “life-year” and olmen “growth-year” in notes from around 1959, which are probably best explained as a “way” or “process” of life or growth (NM/84-85). However the stems of these words ended in mend-, so their element men may be different from what is seen in formen, etc. As another wrinkle, Tolkien regularly used nómë to mean “place” in his later writings, as in sinomë “in this place [= here]” (LotR/967) and tanomë “in that place [= there]” (VT49/11).

It is hard to determine how much of this variation is due to conceptual vacillation on Tolkien’s part. My best guess of the timelime is that:

• In the 1930s men meant “place, spot”, and the root ᴹ√MEN was not verbal (Ety/MEN).

• In the 1940s Tolkien decided that √MEN was verbal, meaning {“intend” >>} “go” (PE22/103).

• By the 1950s Tolkien reformulated men to mean “way, a going” in keeping with the new meaning of the root (PE17/165). In this period Tolkien also introduced nómë “place”.

• By the 1960s Tolkien partially reversed himself, deciding men could mean either “way, direction” and “place, region”, but without abandoning nómë.

Neo-Quenya: The word men is somewhat contentious in Neo-Quenya. The word men is a very popular element for “place” in many neologisms (especially older ones), such as ᴺQ. natsemen “website = ✱web-spot”, ᴺQ. tirmen “theater = ✱watch-place” and ᴺQ. mótamen “office = ✱work-place”. However, others feel that this sense has been entirely replaced by nómë, so that men in such compounds should be replaced by a suffix ᴺQ. -non (-nom-).

Given this ambiguity, I would use men only for “way, ✱direction” as a standalone word, and would instead use nómë = “place”. However, given Tolkien’s vacillations as described above, I would allow the use of men as “place, spot, region” in compounds [perhaps originally conceived of as a destination], though I think ᴺQ. -non “-place” is also fine.

ohta

noun. war

áya

noun. awe

-enca

without, -less

-enca suffix "without, -less" (PE17:167), cf. nec-, q.v.

-ldë

kindler

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

Carmë

art

Carmë("k")noun "art" (UT:459); used = "structure" in sundocarmë ("k") "Base-structure", q.v. under sundo.

aira

red, copper-coloured, ruddy

aira (1) adj. "red, copper-coloured, ruddy" (GAY)

ala-

verb. grow

arauco

powerful, hostile, and terrible creature; demon

arauco ("k")noun "a powerful, hostile, and terrible creature; demon" (variant of rauco). Tolkien's earlier "Qenya" has araucë "demon" (WJ:415, LT1:250)

au-

without

au- (3) privative prefix, = "without" (AWA)

ava-

verb. refuse, forbid

avaquet-

refuse, forbid

avaquet- ("q")vb. "refuse, forbid" (KWET)

calta-

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

This causative verb meaning “kindle, cause to shine” was based on the root √KAL “light; shine” and had a lengthy history in Tolkien’s Elvish languages. ᴱQ. kalta- “kindle, set light to” first appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44), but in The Etymologies of the 1930s ᴹQ. kalta- was only glossed “shine” (Ety/KAL). However in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 kaltā́ was given as an example of causative verbs and glossed “cause to shine, light up, or kindle (lamp etc.)” (PE22/114). In Common Eldarin: Verb Structure from the early 1950s (primitive) kalta- was glossed “cause to shine, kindle” (PE22/156). This verb also appeared in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969 as an element in the adjective Q. lacaltaima “not possible to be kindled”.

cambë

noun. hand, (hollow of) hand

canta

shape

canta (2) _("k") noun"shape" (PE17:175), also used as adj._ "shaped", also as quasi-suffix -canta ("k") "-shaped" (KAT)

carne (carni-)

adjective. red

cat-

verb. shape

shape, fashion

cáro

doer, actor, agent

[cáro] ("k")noun "doer, actor, agent" (KAR; replaced by tyaro). In the Etymologies as printed in LR, the accent of the word cáro was omitted (VT45:19).

cúna-

verb. to bend

A verb for “to bend” based on the adjective Q. kúna “bent, curved” appearing in the Markirya poem of the 1960s (MC/223).

Conceptual Development: Versions of the poem from around 1930 had ᴱQ. lunga(na)- for “bend” (MC/214), more exactly meaning “sag, bend down, hang heavy” (PE16/75) and thus clearly based on ᴱQ. lungo or lunga “heavy” (PE13/163; PE16/75). Another poem from this same period had ᴱQ. kauta- “to bend” (MC/216; PE16/100).

fainu-

release

fainu- vb. "release" (LT1:250). Rather lerya- or sen- in Tolkien's later Quenya.

har-

verb. dwell, abide, reside permanently

hlón

sound

hlón noun "sound", "a noise" (VT48:29). Also hlóna. The stem of hlón is apparently hlon- if hloni "sounds" in WJ:394 is its plural form.

hwesta-

to puff

hwesta- (2) vb. "to puff" (SWES)

hérë

lordship

hérë noun "lordship" (LT1:272)

lamma

sound

lamma noun "sound" (LAM)

lenna-

go

lenna- vb. "go", pa.t. lendë "went" (LED; cf. lelya-). In the Etymologies as printed in LR, the word lenna- wrongly appears as **linna-; see VT45:27.

lenu-

stretch

lenu- vb. "stretch" (LT2:341)

lin-

sing

[lin- (2) vb. "sing" (GLIN, struck out)]

lindalë

noun. music

lindelë

music

lindelë noun "music" (LIN2, LT1:258 lindalë in Ainulindalë). According to VT45:27, lindelë in the printed Etymologies (entry LIN2) is a misreading for lindalë in Tolkien's manuscript.

lindë-

sing

lindë- vb. ?"sing" (LT1:258; in LotR-style Quenya lir- or #linda-)

luhta-

verb. to bow, to bow, *curve

A verb for “bow” derived from primitive ✶luʒu appearing in notes from 1968 (VT47/35). For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use this verb for transitive “bow, ✱curve” (something) = “cause to curve”, as opposed to ᴹQ. kuv- for “to bow” (the body).

láma

noun. sound, sound; [ᴹQ.] ringing sound, echo

láma#

noun. sound

sound

lé

way

lé (1) noun "way" = "method, manner" ("as in that is not As way"). Not to be confused with lé as a stressed form of le = plural "you"; Tolkien was himself dissatisfied with this clash (PE17:74).

macar

swordsman

macar ("k") (1) noun "swordsman" (VT39:11). In Menelmacar (see menel). According to VT41:10, macar is literally "forger" (derived from maca-, q.v.), "often used in later use of a warrior".

macar

tradesman

macar ("k") (2) noun "tradesman" (MBAKH)

maxe

noun. meat

maxo

noun. sticky substance

sticky substance, mire

maxë

dough

maxë ("ks") noun "dough" (MASAG, VT45:32)

mectar

swordsman

mectar _("k")_noun"Swordsman". In Telimectar ("k"). (LT1:268; in LotR-style Quenya mehtar, also macar)

men

way

men (2) noun "way" (SA) or "place, spot" (MEN)

men-

go

#men- (4) vb. "go" (VT47:11, cf. VT42:30, VT49:23), attested in the aorist (menë) in the sentence imbi Menel Cemenyë menë Ráno tië "between Heaven and Earth goes the path of the Moon". In the verb nanwen- "return" (or go/come back), -men- is changed to -wen- following nan- "back" (etymological form cited as nan-men-, PE17:166). In examples from VT49:23, 24, Tolkien used men- in the sense of "go as far as": 1st person sg. aorist menin (menin coaryanna "I arrive at [or come/get to] his house"), endingless aorist menë, present tense ména- "is on point of arrival, is just coming to an end", past tense mennë "arrived, reached", in this tense usually with locative rather than allative (mennen sís "I arrive[d] here"), perfect eménië "has just arrived", future menuva "will arrive". All of these examples were first written with the verb as ten- rather than men-, Tolkien then emending the initial consonant.

milya

soft, gentle, weak

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

milyar

noun. soft

soft [sonants]

miquelis

soft, sweet kiss

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

mussë

soft

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

mussë

adjective. soft

má

noun. hand

hand

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.

má

noun. hand

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.

máca

each, every

máca pron. "each, every" (GL:41); rather ilya in Tolkien's later Quenya

nahta-

slay

nahta- (1) verb "slay" (nahtan "I slay"). Possible variant #nehta- see #nehtar. Passive participle nahtana in the phrase nahtana ló Túrin *"slain by Turin". (VT49:24)

nahta-

verb. slay

naina-

lament

naina- vb. "lament" (NAY), also reduplicated nainaina- (VT45:37). Gerund nainië, "lament" as a noun (RGEO:66)

nainië

noun. lament, lament, *lamentation

nairë

lament

nairë noun "lament" (NAY)

nasar

red

nasar adj. "red" (in Vanyarin Quenya only). Adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399)

nec-

without, -less

nec- prefix "without, -less" (PE17:167), cf. -enca, q.v.

nec-

prefix. without

ninquita-

shine white

ninquita- ("q")vb. "shine white" (NIK-W)

ninquitá-

whiten

ninquitá- ("q")vb. "whiten" (NIK-W)

noi

lament

noi noun "lament" (NAY)

nonda

hand, especially in [?clutching]

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

nyéna-

lament

nyéna- vb. "lament" (LT1:262). Compare naina- in Tolkiens later Quenya.

ohta

noun. war

war, hostility

ohta

war

ohta noun "war" (OKTA, KOT > KOTH). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, ohta was also the name of tengwa #15 (VT46:7), but Tolkien would later call this letter anca instead changing its value from ht to nc.

ohta

noun. war

ol-

grow

ol- vb. "grow" (VT45:13; this may be a primitive root rather than a Quenya verb)

ola-

verb. grow

panya-

fix, set

panya- vb. "fix, set" (PAN). The verb napan- (q.v.), "add" or literally *"to-set", may argue the existence of a shorter stem #pan- as well.

pen

without, not having

[pen prep. "without, not having" (PE17:171). Cf. Ú #1.]

raima

net

raima noun "net" (VT42:12)

rauco

powerful, hostile, and terrible creature

rauco ("k") noun "a powerful, hostile, and terrible creature", "very terrible creature", especially in the compound Valarauco noun "Demon of Might" _(WJ:415, VT39:10, cf. SA:raukor. In the Etymologies, stem RUK, the gloss is "demon".)_ Longer variant arauco. The plural form Valaraucar "Balrogs" seems to contain the variant rauca.

remba-

net, entrap

remba- vb. "net, entrap" (VT42:12)

rembë

mesh

rembë noun "mesh" (Appendix E, in a footnote), "hunter's or fisher's net" (VT42:29)

rissë

cut

rissë noun? The word is not clearly glossed but apparently means "cut" or "cleft" (ravine), the cognate of the final element of Imladris, Sindarin name of Rivendell. (PE17:87)

rista

cut

rista (2) noun "cut" (RIS), cf. #1 above.

sanda

firm, true, abiding

sanda (þ) (1) adj. "firm, true, abiding" (STAN)

sesta-

to liken, compare

sesta- vb. "to liken, compare" (QL:82)

tana-

to show, indicate

tana- (2) vb. "to show, indicate" (MR:350, 385, 471) (cf. the demonstrative tana "that")

tanca

firm, fixed, sure

tanca ("k")adj. "firm, fixed, sure" (TAK)

tec-

write

tec- vb. "write" (Etym gives the form tecë"writes", evidently the 3rd person aorist) (TEK)

tehta

mark, sign

tehta noun "mark, sign" (TEK, VT39:17, Appendix E), especially diacritics denoting vowels in Fëanorian writing (pl. tehtar is attested); these diacritics are explicitly called ómatehtar "vowel-marks", q.v.

tulca

firm, strong, immovable, steadfast

tulca (1) ("k") adj. "firm, strong, immovable, steadfast" (TULUK)

tulca-

fix, set up, establish

tulca- (2) ("k") vb. "fix, set up, establish" (LT1:270)

tyaro

doer, actor, agent

tyaro noun "doer, actor, agent" (KAR)

vand-

way, path

vand- noun "way, path" (LT1:264; a final vowel would seem to be required, but in Tolkien's later Quenya, the words tië or mallë are to be preferred)

vanya-

go, depart, disappear

vanya- (2) vb. "go, depart, disappear", pa.t. vannë (WAN). The verb auta- may have replaced this word in Tolkien's later conception.

venië

shape, cut

venië noun? "shape, cut" (LT1:254)

venwë

shape, cut

venwë noun? "shape, cut" (LT1:254)

yelca

sword

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

áya

awe

áya noun "awe" (PM:363)

ú

without, destitute of

ú (1) adv. and prep. "without, destitute of" (VT39:14). Usually followed by genitive: ú calo "without light" (cala). In one source, ú is seemingly also used as a negative verb "was not" (VT49:13), but Tolkien revised the text in question.

hérë

noun. lordship

leryalë

noun. release

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2018 specifically for Eldamo as a replacement for ᴱQ. erefainu “release”. It is simply a noun form of lerya- “to release”.

manco

noun. tradesman

maxar

noun. cook

teith

noun. mark

cared

gerund noun. making, doing

ceredir

noun. doer, maker

echad-

verb. to fashion, make

rada-

verb. to make a way, find a way

tangada-

verb. to make firm, confirm, establish

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)

nartha-

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

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

magol

noun. sword

tanc

adjective. firm, firm; [ᴱN.] steady, steadfast; [G.] settled

moe

adjective. soft, pliant

moeas

noun. dough

A word appearing as N. moeas “dough” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, an elaboration of primitive ᴹ✶mazgē (probably ✱mazgassē) under the root ᴹ√MASAG “knead” (Ety/MASAG).

Neo-Sindarin: It is common to adapt this word as ᴺS. maeas for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, since the diphthong oe < older ai in Noldorin of the 1930s generally became ae in Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s: compare N. oel “lake” vs. S. ael. However, the word moeas < ✱mazgassē has other phonological difficulties, since the phonetic developments of ancient zg were also different in Sindarin. See the entry on how [[s|[zb], [zg] became [ðβ], [ðɣ]]] for further discussion, as well as (rejected) N. madhias “softness” which shows the expected developments (EtyAC/MASAG). I personally retain ᴺS. maeas “dough” and assume it is the result of alternate developments, but ᴺS. madhias “dough” would be a reasonable alternative that better fits later Sindarin phonology.

maethon

noun. sword

andeith

noun. long-mark, sign used in writing alphabetic tengwar over a vowel, to indicate that it is lengthened.

auth

noun. war, battle

banga-

verb. to trade, to trade, *sell

A verb in The Etymologies of the 1930s appearing as {bactha- >>} banga- “trade” under the root ᴹ√MBAKH “exchange” (Ety/MBAKH).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. bag- “sell, trade” that Tolkien indicated was originally related to G. bad- “travel” (GL/21). Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s had ᴱN. bag- {“sell” >>} “to sell, trade” (PE13/138).

cam

noun. hand

cam

noun. hand

camb

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

caran

adjective. red

caran

adjective. red

caron

adjective. red

chwest

noun. puff, breath, breeze

coll

adjective. (golden) red

dag-

verb. to slay

dortha-

verb. to dwell, stay

gala-

verb. to grow

gar-

verb. to hold, have

gerin

verb. I hold, I have

glir-

verb. to sing, trill, to recite a poem

The form glin in the Etymologies is a misreading according to VT/45:15

goer

adjective. red, copper-coloured, ruddy

gwedh-

verb. to bind

gwî

noun. net, web

leithia-

verb. to release

leithian

noun. release, freeing, release from bondage

lheithian

noun. release, freeing, release from bondage

lheitho

verb. to release

liria-

verb. to sing

liss

noun. soft

maetha-

verb. to fight

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

moe

adjective. soft

moeas

noun. dough

mō

noun. hand

ON. hand

naru

adjective. red

naru

adjective. red, [fiery] red

narw

adjective. red

nella-

verb. to sound (of bells)

nimmid

verb. to whiten

osgar-

verb. to cut round, to amputate

othlon

noun. paved way

othlond

noun. paved way

penia-

verb. to fix, to set

rhest

noun. cut

rhest

noun. cut

rhista-

verb. to cut

rhista-

verb. to rend, rip

rhomru

noun. sound of horns

rhû

noun. loud-sound, trumpet-sound

tanc

adjective. firm

teitha-

verb. to write

thand

adjective. firm, true, abiding

Misreading thenid, thenin rectified according to VT/46:16

thann

adjective. firm, true, abiding

Misreading thenid, thenin rectified according to VT/46:16

mapa

noun. hand

car-

verb. to do

mascu

noun. mire

camba

noun. hand

mascu

noun. mire

mire

má

noun. hand

nasar

adjective. red

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).

azga Reconstructed

noun. war

A hypothetical noun for “war” appearing as an element in the verb azgarâ- “to wage war”, as suggested by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne (VSH/24), though as others have suggested (AL/Adûnaic, EotAL/ZAG’R) it could equally well be azgar.

mag- Speculative

verb. to build

A hypothetical verb from which the agental-formation magân “wright, ✱builder” is derived, itself attested only as an element in the name Balkumagân “Shipwright”. It may be related to the Elvish root ᴹ√MAG “use, handle”, as suggested by Andreas Moehn (EotAL/MAG).

nitir- Reconstructed

verb. to kindle

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