Sindarin 

pen-

without

(ben-) _ pref. _without,**less. pen-adar 'fatherless'. >> ben-, ú-

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:34:144] < PENE lack. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen-

verb. to have not, *to lack

A verb in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 used as the negative of sav- “have” based on the root √PEN (PE17/146). Thus a better meaning might be “✱to lack”. This verb was also mentioned in discussion of negation from around this time, along with the phrase penim vast “we have no bread” (PE17/144). In this note Tolkien stated that Sindarin did not use its negative particle ū- for the sense “without”, instead using preposition/prefixal pen instead, as in Iarwain Ben-adar “Oldest and Fatherless” (LotR/265; PE17/34, 144).

Sindarin [PE17/144; PE17/171; PE17/173] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pen-

-less

pref. -less. >> penadar

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:173] < PEN lack, have not. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen-

-less

pref. -less. Q. _pen _without, not having. . This gloss was rejected.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:171] < PEN lack, not have. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen-

obsolete except in few names

pref. obsolete except in few names. >> -ben

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:141] < _kwenedē_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen-

verb. 'have not'

v. 'have not'. penimvast 'we have no bread'. >> ú-

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:144] < PENE lack. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen-arduin

place name. Pen-arduin

Home of Borlas in Tolkien’s aborted sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The New Shadow (PM/411). The meaning of this name is unclear, but David Salo suggested it might be a combination of pend “fall”, ar(a)- “royal” and duin “river” (GS/389).

Sindarin [PMI/Pen-arduin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pen

preposition/prefix. without, lacking, -less

Sindarin [PE17/034; PE17/144; PE17/145; PE17/167; PE17/173] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pen

pronoun. one, somebody, anybody, one, somebody, anybody; [N.] Elf

A Sindarin pronoun with the sense “one, somebody, anybody” appearing in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60, also used as a suffix in words like orodben “mountaineer” and rochben “rider” (WJ/376), originally “✱mountain-person” and “✱horse-person”. It was thus more narrow in scope than its Quenya cognate quén “person”. Hints of this word can be found in other late writings, such as in the final element in Morben (PE17/141; EtyAC/MOR), originally “Dark-elf” but later expanded to include any people who are not among the Celbin “✱Light folk”, which applied to “peoples in alliance in the War against Morgoth” (WJ/377).

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s, N. penn meant “Elf” in the compound N. Morbenn “Dark-elf”, though this word was rejected (EtyAC/MOR). The word N. penn, plural i-phinn “the Elves” also appeared in notes on Ælfwine’s spelling from around 1937-8 (PE22/67). This Noldorin form was thus a cognate of ᴹQ. Qende “Elf”, though elsewhere the usual cognate was N. penedh (Ety/KWEN(ED)); see the entry on S. penedh for further discussion. However, the later Sindarin pronoun/suffix “had no special association with Elves” (WJ/376).

Sindarin [PE17/141; WJ/362; WJ/376] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pen

pronoun. one, somebody, anybody

Usually enclitic and mutated as ben.2

Sindarin [WJ/376] Group: SINDICT. Published by

pen

preposition. without, lacking, -less

Sindarin [Iarwain ben-adar LotR/II:II] Group: SINDICT. Published by

pen

adverb. lacking

adv. lacking, without.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:145] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

Pen-ada

noun. fatherless

pen (“without, lacking”) + adar (“father”)

Sindarin [Tolkiendil] Group: Tolkiendil Compound Sindarin Names. Published by

Pen-adar

'Fatherless'

(Ben-adar) prop. n. 'Fatherless', a title of Tom Bombadil.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:34] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen-bed

adjective. not pronunceable

adj. not pronunceable (rather than ineffable).

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:145] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen-nod

adjective. without count

adj. without count.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:145] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen-noediad

adjective. innumerable

adj. innumerable.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:145] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

pen

cardinal. one

(indefinite pronoun) (= somebody, anybody) pen (WJ:376); lenited ben. According to one interpretation of the phrase caro den i innas lín from the Sindarin Lords Prayer (VT44:23), this could mean *”let one do your will”, with den (perhaps a lenited form of *ten) as the indefinite pronoun ”one”. However, others interpret den as the accusative form of the pronoun ”it”: ”Do it [, that is:] your will”.

pen

one

(WJ:376); lenited ben. According to one interpretation of the phrase caro den i innas lín from the Sindarin Lord’s Prayer (VT44:23), this could mean ✱”let one do your will”, with den (perhaps a lenited form of ✱ten) as the indefinite pronoun ”one”. However, others interpret den as the accusative form of the pronoun ”it”: ”Do it [, that is:] your will”.

pen

without

1) pen (lenited ben) (lacking, -less) (WJ:375) Not to be confused with the pronoun pen ”one, somebody, anybody”. When prefixed to a noun, the resulting phrase can be treated as an adjective in that it is lenited (pen- appears as ben-) where an adjective would be lenited. 2)

pen

without

(lenited ben) (lacking, -less) (WJ:375) Not to be confused with the pronoun pen ”one, somebody, anybody”. When prefixed to a noun, the resulting phrase can be treated as an adjective in that it is lenited (pen- appears as ben-) where an adjective would be lenited.

pen

less

S pen (lenited ben) (without, lacking) (WJ:375) The phrase ben-adar ”without father, fatherless” is treated as an adjective and lenited following a noun (Iarwain ben-adar, Iarwain the Fatherless or Iarwain without father). Not to be confused with the pronoun pen ”one, somebody, anybody”.

pen

less

(lenited ben) (without, lacking) (WJ:375) The phrase ben-adar ”without father, fatherless” is treated as an adjective and lenited following a noun (Iarwain ben-adar, Iarwain the Fatherless or Iarwain without father).  Not to be confused with the pronoun pen ”one, somebody, anybody”.

pen

somebody

pen (one, anybody) (WJ:376); lenited ben

pen

somebody

(one, anybody) (WJ:376); lenited ben

pen

lacking

(lenited ben) (without, -less) (WJ:375) Not to be confused with the pronoun pen ”one, somebody, anybody”.

pen

anybody

pen (one, somebody) (WJ:376); lenited ben

pen

anybody

(one, somebody) (WJ:376); lenited ben

pen

pronoun. us (inclusive)

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

pen-channas

adjective. stupid, idiotic, *(lit.) lack-wit

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

pen-ind

adjective. insane, heartless, crazy

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

tegilbor

noun. pen-hand

tegil (Sindarized Q tekil “pen”) + paur (“a tightly closed hand as in using an implement or a craft-tool”)

Sindarin [Tolkiendil] Group: Tolkiendil Compound Sindarin Names. Published by

tegilbor

masculine name. *Pen-fist

A term for one skilled in calligraphy (PM/318), a combination of tegil “pen” and the suffixal form -bor of paur “fist”.

Sindarin [PM/318; VT47/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tegil

noun. pen

Sindarin [PM/318; VT47/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tegil

noun. pen

Sindarized form of Quenya tekil, not known to the Sindar until the coming of the Ñoldor (but see however tegol for a possible dialectal variant)

Sindarin [PM/318] Q tekil. Group: SINDICT. Published by

tegil

pen

tegil (i degil, o thegil), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thegil) (PM:318). Also (at least in ”Noldorin”) tegol (i degol, o thegol), analogical pl. tegyl (i thegyl)

tegil

pen

(i degil, o thegil), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thegil) (PM:318). Also (at least in ”Noldorin”) tegol (i degol, o thegol), analogical pl. tegyl (i thegyl)

-ben

suffix. obsolete except in few names

suff. obsolete except in few names. >> pen-

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:141] < _kwenedē_. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

penadar

adjective. 'fatherless'

adj. 'fatherless'. >> pen-

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:173] < PEN lack, have not + ?. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

iarwain ben-adar

masculine name. Oldest and Fatherless

Fuller title of Tom Bombadil, loosely translated “oldest and fatherless” (LotR/265). This first word is the name Iarwain, and the second is a combination of the lenited form of the prefix pen “without” and the noun adar “father” (PE17/34).

Sindarin [LotR/0265; LotRI/Bombadil; LotRI/Iarwain Ben-adar; PE17/034; PE17/144; PE17/167; PE17/173] Group: Eldamo. Published by

penbed

adjective. not pronouncable

Sindarin [PE17/145] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pennod

adjective. without count

Sindarin [PE17/145] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pennoediad

adjective. innumerable

Sindarin [PE17/145] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Dúnadan

noun. Man of the west, Númenórean

Sindarin [LotR/I:XII, WJ/378, S/390] dûn+adan. Group: SINDICT. Published by

adan

noun. man, one of the Second People (elvish name for men)

Sindarin [LotR/A(v), S/427, PM/324, WJ/387, Letters/282] Q. atan. Group: SINDICT. Published by

adanadar

noun. man, one of the Fathers of Men

Sindarin [MR/373] adan+adar. Group: SINDICT. Published by

adanath

noun. men

Sindarin [MR/373] Group: SINDICT. Published by

arnœdiad

adjective. innumerable, countless, endless, without reckoning, numberless

Sindarin [Ety/349, Ety/378, S/428, VT/46:6] ar-+nediad. Group: SINDICT. Published by

dram

noun. heavy stroke, a blow (of axe, etc.)

Sindarin [Ety/354, X/MB] Group: SINDICT. Published by

drúadan

noun. wild man, one of the Woses

Sindarin [UT/385] drû+adan. Group: SINDICT. Published by

drû

noun. wild man, Wose, Púkel-Man

In PE/11:31, an older Gnomish word drû, drui meant "wood, forest", and in PE/13:142, the early Noldorin word drú was assigned the meaning "dark". Drû pl. Drúin later came to be used for the name of the Woses, with other derivatives (Drúadan, etc.). "Wose" is actually the modernization of an Anglo-Saxon word wasa only found in the compound wudu-wasa "wild man of the woods", cf. UT/385 sq. In the drafts of the "Ride of the Rohirrim" in WR/343-346, the Woses first appeared as "the dark men of Eilenach". Though internally said to derive from drughu in their own tongue, Tolkien's choice for the Sindarin name of the Woses was apparently influenced by earlier meanings assigned to this word

Sindarin [UT/385] MS *druγ, Dr druγu. Group: SINDICT. Published by

dîr

noun. man, man, [N.] adult male; agental suffix

A word for “man” as a male person, attested only as an element in compounds or as (archaic?) ndir (PE17/60). This word likely refers to male individuals of all races including Elves, Men, Dwarves and so forth, much like its Quenya cognate Q. nér. This word must have been derived from the primitive subjective form ✶ndēr of the root √N(D)ER “male person”, where the ancient long ē became ī, and the initial cluster nd- became d-, though the ancient cluster would still be reflected in mutated forms, such as in i nîr “the man” rather than ✱✱i dhîr.

Conceptual Development: Perhaps the earliest precursor to this word is (archaic) G. †drio “hero, warrior” with variants driw, driodweg and driothweg, a cognate of ᴱQ. nēr (GL/22). This Gnomish word was derived from primitive ᴱ✶n’reu̯, where the initial nr- became dr-. At this early stage, the root was unstrengthened ᴱ√NERE (QL/65), as reflected in (archaic) ᴱN. nîr “hero, prince, warrior-elf” in the Early Noldorin Dictionary of the 1920s (PE13/164).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s the root became ᴹ√DER “adult male, man” of any speaking race and the derived form was N. dîr (Ety/DER). However, in this document Tolkien said:

> EN †dîr surviving chiefly in proper names (as Diriel older Dirghel [GYEL], Haldir, Brandir) and as agental ending (as ceredir “doer, maker”) ... In ordinary use EN has benn [for “man”] (properly = “husband”).

Thus in the scenario described in The Etymologies, dîr “man” was archaic and used only as an element in names or as a suffix. In ordinary speech it was replaced by N. benn, which used to mean “husband” but now meant “man”, while the word for “husband” became N. hervenn (Ety/BES). It is unlikely Tolkien imagined this exact scenario in later Sindarin, however, since the 1930s root for benn was ᴹ√BES “wed”, but by the 1960s the root for husband/wife/marry words had become √BER.

Neo-Sindarin: Since the status of N. benn is questionable given ᴹ√BES >> √BER, many Neo-Sindarin writers prefer to use S. ✱dîr as the Sindarin word for man. I am of the opinion that both dîr and benn are acceptable for “man, male person”. This is because I prefer to retain ᴹ√BES as the root for “marry, wed”, since it is the best basis for attested husband/wife words in (Neo) Sindarin.

Sindarin [PE17/060] Group: Eldamo. Published by

edrain

noun. border

Sindarin [Ety/383, X/EI] ed+rain. Group: SINDICT. Published by

godref

adverb. through together

Sindarin [TAI/150] go-+tre-+be, OS *wotrebe, CE *wo-tere-be (?). Group: SINDICT. Published by

min

fraction. one (first of a series)

Sindarin [Ety/373, VT/42:24-25, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

min

cardinal. one, one, [G.] single

Sindarin [PE17/095; VT42/25; VT48/06] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mîn

fraction. one (first of a series)

Sindarin [Ety/373, VT/42:24-25, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rain

noun. border

Sindarin [Ety/383, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

adan

man

(pl. Edain; the coll. pl. Adanath is attested). The word Adan came to be used primarily of a member of the Three Houses of the Edain, not of the mortal race of Men in general.

ar

without

(adv. prefix) ar- (outside)

ar

without

(outside)

aronoded

innumerable

aronoded (countless, endless), pl. erenedid (archaic erönödid)

aronoded

innumerable

(countless, endless), pl. erenedid (archaic erönödid)

bôr

trusty man

(boron-) (i vôr, construct bor) (steadfast man, faithful vassal), pl. *b**ŷr* for older beryn, i meryn (archaic böryn, i möryn). In ”Noldorin”, the older pl. forms were berein, beren.

curunír

man of craft

(i gurunír, o churunír) (wizard), no distinct pl. form except with article (i churunír), coll. pl. ?curuníriath.

dram

stroke

(noun: heavy stroke) dram (i dhram) (blow), pl. draim (in draim).

dram

stroke

(i dhram) (blow), pl. draim (in draim).

dîr

man

1) (adult male of any speaking race) dîr (dír-, also agentive ending -dir or -nir; with article, i nîr, hard mutation as in o ndîr), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndîr); coll. pl. díriath. Also benn (i venn, construct ben), pl. binn (i minn). The latter is in archaic language used = "husband" (the etymological meaning). The ending -we in names may also express ”being, man, person”. 2) (mortal human as opposed to Elf) Adan (pl. Edain; the coll. pl. Adanath is attested). The word Adan came to be used primarily of a member of the Three Houses of the Edain, not of the mortal race of Men in general.

dîr

man

(dír-, also agentive ending -dir or -nir; with article, i nîr, hard mutation as in o ndîr), no distinct pl. form except with article (i ndîr); coll. pl. díriath. Also benn (i venn, construct ben), pl. binn (i minn). The latter is in archaic language used = "husband" (the etymological meaning). The ending -we in names may also express ”being, man, person”.

dúnadan

man of the west

(i Núnadan), pl. Dúnedain (i Ndúnedain) (WJ:378, 386).

edrain

border

edrain (no distinct pl. form)

edrain

border

(no distinct pl. form)

eru

the one

isolated from

firion

mortal man

(pl. firyn).

gar

have

(i ’âr, i ngerir = i ñerir) (hold, possess; be able, can); pa.t. garant. (AI:92, VT45:14)

glân

border

glân (i **lân, construct glan) (hem), pl. glain (in glain**) (VT42:8) Note: a homophone means ”white, claer”.

glân

border

(i ’lân, construct glan) (hem), pl. glain (in glain) (VT42:8) Note: a homophone means ”white, claer”.

gwen

pronoun. us (inclusive)

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

matha

stroke

(vb.) matha- (i vatha, i mathar) (feel, handle; wield)

matha

stroke

(i vatha, i mathar) (feel, handle; wield)

min

cardinal. one

1) (number ”one” as the first in a series) min, mîn (VT48:6), Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the adjective ”isolated, first, towering”. 2) (number) êr, whence the adjectival prefix er- (alone, lone); 3)

Sindarin [Parviphith] Published by

min

one

mîn (VT48:6), Note: homophones include the noun ”peak” and the adjective ”isolated, first, towering”.

rain

border

(noun) rain; no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rain). Note: the adj. ”erratic, wandering” is a homophone of rain.

rain

noun. border

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

rain

border

; no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rain). Note: the adj. ”erratic, wandering” is a homophone of rain.

rhavan

wild man

(?i thravan or ?i ravanthe lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhevain (?idh revain) (WJ:219). – The following terms apparently apply to ”men” of any speaking race:

rîw

border

*rîw (construct riw) (hem, edge), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rîw). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” rhîf.

rîw

border

(construct riw) (hem, edge), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rîw). – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” rhîf.

thalion

dauntless man

(hero), pl. thelyn. Also used as an adj. ”dauntless, steadfast, strong”. 

tre

through

(adverbial prefix, sometimes = ”completely”) tre-, tri-. For an example of this prefix, see TELL TO END.

tre

through

tri-. For an example of this prefix, see

trî

through

(prep.) trî ;

trî

through

;

êr

one

whence the adjectival prefix er- (alone, lone)

ú

without

(adverbial prefix) ú-, u- (e.g. udalraph ”without stirrups; stirrupless”, uluithiad *”without quenching” (SD:62) = ”unquenchable”). The prefix ar- has a similiar meaning, as in:

ú

without

u- (e.g. udalraph ”without stirrups; stirrupless”, uluithiad ✱”without quenching” (SD:62) = ”unquenchable”). The prefix ar- has a similiar meaning, as in:

Quenya 

pen-

verb. not to have, not to have, *to lack

A verb in Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959 used as the negative of sam- “have” based on the root √PEN “lack, have not” as in penin “I haven’t” (PE17/146). Thus a better meaning might be “✱to lack”.

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. oito “lack” with past tense oionte under the early root ᴱ√OYO (QL/71).

pen-

verb. to have

pen- vb. negative of #sam- "to have" (q.v.), used as a negative answer to inquires on ownership: penin "no / I haven't" (PE17:173)

pen

without, not having

[pen prep. "without, not having" (PE17:171). Cf. Ú #1.]

pen

preposition. without, not having

pel-

verb. to go round, encircle, to go round, encircle; [ᴱQ.] to surround, fence in, pen in; [ᴹQ.] to revolve, return

pel-

verb. go round, revolve, return

pel- vb. "go round, revolve, return" (PEL), apparently also transitive "encircle" (mentioned in the Silmarillion Appendix as a meaning of the root), cf. also "Qenya" pele- "surround, fence in, pen in" (pa.t. pellë given, QL:73)

tecil

pen

tecil ("k")noun "pen" (TEK, PM:318, VT47:8)

tecil

noun. pen

Quenya [PM/318; VT47/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by

al-

prefix. -less

-less

Quenya [PE 18:30] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

lanotoite

adjective. innumerable

Quenya [PE 22:156] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

mo

somebody, one

Quenya [PE 22:154] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

nér

noun. man

Quenya [PE 22:124] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

tecco

noun. stroke, accent

Quenya [PE 22:21] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

-enca

without, -less

-enca suffix "without, -less" (PE17:167), cf. nec-, q.v.

-lóra

-less, without

-lóra ending "-less, without", as in ómalóra "voiceless" (VT45:28)

-valta

-less

-valta suffix "-less", also -viltë (evidently endings used to derive adjectives like "lifeless") (GL:23) The ending -lóra appears with the same meaning in Tolkien's later Quenya.

-viltë

-less

-viltë adjectival ending "-less", also -valta (evidently endings used to derive adjectives like "lifeless") (GL:23). Rather -lóra in Tolkien's later Quenya.

a

cardinal. one

Quenya [PE 22:94; PE 22:124f] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

au-

without

au- (3) privative prefix, = "without" (AWA)

ava-

without

ava- (3) prefix "without" (AR2, AWA). In some cases apparently used as a mere negation prefix: The form avalerya in VT41:6 is seemingly a negated form of the verb lerya- "release, set free"; the verb avalerya- is suggested to have the same meaning as the root KHAP = "bind, make fast, restrain, deprive of liberty". Likewise, the verb avalatya- from the same source seems to mean "to close, shut", this being a negated form of a verb *latya- "open" (q.v.)

er

one, alone

er cardinal "one, alone" (ERE, VT48:6, VT49:54), in an early source also adv. "only, but, still" (LT1:269); Eru er "one God" (VT44:17; er was here emended by Tolkien from erëa, which seems to be an adjectival form *"one, single".)

erëa

cardinal. one

erëa adj.? "one" or *"single", apparently an adjectival form (see er) (VT44:17)

lanotoitë

adjective. innumerable

lér

man

**lér noun "man" (NI1; hypothetical Q form of PQ dēr; the form actually used in Quenya was nér)

min

cardinal. one

min numeral "one", also minë (VT45:34, VT48:6)

min

cardinal. one, one, [ᴱQ.] one (in a series), the first

Quenya [PE17/095; VT48/06] Group: Eldamo. Published by

minë

cardinal. one

minë numeral "one", also min (MINI, VT45:34)

mir

cardinal. one

mir (2) cardinal "one" (LT1:260; in LotR-style Quenya rather minë)

mis

less

mis adverbial particle "less" (PE14:80)

mo

one, someone, anyone

mo, indefinite pronoun "one, someone, anyone" (VT42:34, VT49:19, 20, 26)

nec-

without, -less

nec- prefix "without, -less" (PE17:167), cf. -enca, q.v.

nec-

prefix. without

nér

man

nér (1) (ner-, as in pl. neri) noun "man" (adult male elf, mortal, or of other speaking race) (MR:213, VT49:17, DER, NDER, NI1, VT45:9; see also WJ:393)

pelma

noun. border, fringe, edge, limiting device, border, fringe, edge, limiting device; [ᴱQ.] pen

penya

lacking, inadequate

penya adj. "lacking, inadequate"; pl. penyë in penyë tengwi "lacking signs", "inadequate signs"; in early Elvish analysis of Quenya the term for vowels with no preceding consonant, held (in many cases incorrectly) to have lost such a consonant (VT39:6, 8)

quén

one, (some)body, person, individual, man or woman

quén (quen-, as in pl. queni; as final element in compounds -quen) noun "one, (some)body, person, individual, man or woman", pl. queni = "persons", "(some) people", "they" with the most general meaning (as in "they [= people in general] say that..."). The element is combined with noun and adjective stems in old compounds to denote habitual occupations or functions, or to describe those having some notable (permanent) quality; examples include roquen, ciryaquen, arquen, q.v. Also in aiquen "whoever", ilquen "everybody" (WJ:361 cf. 360, 372).

tecco

stroke of pen or brush (´) when not used as long mark

tecco ("k")noun "stroke of pen or brush (´) when not used as long mark" (TEK)

ter

through

ter (1), also terë, prep. "through", "throughout" (Notes on CO, UT:317, TER/TERES, Narqelion, VT44:33, 35, VT49:41, 42). The preposition is used both with spatial and temporal reference: ter i·aldar "through the trees" (Narqelion, cf. VT49:42), ter coivierya "throughout his/her life", ter yénion yéni "through years of years" (VT49:42, VT44:33, 35)

ter

preposition. through

The word ter was the common Quenya word for “through” for most (but not all) of Tolkien’s life. The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. pen “through” under the early root ᴱ√PENE, a variant of ᴱ√PERE “go through, pierce; endure, undergo” (QL/73), so probably meaning “through” both spatially and temporally. In ᴱQ. Oilima Markirya drafts from around 1930, Tolkien instead had ᴱQ. ter “through” in the phrase ᴱQ. karnevaite úri kilde hīsen ter nie nienaite (PE16/62, 72), translated “when the sky was red; the Sun gazed through a haze of tears” (PE16/68); this new preposition may have been based on the early root ᴱ√TEŘE [TEÐE] “pierce” (QL/91; PME/91).

Indeed, in The Etymologies from about 1937 Tolkien had ᴹQ. tere or ter “through” under the root ᴹ√TER “pierce” (Ety/TER). This ter “through” continued to appear in Tolkien’s later writings from the 1950s and 60s, in phrases like et sillumello ter yénion yéni tenn’ ambarmetta “✱from this hour, through years of years until the ending of the world” (VT44/33) and nai amanya onnalya ter coivierya “✱may your child be blessed through his/her life” (VT49/41).

Most of the later uses for ter “through” seem to be temporal in nature, such as in the phrase vanda sina termaruva Elenna·nóreo alcar enyalien “This oath shall stand in memory of the glory of the Land of the Star” (UT/305), where the verb termar- “stand” is more literally ter + mar- = “through-abide” (UT/317 note #43). However, it I think it is reasonable to assume ter “through” retained its spatial sense as well, given its 1930s connection to the root ᴹ√TER “pierce”, indicating a physical penetration.

Quenya [UT/317; VT44/35; VT49/42] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vi

pronoun. us (inclusive)

vëo

man

vëo noun "man" (WEG; etymologically connected to vëa "manly, vigorous"; the more neutral word for "man" is nér. According to VT46:21, Tolkien indicated that vëo is an archaic or poetic word.) Tolkien at a later point defined the word as "living creature" (PE17:189). Cf. variant wëo, q.v.

ú

without, destitute of

ú (1) adv. and prep. "without, destitute of" (VT39:14). Usually followed by genitive: ú calo "without light" (cala). In one source, ú is seemingly also used as a negative verb "was not" (VT49:13), but Tolkien revised the text in question.

ampícië

adverb. less

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

undo

less

A neologism for “less” as an adjective or pronoun, proposed by Arael in a 2022-02-24 chat Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) as the opposite of amba “more”.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

undë

adverb. less

A neologism for “less” as an adverb proposed by Paul Strack in a 2022-02-27 chat Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), inspired by the adjective/pronoun undo “less”.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

urmatecil

noun. pencil, (lit.) coal-pen

A neologism for “pencil” coined by Chaered posted on 2025-08-06 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of ur(u)ma “coal” and tecil “pen”.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

Primitive elvish

pen

root. lack, be without, have not

A root appearing in various notes from around 1959-60 with glosses like “lack” (PE17/144), “lack, have not” (PE17/173), and “lack, be without” (WJ/375). The root clearly entered the Eldarin languages to explain the name S. Iarwain Ben-adar “Oldest and Fatherless” of Tom Bombadil (LotR/265), but Tolkien expanded its use from there.

Primitive elvish [PE17/144; PE17/171; PE17/173; WJ/375; WJ/408] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tekma

noun. pen

Primitive elvish [PE17/044] Group: Eldamo. Published by

imin

masculine name. One

Primitive elvish [NM/055; NM/060; WJ/380; WJ/421; WJI/Imin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

min

cardinal. one

Primitive elvish [NM/060; WJ/421] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ndē̆r

noun. man

Primitive elvish [PE19/102] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Telerin 

pen

noun. man, *somebody, *someone

Telerin [WJ/362; WJ/375] Group: Eldamo. Published by

er

cardinal. one

min

cardinal. one

Noldorin 

tegl

noun. pen

It is stated in PM/318 that " tegil was a Sindarized form of Quenya tekil "pen", not known to the Sindar until the coming of the Ñoldor". It must be assumed therefore that tegol was either rejected by Tolkien, or that it may perhaps have been considered as a dialectal variant. For a similar case where both a true Sindarin/Noldorin word and a Sindarized form conceivably coexist, see magol and megil "sword" (it is unlikely that weapons were not known to the Sindar before the coming of the Ñoldor)

Noldorin [Ety/391] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tegol

noun. pen

It is stated in PM/318 that " tegil was a Sindarized form of Quenya tekil "pen", not known to the Sindar until the coming of the Ñoldor". It must be assumed therefore that tegol was either rejected by Tolkien, or that it may perhaps have been considered as a dialectal variant. For a similar case where both a true Sindarin/Noldorin word and a Sindarized form conceivably coexist, see magol and megil "sword" (it is unlikely that weapons were not known to the Sindar before the coming of the Ñoldor)

Noldorin [Ety/391] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tegol

noun. pen

arnediad

adjective. innumerable, countless, endless, without reckoning, numberless

Noldorin [Ety/349, Ety/378, S/428, VT/46:6] ar-+nediad. Group: SINDICT. Published by

arnœdiad

adjective. innumerable, countless, endless, without reckoning, numberless

Noldorin [Ety/349, Ety/378, S/428, VT/46:6] ar-+nediad. Group: SINDICT. Published by

aronoded

adjective. innumerable, countless, endless

Noldorin [Ety/378] ar-gonoded. Group: SINDICT. Published by

benn

noun. man, male

Noldorin [Ety/352, VT/45:9] "husband". Group: SINDICT. Published by

dramb

noun. heavy stroke, a blow (of axe, etc.)

Noldorin [Ety/354, X/MB] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dramm

noun. heavy stroke, a blow (of axe, etc.)

Noldorin [Ety/354, X/MB] Group: SINDICT. Published by

dîr

noun. man, referring to an adult male (elf, mortal, or of any other speaking race)

Noldorin [Ety/354, Ety/352] Group: SINDICT. Published by

edrein

noun. border

Noldorin [Ety/383, X/EI] ed+rain. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodrim

noun. Northmen

Noldorin [Ety/392] forod+rim. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodwaith

noun. Northmen

Noldorin [Ety/382, Ety/398, X/EI] forod+gwaith. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodwaith

noun. the lands of the North

Noldorin [Ety/382, Ety/398, X/EI] forod+gwaith. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodweith

noun. Northmen

Noldorin [Ety/382, Ety/398, X/EI] forod+gwaith. Group: SINDICT. Published by

forodweith

noun. the lands of the North

Noldorin [Ety/382, Ety/398, X/EI] forod+gwaith. Group: SINDICT. Published by

godrebh

adverb. through together

Noldorin [TAI/150] go-+tre-+be, OS *wotrebe, CE *wo-tere-be (?). Group: SINDICT. Published by

min

fraction. one (first of a series)

Noldorin [Ety/373, VT/42:24-25, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

min

cardinal. one

Noldorin [Ety/MINI] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rhain

noun. border

Noldorin [Ety/383, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rhain

noun. border

Noldorin [Ety/REG; EtyAC/REG; TI/268; TI/313] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rhein

noun. border

Noldorin [Ety/383, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tre-

prefix. through (but denoting completeness when prefixed to verbs, cf. English idioms like "talk something through")

Noldorin [Ety/392] Group: SINDICT. Published by

tre-

prefix. through

A prefixal form of N. trî “through” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, appearing as tre- when unstressed (the norm) and tri- when stressed, though there are no examples of the latter (Ety/TER). Presumably this refers to ancient rather than modern stress.

tri

prefix. through (but denoting completeness when prefixed to verbs, cf. English idioms like "talk something through")

Noldorin [Ety/392] Group: SINDICT. Published by

trî

preposition. through

Noldorin [Ety/392] Group: SINDICT. Published by

trî

preposition. through

A preposition meaning “through” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ON. trī under the root ᴹ√TER(ES) “pierce” (Ety/TER), so presumably derived from ✱trē with ancient ē &gt; ī as usual in Noldorin and Sindarin. In The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road Christopher Tolkien gave the Noldorin and Old Noldorin forms as trî and trí following the usual orthographic conventions of those languages (LR/392), but Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne indicated they were both trī in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (VT46/18).

Noldorin [Ety/NAR²; Ety/TER; EtyAC/TER] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Black Speech

ash

cardinal. one

Black Speech [LotR/0254; PE17/011] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ash

cardinal. one

Black Speech [PE17/11] Published by

Nandorin 

beorn

noun. man

The shift of e to eo is strange and has no direct parallels, but compare eo from i in meord "fine rain" (< primitive mizdê). Normally final becomes in Nandorin (see golda), but here it is simply lost instead of producing *beorna. C.f. meord the other word where we might have expected to see a final -a (in that case from ); it may be that final vowels are lost in words that would otherwise come to have more than two syllables. - The shift of primitive s to r in besnô > beorn may be ascribed primarily to the blending with ber(n)ô, but r from z is seen in meord < mizdê; perhaps the s of besnô first became z and then r. Such developments are common in Quenya.

Nandorin [H. Fauskanger (LR:352)] besnô "blend with" ber(n)ô "valiant man, warrior". Published by

Beware, older languages below! The languages below were invented during Tolkien's earlier period and should be used with caution. Remember to never, ever mix words from different languages!

Early Quenya

pen

preposition. through

Early Quenya [QL/073] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nekka

noun. pen

Early Quenya [PE16/133; PE16/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pelma

noun. pen

Early Quenya [QL/073] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tenka

noun. pen

Early Quenya [QL/090] Group: Eldamo. Published by

-valta

suffix. -less

-vilte

suffix. -less

Early Quenya [GL/23; QL/065; QL/102] Group: Eldamo. Published by

el

adverb/adjective. one

enqe

preposition. without

Early Quenya [QL/035] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mir

cardinal. one

Early Quenya [LT1A/Minethlos; PME/061; QL/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pele-

verb. to surround, fence in, pen in

Early Quenya [QL/073] Group: Eldamo. Published by

sinda nekka ui sara ro sinda hyalin me sinda móro

*this pen is not writing on this paper with this ink

Early Quenya [PE16/146] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ter

preposition. through

Early Quenya [PE16/062; PE16/072; VT40/08] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

pen(ed)

root. *hillside, slope

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/AM²; Ety/DAT; Ety/DEN; Ety/PEN; EtyAC/DAT] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tekla

noun. pen

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/TEK] Group: Eldamo. Published by

al

prefix. without

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/AR²] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dēr

noun. man

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/NDER; Ety/Nι; EtyAC/NDER; PE18/035; PE21/55; PE21/58; PE21/60; PE21/64; PE21/65; PE21/69] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

tekil

noun. pen

atan

noun. Man

Qenya [PE22/125; PE23/087; PE23/098] Group: Eldamo. Published by

au-

prefix. without

ava-

prefix. without

Qenya [Ety/AR²; Ety/AWA] Group: Eldamo. Published by

min

cardinal. one

Qenya [Ety/MINI; EtyAC/MINI] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mine

cardinal. one

tekko

noun. stroke (of pen or brush), accent [´]

Qenya [Ety/TEK; PE22/021; PE22/049] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ter

preposition. through

tere

preposition. through

veo

noun. man

Qenya [Ety/WEG; EtyAC/WEG] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

-(a)vlid

suffix. -less

er

adjective. one

Gnomish [GL/32; LT1A/Tol Eressëa] Group: Eldamo. Published by

fir

adjective. less

inthi

adverb. less

Gnomish [GL/18; GL/37; GL/51] Group: Eldamo. Published by

man

masculine name. Man

Gnomish [GL/18; GL/20; GL/43; GL/56; GL/68; LT1A/Manwë; PE13/104; PE15/26] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tenc

noun. pen, nib

Early Noldorin

inathadren

adjective. innumerable

inathui

adjective. innumerable

Early Noldorin [PE13/148] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tlad

noun. hillside, slope

Early Noldorin [PE13/165] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

manga

root. lacking

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “lacking”, with derivatives ᴱQ. mange “lack, want, shortage” and ᴱQ. manka “few” (QL/59). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing, and it may have been replaced by √PEN “lack” in the 1950s and 60s.

Early Primitive Elvish [QL/059] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Ossriandric

beorn

noun. man

A noun for “man” that developed from the blending of primitive ᴹ✶besnō “man” and ᴹ✶berō “valiant man, warrior” > ber(n)ō (Ety/BER, BES). The simplest explanation is that ᴹ✶besnō > beznō > bernō, where first the [[dan|[s] voiced to [z] before the nasal [n]]] and then the resulting [[dan|[z] becoming [r]]]. The similarity of this word to ᴹ✶berō could have led it to develop into ber(n)ō as well. From there, the [[dan|[e] broke into the diphthong [eo] before the liquid [r]]] and then the final vowel vanished.

Ossriandric [Ety/BER; Ety/BES] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Old Noldorin 

benno

noun. man

Old Noldorin [Ety/BES] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tre-

prefix. through

trī

preposition. through

Old Noldorin [Ety/BAT; Ety/NAR²; Ety/TER; EtyAC/TER] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Edain

bar

noun. man

Doriathrin

er Reconstructed

cardinal. one

The Ilkorin word for “one” attested only in the name Ermabuin or Ermab(r)in “One-handed” (Ety/MAP).