A term for the “lesser firmament” created by Varda in imitation of the true heavens Tarmenel (MR/388). It is probably a compound of some form of nu “under” and menel “the heavens”.
Quenya
Nur-menel
nur-menel
nur-menel
place name. *Under Heaven
Elements
Word Gloss nu “under, beneath” menel “the heavens, firmament, sky” Variations
- Nurmenel ✧ PE17/022
Tarmenel
high heaven
Tarmenel place-name "High Heaven" (LotR1:II ch. 1, VT44:34, in the latter source also locative tarmeneldë), Tar-menel "the true firmament", as opposed to Nur-menel (q.v.) (MR:388)
nillë
silver glint
nillë ("ñ") a star-imagine on Nur-menel (q.v.), from a stem ngil- noun "silver glint" (MR:388)
tinwë
spark
tinwë noun "spark" (gloss misquoted as "sparkle" in the Etymologies as printed in LR, see VT46:19), also "star"; pl. tinwi "sparks", properly used of the star-imagines on Nur-menel (q.v.). Cf. nillë. (TIN, MR:388) In early "Qenya", tinwë was simply glossed "star" (LT1:269, cf. MC:214). In one late source, the meaning of tinwë is given as "spark", and it is said that this word (like Sindarin gil) was used of the stars of heaven "in place of the older and more elevated el, elen- stem" (VT42:11).
Nur-menel noun the lesser firmament, a great dome covering Valinor, made by Varda and full of star-imagines (see tinwë, nillë). It was a simulacrum of Tar-menel, the true firmament (MR:388)