Quenya 

mirwa

precious, valuable

mirwa adj. "precious, valuable" (PE17:37)

mirwa

adjective. precious, valuable

Cognates

  • ᴺS. meru “valuable, worthy”

Derivations

  • MIR “precious; esteem, value” ✧ PE17/037

Element in

  • ᴺQ. alamirwa “cheap, not precious, not expensive”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
MIR > mirwa[mirwa]✧ PE17/037

maira

admirable, excellent, precious

maira adj. "admirable, excellent, precious"; "splendid, sublime" ("only of great, august or splendid things") (PE17:163, 172). Cf. Mairon.

melin

dear

melin adj. "dear" (MEL)

mírë

jewel

mírë noun "jewel" (MIR, SA:mîr), "a treasure, a precious thing" (PE17:37).Cf. Elemmírë; short form -mir in Tar-Atanamir (SA:mîr); see also Artamir.

mírë

noun/adjective. jewel, gem, precious thing, treasure; precious

A word first appearing with the gloss “jewel, precious thing, treasure” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√MIR (Ety/MIR). It appeared regularly in Tolkien’s later writings with the same etymology and glosses like “gem”, “jewel” and “precious thing”, and it was a common element in names. In one place Tolkien said it could also be used as an adjective “precious” (PE17/165).

Cognates

  • S. mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ PE17/024; PE17/037; PE17/073; PE17/165; SA/mîr

Derivations

  • MIR “precious; esteem, value” ✧ PE17/037; PE17/165
  • mīrĭ “precious, precious thing” ✧ PE17/165
    • MIR “precious; esteem, value” ✧ PE17/165

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
MIR > mírë[mīre]✧ PE17/037
mīrĭ > míre[mīri] > [mīre]✧ PE17/165
MIR > mīre[mīre]✧ PE17/165

Variations

  • míre ✧ PE17/024; PE17/073; PE17/165; PE19/096
  • mīre ✧ PE17/165
Quenya [LotR/0377; PE17/024; PE17/037; PE17/073; PE17/165; PE19/096; RGEO/58; RGEO/59; SA/mîr] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mairon

masculine name. Admirable

The original name of Sauron before his corruption by Melkor (PE17/183). Even after his corruption, he still called himself Mairon or Tar-Mairon sometimes, at least until he lost his beautiful form after the fall of Númenor (PE17/183). This name seems to be a masculinized form of the adjective maira “admirable”.

Elements

WordGloss
maira“admirable, excellent, precious, splendid, sublime”

Variations

  • Tar-mairon ✧ PE17/183

maira

adjective. admirable, excellent, precious, splendid, sublime

Cognates

  • S. maer “good, excellent, fair, good, excellent, fair; [N.] useful, fit, good (of things)” ✧ PE17/163; PE17/163; PE17/172

Derivations

  • MAY “excellent, admirable, beautiful; make [art]; suitable, useful, proper, serviceable; right” ✧ PE17/163; PE17/163; PE17/172

Element in

  • Q. Mairen
  • ᴺQ. mairië “excellence, splendor, sublimity, ‘perfection’”
  • Q. Mairon “Admirable”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
MAY > maira[maira]✧ PE17/163
MAY > maira[maira]✧ PE17/163
(A)MAY > maira[maira]✧ PE17/172
Quenya [PE17/163; PE17/172] Group: Eldamo. Published by

sonda

dear, fond

[sonda adj. "dear, fond" (VT46:15)]

Sindarin 

mîr

noun. jewel, precious thing, treasure

Sindarin [Ety/373, LotR/E, S/434, PM/348, LB/354, RGEO/73] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mírdan

noun. jewel-smith

Sindarin [S/401] mîr+tân. Group: SINDICT. Published by

mell

adjective. dear

_ adj. _dear, beloved. Q. melda.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:41] < _meldā_ < _melnā_ < MEL love. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

mîr

noun. jewel

_ n. _jewel, precious thing. Q. míre, pl1. míri. >> advir

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:165] < MĬR precious. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

mair

adjective. precious

Cognates

  • Q. mirya “beautiful, lovely (of works of art only)”

Derivations

  • On. mirya “precious”
    • ᴹ√MIR “*precious” ✧ Ety/MIR

Element in

  • ᴺS. meiras “value, preciousness”
Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

mirion

great jewel

(i Virion), pl. Míryn (i Míryn). (LR:373 s.v. MIR lists the archaic ”Noldorin” plural Miruin.)

míriel

jewel-like

(lenited víriel, pl. míril) (sparkling like a jewel)

mírdan

jewel-smith

(i vírdan), pl. mírdain (i mírdain)

mail

dear

mail (lenited vail, pl. mîl), also mell (lenited vell; pl. mill), also muin (lenited vuin; no distinct pl. form)

mail

dear

(lenited vail, pl. mîl), also mell (lenited vell; pl. mill), also muin (lenited vuin; no distinct pl. form)

mîr

jewel

mîr (i vîr, construct mir) (precious thing, treasure), no distinct pl. form except with article (i mîr), coll. pl. míriath. GREAT JEWEL (Silmaril) Mirion (i Virion), pl. Míryn (i Míryn). (LR:373 s.v. MIR lists the archaic ”Noldorin” plural Miruin.)

mîr

jewel

(i vîr, construct mir) (precious thing, treasure), no distinct pl. form except with article (i mîr), coll. pl. míriath.

golovir

noldo-jewel

(i Ngolovir = i Ñolovir, o N’golovir = o Ñgolovir), no distinct pl. form except with article (in Golovir = i Ñgolovir). Adj.

Adûnaic

zimra Reconstructed

noun. jewel

An element appearing in the names Zimraphel (UT/224) and Zimrathôn (UT/222) and also the Hadorian name Zimrahin (WJ/234). The corresponding Quenya names Q. Míriel and Q. Hostamir both seem to contain mírë “jewel”, so this is the likely meaning of the Adûnaic word as well, as suggested by most authors (AAD/25, AL/Adûnaic, EotAL/ZIM’R).

Element in

Primitive elvish

mīrĭ

noun/adjective. precious, precious thing

Derivations

  • MIR “precious; esteem, value” ✧ PE17/165

Derivatives

  • Q. mírë “jewel, gem, precious thing, treasure; precious” ✧ PE17/165
  • S. mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ PE17/165
Primitive elvish [PE17/165] Group: Eldamo. Published by

mir

root. precious; esteem, value

The first appearance of this root was as ᴱ√MIRI “smile”, along with variant ᴱ√MṚT͡YṚ and derivatives like ᴱQ. mire “smile” and ᴱQ. mirmile “ripple of laughter” (QL/61). However, in The Etymologies of the 1930s unglossed ᴹ√MIR had derivatives like ᴹQ. míre/N. mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure” (Ety/MIR), senses these words retained thereafter. The root √MIR appeared several times in Tolkien’s later writings with glosses like “esteem, value” (PE17/37) or “precious” (PE17/165).

Changes

  • MIRMIR “precious” ✧ PE17/037

Derivatives

  • mīrĭ “precious, precious thing” ✧ PE17/165
    • Q. mírë “jewel, gem, precious thing, treasure; precious” ✧ PE17/165
    • S. mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ PE17/165
  • Q. mimírima “very beautiful” ✧ PE17/165
  • Q. mírë “jewel, gem, precious thing, treasure; precious” ✧ PE17/037; PE17/165
  • Q. mírima “very valuable, very precious, very lovely” ✧ PE17/037
  • ᴺQ. mirma “value, *price”
  • Q. mirwa “precious, valuable” ✧ PE17/037
  • Q. mirya “beautiful, lovely (of works of art only)” ✧ PE17/165; PE17/165
  • ᴺS. meru “valuable, worthy”

Element in

  • miru̯(a)-wōrĭ “precious juice” ✧ PE17/037 (miru̯(a)-wōrĭ)
  • ᴺQ. mirmairë “jewelry, (lit.) jewel-art”
  • ᴺQ. mirta- “to value, esteem, treasure, cherish”
  • Q. miruvórë “mead, nectar, special wine or cordial, drink of the Elves, (lit.) precious juice, mead, nectar, special wine or cordial, drink of the Elves, (lit.) precious juice, [ᴱQ.] sweet drink” ✧ PE17/037
  • S. mirith “jewelry”
  • ᴺS. mirtha- “to value, esteem, treasure, cherish”

Variations

  • MĬR ✧ PE17/150; PE17/165
Primitive elvish [PE17/037; PE17/038; PE17/150; PE17/165] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

mirion

noun. great jewel, Silmaril

Noldorin [Ety/373] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mîr

noun. jewel, precious thing, treasure

Noldorin [Ety/373, LotR/E, S/434, PM/348, LB/354, RGEO/73] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mell

adjective. dear

Noldorin [Ety/372] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mell

adjective. dear

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. melda “beloved, dear, sweet” ✧ Ety/MEL

Derivations

  • ᴹ√MEL “love (as friend)” ✧ Ety/MEL

Element in

  • N. mellon “friend” ✧ Ety/MEL

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√MEL > mell[meldā] > [melda] > [melða] > [melð] > [mell]✧ Ety/MEL

muin

adjective. dear

Noldorin [Ety/374] Group: SINDICT. Published by

muin

adjective. dear

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. moina “familiar, dear” ✧ Ety/MOY

Derivations

  • On. muina “dear” ✧ Ety/MOY
    • moina
    • ᴹ√MOYdear, dear; [ᴱ√] *soft, gentle” ✧ Ety/MUY
    • ᴹ√MOYdear, dear; [ᴱ√] *soft, gentle” ✧ Ety/MOY
  • ᴹ√MOYdear, dear; [ᴱ√] *soft, gentle” ✧ Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR

Element in

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
On. muina > muin[muina] > [muin]✧ Ety/MOY

Variations

  • muin ✧ Ety/MOY; Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR
Noldorin [Ety/MOY; Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR] Group: Eldamo. 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!

Qenya 

melin

adjective. dear, dear, [ᴱQ.] beloved

Derivations

  • ᴹ√MEL “love (as friend)” ✧ Ety/MEL

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√MEL > melin[melin]✧ Ety/MEL

Variations

  • Melin ✧ RSI/Mellyn
Qenya [Ety/MEL; RSI/Mellyn] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

mîr Reconstructed

noun. jewel

A word for “jewel” attested only in compounds, probably of the same derivation and meaning as its Noldorin cognate N. mîr.

Cognates

  • N. mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure”
  • ᴹQ. míre “jewel, precious thing, treasure”

Derivations

  • ᴹ√MIR “*precious”

Element in

Old Noldorin 

mirya

adjective. precious

Derivations

  • ᴹ√MIR “*precious” ✧ Ety/MIR

Derivatives

  • ᴺS. mair “precious”

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√MIR > mirya[mirja]✧ Ety/MIR
Old Noldorin [EtyAC/MIR] Group: Eldamo. Published by

muina

adjective. dear

Cognates

  • ᴹQ. moina “familiar, dear” ✧ Ety/MOY

Derivations

  • moina
    • ᴹ√MOYdear, dear; [ᴱ√] *soft, gentle” ✧ Ety/MUY
  • ᴹ√MOYdear, dear; [ᴱ√] *soft, gentle” ✧ Ety/MOY

Derivatives

  • N. muin “dear” ✧ Ety/MOY

Phonetic Developments

DevelopmentStagesSources
ᴹ√MOY > muina[mojna] > [moina] > [muina]✧ Ety/MOY
Old Noldorin [Ety/MOY] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

mir

root. *precious

Derivatives

  • Ilk. mîr “jewel”
  • ᴹQ. míre “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ Ety/MIR
  • N. Golovir “Silmaril, *(lit.) Noldo-jewel” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • On. mīre “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ Ety/MIR
    • N. mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ Ety/MIR
  • On. mirya “precious” ✧ Ety/MIR
    • ᴺS. mair “precious”

Element in

  • Ilk. Goldamir “Silmaril, *(lit.) Noldo-jewel” ✧ Ety/MIR; Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • ᴹ√MBIRIL “*crystal” ✧ Ety/MBIRIL; Ety/MIR
  • ᴹQ. Noldomír(e) “Silmaril” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • N. Mîr in Geleidh “*Jewel of the Gnomes” ✧ Ety/ÑGOLOD
  • Ilk. Nauglamír “Necklace of the Dwarves” ✧ Ety/MIR
  • On. Boronmīro ✧ Ety/BOR; Ety/MIR
Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/BOR; Ety/MBIRIL; Ety/MIR; Ety/ÑGOLOD] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

idra

adjective. dear, valued, precious

Derivations

  • ᴱ√ITI “precious”

Element in

  • G. idreth “value, dearness” ✧ GL/50
Gnomish [GL/50; LT2A/Cûm an-Idrisaith] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

himp

noun. jewel

Cognates

  • Eq. sinqe “jewel, gem”
Early Noldorin [PE13/147] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

iti Speculative

root. precious

A hypothetical root to explain words in the Gnomish Lexicon such as G. idra “dear, valued, precious” and G. idril “sweetheart”, the latter being the earliest etymology of the name G. Idril (GL/50). For the later etymologies of this name and the possible conceptual evolution of the root, see the entries for √IR “desire” and √IT “glitter, shine, shimmer, twinkle”.

Derivatives

  • G. idra “dear, valued, precious”
  • G. idri “treasure, thing of great worth, jewel”
Early Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

mel(i)na

adjective. dear