net

root. trim, pretty, dainty

A root element Tolkien gave unglossed in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s serving primarily as the basis for extended √NETER “nine”; Tolkien explicitly contrasted it with √NETH “sister”, used for the finger-name of the fourth and ninth fingers but not etymologically related “nine” (VT47/11-12). However in somewhat earlier versions of these notes from 1968, Tolkien glossed √NET as “trim (pretty, dainty)” and derived the finger name Q. nettë “little girl” directly from this root along with other words like Q. netil “trinket” and netya- “trim, adorn” (VT47/33).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is worth retaining the “pretty, dainty” sense of this root, though not necessarily connecting it to “nine”, which can simply be from unrelated √NETER.

neter

root. nine

A root for “nine” introduced in The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/NÉTER), replacing earliest words for “nine” such as ᴱQ. olme(t) and ᴱQ. hue from the 1910s and 20s. The root continued to appear in Tolkien’s later writings, and in his notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s he explored several possible origins for this root: connected to the finger name Q. nettë “little girl” derived from the root √NET “dainty” (VT47/33), based on the counting term Q. nete “one more” as in “nete, nete, nete, 10” (VT47/15-16), or simply as an independent invention of its own (VT47/12).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is easiest to assume √NETER its own root without any deeper etymology.

neth

root. (young) woman, female person; sister; fresh, lively, merry, (young) woman, female person; sister; fresh, lively, merry; [ᴹ√] young

This root had a variety of meanings over Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴹ√NETH “young” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with various Quenya and Noldorin derivatives of similar meaning, the most notable being the name ᴹQ. Nessa (Ety/NETH). In rough notes probably from around 1959, Tolkien redefined √NETH or √NES to mean “feminity apart from sex”, contrasted with √WEG or √WEƷ for masculinity, but he abandoned this line of reasoning deciding that √WĒ simply meant “person” independent of gender (PE17/189-190).

In notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, Tolkien again redefined √NETH, this time as the basis for Elvish “sister” words, either specifically meaning “sister” (VT47/12, 26, 34), meaning “(young) woman” (VT47/15, 32, 39) or perhaps “fresh, lively, merry” (VT47/32), the last of these probably a callback to its 1930s meaning “young”. In notes from 1959-60, however, the name Q. Nessa was disconnected from the root √NETH, derived instead from ✶Neresā meaning “she that has manlike valour or strength” (WJ/416).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is best for √NETH to retain its essential 1930s meaning “young, fresh, lively”, but with an association to young women as described in Tolkien’s notes from the 1960s, and thus by extension “sister” as named from the perspective of the parents.

neter(e)

cardinal. nine

nethē

noun. young woman, girl

netthi

noun. girl approaching the adult, sister (diminutive)

nēthā

noun. sister

nēthā

adjective. gay, lively, girlish

ray

root. net, knit, contrive network or lace; involve in a network, enlace

A root appearing in a pair of notes from around 1969 glossed “net; knit (contrive a network); catch, involve (in a net)” (PE22/159) and “net, knit, contrive network or lace; {catch,} involve in a network, enlace” (VT42/12), in both notes serving as an explanation for the name S. Gilraen. Both notes have a similar set of derivatives such as Q. raima/S. raef “net” and Q. raina/S. raen “netted, enlaced”. In the second note this root was compared to √WIG and √REB/REM, the former used of weaving in general as opposed to √RAY used of lace-work with a single thread, and the latter a verbal root having to with netting via traps and snares such as by hunters and fisherman. This comparison to √REB/REM was probably related to the deletion of the gloss “catch” from the second note.

These notes probably replaced another etymology of the name S. Gilraen in notes from the late 1950s where √RAY was glossed “smile” and “show pleasure or favour in facial expression” with derivatives like Q. raina/S. raen “smiling” and contrasted with the root √LALA “laugh” (PE17/182; VT44/35). This in turn might have been connected to Q. rainë “✱peace, good will” in Quenya prayers from the 1950s (VT44/34).

Neo-Eldarin: It is very unlikely Tolkien ever considered both √RAY “knit” and √RAY “smile” to be part of Elvish at the same time. Unfortunately, the latter is the most popular source of “smile” words in Neo-Eldarin; the only other option is the very early root ᴱ√MIRI or ᴱ√MṚT͡YṚ “smile”, whose derivatives clashes with the later and very well-known root √MIR “precious” used for jewels. It is therefore difficult to eliminate √RAY “smile” in favor of √RAY “knit”, itself with a large number of useful derivatives. For now, I recommend keeping both as part of Neo-Eldarin, even though they were probably incompatible in Tolkien’s mind.

rembinā

adjective. meshed, netted, woven

ñ(g)et

root. catch, get

năta

noun. thing

win

root. young, young, [ᴹ√] new, fresh

Tolkien used a similar set of Elvish roots for “youth” and “freshness” for many years. The earliest of these was primitive guı̯u̯ or gu̯iu̯ [ᴱ√GWIWI] in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like G. gui “just, just now, only just, already”, G. guin “recent, fresh”, and G. gwioth “youth” (GL/42). This root reappeared as ᴹ√WIR “new, fresh, young” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with variants ᴹ√WĪ and ᴹ√WIN and derivatives ᴹQ. vírie “youth” and ᴹQ. virya “fresh” (EtyAC/WIR). The ᴹ√WIN variant had derivatives ᴹQ. vinya/N. gwîn “young”. Tolkien considered, but rejected, deriving these from strengthened ᴹ√GWIN instead, producing (also rejected) ᴹQ. winya/N. bîn (EtyAC/GWIN).

Q. vinya appeared in quite a few later names with the gloss “young” or “new”, but the Sindarin form became S. gwain as in S. Narwain “January, ✱(lit.) New Fire” (LotR/1110) and S. Iarwain “Old-young” (LotR/1114; RC/128). In Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959, both were given as derivatives of √WIN “young” along with Q. víne/S. gwîn “youth”, though the Sindarin word for “young” was given as (archaic?) gwein (PE17/191). Also related are various words for “baby” from 1968 notes such Q. †wine/S. gwinig “little-one, baby” (VT48/6). In these notes primitive wini was glossed “little” but this was deleted (VT47/26), making it likely that the earlier senses “young, new” were restored for √WIN.

As for the 1930s root ᴹ√WIR, it might have survived as an element in the month names Q. Víressë/S. Gwirith “April” (LotR/1110), perhaps meaning “✱freshness”.

wairē

feminine name. Weaver

neterquë

cardinal. nineteen

neterquë cardinal "nineteen" (VT48:21)

neterquë

cardinal. nineteen

netil

noun. trinket, (?small thing) of personal adornment, trinket, small thing of personal adornment

A word for “trinket, (?small thing) of personal adornment” [part of the gloss is hard to read] derived from √NET “trim, pretty, dainty” in notes from the late 1960s associated with one of the etymologies for nettë “(little) girl” (VT47/33).

nettë

noun. (little) girl, sister (diminutive), daughter, pretty little thing

A word appearing in several sets of notes from the late 1960s having to do with Hands, Fingers and Numerals. It was related to the finger name of the fourth finger (representing the sister). Tolkien mostly glossed it either as “(little) girl” or “sister (diminutive)”, but in one placed indicated it originally meant “pretty little thing” (VT47/33) and in another that it might be used for “daughter” (VT47/15). He also gave it several derivations, from √NET “trim, pretty, dainty” (VT47/33) or the root √NETH which itself was given a variety of meanings: “sister” (VT47/12, 26, 34), “(young) woman” (VT47/15, 32, 39) or “fresh, lively, merry” (VT47/32).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I think the meaning “(little) girl” is the most useful. For “sister” I would use nésa.

netya-

verb. to trim, adorn

A verb for “to trim, adorn” derived from √NET “trim, pretty, dainty” in notes from the late 1960s associated with one of the etymologies for nettë “(little) girl” (VT47/33).

netë

one more, another

netë *"one more, another", used in enumerating a series: e.g. 1, 2, (3), netë, netë, netë...with netë used instead of citing the actual numbers. (VT47:15, VT48:14-15, 31)

netil

trinket, [?small thing] of personal adornment

netil noun "trinket, [?small thing] of personal adornment" (Tolkien's gloss was not certainly legible) (VT47:33)

nettë

girl, daughter

nettë (stem *netti-, given the primitive form listed in VT47:17) noun "girl, daughter" (but also "sister", see below), also used as a play-name of the "fourth finger" or "fourth toe" (VT47:10, VT48:6), in two-hand play also used for the numeral "nine" (nettë is conceived as being related to nertë, q.v.) Nettë is also defined as "sister" or "girl approaching the adult" (VT47:16, VT49:25), "girl/daughter" (VT47:15-16); it may be that "sister" was Tolkien's final decision on the meaning (VT48:4, 22) - The related word nésa seems like a less ambiguous translation of "sister".

netya

pretty, dainty

netya 2) adj. "pretty, dainty" (VT47:33)

netya-

verb. to trim, adorn

netya- 1) vb. "to trim, adorn" (VT47:33)

net(ë)

noun. one more beyond (the middle)

netya

adjective. pretty, dainty

nertë

cardinal. nine

nehtë

noun. honey, honey; [ᴹQ.] honeycomb

A noun for “honey” appearing in 1970 green-ink revisions to the Outline of Phonology (OP2) derived from ✶negdē “exudation” based on the root √NEG “ooze, drip” (PE19/91). It was a later iteration of ᴹQ. nehte “honeycomb” in The Etymologies of the 1930s which had essentially the same derivation (EtyAC/NEG). This in turn was a later form of ᴱQ. nekte “honey” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√NEHE having to do with bees and honey (QL/65).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I’d use this word only for “honey”. For “honeycomb” I’d use ᴺQ. nehtelë inspired by ᴱQ. nektele “honeycomb” (QL/65)

nectë

honey

nectë noun "honey" (LT1:262; Tolkien's later Quenya has lis; otherwise, nectë would have had to become nehtë_, a form appearing in the Etymologies with the meaning "honeycomb" [VT45:38]. However, this word clashes with _nehtë "angle" or "spearhead, gore, wedge, narrow promontory" from later sources [PE17:55, UT:282].)

nehte

noun. honey

honey

nertë

cardinal. nine

nertë cardinal "nine" (NÉTER, VT42:26, VT48:6); nertëa ordinal "ninth" (VT42:25)

raima

noun. net

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

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

raima

net

raima noun "net" (VT42:12)

neterquëa

ordinal. nineteenth

neterquain

cardinal. ninety

neterquëan

cardinal. ninety

raina

adjective. netted, enlaced, caught in a net, netted, enlaced; caught in a net

An adjective glossed “netted, enlaced” in notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69 based on the root √RAY “net, knit, contrive network or lace; involve in a network, enlace” (VT42/11). In a draft of this etymology appearing in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969, the adjective was instead glossed “netted, caught in net” and the root was glossed “net; knit (contrive a network); catch, involve (in a net)” (PE22/159).

rembë

noun. mesh; net (for catching), hunter’s or fisher’s net

A word appearing in a footnote in The Lord of the Rings appendices as a cognate to S. rem “mesh” (LotR/1115). In notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69 Tolkien translated this word as “net (for catching)” (VT42/12) or “a hunter’s or fisher’s net” (VT42/29), derived from the root √REB or √REM “entangle, snare, trap” (VT42/12). As such, I think “net (for catching)” is its original Quenya sense, and it would be used for “mesh” only metaphorically. The word rembe also appeared in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969 in the untranslated phrase raita rembë, probably meaning “✱knit a net” (PE22/159).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. maksella “mesh”, a diminutive form of ᴱQ. makse “net” (QL/58).

natsë

web, net

natsë noun "web, net" (NAT)

remba-

verb. net, entrap

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

remba-

verb. to net, entrap

A word for “net, entrap” in notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69, a verb form of rembë “net (for catching)” (VT42/12).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. makseta- “enmesh”, a verb form of ᴱQ. makse “net” (QL/58).

netsë

noun. little sister, ‘lil sis’ (intimate)

A neologism coined by Röandil posted on 2023-11-10 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), derived from primitive ✱netsi > ✱neth-si .

netto

noun. big sister, ‘big sis’ (intimate)

A neologism coined by Röandil posted on 2023-11-10 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), derived from primitive ✱netthō > ✱neth-dō.

net-

verb. to get, *obtain

raina

adjective. netted, caught in net

raita

verb. to net

raimë

network, lace

raimë noun "network, lace" (VT42:28). In the Etymologies as printed in LR, a word raimë "hunt, hunting" is also cited in the entry ROY1, but this is a misreading for roimë in Tolkien's manuscript (VT46:12)

raina

nettled, enlaced

raina (1) adj. "nettled, enlaced" (VT42:11)

rembina

adjective. entangled; meshed, netted, woven

The Quenya equivalent of S. remmen “meshed, netted, woven” in notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings as an element in Q. aldarembina, equivalent to S. galadhremmen “tree-meshed” (PE17/26). In notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69, Q. rembina was glossed “entangled” and derived from the root √REB or √REM “entangle, snare, trap” (VT42/12).

carrëa

tressure

carrëa (for cas-raya) noun "tressure" (net for confining the hair). (VT42:12)

carrëa

noun. tressure, tressure, *headdress

A noun for “tressure” in notes from the late 1960s derived from ✶cas-raya = √KAS “head” + √RAY “net, lace” (VT42/12). Given this word’s etymology, Tolkien was probably using “tressure” with its Middle English sense = “headdress”.

rembë

mesh

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

nésa

noun. sister

A word for “sister” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √NETH of similar meaning (VT47/12, 14). It had a diminutive/affectionate variant nettë used as a play name for the fourth finger in several places in these notes (VT47/12; VT48/6), but I prefer to mainly use nettë for “(little) girl” in Neo-Quenya (VT47/10, 15, 33).

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had ᴹQ. seler “sister” from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES (Ety/THEL), and the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. heresse “sister” from the early root ᴱ√HESE (QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

nessa

young

nessa adj. "young" (NETH), alsoNessa as name of a Valië, the spouse of Tulkas (adopted and adapted from Valarin, or an archaic Elvish formation: WJ:404 vs. 416). Also called Indis, "bride" (NETH, NI1). The fem. name Nessanië (UT:210) would seem to incorporate Nessa's name; the second element could mean "tear" (nië), but since Nessa is not normally associated with sorrow, this #nië is perhaps rather a variant of ní "female" (compare Tintanië as a variant of Tintallë).

nessë

youth

nessë noun "youth"; also nésë (NETH)

nésë

youth

nésë (Þ) noun "youth", also nessë (NETH). Not to be confused with nésë "he was"; see ná #1.

nesya

adjective. gay, lively, girlish

A neologism coined by Luinyelle posted on 2024-01-31 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), an adjectival form of √NETH “(young) woman; lively, merry”.

nertëa

ordinal. ninth

atsa

catch, hook, claw

atsa noun "catch, hook, claw" (GAT)

engwë

thing

engwë noun "thing" (VT39:7, VT49:28). Extrapolation may also point to *engwë as an emphatic dual inclusive pronoun "we" (thou and I), corresponding to the ending -ngwë.

huë

cardinal. nine

huë "Qenya" cardinal "nine" (in Tolkiens later Quenya nertë) (VT49:54)

laisi

youth, vigour, new life

laisi, laito noun "youth, vigour, new life" (LT1:267; rather vië or nésë, nessë in Tolkien's later Quenya)

lís

noun. honey, honey, *sugar, sweetener

A word for “honey” in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 given as lîs and derived from the root √(G)LIS (PE17/154); the usual representation of a long vowel in Quenya would be ✱lís. In DLN Tolkien said that it sometimes appeared as līr- in inflections with the usual change of intervocalic s to r, but that its usual stem form was liss-. Indeed, in The Etymologies of the 1930s this word was ᴹQ. lis “honey” under the root ᴹ√LIS of the same meaning, and its stem form was also liss- as indicated by its [ᴹQ.] genitive lissen (Ety/LIS). Tolkien originally gave the base noun as lisse in The Etymologies, but this was deleted and replaced by lis (EtyAC/LIS). In The Etymologies its Noldorin cognate was N. glî.

Conceptual Development: A likely precursor to this word was ᴱQ. ile “honey” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s, cognate to ᴱN. glí “honey” (GL/59).

Neo-Quenya: Since there are other honey-words in Quenya like Q. nehtë, I would use lís (liss-) for sweeteners in general, including both honey and sugar.

melu

honey

#melu noun "honey", isolated from melumatya, q.v. (PE17:68)

melu

noun. honey

A word for “honey” appearing only in the compound Q. melumatya “honey-eating” in notes from 1967 (PE17/68).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I recommend using the better-established Q. nehtë for “honey”.

nat

thing

nat noun "thing" (NĀ2); compare únat. VT49:30 lists "năta, nat", but it is unclear whether năta is here a Quenya word or an etymological form underlying Quenya nat.

nat

noun. thing, thing, [ᴹQ.] object

The usual Quenya noun for “thing” derived from the root √NĀ “be, exist” (VT49/30, Ety/NĀ²), so perhaps prehistorically simply “a thing that is”. Its plural form nati is indirectly attested in the plural únati of its (strong) negation únat “a thing impossible to be or to be done” (VT39/26).

Conceptual Development: This word is well established in Tolkien’s writings, appearing all the way back in the Qenya Lexicon from the 1910s (QL/64). In its earliest iteration, its stem form was natt- and its plural was natsi, where [[eq|[ti] became [tsi]]] as was the usual pattern in Early Qenya. The word reappear in texts and notes from the 1920s (PE14/43, 72; PE15/32, 68, 78). In one early dictionary entry it was glossed more generally as “affair, matter, thing”, but this entry was deleted (PE15/68); in other early writings the word for “affair” was given as ᴱQ. natto (QL/64). The word reappeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s with a simplified stem form nat- given its Noldorin equivalent N. nad (Ety/NĀ²). The word appeared again in the late 1960s in notes associated with Q. ná- “to be”, where it was given the primitive form ✶năta (VT49/30).

nengwë

nose

nengwë (stem *nengwi-, given the primitive form ¤neñ-wi) noun "nose", pl. nengwi given (NEÑ-WI)

ná-

verb. to be, to be, [ᴱQ.] exist

The basic Quenya verb for “to be”, based on the root √NĀ (PE17/93). It was typically used as the copula equating a noun to another noun or an adjective:

> √NA joining adjs./nouns/pronouns in statements (or wishes) asserting (or desiring) a thing to have a certain quality, or to be the same as another (PE22/147).

In many circumstances this verb was optional:

> As a copula “be, is” is not usually expressed in Quenya where the meaning is clear: sc. in such expressions as “A is good” where the adjective (contrary to the usual order in Quenya of a qualifying adjective) follows: the normal Quenya for this is A mára (PE17/93).

For further discussion see the entry on the Quenya copula.

Conceptual Development: This verb dates back all the way to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where it was given as the early root ᴱ√NĀ “be, exist” (QL/64). This verb and its root appeared regularly throughout Tolkien’s writings thereafter, but at times Tolkien considered alternative verbs for “to be”; see the entry ëa- for further discussion.

náma

noun. thing

A word for a “thing” in notes from 1969, likely a combination of ná- “be” and the instrumental suffix -ma, appearing in the phrase eleni námaron anírime “stars are the most beautiful of (created) things”. In the translation of the phrase Tolkien put a parenthetical “created” before the gloss “things”, but I don’t think he intended to imply that this was part of the meaning of the word, but rather a sense omitted from the Quenya phrase.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would stick to the better attested nat “thing”.

nésa

sister

nésa (Þ) noun "sister" (VT47:14); this form from a late source possibly replaces earlier seler and onórë, q.v.

olma

cardinal. nine

olma cardinal "nine" (LT1:258; in Tolkien's later Quenya nertë)

onórë

sister

onórë noun "sister" (of blood-kin) (THEL/THELES, NŌ; both of these entries in the Etymologies as reproduced in LR have the reading "onóne", but the "Old Noldorin" cognate wanúre listed in the entry THEL/THELES seems to indicate that the Quenya word should be onórë; the letters n and r are easily confused in Tolkien's handwriting. There is no clear evidence for a feminine ending -në in Quenya, but -rë is relatively well attested; cf. for instance ontarë.) A later source gives the word for "sister" as nésa instead.

osellë

sister, [female] associate

osellë (þ) noun "sister, [female] associate" (THEL/THELES, WŌ). Cf. otorno.

rembina

entangled

rembina adj. "entangled" (VT42:12); aldarembina pl. aldarembinë "tree-tangled", Quenya equivalent of Sindarin galadhremmin(PE17:26)

seler

sister

seler (þ) (sell-, as in pl. selli) noun "sister" (THEL/THELES). In a later source, the word nésa (q.v.) appears instead, leaving the conceptual status of seler uncertain.

vinya

young

vinya (1) adj. "young" (VT46:22, VT47:26, PE17:191) or "new" (cf. compounds Vinyamar, Vinyarië below; cf. also winya "new, fresh, young" in a deleted entry in the Etymologies, VT45:16; there the word was first written as vinya.) Vinya "the Young", original name of the isle of Númenor among its own people (SD:332).

vinyarë

noun. youth, youth, *young adulthood

vínë

youth

vínë noun "youth" (probably as abstract) (VT47:26, PE17:191)

vínë

noun. youth, youth, *childhood

vírië

youth

vírië noun "youth" (as abstract) (VT46:22)

natto

noun. affair, matter, thing

nessa

Nessa

Nessa ([ˈnesːa]) is a Quenya name meaning "young".

vírina

adjective. woven

A neologism for “woven” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), based on the root √WIR “weave”. Another possibility is lanina “woven”, the passive participle of [ᴹQ.] lanya- “to weave” (Ety/LAN).

nest

noun. ?heart, core

neth

feminine name. Nessa

Noldorin equivalent of ᴹQ. Nessa appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, derived from the same primitive root ᴹ√NETH (Ety/NETH, NĪ¹). Given its Quenya form, the primitive form of this name might have been ✱✶netthā.

nethwelein

proper name. Younger Gods

A term for the three Valar Osse, Orome and Tulkas from the day-name Ar Nethwelein appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/LEP), a combination of neth “young” and the mutated plural form of Balan “god, Vala”.

neth

adjective. young

irregular, compare: tathor @@@

neth

adjective. young

nethra

noun. ?heart, core

nesta

noun. ?heart, core

dineth

feminine name. Nessa

A Noldorin name for Nessa appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s, it is simply dineth “bride” used as a name (Ety/NĪ¹, NETH, EtyAC/NDIS).

gwî

noun. net, web

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “net, web” under the root ᴹ√WEY “wind, weave” (Ety/WEY).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. gwith “net” based on the early root ᴱ√gwidh- “weave”, with an alternate form gwinn (GL/46).

Neo-Sindarin: In Tolkien’s later writings the root for “weave” became √WIR or √WIG, so I think this Noldorin word is not salvageable. For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would use N. nath for “web” and S. rem for “net”.

gwî

noun. net, web

nem

noun. nose

A word for “nose” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, with archaic form nemb and derived from ᴹ√NEÑ-WI (Ety/NEÑ-WI), an elaboration of the shorter root ᴹ√NEÑ (EtyAC/NEÑ-WI). The mb is a result of the Old Noldorin change of labialized velars into labials (ñw > ñgw > mb), a sound change that also occurred in Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: Similar but earlier “nose” words include G. nûn {“a nostril” >>} “a nose (of men only)” from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/61) and ᴱN. {nheth >>} neth “nose” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/151).

thêl

noun. sister

A word for “sister” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES of the same meaning, with an irregular plural thelei (Ety/THEL). It had a more elaborate form muinthel, the equivalent of muindor “(dear) brother”, with an initial element muin “dear”.

Neo-Quenya: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word nethel for “sister” from the root √NETH (VT47/14). However, I think thêl and related words might be retained to mean a “metaphorical sister”, a close female associate who may or may not be related by blood, as with such words as gwathel “[sworn] sister, associate”. In this paradigm, I would assume muinthel still refers to a sister by blood, with an added connotation of strong affection. I think it’s best to assume the irregular Noldorin plural pattern was reformed to the normal Sindarin plural thîl.

nath

noun. web

A noun for “web” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√NAT “lace, weave, tie” with Quenya cognate ᴹQ. natse (Ety/NAT).

nîth

noun. youth

neder

cardinal. nine

gad-

verb. to catch

glî

noun. honey

glî

noun. honey

A word for “honey” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from primitive ᴹ✶g-lisi under the root ᴹ√LIS of the same meaning (Ety/LIS).

Conceptual Development: In Early Noldorin Word-lists Tolkien also had ᴱN. glí “honey” (PE13/144), presumably similarly derived from the early root ᴱ√LISI. However, in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s the word for “honey” was G. neglis with an initial element √neg- (GL/59), the Gnomish equivalent of the early root ᴱ√NEHE that was the basis for ᴱQ. nekte “honey” (QL/65). It is possible that the second element of G. neglis was based on ᴱ√LISI and this was carried forward into later “honey” words.

gwathel

noun. sister, associate

gwîr

feminine name. Weaver

Noldorin name of ᴹQ. Vaire appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s as a derivative of the same primitive form Weirē (Ety/WEY).

muinthel

noun. sister

nad

noun. thing

nad

noun. thing

A word in The Etymologies of the 1930s, cognate of ᴹQ. nat “thing” and derived from the root ᴹ√NĀ “to be” (Ety/NĀ²).

Conceptual Development: The word G. nad appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s along side a variant nân, but neither form was translated (GL/59). Earlier in the lexicon there was G. nath “thing, affair, matter” (GL/58) clearly based on the early root ᴱ√NĀ “be, exist” and cognate to ᴱQ. nat (natt-) “thing” (QL/64). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s, ᴱN. nad was glossed “thing” (PE13/150).

nath

noun. web

nathron

noun. weaver, webster

nem

noun. nose

nemb

noun. nose

nîth

noun. youth

thêl

noun. sister

dess

noun. young woman

An archaic word in The Etymologies of the 1930s for “young woman” derived from ON. ndissa under the root ᴹ√NDIS (Ety/NDIS), where the i became e via a-affection. Tolkien said of dess that it “does not [survive] except as contributing to sense ‘woman’: cf. bess properly ‘wife’” (EtyAC/NDIS). Hence this word was no longer used in modern language.

gwîn

adjective. young

meglin

adjective. honey-eater, bear-like

muinthel

noun. sister

neder

cardinal. nine

neth

noun. (little) girl; sister (diminutive)

A word appearing in several sets of notes from the late 1960s having to do with Hands, Fingers and Numerals. It was related to the finger name of the fourth finger (representing the sister). Tolkien gave it a variety of glosses: “girl” (VT47/33), “little girl” (VT47/33), or as an archaic diminutive for “sister” (VT47/14; VT48/6), where it was replaced by nethig in modern speech. He also gave it several different derivations, from √NET “trim, pretty, dainty” (VT47/33) or the root √NETH which itself was given a variety of meanings: “sister” (VT47/12, 26, 34), “(young) woman” (VT47/15, 32, 39) or “fresh, lively, merry” (VT47/32).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I think the meaning “(little) girl” is the most useful. For “sister” I would use †nîth or nethel, with nethig as the diminutive form.

nethel

noun. sister

A word for “sister” coined by Tolkien in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s, based on the root √NETH of similar meaning and replacing the archaic form of the word †nîth (VT47/12, 14). The diminutive/affectionate form nethig “[little] sister” was used as a play name for the fourth finger (VT48/6); Tolkien considered an alternate diminutive netheg (VT47/14, 32) and also considered giving this diminutive an alternate meaning “little girl” (VT47/15, 33); see S. neth for discussion.

Conceptual Development: The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. thêl “sister” from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES (Ety/THEL), and the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. hethir “sister” from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE] (GL/48; QL/40). See those entries for discussion.

nethig

noun. "litte sister"

First given in the manuscript as netheg in VT/47:14-15, but see especially VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

nethig

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

First given in the manuscript as netheg in VT/47:14-15, but see especially VT/48:17 n. 13 for discussion

nethig

noun. sister, girl (diminutive)

neth

noun. sister

neth

noun. girl (in her teens, approaching the adult)

netheg

noun. girl (diminutive)

raew

noun. net

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

raef

noun. net

raef

noun. net

raew

noun. net

rem

noun. mesh, net (for catching)

A noun for “mesh” appearing in a footnote in Lord of the Rings appendices as the basis of Remmirath “Netted Jewels” and the plural adjectival element remmin in galadhremmin “tree-tangled, tree-meshed” (LotR/1115). In notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69 Tolkien translated this word as “net (for catching)” (VT42/12) or “a hunter’s or fisher’s net” (VT42/29), derived from the root √REB or √REM “entangle, snare, trap” (VT42/12).

neth

sister

1) neth (also used = ”girl”). (VT47:14-16, 33; VT48:6), pl. nith. Notice the homophone neth ”young”. Also nîth (no distinct pl. form though the plural article with show pluarlity when the noun is definite: in nîth) (VT47:14). 2) gwathel (i **wathel), pl. gwethil (in gwethil). 3) muinthel (i vuinthel), pl. muinthil (i muinthil), more usual than the shorter form thêl (stem thele-), pl. theli. In “Noldorin”, the pl. was thelei** (LR:392 s.v. THEL).

neth

young

neth (pl. nith). A homophone is the noun ”sister, girl”.

neth

nessa

Neth, also called Díneth ”the young bride” (na Nineth)

neth

nessa

also called Díneth ”the young bride” (na Nineth)

neth

girl

(also used = ”sister”), pl. nith (VT47:14-16, 33; VT48:6). Notice the homophone neth ”young”. – The final element -wen in names means ”girl, maiden, virgin”.

nethig

little sister

nethig (no distinct pl. form except with article, in nethig). Also used (in childrens play) as a term for the ring finger. (VT47:14, 38-39, VT48:6, 17)

nethia-

verb. to entertain, (orig.) to make welcome

nethias

noun. entertainment

neth

young

(pl. nith). A homophone is the noun ”sister, girl”.

nethan-

verb. to inspire, kindle inside

nethor

noun. herd, flock

cathrae

noun. tressure, net for combining the hair

raeda-

verb. to catch in a net

rem

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

raen

adjective. netted, enlaced

An adjective glossed “netted, enlaced” in notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69 based on the root √RAY “net, knit, contrive network or lace; involve in a network, enlace” (VT42/11-12). It was an element in the name Gilraen.

remmirath

proper name. Netted Jewels

Sindarin name for the constellation of Pleiades, translated “Netted Stars” (LotR/81) or “Netted Jewels” (PE17/121). The name is a combination of rem “mesh, net” and the class-plural of mîr “jewel” (LotR/1115, VT42/12, PE17/24).

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, the name of the constellation Pleiades was given as G. Sithaloth or Sithaloctha “Fly-cluster” (GL/68).

raen

adjective. nettled, enlaced

remmen

adjective. meshed, netted, woven, (en)tangled

An adjectival element in (plural) galadhremmin “tree-tangled, tree-meshed” from the prayer A Elbereth Gilthoniel (LotR/1115; RGEO/64; PE17/20-21). In notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien gave the singular form as remmen < ✶rembinā and translated it as “meshed, netted, woven” (PE17/26). In notes on The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor from 1967-69, remmen was glossed “entangled” as an adjectival form of rem(m) “net (for catching)”, all based on the root √REB or √REM “entangle, snare, trap” (VT42/12).

In notes on the Common Eldarin Article (CEA) from 1969, Tolkien spelled remen with a single m, a representation of the sound change whereby [[s|[mm] shortened]] in Sindarin (PE23/140). Elsewhere the spelling remmen is more common, but the pronunciation is still [remen] in those cases as well (LotR/1115). The m-sound is still treated as a consonant cluster for purposes of stress, however, so that the stress patten for galadhremmen is [gàlaðrémen] and not [galáðremen].

gilraen

feminine name. *Netted Stars

Aragorn’s mother (LotR/1113). Her name is a combination of gil “star” and raen “netted, enlaced”, meaning “one adorned with a tressure set with small gems in its network” (VT42/11), more loosely “✱Netted Star”.

Conceptual Development: In drafts of the Lord of the Rings appendices, her name was Gilrain (PM/196). In notes from the 1950s, he indicated the second element of her name was raen “smiling, gracious, sweet-faced” (PE17/182).

remmen

noun. woven, netted, tangled

gwî

net

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

gwî

net

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

raef

net

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

rem

net

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

raeda

catch in a net

(i raeda, idh raedar) (VT42:12)

raen

netted

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

raen

netted

1) raen (enlaced). No distinct pl. form. (VT42:12), 2) remmen (tangled, woven), pl. #remmin attested (as part of the phrase galadhremmin ennorath, LotR Appendix E)

remmen

netted

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

nederph

cardinal. nineteen

paeneder

cardinal. nineteen

nederphaen

cardinal. ninety

na-

verb. to be

A verb for “to be” based on the root √NĀ of the same meaning. This verb is barely attested in the Sindarin language, and the general consensus is that [for purposes of Neo-Sindarin at least] Sindarin omits the verb “to be” in most phrases, such as in naur an edraith ammen “fire [be] for saving us” (LotR/299) or ✱orchal i adan “tall [is] the man”; see the entry on the copula for further discussion.

The clearest attestation of the verb na- is its imperative form no “be!” in the phrase no aer i eneth lín “hallowed be thy name, (lit.) ✱be holy the name your”, from the Sindarin translation of the Lord’s Prayer from the 1950s (VT44/21). This imperative form was preceded by some hard-to-read deleted forms, perhaps {dôd >> dád >> hae >>} no (VT44/22). The d-forms might be eroded/mutated variants of na-. Compare đa in the phrase inn đa v’im “a mind there is in me = I have a good mind (to do so)” in notes from the late 1960s (PE22/165), where đa could be another eroded form of na-. This phrase was first written as inn no v’im (PE22/165 note #108); see the entry for đa for further discussion.

Another clear attestation of na “be” is an apparent future form natho in the untranslated phrase Sí il chem {na} en i naugrim en ir Ellath {natho} thor den ammen in the so-called “Túrin Wrapper” from the late 1950s (VT50/5). This future[?] form natho was deleted and replaced by thor, and a deleted {na} also appears earlier in the phrase, possibly a false start. Carl Hostetter suggested this phrase might mean something like “✱now all (?hands) of the Dwarves and Elves will be (?against) us” (VT50/22-25). If so, it seems the future of na- “be” was constructed from the bare future suffix (a)tha-, manifesting as tho “✱will be”.

Neo-Sindarin: As noted above, for purposes of Neo-Sindarin the general consensus is that this verb is barely used, and is omitted from most “to be” phrases as in the example orchal i adan given above. The verb’s one widely accepted use is as an imperative, such as in no mae “be well”. Based the Túrin Wrapper, I posit that tho can also be used for a future form “will be”, as in i adan tho orchal “the man will be tall”. I likewise posit a (purely hypothetical) past form [ᴺS.] nî “was”, based on the primitive past-tense element ✶-nē with [[os|long [ē] becoming [ī]]], as in i adan nî orchal “the man was tall”. Neither tho or nî are widely accepted Neo-Sindarin, however.

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had the verb G. na- “is” (GL/58), clearly based on the early root ᴱ√NĀ “be, exist” (QL/64). This irregular Gnomish verb had some inflected forms: plural nain, participle ol· and past form {ni >>} thi, the last of these being another inspiration for Neo-Sindarin nî “was”.

remmen

meshed

pl1. remmin _adj._meshed, netted, woven. >> galadhremmen

gwî

web

1) gwî (i **wî) (net), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwî), 2) nath (pl. naith**).

gwî

web

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

rem

mesh

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

rem

mesh

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

neder

cardinal. nine

cathrae

tressure

cathrae (i gathrae, o chathrae) (hairnet). No distinct pl. form except with article (i chathrae). (VT42:12))

cathrae

tressure

(i gathrae, o chathrae) (hairnet). No distinct pl. form except with article (i chathrae). (VT42:12))

iell

girl

1) iell (-iel) (daughter, maid), pl. ill; 2) sell (i hell) (daughter, maid), pl. sill (i sill), coll. pl. sellath. 3) (girl in her teens, approaching the adult) neth (also used = ”sister”), pl. nith (VT47:14-16, 33; VT48:6). Notice the homophone neth ”young”. The final element -wen in names means ”girl, maiden, virgin”.

lebent

ring finger

lebent (pl. lebint) (VT48:5), also called nethig. The word means ”little sister”, but was used in childrens play for the ring finger. (VT47:14, 38-39, VT48:48:6, 17)

lebent

ring finger

(pl. lebint) (VT48:5), also called nethig. The word means ”little sister”, but was used in children’s play for the ring finger. (VT47:14, 38-39, VT48:48:6, 17)

nathron

weaver

nathron (webster), pl. nethryn, coll. pl. nathronnath. Note: this is apparently a masc. form (the fem. form could be *nethril; compare masc. lathron and fem. lethril as words for ”listener”)

nathron

weaver

(webster), pl. nethryn, coll. pl. nathronnath. Note: this is apparently a masc. form (the fem. form could be ✱nethril; compare masc. lathron and fem. lethril as words for ”listener”)

nathron

webster

nathron (weaver), pl. nethryn, coll. pl. nathronnath. Note: this is apparently a masc. form (the fem. form could be *nethril; compare masc. lathron and fem. lethril as words for ”listener”)

nathron

webster

(weaver), pl. nethryn, coll. pl. nathronnath. Note: this is apparently a masc. form (the fem. form could be ✱nethril; compare masc. lathron and fem. lethril as words for ”listener”)

remmen

woven

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

remmen

woven

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

nerthui

ordinal. ninth

nîth

noun. sister

gwein

adjective. young

adj. young. Q. vinya. >> gwîn

gwein

adjective. young

gwîn

noun. youth

n. youth. Q. víne. >> gwein

gwîn

noun. youth

medlin

adjective. honey-eater, bear-like

neder

cardinal. nine

nedrui

ordinal. ninth

nedrui

ordinal. ninth

nerthui

ordinal. ninth

nîth

noun. sister

bach

thing

(article for exchange, ware) (i mach, o mbach), pl. baich (i mbaich).

bund

nose

(i mund, o mbund, construct mun) (snout, cape [of land]), pl. bynd (i mbynd)

dess

young woman

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

dess

young woman

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

dess

young woman

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

gad

catch

(i ’âd, i ngedir = i ñedir), pa.t. gant;

glî

honey

glî (i **lî**);

glî

honey

(i ’lî);

iell

girl

(-iel) (daughter, maid), pl. ill

lhing

spider’s web, cobweb

(?i thling or ?i ling – the lenition product of lh is uncertain) (also used = ”spider”); no distinct pl. form except possibly with article (?i ling). – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thling.

meren

gay

meren (lenited veren; pl. merin) (festive, joyous). Note: In the Etymologies, Tolkien changed the relevant root from _ to

meren

gay

(lenited veren; pl. merin) (festive, joyous). Note: In the Etymologies, Tolkien changed the relevant root from MER to MBER so that meren became beren, but names occurring in Tolkien’s narratives (Mereth Aderthad, Merethrond) were not changed, so this revision was never fully implemented. (If meren were to become beren, the related word mereth ”feast” would also become bereth.)

nad

thing

1) nad (pl. naid), 2) bach (article for exchange, ware) (i mach, o mbach), pl. baich (i mbaich).

nad

thing

(pl. naid)

nath

web

(pl. naith).

neder

cardinal. nine

neder;

neder

nine

;

nedrui

ninth

nedrui

ninth

nedrui

nem

nose

1) nem (pl. nim; coll. pl. nemmath), 2) bund (i mund, o mbund, construct mun) (snout, cape [of land]), pl. bynd (i mbynd)

nem

nose

(pl. nim; coll. pl. nemmath)

nîdh

honeycomb

(construct nidh; no distinct pl. form) (VT45:38).

nîth

youth

(construct nith; no distinct pl. form)

sell

girl

(i hell) (daughter, maid), pl. sill (i sill), coll. pl. sellath.

neterpë

cardinal. 19

netticë

noun. sister (diminutive)

nettë

noun. honey

nettë

noun. sister (diminutive)

neter

cardinal. nine

neterya

ordinal. ninth

necte, nette

noun. honey

honey

nétha

adjective. gay, lively, girlish

néþa

noun. sister

nithil

noun. girl

A noun translated “girl” and fully declined as an example of a feminine Strong I noun (SD/430). It is also used as an example of feminine nouns that use the suffix -i in their objective inflection as opposed to the usual -u: nithli (SD/431). Though not explicitly stated, nithli is also an example of the variant objective-with-syncope syntax discussed on SD/435. Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne suggested (AAD/21) it may be related to the Elvish root √NETH “young”.