man

pronoun. *what, who

man

pronoun. (?) what?

ma

adjective. good

_ adj. _good. Archaic and obsolete except as interjection 'good, excellent, that's right'.

ar·phent rían tuor·na: man agorech?

*and said Rían to Tuor: what have we done?

dîr

noun. man, man, [N.] adult male; agental suffix

A word for “man” as a male person, attested only as an element in compounds or as (archaic?) ndir (PE17/60). This word likely refers to male individuals of all races including Elves, Men, Dwarves and so forth, much like its Quenya cognate Q. nér. This word must have been derived from the primitive subjective form ✶ndēr of the root √N(D)ER “male person”, where the ancient long ē became ī, and the initial cluster nd- became d-, though the ancient cluster would still be reflected in mutated forms, such as in i nîr “the man” rather than ✱✱i dhîr.

Conceptual Development: Perhaps the earliest precursor to this word is (archaic) G. †drio “hero, warrior” with variants driw, driodweg and driothweg, a cognate of ᴱQ. nēr (GL/22). This Gnomish word was derived from primitive ᴱ✶n’reu̯, where the initial nr- became dr-. At this early stage, the root was unstrengthened ᴱ√NERE (QL/65), as reflected in (archaic) ᴱN. nîr “hero, prince, warrior-elf” in the Early Noldorin Dictionary of the 1920s (PE13/164).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s the root became ᴹ√DER “adult male, man” of any speaking race and the derived form was N. dîr (Ety/DER). However, in this document Tolkien said:

> EN †dîr surviving chiefly in proper names (as Diriel older Dirghel [GYEL], Haldir, Brandir) and as agental ending (as ceredir “doer, maker”) ... In ordinary use EN has benn [for “man”] (properly = “husband”).

Thus in the scenario described in The Etymologies, dîr “man” was archaic and used only as an element in names or as a suffix. In ordinary speech it was replaced by N. benn, which used to mean “husband” but now meant “man”, while the word for “husband” became N. hervenn (Ety/BES). It is unlikely Tolkien imagined this exact scenario in later Sindarin, however, since the 1930s root for benn was ᴹ√BES “wed”, but by the 1960s the root for husband/wife/marry words had become √BER.

Neo-Sindarin: Since the status of N. benn is questionable given ᴹ√BES >> √BER, many Neo-Sindarin writers prefer to use S. ✱dîr as the Sindarin word for man. I am of the opinion that both dîr and benn are acceptable for “man, male person”. This is because I prefer to retain ᴹ√BES as the root for “marry, wed”, since it is the best basis for attested husband/wife words in (Neo) Sindarin.

adanedhel

masculine name. Elf-man

A name given to Túrin in Nargothrond for his noble, Elf-like nature, translated “Elf-man” (S/210). It is a compound of Adan “man” and Edhel “Elf” (SA/adan, edhel).

brandir

masculine name. *Noble Man

6th and last chief of the House of Haleth, who became the rival of Túrin (S/216). His name is a combination of brand “lofty, noble” and dîr “man”, hence: “✱Noble Man”.

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, his name was given as G. Tamar (LT2/101). In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s his name changed to N. Brandir and remained so thereafter (SM/129). In The Etymologies, this name was given as a compound of N. brann “lofty, noble” and N. dîr “man”, which is the source of the derivation given above (Ety/BARÁD, DER).

drúadan

proper name. Wose, (lit.) Wild-man

The full Sindarin word for “Wose”, a compound of Drû “Wose” and Adan “Man” (PM/324, UT/385), also translated as “Wild Man” (PE17/99, WR/352).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, the name N. Druadan appeared with a short u (WR/352). It also had a short u in Tolkien’s Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s (PE17/99), but had a long ú in later writings.

dúnadan

proper name. Man of the West

Sindarin term for a “Man of the West”, the descendants of the Elf-friends of Beleriand and Númenor (LotR/233). This name is a combination of dûn “west” and Adan “Man” (SA/andúnë, adan; PE17/18).

Conceptual Development: In an early version of Glorfindel’s greeting to Aragon, this term was N. Torfir (TI/61), and throughout the Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, the most common term for “High Men” was ᴹQ. Tarkil (TI/84, WR/310). It was not until very late in the drafts that the terms Dúnadan/Dúnedain appeared (WR/363 note #6).

randir

noun. wanderer, wandering man, pilgrim

The Sindarin word for “wanderer”, also translated “wandering man, pilgrim”, a combination of √RAN “wander” and dîr “man” (PE17/60; VT42/13). It was most notably used in Gandalf’s name Mithrandir “Grey Pilgrim, Grey Wanderer” (LotR/670, 827). In one place the final syllable had a long í: randír (VT42/13); this is peculiar since long vowels usually shorten in final syllables.

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. amrog “nomand, wanderer”, with feminine variant G. amraith or amrad, based on G. amra- “go up and down = wander” (GL/19). A possible Gnomish plural form amruith appears in amruith-torni “✱gipsies”; see that entry for details. The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. rhandir “wanderer, pilgrim” under the ᴹ√RAN “wander, stray” (Ety/RAN), the same as its later form except with the Noldorin-only sound change of initial r becoming voiceless rh.

Adanedhel (Túrin)

noun. man-elf

adan (“man”) + edhel (“elf”)

Aradan

noun. king-man

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

D

'Western Man

únadan, pl1. D**únedain _n. _lit. 'Western Man, Man of West(ernesse)' (Dún-adan), the three Houses of Men. Used in Rivendellas a name of Aragorn. Q. pl1. Núnatani. _Ai na vedui Dúnadan. Mae g'ovannen. _'Ah! At last, Dúnadan** ! Well met !'. >> adan

Elladan

noun. elf-man

ell (from CE *eldā- connected or concerned with the stars) + adan (“a man from one of the three houses of the Edain”)

drû

noun. wild man, Wose, Púkel-Man

In PE/11:31, an older Gnomish word drû, drui meant "wood, forest", and in PE/13:142, the early Noldorin word drú was assigned the meaning "dark". Drû pl. Drúin later came to be used for the name of the Woses, with other derivatives (Drúadan, etc.). "Wose" is actually the modernization of an Anglo-Saxon word wasa only found in the compound wudu-wasa "wild man of the woods", cf. UT/385 sq. In the drafts of the "Ride of the Rohirrim" in WR/343-346, the Woses first appeared as "the dark men of Eilenach". Though internally said to derive from drughu in their own tongue, Tolkien's choice for the Sindarin name of the Woses was apparently influenced by earlier meanings assigned to this word

elladan

masculine name. Elf-man

Son of Elrond (LotR/227). This name is translated “Elf-man”, a combination of archaic Sindarin †Ell “elf” and Adan “man” (Let/281-2).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this character was first named N. Elboron (WR/297). Earlier still, the name Ilk. Elboron used as a name for a son of Dior (LR/147). Later on, Elboron was used as the name of the son of Faramir (PM/221).

randir

wandering man

_ n. _wandering man, pilgrim. >> Mithrandir

mân

departed spirit

(i vân, construct man), pl. main (i main)

mân

departed spirit

mân (i vân, construct man), pl. main (i main)

curunír

noun. wizard, wizard, [N.] man of craft

@@@ a compound of curu “skill, craft” (SA/curu) and the agental suffix -n(d)ir

Dúnadan

noun. Man of the west, Númenórean

abonnen

noun/adjective. man, one born later than the Elves, a human being (elvish name for men)

adan

noun. man, one of the Second People (elvish name for men)

adanadar

noun. man, one of the Fathers of Men

aphadon

noun. man (elvish name for men)

curunír

noun. man of craft, wizard

drúadan

noun. wild man, one of the Woses

ellon

noun. elf-man

ell (from CE *eldā- connected or concerned with the stars) + on (traditional ending for male names)

ellon

noun. Elf-man

gwaith

noun. man power, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people

ioron

noun. old man

thalion

noun. hero, dauntless man (especially as surname of Húrin Thalion)

Baranor (man of Gondor)

Baranor (man of Gondor)

Baranor was likely named after the first name Man of the same name. It could mean various things:

gwaith

noun. manhood

adanath

noun. men

adaneth

noun. (mortal) woman

arwen

noun. noble woman

bess

noun. (young) woman

echil

noun. human being

dîr

man

1. (adult male of any speaking race) dîr (dír-, also agentive ending -dir or -nir; with article, i nîr, hard mutation as in o ndîr), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndîr); coll. pl. díriath. Also benn (i venn, construct ben), pl. binn (i minn). The latter is in archaic language used = "husband" (the etymological meaning). The ending -we in names may also express ”being, man, person”. 2) (mortal human as opposed to Elf) Adan (pl. Edain; the coll. pl. Adanath is attested). The word Adan came to be used primarily of a member of the Three Houses of the Edain, not of the mortal race of Men in general.

dîr

man

(dír-, also agentive ending -dir or -nir; with article, i nîr, hard mutation as in o ndîr), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndîr); coll. pl. díriath. Also benn (i venn, construct ben), pl. binn (i minn). The latter is in archaic language used = "husband" (the etymological meaning). The ending -we in names may also express ”being, man, person”.

adan

man

(pl. Edain; the coll. pl. Adanath is attested). The word Adan came to be used primarily of a member of the Three Houses of the Edain, not of the mortal race of Men in general.

bôr

trusty man

(boron-) (i vôr, construct bor) (steadfast man, faithful vassal), pl. *b**ŷr* for older beryn, i meryn (archaic böryn, i möryn). In ”Noldorin”, the older pl. forms were berein, beren.

bôr

trusty man

bôr (boron-) (i vôr, construct bor) (steadfast man, faithful vassal), pl. bŷr for older beryn, i meryn (archaic böryn, i möryn). In ”Noldorin”, the older pl. forms were berein, beren.

bôr

trusty man

bôr (boron-) (i vôr, construct bor) (steadfast man, faithful vassal), pl. bŷr (i mŷr) for older beryn, i meryn (archaic börin, i mörin). In ”Noldorin”, the older pl. forms were berein, beren.

bôr

steadfast man

bôr (boron-) (i vôr, construct bor) (trusty man, faithful vassal), pl. bŷr (i mŷr) for older beryn, i meryn (archaic börin, i mörin). In ”Noldorin”, the older pl. forms were berein, beren.

bôr

steadfast man

bôr (boron-) (i vôr, construct bor) (trusty man, faithful vassal), analogical pl. pl. bŷr (i mŷr) for older beryn, i meryn (archaic börin, i mörin). In ”Noldorin”, the older pl. forms were berein, beren.

bôr

steadfast man

(boron-) (i vôr, construct bor) (trusty man, faithful vassal), pl. *b**ŷr* (i m**ŷr) for older beryn, i meryn (archaic börin, i mörin). In ”Noldorin”, the older pl. forms were **berein, beren.

thalion

dauntless man)

o used as noun DAUNTLESS MAN) thalion (steadfast, strong; hero), pl. thelyn.

fair

mortal man

(human) fair (fír-), pl. fîr, coll. pl. firiath. Archaic sg. feir (WJ:387). Wheareas the above-mentioned terms are apparently gender-neutral, the following are gender-specific:

rhavan

wild man

(non-Edain human) rhavan (?i thravan or ?i ravan the lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhevain (?idh revain) (WJ:219). The following terms apparently apply to ”men” of any speaking race:

rhavan

wild man

(non-Edain human) rhavan (?i thravan or ?i ravan the lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhevain (?idh revain) (WJ:219). Also (of a Drúadan) drû (i dhrû), pl. drúin (in drúin), coll. pl. drúath (UT:385). Also compounded as Drúadan (i Dhrúadan), pl. Drúedain (in Drúedain). Cf. also Û-

Dúnadan

man of the west

(Númenórean) Dúnadan (i Núnadan), pl. Dúnedain (i Ndúnedain) (WJ:378, 386).

Dúnadan

man of the west

(Númenórean) Dúnadan (i Núnadan), pl. Dúnedain (i Ndúnedain) (WJ:378, 386)

curunír

man of craft

(i gurunír, o churunír) (wizard), no distinct pl. form except with article (i churunír), coll. pl. ?curuníriath.

curunír

man of craft

curunír (i gurunír, o churunír) (wizard), no distinct pl. form except with article (i churunír), coll. pl. ?curuníriath

curunír

man of craft

curunír (i gurunír, o churunír) (wizard), no distinct pl. form except with article (i churunír), coll. pl. ?curuníriath.

dírnaith

man-spearhead

(wedge-formation in battle) dírnaith (i nírnaith, o ndírnaith), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndírnaith). (UT:282)

dírnaith

man-spearhead

(wedge-formation in battle) dírnaith (i nírnaith, o ndírnaith), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndírnaith). (UT:282);

dírnaith

man-spearhead

(i nírnaith, o ndírnaith), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndírnaith). (UT:282)

dúnadan

man of the west

(i Núnadan), pl. Dúnedain (i Ndúnedain) (WJ:378, 386).

dúnadan

man of the west

(i Núnadan), pl. Dúnedain (i Ndúnedain) (WJ:378, 386)

ellon

elf-man

ellon (pl. ellyn),

ellon

elf-man

ellon (pl. ellyn) (WJ:363-64, 377).

ellon

elf-man

(pl. ellyn)

erchammon

one-handed man

*erchammon (pl. erchemmyn). The spelling used in the source is ”erchamon” (VT47:7)

firion

mortal man

firion (pl. firyn).

firion

mortal man

firion (pl. firyn) and

firion

mortal man

(pl. firyn).

rhavan

wild man

(?i thravan or ?i ravan – the lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhevain (?idh revain) (WJ:219). – The following terms apparently apply to ”men” of any speaking race:

rhavan

wild man

(?i thravan or ?i ravan – the lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhevain (?idh revain) (WJ:219). Also (of a Drúadan) drû (i dhrû), pl. drúin (in drúin), coll. pl. drúath (UT:385). Also compounded as Drúadan (i Dhrúadan), pl. Drúedain (in Drúedain). Cf. also

thalion

dauntless man

(hero), pl. thelyn. Also used as an adj. ”dauntless, steadfast, strong”. 

thalion

dauntless man

thalion (hero), pl. thelyn. Also used as an adj. ”dauntless, steadfast, strong”.

Druadan

noun. wose

n. wose, wild man.

gwaith

manhood

gwaith (i **waith) (manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith**)

gwaith

manhood

(i ’waith) (manpower, troop of able-bodied men, host, regiment, people, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith)

adaneth

mortal woman

(pl. edenith), also firieth (pl. firith).

bess

woman

bess (i vess, construct bes) (wife), pl. biss (i miss). The word etymologically means ”wife”, but the meaning was generalized.

bess

woman

(i vess, construct bes) (wife), pl. biss (i miss). The word etymologically means ”wife”, but the meaning was generalized.

dess

young woman

(i ness, o ndess, constuct des), pl. diss (i ndiss).

elleth

elf-woman

(pl. ellith) (WJ:363-64, 377)

gwanur

kinsman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanwel

elf of aman

(”departed” Elf), pl. gwenwil (in gwenwil), coll. pl. gwanwellath. (WJ:378) Also gwanwen; see

maenor

noun. craftsman

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2018 specifically for Eldamo, a combination of [N.] maen “skilled” and the agental suffix -or. It is for someone of physical skills, as opposed to curunír for one of mental prowess.

gwanwen

proper name. Departed

A term the Sindar used for the Elves who left Beleriand for Aman, derived from the same root as Q. vanwa: √WĀ/AWA (WJ/366, 378). Another variation was Gwanwel (WJ/378), perhaps incorporating †Ell “Elf”.

Conceptual Development: Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 had a similar form Gwenedhel, with deleted variants {gwenieðel} and {gweineðel} ultimately revised to Caleðel “✱Light Elf” (PE17/140).

bŷr

follower

*bŷr (vassal; construct byr). No distinct pl. form except with article (i mŷr). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” bior, beor. FOLLOWER (used as a term for Mortal Man, the "follower" of the Elves): Aphadon (pl. Ephedyn, coll. pl. Aphadrim) (WJ:387). Also echil (no distinct pl. form); coll. pl. ?echillath

callon

hero

1. callon (i gallon, o challon), pl. cellyn (i chellyn), coll. pl. callonnath; 2) thalion (dauntless man), pl. thelyn. Also used as an adj. ”dauntless, steadfast, strong”.

curunír

wizard

curunír (i gurunír, o churunír) (man of craft), no distinct pl. form except with article (i churunír), coll. pl. curuníriath.

curunír

wizard

(i gurunír, o churunír) (man of craft), no distinct pl. form except with article (i churunír), coll. pl. curuníriath.

thalion

hero

(dauntless man), pl. thelyn. Also used as an adj. ”dauntless, steadfast, strong”.   

thalion

steadfast

thalion (dauntless, strong), pl. thelyn. Also used as a noun ”hero, dauntless man”.

thalion

steadfast

(dauntless, strong), pl. thelyn. Also used as a noun ”hero, dauntless man”.

tín

his

*tín (only attested in lenited form dín, following a noun with article). Possibly, the word also covers ”her(s)” and ”its” as a general 3rd person form. If ”his” refers to the same person as the subject, the form ín* is used instead (e.g. i venn sunc i haw ín** ”the man drank his (own) juice”, but *i venn sunc i haw dín ”the man drank his (somebody elses) juice”.

tín

his

(only attested in lenited form dín, following a noun with article). Possibly, the word also covers ”her(s)” and ”its” as a general 3rd person form. If ”his” refers to the same person as the subject, the form ín is used instead (e.g. ✱i venn sunc i haw ín ”the man drank his (own) juice”, but ✱i venn sunc i haw dín ”the man drank his (somebody else’s) juice”.

ín

his

(pronoun referring to the subject, e.g. ✱i venn sunc i haw ín ”the man drank his [own] juice”, as opposed to ✱i venn sunc i haw dín ”the man drank his [= another’s] juice”)

drû

proper name. Wose

A Sindarin word for “Wose”, a loan word from the Wose’s name for themselves: Drughu (UT/385).

Conceptual Development: In his Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien considered making this word a native Sindarin adjective “savage, wild” derived from the root √DROB, a variant of √SROB from which rhaw “wild” was derived (PE17/99). These roots would produce the Q. cognate (h)róva instead of better established Q. (h)ráva “wild”, so I personally prefer the later derivation of Drû as a loan word from Wos. Drughu.

edhel

noun. Elf

eledh

noun. Elf

ell

noun. Elf

erchamion

masculine name. One-handed

Sobriquet of Beren after his hand was bitten off during his quest for a Silmaril (S/183). The two initial elements of this name are er “one” and a mutated form cham of cam “hand” (SA/er, cam). The second of these is especially interesting, in that it is a rare example of liquid mutation. The meaning of the final element is unclear, but it is probably a variant of the masculine suffix -on. As further evidence of this, Tolkien also wrote Erchamon without the i, and according to Patrick Wynne this was clearly deliberate and not a slip (VT47/7, PE21/86).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales from the 1910s, this name appeared as G. Ermabwed (LT2/34). In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name was revised first to (Ilkorin?) Ermabuin (SM/310), then again to N. Erchamui (LR/146, LR/405). In one place it appeared as Erchamron (Ety/MAP).

As a variation on all these names, the forms N. Er(h)amion or Erchamion appeared as early as the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (LB/119, 121) and also in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/146, 405). In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name appeared as Erhamion (RS/183) and was firmly established in its final form Erchamion by the time of the Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/51, 231).

mad-

verb. to eat

The Sindarin verb for “to eat” derived from the root √MAT of the same meaning (PE17/131; Ety/MAT). In Tolkien’s later writing it appears only in inflected forms, but the verb itself is well established, dating back all the way to G. mad- in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/56). This verb was one Tolkien often used in examples of verb conjugations and as such its inflected forms changed considerably over time, but that is more a topic of the evolution of the Sindarin verb system.

gwanwen

departed

1. (past participle) gwanwen (lenited wanwen; pl. gwenwin), also as noun: a ”departed” one, one of the Elves of Aman: Gwanwen (i **Wanwen), pl. Gwenwin (in Gwenwin) (WJ:378), 2) gwann (dead), lenited wann; pl. gwain**;

gwanwen

departed

(lenited ’wanwen; pl. gwenwin), also as noun: a ”departed” one, one of the Elves of Aman: Gwanwen (i ’Wanwen), pl. Gwenwin (in Gwenwin) (WJ:378)

maer

good

_(”useful” of things _ not of moral qualities) maer (lenited vaer, no distinct pl. form) (fit, useful). For ”good” as an adjective describing human qualities, the word fael ”fair-minded, just, generous” may be considered.

maer

good

(lenited vaer, no distinct pl. form) (fit, useful). For ”good” as an adjective describing human qualities, the word fael ”fair-minded, just, generous” may be considered.

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.

-deid

suffix. his

_3rd sg. poss. suff. his, her.See also the paradigm of poss. suff. in PE17:46. Earlier -ed_. >> -deith, -dyn, -ed, [[]]

-deith

suffix. his

_3rd sg. poss. suff. his, her.See also the paradigm of poss. suff. in PE17:46. Earlier -ed_. >> -deid, -dyn, -ed, [[]]

-dyn

suffix. his

_3rd sg. poss. suff. his, her.See also the paradigm of poss. suff. in PE17:46. Earlier -ed_. >> -deid, -deith, -ed, [[]]

Teler

noun. an Elf, one of the Teleri

abonnen

noun/adjective. born later, born after

ai

pronoun. for those who

anu

adjective. male

A literal interpretation of the Etymologies would class this word as a noun, but David Salo notes that the punctuation in The Etymologies is not always reliable. Noldorin anw cannot be cognate to the Quenya noun hanu (3anû) because the final -u would drop. It must rather be cognate to the Quenya adjective hanwa (3anwâ) attested under the stem INI, where it is also stated that inw, corresponding to Quenya inya "female", has been remodelled after anw. The combination of these two entries, along with the phonological evidences, clearly indicates that anw is actually an adjective

aphadon

noun. follower

aphadon

noun. follower

aphadrim

noun. followers, men (elvish name for men)

bain

good

_ adj. _good, wholesome, blessed, fair (esp. of weather). . This gloss was rejected.

beleg

adjective. large

adj. large, great. Q. melek-.

beleg

adjective. large

adj. large, great, big. . This gloss was rejected.

bess

noun. wife

bŷr

noun. follower, vassal

calben

noun. Elf of the Great Journey (lit. "light person")

calben

noun. all Elves but the Avari

cam

noun. hand

camm

noun. hand

condir

noun. mayor

curunír

noun. wizard

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

drúath

noun. the people of the Drû, the Woses

drû

adjective. savage

adj. savage, wild. Q. hróva. >> Druadan

dôr

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

dôr

noun. land, land, [N.] region where certain people live, [ᴱN.] country; [G.] people of the land

dúnedhel

noun. Elf of the West, Elf of Beleriand (including Noldor and Sindar)

echil

noun. follower

echil

noun. follower

A word for “follower” given as one of the names of Men in Silmarillion drafts of the 1950s (WJ/219), likely based on √KHIL “follow”.

edhel

noun. Elf

edhel

noun. Elf

_ n. _Elf, a general name for all the Elves (since the name Quendi had gone out of use in Sindarin). Probably related to or connected with Q. Elda. >> edhellen

edhel

Elf

pl1. edhil, pl2. edhellim {ð} _n. _Elf. A name used by the Sindar for themselves, characterizing other varieties by an adjective or prefix. >> Aredhel, Thinnedhel

edhel

Elf

{ð} _n. _Elf.

edhel

Elf

d _ n. _Elf. Q. elda.

edhelharn

noun. elf-stone

egladhrim

noun. "The Forsaken", Elves of the Falathrim

eglath

noun. "The Forsaken", Elves of the Falathrim

elen

noun. Elf

ell

noun. elf

n. elf, esp. [?in ?the ?South]. Noldorin form.

elleth

noun. elf-maid

ellon

noun. elf

elvellon

noun. elf-friend

ergammon

masculine name. One-Handed

galadhrim

noun. Elves of Lothlórien

glinnel

noun. Elf, one of the Teleri

golodh

noun. "Deep Elf" or "Gnome", one of the Wise Folk

golodhrim

noun. Deep Elves, Gnomes

gwaith

noun. region, wilderness

gwanwen

adjective. departed, departed, *gone, lost [to time], past

A word for “departed” in the Quendi and Eldar (Q&E) essay from 1959-60 (WJ/378), clearly derived from the root √WĀ “away”. It might be related to the verb gwae- from Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) of 1959 (PE17/148). That verb had an irregular passive participle gwawn or gwanu. The word gwanwen may be a modification of (archaic?) gwanu from DLN to more strongly resemble other passive participles like govannen (LotR/209) or onnen (WJ/387). Alternately, it could be a simple adjective, the Sindarin equivalent of Q. vanwa.

Neo-Sindarin: I would assume that, like its Quenya equivalent, gwanwen has the added connotation of “✱gone, lost [to time], past” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. haim or haithin “gone, departed, lost”, the latter based on the verb G. haitha- “hie, go, fare, walk” (GL/47).

gódhel

noun. "Deep Elf" or "Gnome", one of the Wise Folk

gódhellim

noun. "Deep Elves" or "Gnomes", the Wise Folk

hador

masculine name. Warrior

Leader of the House of Hador, one of the three tribes of the Edain (S/147). In a geneology from 1959, the name seems to be translated “Warrior” in Hador Lorindol “the Warrior Goldenhead”, appearing beneath S. Magor “the Sword” and S. Hathol “the Axe” (WJ/234).

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name appeared as N. Hádor and Hador with both long and short a (LR/146). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, N. hador was translated as “thrower” (Ety/KHAT).

iathrim

noun. Elves of Doriath

iaun

adjective. large

adj. large, extensive, wide, vast, huge. Q. yāna-. >> -ion

iaur

adjective. ancient, old, original

iaur

adjective. older, former

ir

conjunction. (?) when

This word is not translated. It could be related to Quenya íre "when". Some scholars also consider that it could be the form taken by the article i before a vowel, on a pattern similar to ah . To this respect, it might be interesting to note the ir was the allative/dative form of the article in the old Gnomish lexicon, PE/11:9

ithron

noun. wizard

ithron

noun. Wizard

lachend

noun. Deep Elf (Sindarin name for the Ñoldor)

lachenn

noun. Deep Elf (Sindarin name for the Ñoldor)

laegel

noun. a Green Elf

laegeldrim

noun. the people of the Green Elves

laegrim

noun. the people of the Green Elves

mab-

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

maer

good

_ adj. _good.

maer

good

adj. good, proper, excellent. Q. mára good, proper, Q. maira excellent. >> mae-. This gloss was rejected.

maw

noun. hand

min

fraction. one (first of a series)

min

cardinal. one, one, [G.] single

miniel

noun. an Elf, one of the Vanyar

mornedhel

noun. Dark-Elf

mâb

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

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”.

mîn

fraction. one (first of a series)

pen

pronoun. one, somebody, anybody

Usually enclitic and mutated as ben.2

penedh

noun. Elf

randír

noun. wanderer, pilgrim

sador

noun. faithful one

Sador was Túrin's faithful servant. The meaning of this noun is deduced from sadron , assuming that these words are in the same kind of relation as hador and hadron

sadron

noun. faithful one

tawarwaith

noun. Silvan elves

telerrim

noun. the Teleri, a tribe of Elves

thorn

adjective. steadfast

adj. steadfast. Q. thorna, sorna. >> Arathorn

thorn

adjective. steadfast

tíra-

verb. to see

tírad

gerund noun. to see, for the seing

tîn

adjective. his

tîn

pronoun. his

Non-lenited form suggested by Carl Hostetter (VT31/21).

în

adjective. his (referring to the subject)

ódhel

noun. Deep Elf or Gnome, one of the Wise Folk

ódhellim

noun. Deep Elves or Gnomes, the Wise Folk

anu

male

(adj.) *anu, analogical pl. eny. (Archaic anw, pl. ?einw)

anu

male

analogical pl. eny. (Archaic anw, pl. ?einw)

avar

non-eldarin elf

pl. Evair, also called

bâr

land

(dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

calben

elf of the great journey

(i galben, o chalben), pl. celbin (i chelbin).

callon

hero

(i gallon, o challon), pl. cellyn (i chellyn), coll. pl. callonnath

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).

cen

verb. see

cen- (i gên, i chenir), also tíra- (i díra, i thírar), the latter rather meaning “watch”. SEEING #cened (i gened) (sight), pl. cenid (i chenid) if there is a pl. Isolated from cenedril, see mirror, SEEING STONE *gwachaedir (*i 'wachaedir) (palantír), no distinct pl. form. except with article (in gwachaedir); coll. pl. ?gwachaediriath or ?gwachadirnath (the latter assuming that -dir is reduced from older -dirn) The form occurring in the primary source, gwahaedir, must represent the late Gondorian pronunciation with h for ch (PM:186)

cen

see

(i** gên, i** chenir), also tíra- (i** díra, i** thírar), the latter rather meaning “watch”.

cened

seeing

(i gened) (sight), pl. cenid (i chenid) if there is a pl. Isolated from cenedril, see MIRROR.

condir

mayor

condir (i gondir, o chondir), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chondir), coll. pl. ?condiriath

condir

mayor

(i gondir, o chondir), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chondir), coll. pl. ?condiriath

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).

daer

large

daer (great), lenited dhaer, no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means "bridegroom", but has a different lenited form.

daer

large

(great), lenited dhaer, no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means "bridegroom", but has a different lenited form.

daug

warrior

(i naug, o ndaug) (soldier), pl. doeg (i ndoeg), coll. pl. dogath. Compounded as -dog in the name Boldog (= baul-daug, ✱”torment-warrior”)

dond

hand

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

duin

large river

(i dhuin), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nuin), coll. pl. duinath (Names:179, PM:54)

dôr

land

1. dôr (i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413), 2) bâr (dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

dôr

land

(i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413)

dúnedhel

elf of beleriand

(i Núnedhel), pl. *Dúnedhil*** (i Ndúnedhil*). (WJ:378, 386)*

edhel

elf

edhel (pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). _(WJ:363, 377-78; _the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > Elrim_ _may also occur). But since elin also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.

edhel

elf

(pl. edhil). Coll. pl. Edhelrim (or Edhellim) (UT:318). Also †eledh, pl. elidh, coll. pl. eledhrim (Letters:281), also elen, pl. elin, also with coll. pl. eledhrim (elen + rim with the regular change nr > dhr). (WJ:363, 377-78; the shorter coll. pl. Eldrim > *Elrim*** may also occur). But since elin** also means "stars", other terms for "Elf" may be preferred.

edhelharn

elf-stone

(pl. edhelhern) (SD:128-31).

elvellon

elf-friend

(pl. elvellyn, coll. pl. elvellonnath (WJ:412);

erchamion

one-handed

erchamion (pl. erchemyn), also *erchammui, no distinct pl. form. (The word is spelt erchamui in the source.)

eru

the one

isolated from

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).

gwachaedir

seeing stone

(i ’wachaedir) (palantír), no distinct pl. form. except with article (in gwachaedir); coll. pl. ?gwachaediriath or ?gwachadirnath (the latter assuming that -dir is reduced from older -dirn) The form occurring in the primary source, gwahaedir, must represent the late Gondorian pronunciation with h for ch (PM:186) ****

gwann

departed

(dead), lenited ’wann; pl. gwain

hadron

warrior

(i chadron, o chadron), pl. hedryn (i chedryn), coll. pl. hadronnath.

him

steadfast

1. him (abiding), lenited chim, no distinct pl. form. Note that homophones include both the adjective ”cool” and the adverb ”continually”.

him

steadfast

(abiding), lenited chim, no distinct pl. form. Note that homophones include both the adjective ”cool” and the adverb ”continually”.

iaur

ancient

iaur (in compounds ior-, iar-) (old, former), pl. ioer

iaur

ancient

(in compounds ior-, iar-) (old, former), pl. ioer

io

conjunction. when

A neologism coined by Röandil as io “when” posted on 2024-03-19 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), the Sindarin equivalent of Q. yá “when”. In stressed positions, this conjunction might remain iaw. Both of these forms conflict with existing Noldorin words: [N.] io “ago” and [N.] iau “corn”, but that doesn’t preclude their use.

ir

when

?ir (not used in questions but to indicate time, as in ”when I saw you, I was glad”). This is one of several possible interpretations of the word, which occurs in a Sindarin poem untranslated by Tolkien (ir Isil ammen Eruchín…síla, ?”when the Moon shines for us Children of Eru…”, The Lays of Beleriand p. 354). By another interpretation, ir is simply a variant of the definite article.(relative pronoun), see THAT

ir

when

(not used in questions but to indicate time, as in ”when

ir

i

is simply a variant of the definite article.

ithron

wizard

1. ithron (= Quenya istar, one of the order Gandalf belonged to), pl. ithryn, coll. pl. ithronnath (UT:388), 2)

ithron

wizard

(= Quenya istar, one of the order Gandalf belonged to), pl. ithryn, coll. pl. ithronnath (UT:388)

laegel

green-elf

pl. laegil; coll. pl. laegrim or laegeldrim (WJ:385). These forms from a late source would seem to supersede the ”N” forms listed in LR:368 s.v. LÁYAK: *Lhoebenidh* or *Lhoebelidh*. The Green-elves of Beleriand were also called Lindel (pl. Lindil), also Lindedhel (pl. Lindedhil)  *(WJ:385)*.

lefn

elf left behind

pl. lifn.

maethor

warrior

1. maethor (i vaethor), analogical pl. maethyr (i maethyr), 2) (”thrower” or ”hurler”, i.e. of spears or darts) hadron (i chadron, o chadron), pl. hedryn (i chedryn), coll. pl. hadronnath. 3) (primarily Orkish warrior) daug (i naug, o ndaug) (soldier), pl. doeg (i ndoeg), coll. pl. dogath. Compounded as -dog in the name Boldog (= baul-daug, *”torment-warrior”)

maethor

warrior

(i vaethor), analogical pl. maethyr (i maethyr)

maw

hand

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

min

cardinal. one

1. (number ”one” as the first in a series) min, mîn (VT48:6), Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the adjective ”isolated, first, towering”. 2) (number) êr, whence the adjectival prefix er- (alone, lone); 3)

min

one

mîn (VT48:6), Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the adjective ”isolated, first, towering”.

miniel

first elf

(i Viniel), pl. Mínil (i Mínil), coll. pl. Miniellath. (WJ:383)

mornedhel

dark elf

(i Vornedhel), pl. Mornedhil (i Mornedhil). Conceivably the entire word could be umlauted in the pl.: ?Mernedhil. **(WJ:409) Another term for ”Dark Elf” is Dúredhel (i Dhúredhel), pl. Dúredhil (i Núredhil**).

mâb

hand

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

nand

wide grassland

(construct nan) (valley), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath **(VT45:36);

parth

enclosed grassland

(i barth, o pharth) (field, sward), pl. perth (i pherth);

pen

cardinal. one

(indefinite pronoun) (= somebody, anybody) pen (WJ:376); lenited ben. According to one interpretation of the phrase caro den i innas lín from the Sindarin Lords Prayer (VT44:23), this could mean *”let one do your will”, with den (perhaps a lenited form of *ten) as the indefinite pronoun ”one”. However, others interpret den as the accusative form of the pronoun ”it”: ”Do it [, that is:] your will”.

pen

one

(WJ:376); lenited ben. According to one interpretation of the phrase caro den i innas lín from the Sindarin Lord’s Prayer (VT44:23), this could mean ✱”let one do your will”, with den (perhaps a lenited form of ✱ten) as the indefinite pronoun ”one”. However, others interpret den as the accusative form of the pronoun ”it”: ”Do it [, that is:] your will”.

peredhel

half-elf

(pl. peredhil) (PM:256, 348).

randir

wanderer

randir (pilgrim), no distinct pl. form except with article: idh randir. ”” as name of the Moon, see MOON.

randir

wanderer

(pilgrim), no distinct pl. form except with article: idh randir. ”

send

grey-elf

(i hend, o send, construct sen) (probably a term only used by the Noldor, borrowed from Quenya Sinda), pl. sind (i sind), coll. pl. Sendrim (the only attested form).

tûr

victor, victory

(i dûr, o thûr, construct tur) (mastery, power, control; master, lord), pl. t**uir (i th**uir), coll. pl. túrath

êr

one

whence the adjectival prefix er- (alone, lone)

î

interjection. indeed