nan

but

nan conj. "but" (FS); the Etymologies also gives ná, nán (NDAN), but these words may be confused with forms of the verb "to be", so nan should perhaps be preferred, unless for "but" one uses the wholly distinct word mal. In Tolkien's later Quenya, it may be that he introduced new words for "but" to free up nan for another meaning (perhaps the adverb "back", compare the prefix nan-).

nan

adverb. again

nan

woodland

nan (nand-) noun "woodland" (LT1:261)

nan

noun. valley, vale

Nando

valley, wide valley

nando (2) "valley, wide valley", variant of nandë #1, q.v. (PE17:80)

nandë

valley

nandë (1) noun "valley" in Laurenandë (UT:253), elided nand in the name Nand Ondoluncava (k") "Stonewain Valley" (PE17:28). Possibly the complete word is here meant to be the variant nando (PE17:80), as suggested by the alternative form Ondoluncanan(do) ("k") "Stonewain Valley". Also nan, nand- noun "valley" (Letters:308); Nan-Tasarion "Vale of Willows" (LotR2:III ch. 4) (Note that this and the next nandë would be spelt differently in Tengwar writing, and originally they were also pronounced differently, since nandë "harp" was ñandë in First Age Quenya.)

nandë

noun. valley

ná

but, on the contrary, on the other hand

ná (2), also nán, conj. "but, on the contrary, on the other hand" (NDAN; the form nan, q.v., is probably to be preferred to avoid confusion with ná "is", *nán "I am").

nan(do)

noun. (wide) valley, vale, (wide) valley, vale; [ᴹQ.] water-mead, watered plain; [ᴱQ.] woodland

A common Quenya word for “vale” or “valley”, cognate of S. nan(d) and derivative of the root √NAD (Ety/NAD; NM/351). In one place, Tolkien indicated this word was used more specifically for wide valleys (PE17/80). A narrow valley might be better described with a word like Q. imbe “deep valley”, ᴹQ. cirisse “cleft” or ᴹQ. yáwe “ravine”.

This word appears as nan(d) in numerous compounds (Let/308, UT/253, RC/384). The independent form of this word is more difficult to determine. It variously appeared as nanda (Ety/NAD, PE17/80), nando (PE17/28, 80) and nandë within the compound Laurenandë (UT/253). This entry uses nando because it looks more noun-like than nanda while avoiding conflict with [ᴹQ.] nande (ñande) “harp”, but any of these forms could be correct.

Conceptual Development: The earliest appearance of this word was as ᴱQ. nan (nand-) “woodland” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s from the early root ᴱ√NAŘA [NAÐA] (QL/64), but its use in actual names in this period indicates the actual meaning was “land”, such as ᴱQ. Hisinan “Land of Twilight” (QL/40) and ᴱQ. Tasarinan “Land of Willows” (LT2/140). It appeared as ᴹQ. nanda “water-mead, watered plain” in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√NAD (Ety/NAD), but this meaning also seems to be an aberration since it still appeared in ᴹQ. Tasarinan “Land of Willows” in this period (LR/261; TI/417). In later writings, the various nand- variants were regularly glossed “valley”, as reflected in the new gloss for Q. Tasarinan as “Willow-vale” (RC/384).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d limit this word to nando “valley”, ignoring its earlier meanings and alternate forms. For “water mead[ow]”, I’d restore the Early Qenya word ᴱQ. nendo instead.

Cognates

• S. nan(d) “vale, valley, vale, valley, [ᴱN.] dale; [N.] wide grassland; [G.] field acre” ✧ NM/351

Derivations

• √NAD “hollow (of structures or natural features more or less concave with rising sides)” ✧ NM/351

Element in

• Q. Laurelindórenan “(Land of the) Valley of Singing Gold” ✧ Let/308; NM/351; PE17/080; UT/253
• Q. Laurenandë “Valley of Gold” ✧ UT/253
• Q. Nand’ Ondoluncava “Stonewain Valley” ✧ PE17/028
• Q. Nan-tasarion “Vale of Willow[s]” ✧ PE17/080
• Q. Noirinan “Valley of Tombs” ✧ UT/166
• Q. Ondoluncanan(do) “Stonewain Valley” ✧ PE17/028
• Q. Tasarinan “Willow-vale” ✧ RC/384

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√NAD > -nan	[-nando] > [-nand] > [-nan]	✧ NM/351

Variations

• nan ✧ Let/308; RC/384
• -nan ✧ NM/351
• nando ✧ PE17/080
• nanda ✧ PE17/080
• nandë ✧ UT/253 (nandë)

anat

but

anat conj. "but" (VT43:23; possibly an ephemeral form)

Noirinan

valley of the tombs

Noirinan noun the "Valley of the Tombs" in Númenor (evidently *noirë*, noiri- "tomb" + nan** "valley") (UT:166)

ata

again

ata adv. "again", also prefix ata-, at- "back, again, re-; second time, double" (AT(AT), PE17:166, cf. ataquanta-, ataquetië) or "two" (PE17:166), also "ambi-" as in ataformaitë, q.v.

nalda

valley

nalda adj. "valley" (used as an adjective), also "lowly" (LT1:261, QL:66)$

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)

as

with

as prep. "with" (together with), also attested with a pronominal suffix: aselyë "with thee" (VT47:31, VT43:29). The conjunction ar "and" may also appear in assimilated form as before s; see ar #1.

as

with

o (2) prep. "with" (MC:216; this is "Qenya"; WJ:367 states that no independent preposition o was used in Quenya. Writers may rather use as.) See ó- below.

as

preposition. with

Derivations

• √AS “beside”

Element in

• Q. i Héru aselyë “the Lord is with thee” ✧ VT43/29

ontaril

mother

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

tavas

woodland

tavas noun "woodland" (LT1:267)

apa

but

apa (3) conj. "but": melinyes apa la hé "I love him but not him" (another) (VT49:15)

apa

conjunction. but

Element in

• Q. melin sé apa lanyë hé “I love him but not him (the other)” ✧ VT49/15
• Q. melinyes apa la hé “I love him but not him (the other)” ✧ VT49/15

Variations

• apa ✧ VT49/15

mal

but

mal conj. "but" (VT43:23)

mal

conjunction. but

Element in

• Q. násië “but deliver us from evil: Amen” ✧ VT43/23

nó

but

nó (2) conj. "but" (VT41:13)

nó

conjunction. but

ono

but

ono conj. "but" (VT43:23, VT44:5/9)

ono

conjunction. but

Changes

• anat → one “*but” ✧ VT43/23

Element in

• Q. násië “but deliver us from evil: Amen” ✧ VT43/23; VT43/23; VT43/23; VT43/23
• Q. ono alyë eterúna me illumë ilya raxellor “but deliver us always from all dangers” ✧ VT44/09
• Q. orë nin caritas nó namin alasaila “I would like / feel moved to do so but judge it unwise” ✧ VT41/13

Variations

• nō ✧ VT41/13
• anat ✧ VT43/23 (anat)
• one ✧ VT43/23

onë

but

onë conj. "but" (VT43:23)

onë

conjunction. but

amal

mother

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

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).

ammë

mother

ammë noun "mother" (AM1)

car-

with

#car- (2) prep. "with" (carelyë "with thee"), prepositional element (evidently an ephemeral form abandoned by Tolkien) (VT43:29)

mamil

mother, mummy

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

ó

with, accompanying

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.

Cognates

• S. emel “mother”

Derivations

• ✶amal “mother”
  • √AM “mother” ✧ VT48/19; VT48/19

Element in

• Q. amaltil “*mother finger”
• Q. amilessë “mother-name”
• Q. Amillë Eruva lissëo “Mother of divine grace” ✧ VT44/18
• Q. Amillë Hristo “Mother of Christ” ✧ VT44/18
• ᴺQ. amilosto “metropolis”
• Q. amya “mummy, (orig.) my mother”
• Q. Eruamillë “*Mother of God”

Variations

• Amille ✧ VT44/18

lé

preposition. with, with, [ᴹQ.] by, [ᴱQ.] with (accompaniment)

Cognates

• S. di “with” ✧ PE17/095

Derivations

• ✶dē “with” ✧ PE17/095

Element in

• ᴺQ. letinwessë “constellation”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶dē > lē > lé	[dē] > [lē]	✧ PE17/095

Variations

• lé ✧ PE17/095 (lé)

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

lé

with

lé (2) prep. "with" (PE17:95)

ó

preposition. with

Changes

• yó → ó ✧ PE22/162

Element in

• Q. i Héru aselyë “the Lord is with thee” ✧ VT43/29
• Q. vá meninyë ó le “I won’t come with you” ✧ PE22/162

Variations

• yó ✧ PE22/162 (yó)
• ó- ✧ VT43/29

tavas

noun. woodland

Derivations

• √TAW “wood”

nan

vale

_ n. _vale. >> nand, Nanduhirion

nan

noun. wide grassland, land at foot of hills with many streams

nan

noun. valley

nan

preposition. of

nan

'with'

prep. 'with', possessing, provided with, esp. of characteristic feature. Form of na before vowels. >> na 2b/c/d/e

nand

vale

_ n. _vale. >> nan, Nanduhirion

nand

noun. wide grassland, land at foot of hills with many streams

nand

noun. valley

na

preposition. with, by (also used as a genitive sign)

na

preposition. to, towards, at

na

'with'

d prep. 'with', possessing, provided with, esp. of characteristic feature. nan before vowels. Orod na Thôn 'Mount of the Pines Tree(s)'. >> nan 2

na

preposition. of; with, along with, accompanied by, provided with or by, associated with, marked with, of; with, along with, accompanied by, provided with or by, associated with, marked with; [N.] by

na(n)

preposition. of; with, along with, accompanied by, provided with or by, associated with, marked with, of; provided with or by, associated with, marked with, with, along with, accompanied by; [N.] by

Cognates

• Ad. an- “of; genitive/adjectival prefix”

Derivations

• √NA/ANA “to, towards; at side of, alongside, besides; moreover, in addition, plus” ✧ PE17/082
• ✶ān(a) “subjective genitive” ✧ PE17/097

Element in

• S. aran na chîr lim “*king of swift ships” ✧ PE17/147
• S. Arthor na Challonnas “Realm of the South-harbourage” ✧ PE17/028
• S. Arthor na Forlonnas “Realm of the North-harbourage” ✧ PE17/028
• S. Dor-na-Daerachas “Land of Great Dread”
• S. i arben na megil and “Knight of the Long Sword” ✧ PE17/147
• S. Mîr n’Ardhon “Jewel of the World” ✧ PM/348
• ᴺS. naman “how, (lit.) with what”
• S. Glaer nia Chîn Húrin “Tale of the Children of Húrin” ✧ WJ/160
• S. Orod-na-Thôn “Mount of the Pine Tree(s)” ✧ LotR/0469; PE17/082; PE17/147
• S. roch na-heryna “the horse of (the) Lady” ✧ PE17/097
• S. Sarch nia Chîn Húrin “Grave of the Children of Húrin” ✧ UT/140
• S. sí il chem en i Naugrim en ir Ellath thor den ammen “*now all (?hands) of the Dwarves and Elves will be (?against) to us” ✧ VT50/23
• S. Taur-na-Chardhîn “Forest of Southern Silence” ✧ WJI/Taur-na-Chardhîn
• S. Taur-na-Foen “Forest of the Foen” ✧ PE21/79; WJ/187
• S. Taur-na-Neldor “Beech-forest” ✧ LotR/0469

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√ANA/NĀ > na	[na]	✧ PE17/082
✶ān/-āna > na	[na]	✧ PE17/097

Variations

• na ✧ LotR/0469; LotR/0469; PE17/028; PE17/028; PE17/082; PE17/097; PE17/097; PE17/147; PE17/147; PE17/147; PE17/147; PE21/79 (Bel. na); VT50/23 (na); WJ/187; WJI/Taur-na-Chardhîn
• nan ✧ PE17/147; PE17/147

nan(d)

noun. vale, valley, vale, valley, [ᴱN.] dale; [N.] wide grassland; [G.] field acre

A word for “valley” or “vale” appearing as an element in many names, mostly referring to wide valleys as opposed to imlad for narrow valleys. As an element in compounds or before another word in names it generally took the form nan as in Mornan “Dark Valley” and Nan Dungortheb “Valley of Dreadful Death”. As an independent word it had the form nand: “In Sindarin this gave nand which as other words ending in nd remained in stressed monosyllables but > nann > nan in compounds” (NM/351). It was a derivative of the root √NAD (NM/351; Ety/NAD).

Conceptual Development: The first appearance of this word was as G. nand or nann “a field acre” where it was probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√NAŘA [NAÐA] as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (GL/59; LT1A/Nandini). Its use in early names like G. Nan Dumgorthin “Land of the Dark Idols” (LT2/35) and G. Nan Tathrin “Land of Willows” (GL/67; LT2A/Nantathrin) indicates the actual meaning was closer to “land”. The word reappeared as ᴱN. nann or nand “dale” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/150), consistent with the new gloss “Valley of Willows” for ᴱN. Nan Tathrin in Silmarillion drafts from the late 1920s (SM/35).

The word N. nand or nann “wide grassland” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√NAD (Ety/NAD), and the word nan(d) “valley” or “vale” was mentioned a number of times in Tolkien’s later notes (PE17/37, 83; RC/269). In notes from the late 1960s it was derived from primitived ✶nandē based on the root √NAD meaning “hollow of structures or natural features more or less concave with rising sides”. In these notes Tolkien said this word was:

> ... originally used only of not very large areas the sides of which were part of their own configuration. Vales or valleys of great extent, plains at the feet of mountains, etc. had other names. As also had the very steep-sided valleys in the mountains such as Rivendell (NM/351).

This note confirms that imlad was the proper word for a steep and narrow valley, but the notion that nand was not used for “valleys of great extent” contradicts its 1930s gloss “wide grassland” (Ety/NAD), as well as its use in names like Nan Dungortheb which were the extensive plains south of Ered Gorgoroth, or in the name Nan-tathren which had no particular boundaries.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would ignore Tolkien’s late 1960s notion that this word was not used for large valleys, and apply it to wide valleys and even extensive grasslands between or below mountains, using imlad for narrow valleys and tum for deep (and round) valleys surrounded on all sides.

Cognates

• Q. nan(do) “(wide) valley, vale, (wide) valley, vale; [ᴹQ.] water-mead, watered plain; [ᴱQ.] woodland” ✧ NM/351

Derivations

• √NAD “hollow (of structures or natural features more or less concave with rising sides)” ✧ NM/351

Element in

• S. Glornan “Valley of Gold(en Light)”
• S. Mornan “Dark Valley”
• S. Nan Curunír “Valley of Saruman”
• S. Nanduhirion “Dimrill Dale, (lit.) Vale of (the Region of) Dim Streams” ✧ PE17/037; RC/269; SA/sîr
• S. Nan Dungortheb “Valley of Dreadful Death” ✧ SA/nan(d)
• S. Nan Elmoth “*Valley of Starry Dusk” ✧ SA/nan(d)
• S. Nan Gondresgion “Stonewain Valley”
• S. Nan Laur “Valley of Gold(en Light)” ✧ UT/253
• S. Nan-tathren “Land of Willows, (lit.) Willow-vale” ✧ SA/nan(d)

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
√NAD > nand	[nando] > [nand]	✧ NM/351
√NAD > nann > nan	[-nando] > [-nand] > [-nann] > [-nan]	✧ NM/351

Variations

• nand ✧ NM/351
• nan ✧ NM/351
• Nan ✧ UT/253

uin

preposition. of the

talf

noun. flat field, flat land

imlad

noun. deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides (but a flat habitable bottom)

imrad

noun. a path or pass (between mountains, hills or trackless forest)

parth

noun. field, enclosed grassland, sward

im

noun. valley, valley; [N.] dell, deep vale

An archaic element meaning “valley” that survived only in compounds, a derivation of ✶imbi “between” (VT47/14). The basic sense “valley” was transferred to its more elaborate form imlad as in Imladris “Rivendell”, and †im “valley” fell out of use due to its conflicted with other words like the reflexive pronoun im.

Conceptual Development: N. imm “dell, deep vale” was mentioned in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√IMBE, alongside its elaboration N. imlad of the same meaning (Ety/IMBE).

Derivations

• ✶imbi “between” ✧ VT47/14
  • √MI/IMI “in, within, [ᴹ√] inside” ✧ PE17/092; VT47/11; VT47/30

Element in

• S. imlad “deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides, gap, gully, deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides, gap, gully, [N.] dell, glen” ✧ VT47/14
• S. Imloth Melui “Lovely or Sweet Flower-valley” ✧ VT42/18
• S. imrad “path or pass between mountains or trackless forest, *(lit.) valley path” ✧ VT47/14
• S. imrath “long narrow valley with road or watercourse running through it lengthwise, *(lit.) valley course”

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶imbi > imm > im	[imbi] > [imbe] > [imb] > [imm] > [imm] > [im]	✧ VT47/14

Variations

• im ✧ VT42/18; VT47/14

imrath

noun. long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise

tum

noun. valley, vale, (deep) valley, vale; [ᴱN.] flat vale

A word for a valley or vale derived from primitive ✶tumbu, specifically meaning a deep valley surrounded on all sides as described by Tolkien in notes from the late 1960s: “Those [valleys] such as the valley of Gondolin which were more or less circular, but deeply concave, and had high mountains at the rim were called ✱tumbu (NM/351)”. Its most notable use was in the name Tumladen for the hidden valley where Nargothrond lay (S/115).

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, where Tolkien had {tum >>} G. tûm “valley” (GL/71), probably a derivative of the early root ᴱ√TUM(B)U as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Tombo; QL/95). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s Tolkien had ᴱN. tumb or tum “flat vale” (PE13/154), and in The Etymologies of the 1930s there was N. tum “deep valley under or among hills” from the root ᴹ√TUB (Ety/TUB). The most complete description of this word in Tolkien’s later writings was in notes on Galadriel and Celeborn from the late 1960s, with the meaning given above (NM/351). In this late 1960s note the primitive form was given as ✶tumbu, which is the same primitive form Tolkien gave in The Etymologies (Ety/TUB).

Cognates

• Q. tumbo “deep vale, valley, deep vale, valley, [ᴱQ.] dale” ✧ SA/tum; NM/351

Derivations

• ✶tumbu “deep vale” ✧ NM/351
  • ᴹ√TUB “to fall low[?], go down (below normal ground level), (esp.) to go down (sink, dive) into water”

Element in

• S. Carn Dûm “?Red Valley”
• S. Tum Gondregain “Stonewain Valley” ✧ NM/363
• S. Tumhalad ✧ SA/tum
• S. Tumladen “Wide Valley, flat valley with steep sides” ✧ NM/351; SA/tum
• S. Tum Orchorod “Vale of the High Mountain Circle” ✧ NM/351

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶tumbu > Tum	[tumbu] > [tumbo] > [tumbo] > [tumb] > [tumm] > [tumm] > [tum]	✧ NM/351

Variations

• Tum ✧ NM/351; NM/363

tum

noun. deep valley, under or among hills

emig

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

imloth

noun. flower-valley, flowery vale

This word only occurs in the place name Imloth Melui, a vale where roses grew

di

preposition. with

_ prep. _with. Q. lé.

di

preposition. with

Changes

• di → di “with” ✧ PE17/095

Cognates

• Q. lé “with, with, [ᴹQ.] by, [ᴱQ.] with (accompaniment)” ✧ PE17/095

Derivations

• ✶dē “with” ✧ PE17/095

Element in

• S. le nallon sí di’nguruthos “here overwhelmed in dread of Death I cry” ✧ PE17/095

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
✶dē > di	[dē] > [dī] > [di]	✧ PE17/095

Variations

• di ✧ PE17/095 (di)

emel

noun. mother

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.

Cognates

• Q. amil(lë) “mother”

Derivations

• √AM “mother” ✧ VT48/17

Element in

• S. Emeldir “Manhearted, *Manly-mother”
• S. emig “[little] mother, mommy” ✧ VT48/17 (emel) (emelig*)

Variations

• emen ✧ VT48/17 (emen)

emig

noun. "litte mother"

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)

emmel

noun. mother

o

from

(od), followed by hard mutation; with article uin ”from the, of the” (followed by mixed mutation according to David Salo’s reconstuctuons). (WJ:366) Not to be confused with o ”about, concerning” (q.v. for this meaning of ”of”). 2) na (followed by lenition), with article nan (followed by ”mixed mutation”, according to David Salo’s reconstruction). The preposition has various meanings: ”with, by, near” and also ”to, toward, at; of” 3)

nand

valley

1) nand (construct nan) (wide grassland, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. nannath (VT45:36), 2) lâd (lowland, plain), construct lad, pl. laid, 3) (long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise) imrath (pl. imraith).

nand

valley

(construct nan) (wide grassland, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath **(VT45:36)

nand

grassland

(construct nan) (valley, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath** (VT45:36)

na

with

(in instrumental sense?) na (followed by lenition), with article nan (followed by ”mixed mutation”, according to David Salos reconstruction). The preposition has various meanings: ”with, by, near” and also ”to, toward, at; of”

na

with

(followed by lenition), with article nan (followed by ”mixed mutation”, according to David Salo’s reconstruction). The preposition has various meanings: ”with, by, near” and also ”to, toward, at; of”

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)

sant

field

(i hant, o sant) (garden, yard, or other privately owned place), pl. saint (i saint) (VT42:20) 

ad

again

(as prefix) ad-, also meaning "back, second, re-", e.g. aderthad "reunion".

ad

again

also meaning "back, second, re-", e.g. aderthad "reunion".

eden

begun again

(new), pl. edin

en

of the

e- (sg. genitival article)

ach

conjunction. but

[it] appears that ach is the contrastive coordinating conjunction 'but'.

ach

conjunction. but

[it] appears that ach is the contrastive coordinating conjunction 'but'.

parth

grassland

: 1) (enclosed grassland) parth (i barth, o pharth) (field, sward), pl. perth (i pherth), 2) (wide grassland) nand (construct nan) (valley, land at the foot of hills with many streams), pl. naind, coll. pl. nannath (VT45:36)

parth

grassland

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

talath

dal

Dirnen or ”Guarded Plain” mentioned in the Silmarillion.

im

vale

(deep vale) im (dell), no distinct pl. form (though the pl. article in will mark the word as pl. when definite). The word typically occurs, not by itself, but in compounds like imlad, imloth, imrath, imrad (VT45:18, VT47:19)

im

vale

(dell), no distinct pl. form (though the pl. article in will mark the word as pl. when definite). The word typically occurs, not by itself, but in compounds like imlad, imloth, imrath, imrad *(VT45:18, VT47:19)***

talf

field

(i dalf, o thalf), pl. telf (i thelf), coll. pl. talvath. (Names:195). Note: a homophone means ”palm”.

lâd

valley

(lowland, plain), construct lad, pl. laid

parth

field

1) parth (i barth, o pharth) (sward, enclosed grassland), pl. perth (i pherth), 2) (low, flat field, or wetland) talf (i dalf, o thalf), pl. telf (i thelf), coll. pl. talvath. _(Names:195). Note: a homophone means ”palm”. 3) sant (i hant, o sant) (garden, yard, or other privately owned place), pl. saint (i saint) (VT42:20)_

parth

field

(i barth, o pharth) (sward, enclosed grassland), pl. perth (i pherth)

imrath

valley

(long narrow valley with a road or watercourse running through it lengthwise) imrath (pl. imraith)

talath

wide valley

(i** dalath, o thalath) (flat surface, plane, flatlands, plain), pl. telaith (i** thelaith). *Tolkien changed this word from ”Noldorin” dalath, LR:353 s.v.*

imloth

flowering valley

(pl. imlyth) (VT42:18).

rîdh

sown field

(acre);  no distinct pl. form except possibly with article (idh rîdh)

-o

suffix. of

Cognates

• Q. -o “of; genitive ending” ✧ WJ/369

emmë

noun. mother

Cognates

• Q. emmë “mummy, mother (familiar/family)” ✧ VT48/06

Element in

• T. emmecë “mother [diminutive]; *mommy” ✧ VT48/06

Variations

• emme ✧ VT48/06

nand

noun. valley

Isolated from Lindórinand, Lórinand (q.v. for reference). While this word is not given in the Etymologies, it is clearly derived from the stem NAD (LR:374) and hence a close cognate of the similar Doriathrin word nand "field, valley". The Quenya cognate nanda (meaning "water-mead, watered plain") indicates a primitive form *nandâ; as in most cases, the final -â is lost in Nandorin.

sha

preposition. with

Element in

• Bs. Uglúk u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman-glob búbhosh skai “Uglúk to the cesspool, sha! the dungfilth, the great Saruman-fool, skai; Uglúk to torture chamber with stinking Saruman-filth, dung-heap, skai” ✧ LotR/0445; PE17/079; PM/083

-mâ

preposition. with

A prepositional suffix translated “with” (SD/247, 429).

Conceptual Development: At an earlier conceptual stage, it was the grammatical inflection -ma used for the draft-instrumental (SD/438).

Element in

• Ad. Bârim an-Adûn yurahtam dâira sâibêth-mâ Êruvô “Lords of [the] West, they rent [the] Earth with assent from Eru” ✧ SD/247
• Ad. bārun an-adūn {urahhata >>} urahta dāira sāibēth-mā ēruvō ✧ SD/247

Variations

• -mā ✧ SD/247
• mā ✧ SD/429

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.

Cognates

• ᴹQ. amme “mother”

Derivations

• √AM “mother”

Variations

• ammī/ammē ✧ SD/434

duban

noun. valley

-ul

suffix. of

Element in

• Kh. Azanulbizar “Dimrill Dale, (lit.) Rills of the Shadows” ✧ RC/269

Variations

• |ul ✧ PE17/047

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).

Derivatives

• Ad. ammê “mother”
• ✶amal “mother” ✧ VT48/19; VT48/19
  • Q. amil(lë) “mother”
• Q. emmë “mummy, mother (familiar/family)” ✧ VT48/19
• S. emel “mother” ✧ VT48/17

Element in

• Q. amya “mummy, (orig.) my mother” ✧ VT48/19

Variations

• am ✧ VT48/17; VT48/19
• em ✧ VT48/17; VT48/19

amal

noun. mother

Derivations

• √AM “mother” ✧ VT48/19; VT48/19

Derivatives

• Q. amil(lë) “mother”

Variations

• amas ✧ PE21/83
• amma ✧ PE21/83
• amme ✧ PE21/83
• emel ✧ VT48/19
• emer ✧ VT48/19

amas

noun. mother

amma

noun. mother

amme

noun. mother

dē

preposition. with

Derivatives

• Q. lé “with, with, [ᴹQ.] by, [ᴱQ.] with (accompaniment)” ✧ PE17/095
• S. di “with” ✧ PE17/095

em

root. mother

emel

noun. mother

emer

noun. mother

nan

preposition. of

nana

noun. mother, mummy

nand

noun. wide grassland, land at foot of hills with many streams

nand

noun. valley

nann

noun. wide grassland, land at foot of hills with many streams

nann

noun. valley

an

preposition. of

Element in

• N. anann “long”
• N. Bair Nestad “Houses of Healing” ✧ WR/379 (Berin a Nestad)
• N. Ernil a Pheriannath “Prince of the Halflings” ✧ WR/287
• N. Rath a Chelerdain “Street of the Lampwrights” ✧ WR/388

na

preposition. with, by (also used as a genitive sign)

na

preposition. to, towards, at

na

preposition. with, by; of

Cognates

• ᴹQ. an(a) “to, towards” ✧ Ety/NĀ¹
• ᴹQ. -n “genitive suffix”

Derivations

• ᴹ√NĀ/ANA “to, towards” ✧ Ety/NĀ¹

Element in

• N. an- “with, by” ✧ Ety/NĀ¹
• N. Edeb na Nestad “Houses of Healing” ✧ WR/380 (Edeb na Nestad)
• N. Cûm-nan-Arasaith “Mound of Avarice”
• N. Dor-na-Thuin “Land of Pines” ✧ Ety/THŌN
• N. Dor-na-Fauglith “Land of (Gasping) Thirst” ✧ Ety/PHAU
• N. Taur-na-Danion “Forest of Pines”
• N. har na ond i mid “stand by the grey stone” ✧ AotH/056
• N. Haudh-na-Dengin “Hill of Slain”
• N. Cûm-na-Dengin “Mound of Slain”
• N. mîr na Nauglin ✧ Ety/NAUK
• N. Pennas-na-Ngoelaidh “History of the Noldoli” ✧ SM/077
• N. Taur-na-Faroth “*Forest of Hunting” ✧ Ety/SPAR
• N. Taur-na-Delduath “*Forest of Deadly Nightshade”
• N. Taur-nan-Erig “Forest of Region” ✧ Ety/ERÉK
• N. Taur-na-Fuin “Forest of Night” ✧ Ety/PHUY
• N. Tol-na-Gaurhoth “Isle of Werewolves” ✧ LR/284

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√NĀ¹ > na	[na]	✧ Ety/NĀ¹

Variations

• nan ✧ Ety/ERÉK

an-

prefix. with, by

an-

prefix. with, by

Cognates

• ᴹQ. ana- “to, towards” ✧ Ety/NĀ¹

naneth

noun. mother

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.

Derivations

• ᴹ√NAN “*mother” ✧ Ety/AM¹; Ety/NAN

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√NAN > naneth	[nanitta] > [nanittʰa] > [naniθθa] > [naneθθa] > [naneθθ] > [naneθ]	✧ Ety/NAN

imlad

noun. deep valley, narrow valley with steep sides (but a flat habitable bottom)

rîdh

noun. sown field, acre

pel

noun. fenced field (= Old English tún)

tum

noun. deep valley, under or among hills

emil

noun. mother

emil

noun. mother

Cognates

• ᴹQ. amil “mother” ✧ Ety/AM¹

Derivations

• ᴹ✶amī̆l “mother”
  • ᴹ√AM “mother”
• ᴹ√AM “mother” ✧ Ety/AM¹

Phonetic Developments

Development	Stages	Sources
ᴹ√AM¹ > emil	[amil] > [emil]	✧ Ety/AM¹