belaith

adjective. mighty

An adjective for “mighty” derived from the root √MBELEK in a page of notes having to do with “large & small” words, probably from the late 1960s (PE17/115), apparently from the primitive form ✱✶mbelektā with the ekt vocalizing to eith and then the ei becoming ai in the final syllable.

belaith

adjective. mighty

adj. mighty. Q. melehta.

beleg

adjective. great, mighty; large, big, great, mighty; large, big, [ᴱN.] huge

The Sindarin word for “great” which appears in names like Belegaer “Great Sea” (S/37), Belegurth “Great Death” (PM/358), and especially the name Beleg (SA/beleg). Like English, the word beleg can mean “great” = “mighty” as well as “great” = “large” (PE17/115), but unlike English does not mean “great” = “good”.

Possible Etymology: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. beleg “great” derived from ON. beleka “mighty, huge, great” under the root ᴹ√BEL “strong” (Ety/BEL). In this document, the name ᴹQ. Melko was derived from unrelated ᴹ✶Mailikō under the root ᴹ√MIL-IK having to do with greed and lust (Ety/MIL-IK). Notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1930s and 40s show the mutated form feleg [veleg] “large” or “great” (PE22/31; PE23/20, 51).

At some point Tolkien reconceived of the etymology of Melkor’s names as being derived from ✶mbelekōro “He who arises in Might” (WJ/402), and in notes on “large & small” roots from 1968 Tolkien also connected this primitive form to S. beleg (PE17/115). This would imply specialized mutations for beleg as derived from an ancient nasalized stop mb-. However, attested mutations imply the primitive form of beleg began with b-, such as Cûl Veleg “Big Load” (RC/536) or Taur-i-Melegyrn “Forest of the Great Trees” (WJ/185).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would assume the strengthening of the ancient initial consonant to mb- occurred only in Quenya to explain the Sindarin mutations demonstrating primitive initial b-.

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to the earliest forms of the language, no doubt due to the influence of the name Beleg which was equally old. The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. Beleg “mighty, great” (GL/22). ᴱN. beleg “great, large” appeared in the Early Noldorin Grammar of the 1920s (PE13/125), and beleg “huge” appeared in Early Noldorin word-lists from this same period (PE13/138). N. beleg “great” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as noted above (Ety/BEL), and this word continued to appear regularly in Tolkien’s writings thereafter.

belegûr

masculine name. He who arises in Might, (lit.) Mighty Arising

The Sindarin cognate of Q. Melkor “He who arises in Might”, but this name was never used, being replaced with an altered form Belegurth “Great Death” (SI/Melkor, PM/358). The initial element of his name is beleg “mighty” and its final element is derived from primitive ✶ōre “arising”, hence literally: “Mighty Arising” (PE17/115). This Sindarin name indicates that the primitive form of his name must have begun with mb-: ✶Mbelekōre (PE17/115, WJ/402).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, his Qenya name was ᴱQ. Melko and in the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, its cognate was given as G. Belca >> Belcha from a root ᴱ√(M)BELEKE along with derivatives related to fire (GL/18, 22). In the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s, the name was changed to ᴱN. Belegor >> Melegor (LB/21), but in Early Noldorin word lists from the 1920s the name appeared as ᴱN. Maileg (PE13/149).

In The Etymologies from the 1930s, the name changed to N. Maeleg >> Moeleg, derived from the root ᴹ√MIL(IK) along with derivatives related to greed and lust (Ety/MIL-IK). The form N. Moeleg appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/79, 164, 167). In later writings his Sindarin name was usually given as Belegûr, though in one place an alternate form Belchur was also given (PE17/115).

Arveleg

noun. mighty king

ar (prefix “high, noble, royal”) + beleg (“great, mighty”)

beleg

adjective. great, mighty

beleg

mighty

1. beleg (great), lenited veleg, pl. belig; 2) taur (also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, masterful, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

beleg

mighty

(great), lenited veleg, pl. belig

taur

mighty

(also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, masterful, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

ball

adjective. worthy, important; great, mighty

polodhren

adjective. mighty, *powerful (politically)

balrog

proper name. Demon of Might

The great fire demons of Melkor, a combination of the root √BAL “power” with raug “demon” (SA/rauko, val; PE17/48).

Conceptual Development: The name G. Balrog appeared in the earliest Lost Tales (LT1/93) and always kept this form in Tolkien’s writings, but its meaning and etymology evolved over time: G. “a kind of fire demon” (GL/21), ᴱN. “evil demon” (PE13/138), N. “✱Torment Demon” (Ety/ÑGWAL, RUK), an untranslated orc word (LR/404) and finally S. “Mighty Demon” (PE17/48).

beleg

great

beleg (mighty), lenited veleg, pl. belig

taur

vast

taur (also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, masterful, mighty, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

taur

masterful

taur (also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, mighty, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

beleg

great

(mighty), lenited veleg, pl. belig

taur

vast

(also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, masterful, mighty, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

taur

masterful

(also tor-, tar- in compounds) (lofty, high, sublime, noble; vast, mighty, overwhelming, huge, awful), lenited daur, pl. toer. Note: homophones mean ”king (of a people)” and also ”great wood, forest”.

#dae

great

#dae (lenited nae, no distinct pl. form). Isolated from daedhelos "great fear". Note: Homophones mean "shadow, shade" and also "very, exceedingly".

daer

large

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

daer

great

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

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.

tûr

power

tûr (i dûr, o thûr, construct tur) (victory, mastery, control; master, victor, lord), pl. tuir (i thuir), coll. pl. túrath.

bain

good

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

balan

noun. Vala, divine power, divinity

beleg

adjective. large

adj. large, great. Q. melek-.

beleg

adjective. large

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

daer

adjective. great

iaun

adjective. large

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

ma

adjective. good

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

maer

good

_ adj. _good.

maer

good

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

bâl

divine power

construct bal, pl. bail (divinity). Note: the word can also be used as an adj. "divine".

dae

great

(lenited nae, no distinct pl. form). Isolated from daedhelos "great fear". Note: Homophones mean "shadow, shade" and also "very, exceedingly".

daer

large

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

daer

great

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

duin

large river

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

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.

tûr

power

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

melehta

adjective. mighty

An adjective for “mighty” derived from the root √MBELEK in a page of notes having to do with “large & small” words, probably from the late 1960s (PE17/115), apparently from the primitive form ✱✶mbelektā (with [kt] > [ht]). A variant form meletya appears with the 2nd-plural possessive suffix -lda as Meletyalda “your mighty” in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 (WJ/369), likely from the primitive form ✱✶mbelekya (with [kj] > [tj]). This variant form has a more typical primitive adjective suffix ✶-ya, but is inconsistent with the attested Sindarin cognate S. belaith, so I’d stick with melehta for purposes of Neo-Quenya.

melehta

mighty

melehta adj. "mighty" (PE17:115), cf. meletya

meletya

mighty

#meletya adj. "mighty", isolated from meletyalda adjective with suffix "your mighty" = "your majesty" (see -lda; meletya = *"mighty"). In full Aran Meletyalda "king your mighty" = "your majesty" (WJ:369). Compare melehta.

meletya

adjective. mighty

melkor

masculine name. He who arises in Might; (lit.) Mighty Arising

Name of the Valar whose rebellion brought evil into the world (S/16), more commonly known as Morgoth. His name is an ancient compound of the root ✶mbelek- “mighty” and ✶ōre “rising”, so meaning: “Mighty Arising” (MR/350, PE17/115), translated more loosely as “He who arises in Might” (WJ/402, PM/358). This name also appeared in the longer form Melkórë (MR/350, PE17/115). This is one of the names Tolkien generally spelled with a “k” (like Kementári and Tulkas) despite normally representing the [k]-sound with “c” in Elvish, though in a few places he did write Melcor (MR/362, VT49/24).

Possible Etymology: In the name Melkorohíni “Children of Melkor” (MR/416), the ancient stem form for Melkor seems to be Melkoro-. This is consistent with the primitive form ✶Mbelekōro appearing in the Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60 (WJ/402). Elsewhere its primitive form was given as ✶Mbelekōre (PE17/115) and its ablative form appears in notes from the mid-1960s as Melkorello (VT49/6-7), indicating a stem-form of Melkore-, consistent with the long form Melkórë noted above.

Conceptual Development: This name first appeared in the earliest Lost Tales as ᴱQ. Melko without its final -r (LT1/47). This name appeared in the Qenya Lexicon glossed “God of Evil” but without an etymology (QL/60). In the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon, it was connected to the root ᴱ√melek/mbelek/belek, along with ᴱQ. velka “flame” (GL/22). It is likely that Tolkien first considered this name as representative of his “fiery” evil, as his contemporaneous (but later abandoned) name ᴱQ. Yelur was that of “wintery” evil.

In some texts from the 1920s, ᴱQ. Melko was given as the derivative of (unglossed) ᴱ✶Mailiko (PE13/149; PE14/69), and the name ᴹQ. Melko appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s as a derivative of ᴹ✶Mailikō < ᴹ√MIL(IK) “greed, lust” (Ety/MIL-IK). The form Melkor (with an -r) appeared towards the end of Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/332). This was the form used thereafter, starting with Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (MR/7, MR/22 note #5).

taura

adjective. (very) mighty, masterful; vast, of unmeasured might or size

A word in a list of “large & small” roots from the late 1960s glossed “mighty, masterful” along with an equivalent word túrëa, both derived from √TUR “strong, mighty, in power” (PE17/115). In notes associated with the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60, Tolkien glossed it as “very mighty, vast, of unmeasured might or size” as an example of ancient a-fortification of the root √TUR (VT39/10). ᴹQ. taura “mighty” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶taurā under the root ᴹ√TUR “power, control, mastery, victory” (Ety/TUR).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would assume this word applies to general might and majesty, applicable to people but also to inanimate things, as in i taura ëaron “the mighty ocean = the vast and powerful ocean”. I would use túrëa more specifically for someone who is politically powerful, having mastery or influence over others.

Melko

mighty one

Melko masc. name "Mighty One", name of the rebellious Vala, usually called Melkor (MIL-IK, MOR; FS MR:350 confirms that the form Melko_ is still valid in Tolkien's later Quenya, though not interpreted "Greedy One" as in the Etymologies)_

Melkor

mighty-rising

Melkor (spelt Melcor in VT49:6, 24, MR:362), masc. name: the rebellious Vala, the devil of the Silmarillion mythos. Older (MET) form Melkórë "Mighty-rising" (hence the interpretation "He that arises in power"), compare órë #2. Oldest Q form *mbelekōro (WJ:402). Ablative Melkorello/Melcorello, VT49:7, 24. Compounded in Melkorohíni "Children of Melkor", Orcs ("but the wiser say: nay, the slaves of Melkor; but not his children, for Melkor had no children") (MR:416). The form Melkoro- here occurring may incorporate either the genitive ending -o or the otherwise lost final vowel of the ancient form ¤mbelekōro. For Melkors later name, see Moringotto / Moricotto (Morgoth) under mori-.

polda

adjective. big, big; [ᴹQ.] strong, burly; [ᴱQ.] mighty, powerful

An adjective for “big” derived from √pol “large, big (strong)” in a page of notes having to do with “large & small” roots, probably from the late 1960s (PE17/115). Another note from the same period had deleted forms polda, polya, also meaning “big” (PE17/115). The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. polda “strong, burly” derived from the root ᴹ√POL(OD) “physically strong” (Ety/POL). Early Qenya word-lists of the 1920s had ᴱQ. polda “mighty, powerful” along side ᴱQ. poldórea “powerful” (PE16/137), while the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. poldorea “muscular” under the early root ᴱ√POLO “have strength” (QL/75).

Neo-Quenya: For most of Tolkien’s life, the root √POL was connected to physical ability and strength, so for purposes of Neo-Quenya I would assume polda means someone that is both “big and strong” simultaneously, with “burly” being a single English word that approximates its meaning.

taura

mighty, masterful

taura adj. "mighty, masterful" (TUR, PE17:115), "very mighty, vast, of unmeasured might or size" (VT39:10). Cf. túrëa.

aran meletyalda

king your mighty

mára

adjective. good, proper, good, proper; [ᴹQ.] useful, fit, good (of things), [ᴱQ.] excellent; mighty, power, doughty

tirion

noun. watch-tower, watch-tower, tower, [ᴱQ.] (great or mighty) tower; city on a hill

túrëa

adjective. mighty, masterful, mighty, masterful, *having political power

Poldórëa

valiant

Poldórëa adj. "Valiant"; as title of Tulkas replaced by Astaldo (POL/POLOD, MR:146, 149. In GL:64, poldórëa is glossed "mighty", in QL:75, "muscular".)

tirion

watch-tower, tower

tirion noun "watch-tower, tower" (TIR); in early "Qenya" the gloss was "a mighty tower, a city on a hill" (LT1:258). Tirion "Great Watchtower", a city of the Elves in the Blessed Realm (SA:tir; in MR:176 the translation is "Watchful City")

valarauko

proper name. Demon of Might

Quenya name for a Balrog, a combination of some derivative of the root √BAL “power” with rauco “demon” (SA/rauko, val; PE17/48). It also appeared as Valarauka (PE17/48).

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon from the 1910s, their name was either ᴱQ. Valkarauke “✱Cruel Demon” or ᴱQ. Malkarauke “✱Torment Demon” (QL/58, 60, 101-2). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, the second form reappeared as ᴹQ. Malarauko of similar meaning (Ety/RUK), but in this conceptual period it seems to be a loan word from either Noldorin or Orcish (LR/404). The forms Valarauka or Valarauko emerged in Tolkien’s later writing (PE17/48, WJ/415).

-úmë

large

-úmë (3) suffix "large" (of quantity)", as in liyúmë "host" (VT48:32)

Amarië

good

Amarië fem. name; perhaps derived from mára "good" with prefixing of the stem-vowel and the feminine ending -ië (Silm)

Naira

vast, wide, empty

naira (2) adj. "vast, wide, empty" (PE17:27)

Vala

power, god, angelic power

Vala (1) noun "Power, God, angelic power", pl. Valar or Vali (BAL, Appendix E, LT2:348), described as "angelic governors" or "angelic guardians" (Letters:354, 407). The Valar are a group of immensely powerful spirits guarding the world on behalf of its Creator; they are sometimes called Gods (as when Valacirca, q.v., is translated "Sickle of the Gods"), but this is strictly wrong according to Christian terminology: the Valar were created beings. The noun vala is also the name of tengwa #22 (Appendix E). Genitive plural Valion "of the Valar" (FS, MR:18); this form shows the pl. Vali, (irregular) alternative to Valar (the straightforward gen. pl. Valaron is also attested, PE17:175). Pl. allative valannar *"to/on the Valar" (LR:47, 56; SD:246). Feminine form Valië (Silm), in Tolkiens earlier material also Valdë; his early writings also list Valon or Valmo (q.v.) as specifically masc. forms. The gender-specific forms are not obligatory; thus in PE17:22 Varda is called a Vala (not a Valië), likewise Yavanna in PE17:93. Vala is properly or originally a verb "has power" (sc. over the matter of Eä, the universe), also used as a noun "a Power" _(WJ:403). The verb vala- "rule, order", exclusively used with reference to the Valar, is only attested in the sentences á vala Manwë! "may Manwë order it!" and Valar valuvar "the will of the Valar will be done" (WJ:404). However, Tolkien did not originally intend the word Valar to signify "powers"; in his early conception it apparently meant "the happy ones", cf. valto, vald- (LT2:348)_. For various compounds including the word Vala(r), see below.

Valarauco

demon of might

Valarauco ("k") noun "Demon of Might" (here vala- assumes its basic meaning "power, might"), Sindarin balrog(WJ:415). Pl. Valaraucar (sic, not -or) "Balrogs", apparently containing rauca (q.v.) as an alternative form of rauco "demon" (SA:val-, SA:rauco). Earlier forms from the "Qenya Lexicon" are Valcaraucë, Malcaraucë (q.v.), apparently abandoned in LotR-style Quenya.

ala-

good

ala- (3), also al-, a prefix expressing "good" or "well" (PE17:146), as in alaquenta (q.v.) Whether Tolkien imagined this ending to coexist with the negative prefix of the same form (#2 above) is unclear and perhaps dubious.

alat-

large, great in size

alat- prefix "large, great in size". (ÁLAT, cf. VT45:5). In Alatairë.

alta

large, great in size

alta (1) adj. *"large, great in size" (root meaning)(ÁLAT). Alat- in Alatairë, q.v.

mára

adjective. good

nerdo

large, strong man

nerdo noun "large, strong man" (compare nér) (VT47:33)

pol

large, big (strong)

pol (2) adj. "large, big (strong)". Since this would be the sole example of a monosyllabic Quenya adjective, it may be that Tolkien is here citing the root POL rather than a complete word. Cf. polda.

polda

big

polda adj. "big" (PE17:115), "strong, burly" (POL/POLOD)

túra

big, great

túra adj. "big, great" (PE17:115), related to words for power and apparently referring to a more abstract greatness than words like haura "huge". Cf. taura, túrëa. Apparently initial element of Túrosto.

velicë

great

velicë ("k") adj. "great" _(LT1:254; probably not valid in Tolkien's later Quenya; in the context of the Etymologies it would have to be derived from _BEL, but it is stated that this stem was "not found in Q". Perhaps Tolkien rejected velicë because it was too similar to the Russian word that clearly inspired it.)

yána

vast, huge; wide

yána (1) adj. "vast, huge; wide" (PE17:99, 115); also yanda, q.v.

úra

large

úra (2) adj. "large" (UR), probably obsoleted by #1 above

herwa

adjective. lordly

taur

adjective. vast, mighty, overwhelming, awful, huge; high, sublime

An adjective in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “mighty, vast, overwhelming, huge, awful” derived from primitive ᴹ✶taurā “masterful, mighty” based on the root ᴹ√TUR “power, control, mastery, victory” (Ety/TÁWAR, TUR). It was also influenced by ᴹ✶tārā “lofty” and as such had the alternate meaning “high, sublime”. Thus its gloss “awful” has the sense “causing awe” rather than its modern English meaning “terrible”, and its general meaning seems to something that is mighty (in strength or size) and also induces awe, either inspiring or terrifying. Its Quenya equivalent Q. taura continued to appear in later writings (PE17/115, VT39/10), indicating that this Noldorin word probably remained valid in Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had the adjective G. taura “powerful” and the (archaic) noun G. †taur “ability, power” (GL/69), both based on the early root ᴱ√TURU “am strong” (GL/72; QL/95).

beleg

adjective. great, mighty

taur

adjective. mighty, vast, overwhelming, huge, awful, high, sublime

balan

noun. Vala, divine power, divinity

borg

adjective. large

A word for “large” in notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1940s, in borg’ā “large ā” (PE23/26). Its etymology is unclear.

melek

root. great, mighty, powerful, strong

manrā

adjective. good

mbelekōre

masculine name. Might(y) Arising

khaw

root. big

¤kurwē

noun. power, ability

gabil Reconstructed

adjective. great