namárië, prose

Namárië, prose

A prose version of the Namárië poem, written “in a clearer and more normal style” (RGEO/58). It is the longest non-poetic text in any of Tolkien’s languages. Supposedly this text uses ordinary Quenya syntax instead of poetic forms. Despite this “normal style”, a few of the sentences still have a peculiar word order.

This phrases presented below divides the prose version into phrases approximately matching the lines of the original poem. The exceptions are lines 5-6, 9-10 and 13-14 which are organized differently to facilitate discussion. In the text below, I’ve modified the (very literal) translations provided by Tolkien to something closer to natural English while still reflecting the Quenya word order. The original translations can be found in the entries for individual phrases.

nampë

nampë

nampë pa.t. of map(a)-, q.v.

namárië

Farewell

This was the poem that Galadriel recited to Frodo and the fellowship as they departed Lórien (LotR/377). It is the longest canonical Elvish text published by Tolkien, and one of the longest texts in the corpus. In the literature, it is usually called the Namárië or “Farewell” poem, though in one place Tolkien gave it the formal title Altariello nainië Lóriendesse “Galadriel’s lament in Lórien” (RGEO/58).

As a poem, this text is freer in word order and syntax than ordinary Quenya prose (RGEO/58). This makes it somewhat difficult to interpret the poem, since the English translation of the poem does not correspond directly with the Elvish wording. Fortunately, Tolkien published an extensive commentary on the poem within his lifetime (RGEO/58-62), making the proper interpretation the poem abundantly clear. In this commentary, Tolkien included a prose version of the poem, written in a “normal style” and with more ordinary (and therefore easier to follow) word order. The prose version of the poem is discussed in a separate entry.

The text below mostly divides the poem into one phrase for each line of the original poem. The exceptions are lines 5-6, 9-10 and 13-14 which are organized differently to facilitate discussion. The English glosses are from the translation of the poem in the 50th anniversary edition of The Lord of the Rings. Only proper names are capitalized. Interpretations are discussed in the entries for individual phrases.

namárië! nai hiruvalyë valimar

farewell! be-it-that you will find Valimar

The 16th phrase in the prose Namárië, which is essentially the same as its poetic version, differing only in its more literal translation. This is nothing particularly notable about its word order.

nam-

judge

#nam- vb. "judge", attested in the 1st person aorist: namin "I judge" (VT41:13). Compare Námo.

namárië

farewell

namárië interjection "farewell" (Nam, RGEO:67)

Nambarauto

hammerer of copper [> metal]

Nambarauto noun "hammerer of copper [> metal]", masc. name (S Damrod) (RAUTĀ)

namba

hammer

namba noun "a hammer" (NDAM), namba- vb. "to hammer" (NDAM). According to VT45:37, Tolkien may have considered the alternative form lamba, but the source is obscure and lamba is assigned a quite different meaning ("tongue") elsewhere.

namma

claw, talon

namma noun "claw, talon" (also nappa) (VT47:20)

namna

statute

namna noun "statute"; Namna Finwë Míriello "the Statute of Finwë and Míriel" (MR:258)

namárië

interjection. farewell, (lit.) be well, let it be well (to you)

nam-

verb. to judge

namna

noun. statute, statute, *law

namárië! nai hiruvalyë valimar

farewell! maybe thou shalt find Valimar

Sixteenth line @@@

namma

noun. claw, talon

namna finwë míriello

the Statute of Finwë and Míriel

Námo

judge

Námo (1) noun "Judge", name of a Vala, normally called Mandos, properly the place where he dwells (WJ:402)

námo

noun. judge

Anamo

of doom

Anamo noun in genitive "of doom" in Rithil-Anamo "Ring of Doom" (q.v.) Since the reference is to a place (a circle) where judgement was passed, this seems to be "doom" in the sense of "juridical decision" or "(legal) justice". The nominative "doom" may be *anan, with stem anam- (since the root would be NAM as in nam- "to judge", námo* noun "judge"). Alternatively, but less probably, the nominative may be anama**.

nambírë

noun. jasper

A neologism for “jasper” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT). Its second element is likely mírë “jewel” but the intended meaning of the first element (?√NAB or ?√NDAB) is unclear.

nammar

noun. court, courthouse, (lit.) judgment-house

namnasta

noun. regulations

namoia-

verb. to work (hard) for; to earn

nampaitya-

verb. to pay back

nampaityalë

noun. paying back, *restitution

essecilmë

proper name. Name-choosing

A ceremony in which an Elf chooses a new name for himself or herself (MR/214), according to his or her lámatyávë (preferences in the sounds and forms of words). It is a compound of essë “name” and cilmë “choosing”. In one place, the term applied to the “chosen-name” itself (NM/29).

-on

name

-on gen.pl. ending (3O), in aldaron, aranion, elenion, Eldaron, #esseron, Ingweron, Istarion, Númevalion, Quendion, Silmarillion, Sindaron, tasarion (see Nan-Tasarion), Valion, wenderon, yénion. Normally the ending -on is added to the nominative plural, whether it ends in -i or -r, but some nouns in -ë that would have nominative plurals in -i seem to prefer the ending -ron in the genitive (hence #esseron as the gen. pl. of essë "name", though the nominative pl. is attested as essi and we might have expected the gen. pl. *ession; similarly wenderon, Ingweron).

essecarmë

proper name. Name-making

A ceremony in which the father of a newborn elf announced the child’s given name, also known as his or her “father-name” (MR/214). It is a compound of essë “name” and carmë “making”.

essë

name

essë (1) noun "name", also later name of Tengwa #31, originally (MET) called árë (ázë). (Appendix E). With a pronominal ending esselya "thy name" (VT43:14). Pl. #essi in PM:339 and MR:470, gen.pl. #esseron "of names" in the compound Nómesseron (q.v.); we would rather have expected *ession, given the nom.pl. essi; perhaps #esser is a valid alternative plural form. Essecarmë noun "name-making" (MR:214, 470), Eldarin ceremony where the father announces the name of his child. Essecenta *("k") noun "Name-essay" (see centa) (MR:415); Essecilmë noun "name-choosing", an Eldarin ceremony where a child named him- or herself according to personal lámatyávë (q.v.) (MR:214, 471). The meaning Tolkien originally assigned to the word essë** in the Etymologies was "place" rather than "name" (VT45:12).

foalócë

name of a serpent that guarded a treasure

foalócë ("k") noun "name of a serpent that guarded a treasure" (LT2:340)

sanda

name

[sanda, sandë] (þ) (2) noun "name" (VT46:16)

sanya

name

[sanya] (þ) (2) noun ?"name" (reading of gloss uncertain, VT46:16)

essë

noun. name

esse

noun. name

essecarme

noun. name-making

esta-

verb. name

Nómesseron

of place-names

Nómesseron pl. noun in genitive: a compound "of place-names", apparently an inflected compound consisting of #nómë "place" + a genitive plural #esseron "of names" (VT42:17; we might have expected *ession, since essi rather than ?esser as the nominative plural of essë "name" is attested both in PM:339 and MR:470)

epessë

after-name

epessë noun "after-name", nickname, mostly given as a title of admiration or honour (PM:339, UT:266, VT49:12). Cf. essë "name" and epë above.

esta-

to name

esta- (1) vb. "to name" (ES, VT45:12). In an earlier form of the relevant entry in the Etymologies, Tolkien let esta- mean "to place, set, plant" (VT45:12); a deleted entry SET also had esta- "precede" (VT46:13)

epessë

noun. after-name

márië

goodness

márië (1) "goodness", "good" as noun (abstract formation from the adj. mára). (PE17:58, 89). Genitive máriéno, dative máriena, locative máriessë (PE17:59, occurring in the greeting (hara) máriessë "(stay) in happiness", PE17:162) Allative márienna *"to goodness", used as an interjection "farewell" (archaic namárië, q.v.),

nem-

judge

[#nem- vb. "judge", attested as endingless aorist nemë, changed by Tolkien to hamë and finally to navë "in all but one case" (Bill Welden). Forms like námo "judge" and namna "statute" point rather to #nam- (q.v.) as a verb "to judge" (VT42:34); the verb namin "I judge" is even listed in Etym.]

amil(lë)

noun. mother

Tolkien used a number of similar forms for “mother” for most of his life. The earliest of these are ᴱQ. amis (amits-) “mother” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s along with variants ᴱQ. ambi, âmi, amaimi under the root ᴱ√AMA (QL/30). An additional variant ammi appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/30). In Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had ᴱQ. ambe or mambe “mother” (PE16/135). This became ᴹQ. amil “mother” in The Etymologies under the root ᴹ√AM “mother” (Ety/AM¹).

This 1930s form amil appears to have survived for some time. It appeared in a longer form Amille in Quenya Prayers of the 1950s (VT43/26; VT44/12, 18), and as an element in the term amilessi “mother-names” in a late essay on Elvish naming (MR/217). In the initial drafts of Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s Tolkien used the form amilye or amye as an affectionate word for “mother”, and amaltil as the finger name for the second finger (VT47/26-27 note #34 and #35).

However, in those documents Tolkien seems to have revised the root for “mother” from √AM to √EM and the affectionate forms from amye to emya or emme (VT47/10; VT48/6, 19). The revised word for “mother” appears to be emil based on the 1st person possessive form emil(inya) (VT47/26).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I prefer to retain the root √AM for “mother”, since that is what Tolkien used for 50 years, and ignore the very late change to √EM. As such, I would recommend amil(le) for “mother” and affectionate forms amme “mommy” and amya. However, if you prefer to use Tolkien’s “final” forms, then emil(le), emme and emya seem to be what Tolkien adopted in the late 1960s.

lepetta

noun. Gondorian hardwood

Quenya name for the S. lebethron tree appearing in an undated note likely from the late 1960s, so called “probably because its leaves (like chestnut) [were] shaped like a fingered hand” (PE17/89). As such it was likely derived from √LEP, the basis for finger-words.

nappa

noun. claw, talon

A noun for “claw, talon” appearing rough notes on Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s based on the root √NAP “grasp, seize quickly” (VT47/20). In the margin Tolkien wrote a variant form namma with the same glosses, and the mm was clear despite the implausibility of its derivation from √NAP.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d stick to nappa.

raurossë

place name. Roaring-rain

The Quenya equivalent of S. Rauros (PE19/99). Its initial element is some derivative of the root ᴹ√RAW “✱roar” and the second element is rossë “fine rain, dew”. See S. Rauros for further discussion.

Este

noun. Peace

Peace, name of wife of Lórien

Míriel

jewel-woman

Míriel noun "Jewel-woman" or "Jewel-daughter" (Silm), genitive Míriello (see namna) indicating a stem-form #Míriell-.

Quenderin

noun. Quendian

Quendian, name of all Elf-tongues

Rauros(se)

noun. roaring-rain

roaring-rain, name of a loud waterfall

Rána

the wayward, the wanderer

Rána place-name "the Wayward, the Wanderer", a name of the moon (MR:198, MC:221, Silm); genitive Ráno in the phrase Ráno tië "the path of the Moon" (VT47:11). See also ceuran-, ránasta. According to one late source, Rána is not properly the Moon itself but is rather the "name of the spirit (Máya) that was said to abide in the Moon as its guardian" (VT42:13). The Etymologies gives Rana with a short vowel (RAN). In the pre-classical Tengwar system there presupposed, Rana was also the name of tengwa #25 (VT45:10), which letter Tolkien would later call Rómen instead.

amil

mother

amil noun "mother" (AM1), also emil (q.v.) Longer variant amillë (VT44:18-19), compounded Eruamillë "Mother of God" in Tolkien's translation of the Hail Mary (VT43:32). If amil is a shortened form of amillë, it should probably have the stem-form amill-. Also compare amilyë, amya, emya. Compounded amil- in amilessë noun "mothername" (cf. essë "name"), name given to a child by its mother, sometimes with prophetic implications (amilessi tercenyë "mother-names of insight"). (MR:217).

antara

very high, very lofty

antara adj. "very high, very lofty", the adjective tára "lofty" with the superlative prefix an- (q.v.) We might have expected *antára. Also place-name Antaro (VT45:5, 36), said to be the "name of a mountain in Valinor south of Taniq[u]etil" (VT46:17)

apacenyë

foresight

apacenyë is translated "foresight" in MR:216; yet the context and the form of the word itself clearly indicates that it is not a noun but actually the pl. form of an adjective *apacenya *"of foresight". The noun "foresight" is almost certainly apacen; cf. tercen "insight". (MR:216) The literal meaning of apacen is "aftersight", sc. knowledge of that which comes after. [Essi] apacenyë** "[names] of foresight", prophetic names given to a child by its mother (MR:216)

cilmë

choosing

#cilmë noun "choosing" (isolated from Essecilmë "name-choosing", q.v.) (MR:214); also in #cilmessë pl. cilmessi ("k") "self-names", literally names of personal choice (PM:339) (cilmë + essi, hence *"choice-names").

lamba

hammer

lamba (2) noun ?"hammer" (possibly an alternative form of namba, q.v., but the source is obscure and namba is to be preferred) (VT45:37)

mapa-

grasp, seize

mapa- vb. "grasp, seize" (MAP; according to LT2:339 this word was struck out in the "Gnomish Lexicon" [where it was quoted as the cognate of certain Gnomish words], but it reappears in the Etymologies.) Earlier material gives map- "take" (PE16:133) or map- "seize, take" with pa.t. nampë (QL:59); it is unclear if the pa.t. of map(a)- is still nampë in LotR-style Quenya.

nappa

claw, talon

nappa noun "claw, talon" (also namma) (VT47:20)

tercen

insight

tercen ("k")noun "insight", literally *"through-sight" (MR:471); adj. #tercenya (only pl. tercenyë attested) "of insight"; essi tercenyë "names of insight", names given to a child by its mother, indicating some dominant feature of its nature as perceived by her (MR:216)

ham-

verb. to judge

manen

adverb. how

nav-

verb. to judge

sívë

noun. peace

hollë

noun. shout

Quenderin

adjective. Quendian

Quendian

Quenderin

quendian, belonging to the elves as a whole

Quenderin adj."Quendian, belonging to the Elves as a whole" (a learned word) (WJ:407). The phrase quenderinwë coar "Elvish bodies" (PE17:175) presupposes a longer form *quenderinwa, here attested in the pl.

Quenderinwa

adjective. Quendian

Quendian

alfirin

adjective. immortal

alfírima/alfírimo

immortal

amal

mother

amal noun "mother"; also emel (VT48:22, 49:22); the form amil (emil) seems more usual.

ammë

mother

ammë noun "mother" (AM1)

cunta

rule

cunta, also cunya, vb. (or less likely noun) "rule" (PE17:117)

ello

call, shout of triumph

[ello] noun "call, shout of triumph" (GYEL (< GEL) )

emel

mother

emel noun "mother"; also amal (VT48:22, 49:22); the form amil (emil) seems more usual.

emil

mother

emil noun "mother", emilinya "my mother" (also reduced to emya) the terms a child would use in addressing his or her mother (VT47:26). Emil would seem to be a variant of amil. Also compare emel.

emil

noun. mother

ham-

judge

#ham- (2) vb. "judge", attested in the aorist form hamil "you judge". (VT42:33; notice the pronominal ending -l "you". See nemë. The verb #ham- with the meaning "judge" may seem to be an ephemeral form in Tolkien's conception.)

ilfirin

immortal

ilfirin adj. "immortal" (PHIR)

ilpirin

immortal

*ilpirin (hypothetical form; the word actually appears in Q as ilfirin) adj. "immortal" (PHIR)

mamil

mother, mummy

mamil noun *"mother, mummy" (UT:191)

manen

how

manen interrogative "how" (PM:395)

máralë

noun. goodness

máriën

noun. goodness

nav-

judge

#nav- vb. "judge" (cited in the form navë, apparently the 3rd person aorist). Also given with pronominal suffixes: navin *"I judge" (Tolkien's free translation: "I think"), navilwë "we judge" (VT42:33, 4, VT48:11)

nem-

verb. to judge

ontari

mother

ontari noun "mother" or etymologically "begetter, parent" (fem.); clashing with the plural ontari "parents", this was apparently an emphemeral form (see ontarë, ontaril, ontarië for other feminine forms of "begetter, parent") (VT44:7)

ontaril

mother

ontaril noun "mother", female *"begetter" (cf. onta-). Variant of ontarë. (VT43:32)

quenelya†

adjective. Quendian

Quendian

rainë

peace

rainë noun "peace" (VT44:34-35)

rama-

to shout

rama- vb. "to shout" (LT1:259)

sanda

firm, true, abiding

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

sanyë

rule, law

sanyë (þ) noun "rule, law" (STAN)

sívë

peace

sívë (2) noun "peace" (VT44:35)

tanca

firm, fixed, sure

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

tulca

firm, strong, immovable, steadfast

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

vard-

rule, govern

vard- vb. "rule, govern" (LT1:273; hardly valid in Tolkien's later Quenya)

yello

call, shout of triumph

yello (2) noun "call, shout of triumph" (GYEL); changed by Tolkien from ello.

á na márië

be well

am

root. mother

For most of Tolkien’s life, the Primitive Elvish root for “mother” was √AM. This began with the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where Tolkien gave the root as ᴱ√AMA (QL/30). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was ᴹ√AM with derivatives ᴹQ. amil and (archaic) N. emil “mother” (Ety/AM¹). In Quenya prayers of the 1950s, the word for mother was Q. Amille. In the last few years of his life, however, Tolkien toyed with the notion of changing this root to √EM. In notes associated with Eldarinwe Leperi are Notessi written in the late 1960s, Tolkien first gave the root as am, but then wrote em next to it with a question mark, along with several new em-derivatives (VT48/19 note #16). The Q. affectionate word emme for “mommy” appeared in the main article, indicating Tolkien did, in fact, adopt this new root, at least for some period of time.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Quenya writing, I personally prefer to ignore this late change to the root for “mother” and stick with the √AM-forms Tolkien used for most of his life. However, the √AM-forms were less stable in the Sindarin branch of the languages, so I’d use √EM-forms like S. emel and emig, and would assume √AM and √EM were variants of the root, as they were on VT48/19 (see above).

nam Reconstructed

root. judge

A root implied by various Quenya words having to do with “judgement” from the 1950s and 60s, most notably Q. Námo “Ordainer, Judge” as the true name of Q. Mandos (S/28), a name that began to appear in documents starting in the early 1950s (PE21/85). The root is evident in other words from this period, such as Q. namna “statute” (MR/258), Q. námië “a single judgment or desire” (VT41/13) and the verb Q. nam- “judge” in the phrase: Q. ore nin karitas nō namin alasaila “I feel moved to do so but judge it unwise” (VT41/13). ✱√NAM might also be the basis for the second element of the name Q. Rithil-Anamo “Doom-ring”, the circle of thrones where the Valar sat in council (WJ/401).

In notes from 1969 Tolkien seems to have changed his mind of the root for “judge”, writing Q. nemin >> Q. hamin >> Q. navin for “I judge”, and giving a new root √NDAB “to judge” in a marginal note along with a revised name Návo to replace Námo (PE22/154, notes #53 and #55). This new root conflicts with √NDAB “endeavor, try” from earlier in the same bundle of documents (PE22/151).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I would ignore the late change of ✱√NAM >> √NDAB “judge”, since ✱√NAM has more attested derivatives and Námo appears in the published Silmarillion. Also, all of the derivatives of this root are Quenya, and its possible use in the name Rithil-Anamo (coined in Valinor) imply that it might be a root invented after the Elves arrived in Aman. Thus I think it is best to treat it as Quenya-only root, and used ᴹ√BAD “judge” as the basis for (Neo) Sindarin words for judgement by retaining Noldorin words with these meanings from the 1930s (Ety/BAD).

en

root. name

amal

noun. mother

ndab

root. to judge

amas

noun. mother

amma

noun. mother

amme

noun. mother

em

root. mother

emel

noun. mother

emer

noun. mother

naman

adverb. how, (lit.) with what

Nimrodel

name of a stream

_topon. _name of a stream, originally of an Elven-maid loved by Amroth, King of Lórien. Nim is T. nimbi white. -rodel could be S. and mean 'lofty star', but it could also contain an element seen in S. -roth, rod < ROT 'cave', or be feminine, from rodel 'lady, high lady'. Tolkien notes also this name is "suitable to S. sounds and patterns" but is "not clearly etymologizable as S." (PE17:51).

lebethron

noun. name of a hard-wood tree growing in Gondor

n. Bot. name of a hard-wood tree growing in Gondor (Ithilien). Q lepetta. Also used as word for the wood which took a high polish, lebethorn being altered to lebethron and associated with RUN 'rub, grind, smooth, polish'. >> ron. This gloss was rejected.

alfirin

noun/adjective. name of a flower, bell-like and running through many soft and gentle colours

eneth

noun. name

esta-

verb. to call, *name

A verb appearing in a future-passive form estathar “should be called” in the King’s Letter from the early 1950s. It also appeared (unglossed) as a present-passive estar “✱is called” in the Túrin Wrapper from the 1950s. Its gloss “be called” is because it is being used with passive voice; in active voice it would be “to call” or (more accurately) “✱to name”, as with its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. esta- “to name” (Ety/ES).

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s Tolkien gave G. enu- or enwa- “am called, am named” (GL/32), clearly derived from the early root ᴱ√ENE having to do with names (QL/35). A few lines below he wrote but deleted {en(1) “am called”}.

Dorlomin

a name in a dialect of the North

topon. a name in a dialect of the North, S. Dorloven.

Eglarim

noun. a name used for the Noldor

pl2. n. a name used for the Noldor.

Eglir

noun. a name used for the Noldor

n. a name used for the Noldor.

Eglon

noun. a name of the Noldor given by the Sindar

masc. n. a name of the Noldor given by the Sindar. probably a masculine form of egel.

Góndolind

a name in a dialect of the North

topon. a name in a dialect of the North, S. Gonnólen. Maybe acute accent in the two names was only used in order to mark pronunciation.

Hithlum

a name in a dialect of the North

topon. a name in a dialect of the North, S. Hilthlû.

Igli

noun. a name used for the Noldor

n. a name used for the Noldor.

en-

verb. *to name

eneth

noun. *name

-weg

suffix. *name suffix

emig

noun. index finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

esta-

verb. to name

ennen

adjective. named

ess

noun. name

estannen

adjective. named, called

imeneth

noun. namesake, (lit.) same name

eneth

name

(noun) eneth (pl. enith)

eneth

name

(pl. enith)

esta

name

(verb.) esta- (call) (i esta, in estar)

esta

name

(call) (i esta, in estar)

emel

noun. mother

A word for “mother” in notes on Elvish Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, along with a diminutive form emelig (VT48/17 note #13). These forms were struck through and replaced by emig as the proper diminutive form from the root √EM (VT48/6), but that doesn’t necessarily invalidate emel = “mother”, which appeared elsewhere as (probably primitive) emel, emer in rough versions of these notes (VT48/19 note #16). These Sindarin forms are unusual in that the medial m did not become v, which means the primitive form was likely based on ✱emm- as suggested by Patrick Wynne (VT48/17 note #14).

Conceptual Development: G. amil “mother” appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s along with rejected forms {anwin, amril} and an archaic variant †amaith (GL/19). The forms {emaith >>} amaith appeared unglossed in Gnomish Lexicon Slips revising that document (PE13/109). In The Etymologies of the 1930s there was a form N. †emil for “mother” under the root ᴹ√AM of the same meaning, but Tolkien said this word was archaic, apparently replaced by N. naneth (Ety/AM¹; EtyAC/AM¹). With N. emil, the a became e via i-affection, but the medial m failing to become v requires an explanation similar to that of 1960s S. emel.

Neo-Sindarin: I generally prefer derivatives of the earlier root √AM for “mother” words in Quenya, but in the case of Sindarin, I find emel and emig from √EM to be better and more widely accepted.

nallan

noun. call

A word appearing in the 1st edition of The Lord of the Rings from 1954 in the phrase le nallan sí di’nguruthos. In Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien translated {nallon >>} nallon as “a call”, followed by another form nalla, with alternates nalla, nalloth, nallar in the upper margin. Christopher Gilson suggested that the gloss might instead be “to call” or “my call”; if the latter is correct, then nallan might be the 1st sg. possessive form of nalla.

In the 2nd edition of The Lord of the Rings from 1965 Tolkien changed nallan to nallon. In The Road Goes Ever On (RGEO) from 1967 he confirmed that this new form was a verb form meaning “I cry” (RGEO/64).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I think we can retain nallan as a noun for “a call”. While it is tempting to use the form nalla instead, I have no idea how the a might have survived at the end of this word, so I think nallan is better.

dam

hammer

(noun) 1) dam (i nam, o ndam), pl. daim (i ndaim), coll. pl. dammath, 2) dring (i dhring), no distinct pl. form except with article (in dring).

dam

hammer

(i nam, o ndam), pl. daim (i ndaim), coll. pl. dammath

alfirin

immortal

alfirin (no distinct pl. form). Note: the word alfirin is also used as name of a flower.

alfirin

immortal

(no distinct pl. form). Note: the word alfirin is also used as name of a flower.

damma

hammer

(verb) damma- (i namma, i ndammar), pa.t. dammant (VT45:37)

damma

hammer

(i namma, i ndammar), pa.t. dammant (VT45:37)

emig

little mother

(no distinct pl. form except with article: in emig). Also used (in children’s play) as a name for the index finger (VT48:6, 17)

esta

call

1) (vb.) esta- (to name) (i esta, in estar), 2) (call out) ialla- (VT46:22), also can- (i gân, i chenir) (shout, cry out). See also CRY (OUT).

esta

call

(to name) (i esta, in estar)

dadwen-

verb. to return, go back

dring

noun. hammer, hammer, *beater

dav-

verb. to judge

alfirin

noun/adjective. immortal

alfirin

noun/adjective. also used for another small white flower

damen-

verb. to return

dring

noun. hammer

emel

noun. mother

emig

noun. "litte mother"

emmel

noun. mother

nalla

noun. call

nallar

noun. call

nalloth

noun. call

taug

adjective. firm

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

îdh

noun. peace

peace, tranquillity

badhron

judge

badhron (i vadhron), pl. bedhryn (i medhryn); also badhor (i vadhor), analogical pl. bedhyr (i medhyr)

badhron

judge

(i vadhron), pl. bedhryn (i medhryn); also badhor (i vadhor), analogical pl. bedhyr (i medhyr)

can

shout

(i gân, i chenir) (cry out, call). Adj.

caun

shout

(i gaun, o chaun) (clamour, outcry, cry), pl. coen (i choen), coll. pl. conath, the latter is used = "lamentation" (PM:345, 362). Note: a homophone of caun means "valour".

dammen-

verb. to return, go back

dring

hammer

(i dhring), no distinct pl. form except with article (in dring).

gamp

claw

gamp (i **amp) (hook, crook), pl. ?gaimp or ?gemp (i ngaimp = i ñaimp or i ngemp = i ñemp), coll. pl. gammath**

gamp

claw

(i ’amp) (hook, crook), pl. ?gaimp or ?gemp (i ngaimp =  i ñaimp or i ngemp = i ñemp), coll. pl. gammath

glam

shouting

(i ’lam) (din, uproar, confused yelling of beasts; tumult, confused noise; a body of Orcs), pl. glaim (in glaim), coll. pl. glammath

ialla-

call

(VT46:22), also can- (i gân, i chenir) (shout, cry out). See also

mab

grasp

*mab*-[or maba-?] (i vâb, i mebir**) (seize). Only the ”Old Noldorin” form map- is cited in the source (LR:371 s.v. MAP)

mab

grasp

[or ✱maba-?] (i vâb, i mebir) (seize). Only the ”Old Noldorin” form map- is cited in the source (LR:371 s.v. MAP)****

maeras

noun. goodness

@@@ Discord 2022-04-24

naneth

mother

naneth (pl. nenith). Hypocoristic form (”mom”) nana, pl. nenai (but this word is probably rarely pluralized). In a higher style also †emil. No distinct pl. form; coll. pl. emillath. Variant form emel (pl. emil), also spelt emmel (pl. emmil). (VT48:17)

naneth

mother

(pl. nenith). Hypocoristic form (”mom”) nana, pl. nenai (but this word is probably rarely pluralized). In a higher style also †emil. No distinct pl. form; coll. pl. emillath. Variant form emel (pl. emil), also spelt emmel (pl. emmil). (VT48:17)

sîdh

peace

sîdh (i hîdh), no distinct pl. form except with article (i sîdh) if there is any pl. form. 1) aeg (point, thorn). No distinct pl. form. (but aeglir can be used for a range of mountain peaks). Note: aeg is also used as adj. "sharp, pointed, piercing". 2) mîn (i vîn), no distinct pl. form except with article (i mîn), coll. pl. míniath. Note: homophones include the numeral ”one” and the adjective ”isolated, first, towering”. 3) egnas (sharp point; literally "thorn-point"), pl. egnais, coll. pl. egnassath.

sîdh

peace

(i hîdh), no distinct pl. form except with article (i sîdh) if there is any pl. form.

tanc

firm

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

tanc

firm

(lenited danc; pl. tainc)

tangada

make firm

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

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).

naneth

noun. mother

A noun for “mother” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the (Noldorin-only?) root ᴹ√NAN (Ety/NAN). It apparently replaced archaic/poetic N. †emil (Ety/AM¹; EtyAC/AM¹).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon had a similar set of words for “mother”: G. maba, mabir, baba, and mavwin from the early root ᴱ√maƀ “something nice” (GL/57). The last of these appeared as G. mavwen “ancestress” in the Gnomish Lexicon Slips modifying that document, with an archaic meaning of “mother” and variant forms mafwyn and mavuin (PE13/115). In these slips, it seems the normal “mother” word was G. nân (originally glossed “father”) with variant nanwin (PE13/115). This last word is likely the direct precursor of N. naneth.

Neo-Sindarin: I would use S. emel from the late 1960s as the normal word for “mother” in Neo-Sindarin, but would retain N. naneth as a dialectical or more formal variant.

dam

noun. hammer

badh-

verb. to judge

badhor

noun. judge

damma-

verb. to hammer

damrod

masculine name. hammerer of copper

dring

noun. hammer

emil

noun. mother

mab

noun. grasp

sîdh

noun. peace

tanc

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

badhor

noun. judge

badhron

noun. judge

badhron

noun. judge

dam

noun. hammer

damma-

verb. to hammer

It was long considered that damna-, dammint in the Etymologies might have been misreadings. VT/45:37 confirms this, though the exact reading actually remains rather uncertain

emil

noun. mother

ial

noun. (?) a call, (?) a cry

ialla-

verb. to call

nana

noun. mother, mummy

naneth

noun. mother

sîdh

noun. peace

tanc

adjective. firm

tangada-

verb. to make firm, confirm, establish

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

ammê

noun. mother

A noun for “mother” (SD/434). Tolkien gave two forms of this word, ammî and ammê, with no indication as to which would be preferred. However, ammî resembles a plural word, and Tolkien elsewhere stated that such forms tended to change their final vowel to -ê (SD/438), so my guess is that ammî is an archaic form. This word is probably related to the Elvish root √AM “mother”. Some authors have suggested it is directly related to ᴹQ. amme (AAD/10, AL/Adûnaic), but as Andreas Moehn points out (EotAL/MAM) such basic words are rarely borrowed from other languages, so the relationship is more likely from the Primitive Elvish root.

rûkh

noun. shout

A word glossed “shout” (SD/426). Andreas Moehn suggested (EotAL/RUKH) that it may be a verb rûkh- “to shout”, but it appears in a list of nouns, so I think it likelier that it is noun form.

emmë

noun. mother