red

root. scatter, sow

This root first appeared as ᴹ√RED “scatter, sow” in The Etymologies of the 1930s along with augmented variant ᴹ√ERÉD and derivatives like ᴹQ. erde/N. eredh “seed, germ” and ᴹQ. resta/N. rîdh “sown field, acre” (Ety/ERÉD, RED). √RED appeared again in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) from the early 1950s with the same gloss “scatter, sow” and derivatives Q. resta/S. rîdh “sown field” (PE19/91). The Quenya word resta reappeared in the 1964 phrase Q. nai elen siluva parma-restalyanna meldonya “✱may a star shine upon your book-fair, my friend” (VT49/38), which might indicate the ongoing validity of this root, but it is also quite possible that resta “✱fair” has a completely different etymology.

reddā

noun. sown field, acre

karani

adjective. red

kul

root. golden-red, golden-red; [ᴱ√] gold

The root √KUL was connected to gold and gold-coloured things throughout Tolkien’s life but gradually shifted in meaning. The earliest form of this root was ᴱ√KULU “gold” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/49), but at this early stage it was connected to actual metallic gold as much as the colour, as opposed to ᴱQ. laure which was “magic” name of gold (LT1/100). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹ√KUL was first glossed “gold (metal)”, but was eventually revised to “golden-red” (replacing a rejected variant ᴹ√GUL), and metallic gold became ᴹQ. malta < ᴹ√SMAL “yellow” (Ety/SMAL) while ᴹQ. laure shifted in sense to “golden light” (Ety/GLAW(-R)).

Tolkien’s continued use of names like Q. Culúrien (S/38) and Q. culumalda “tree with hanging yellow blossoms (prob[ably] a laburnum)” (RC/626) indicate the continued validity of this root, though I suspect in later writings it primarily referred to a golden-red or orangish colour.

run

root. red, glowing

russā

adjective. red-haired, copper-coloured

pol

root. can, have physical power and ability; large, big (strong); pound up, break up small, reduce to powder, can, have physical power and ability; large, big (strong); [ᴹ√] physically strong, [ᴱ√] have stength; [√] pound up, break up small, reduce to powder

This root was connected to Elvish words for strength and physical ability for most of Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴱ√POLO “have stength” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. poldor “physical strength” and ᴱQ. polka “pig”, though the latter was marked by Tolkien with a “?” (QL/75). There were also derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. polm “strength (physical)” and G. polod “power, might, authority” (GL/64). The root ᴹ√POL reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with the gloss “physically strong”, extended form ᴹ√POLOD and derivatives like ᴹQ. polda “strong, burly” and ᴹQ. poldore as an element in the name ᴹQ. Poldórea (Ety/POL); this name was variously glossed “Strong One” (SM/79) or “Valiant” (LR/206), though in the later sense it was eventually replaced by Q. Astaldo (S/28).

√POL appeared in a list of roots from around 1959-60 with a minor shift in meaning:

> √pol can, have physical power and ability [as in] “I can jump that”. polin quete means I can speak (because mouth and tongue are free)” (VT41/6).

In another note around this time but probably later (and thus maybe in the early 1960s), Tolkien wrote:

> √POL. This cannot refer to strength. (Too obvious a reminiscence of [Latin] pollens); also it does not account for poli- “meal”, grist. √POL- should have senses “pound up”, break up small, reduced to powder etc. Poldórea, as adjective applied to Tulkas, should be derived from the Elvish nickname of Tulkas (not being derived from Valarin), Poldor, Poldorno: “breaker up of the hard/tough”, √DOR- “hard, tough” (PE17/181).

The mention of poli- “meal” seems to be a reference to a different early root ᴱ√POL-I from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. pole “oats, grain; flour” and ᴱQ. polu “kernel” (QL/75), whereas in The Etymologies of the 1930s the word for “flour, meal” was ᴹQ. pore derived from ᴹ√POR (Ety/POR). This shift in sense to “pound up” seems to be motivated by the similarity of √POL “strength” to Latin “pollens” (able, strong).

However, in another later-still note Tolkien wrote the phrase Q. á rike empollie that seems to mean “try harder” (PE17/167), likely a rough contemporary of other notes from around 1967 exploring the same phrase (PE17/94). This later use of empollie seems to be connected to physical effort, and thus is in line with the 1959-60 note with √POL “can, have physical power and ability” mentioned above.

Finally in a note from around 1968, Tolkien wrote:

> Q. pol, large, big (strong). polda, big. DELETE pole “meal”! Make it mule (PE17/115).

This is explanation appears in a set of notes having to do with “large and small”, probably from around 1968, the date given for an apparently related root-list with similar information (VT47/26 note #26). It seems to firmly discard the connection of √POL to “pound, meal” and restored its connection to “strength” along with a new connection to “largeness”.

Assuming this analysis is correct, the conceptual evolution seems to be:

• 1910s: ᴱ√POLO “have stength”; ᴱ√POL-I “✱grain, flour”.

• 1930s: ᴹ√POL(OD) “physically strong”; ᴹ√POR “✱flour, meal”.

• 1959-60: √POL “can, have physical power and ability”.

• early 1960s: √POL “pound up” > ✶poli “meal”.

• late 1960s: √POL “large, big (strong)” vs. Q. mulë “meal”.

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin I think it is best to assume √POL has to do with “physical ability” and its extended form √POLOD with “strength”. I think it better to assume the connection of the root to √POL “meal, flour” was abandoned, and use ✱√MUL and possibly ᴹ√POR for that purpose instead.

anār

noun. Sun

ndorē

noun. land

ndōro

noun. land

urun

root. copper

redh-

verb. to sow

caran

red

_ adj. _red, ruddy. >> Caradhras

caran

adjective. red

caran

adjective. red

caranthir

masculine name. Red-face

Fourth son of Fëanor, called “the Dark” (S/60). His name is a combination of caran “red” and thîr “face” (VT41/10), an adaptation of his mother name Q. Carnistir “Red-face” (PM/353).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, his name was ᴱN. Cranthor (LT2/241). Tolkien change his name to Cranthir in the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (LB/80) and this was also his name in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/223). N. Cranthir appeared in The Etymologies with the translation “Ruddy-face” (Ety/KARÁN, THĒ), already with essentially the same etymology as its final version.

In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, Tolkien vacillated between Cranthir and Caranthir, ultimately settling on the latter (WJ/115).

carcharoth

masculine name. Red Maw, ?(lit.) Great Red Fang

A great werewolf bred by Morgoth to be the bane of Huan, who later bit off the hand of Beren. His name was translated “Red Maw” (S/180).

Possible Etymology: As indicated by Christopher Tolkien, this name very likely contains carch “fang, tooth” (SA/carak, Ety/KARAK), perhaps as its first element. The name probably also contains caran “red” (SA/caran), which might be the basis of the middle element. Alternately, car(an) could be the initial element, with the nasal mutation char(ch) of carch as the middle element. The final element seems to be the augmentative suffix -oth. Perhaps a more literal translation of the name would be “✱Great Red Fang”. Alternately, perhaps carch + oth = caroth means “maw”, and “Red Maw” is an exact translation.

Conceptual Development: When this character first appeared in the earliest Lost Tales, he was given the (Early) Qenya name ᴱQ. Karkaras “Knife-fang” (LT2/21), soon replaced by its Gnomish equivalent G. Carcaras. The name G. Carcharoth emerged in The Lays of Beleriand, along with its translation “Red Maw” (LB/289). For some time, Tolkien vacillated between Carcaras “Knife-fang” and Carcharoth “Red Maw”, with minor variants on each form, such as Carcharas (SM/115) or Carcharolch (LB/119). The name N. Carcharoth appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√KARAK (Ety/KARAK), and thereafter Tolkien used only this form.

cardolan

place name. ?Red Hill Land

The southernmost of the successor-realms of Arnor after it was divided into three kingdoms (LotR/1039). Tolkien did not translate the name, but it is often interpreted as “Red Hill Land”, as suggested by Hammond and Scull (RC/690) or David Salo (GS/371), a combination of caran “red”, dol(l) “hill” and the suffix -(i)an “land”. @@@ Originally suggested by Robert Foster, need ref.

carn dûm

place name. ?Red Valley

Chief settlement of Angmar (LotR/146). The language and meaning of this name is unclear, but it is often suggested this it is Sindarin, a combination of caran “red” and a lenited form of tum “valley” (as suggested by David Salo, GS/371). The name may be debased Elvish, like the name of its kingdom Angmar, since a noun would not ordinarily be lenited in this position. The name also resembles an early (rejected) name N. Caron-dûn or Carndoom “Red Valley” found in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, and could be a re-emergence of that name (RS/419, 433).

ruin

noun/adjective. red flame; fiery red

An element in the names Orodruin “Mountain of Fire” (LotR/899). In the Silmarillion appendix Christopher Tolkien translated it as “red flame”, cognate to Q. rúnya (SA/ruin). However, in The Shibboleth of Fëanor from 1968 Tolkien gave it the gloss “fiery red” and a Quenya cognate Q. runya, both derived from the root √RUN “red, glowing”. Finally in notes from 1964, Tolkien suggested it might be an element in Angruin “Iron Fire”, a possible replacement for the name Glaurung, and gave it the Quenya cognate ruinë “blaze, fire” based on the root √RUY “blaze (red)” (PE17/183).

Conceptual Development: The word N. rhuin was mentioned in The Feanorian Alphabet of the 1930s, but without translation. N. Orodruin “Fire-Mountain” appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/28, 39).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I think both the noun and adjective senses of this word can be retained.

Caradhras

noun. red horn

caran (“red”) + ras (“horn, mountain peak”) Dhr is < n-r in secondary contact; the original form of ras is probably rass with the final s dropped at the end of a polysyllable [HKF].

Carcharoth

noun. red maw

carch (“tooth, fang”) + car (from caran “red”) + #(h-)oth (#collective plural suffix)

Carnen

noun. red water

car (from caran “red”) + nen (“water”)

borgil

proper name. Red-star

Name of a red star (LotR/81), a combination of born “hot, red” and gil “star” (Let/426-7).

redhor

noun. farmer

A neologism for “farmer” coined by Elaran on the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS) on 2018-07-14, an agental form of ^redh- “to sow” (updated form of N. rhedh-).

redh

sow

redh- (i rêdh, idh redhir), pa.t. rend

redh

sow

(i rêdh, idh redhir), pa.t. rend

redh-

verb. to sow

redhin

adjective. related

red-

verb. to climb

@@@ Discord 2022-03-27

redhia-

verb. *to return (transitive)

@@@ the result of a Discord discussion between Elaran, Shihali and Paul Strack on 2018-07-08

born

adjective. hot, red

caralluin

adjective. *red-blue

ross

adjective. red-haired, copper-coloured

born

adjective. hot, red

gaer

adjective. red, copper-coloured, ruddy

ross

adjective. red-haired, copper coloured (especially used of animals, as fox, red deer, etc.)

ruin

adjective. (fiery) red

caradhras

place name. Redhorn

Sindarin name of a peak in the Misty Mountains translated “Redhorn”, itself a translation of Kh. Barazinbar of the same meaning (LotR/283). This name is a combination of caran “red” and rass “horn”, with the dh appearing because [[s|[nr] became [ðr]]] in the phonological history of Sindarin (LotR/1113, PE17/36).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Tolkien first considered and rejected the names N. Bliscarn and N. Carnbeleg before settling on N. Taragaer “Ruddyhorn” (RS/419, 433), with Taragaer also appearing in The Etymologies (Ety/TARÁK). In these early drafts, Tolkien also considered the names N. Caradras and Rhascaron (RS/433), and he eventually switched to Caradras >> Caradhras (TI/166), keeping the final name thereafter.

carnen

place name. Redwater

A river flowing from the Iron Hills, translated “Redwater” (LotR/1072), a combination of caran “red” and nen “water”.

caran-rass

place name. Redhorn

The archaic form of Caradhras; see that entry for further discussion.

Caradhras

'Redhorn'

topon. 'Redhorn', a great mountain tapering upwards. Dw. Baraz-inbar.

caran

red

1) caran (lenited garan, pl. cerain). Also carn (lenited garn, pl. cern), 2) coll (scarlet), lenited goll, pl. cyll (VT45:15, 24). Note: homophones mean "hollow" and also "cloak". 3) born (hot), lenited vorn, pl. byrn, 4) (fiery red) naru (analogical pl. nery). The archaic fom narw is also listed (LR:374 s.v. _NAR_1). 5) rhosc (russet, brown), lenited ?throsc or ?rosc (the lenition product of rh is uncertain), pl. rhysc. Cf. also

gaer

red, reddish

(copper-coloured, ruddy); lenited ’aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea".

born

red

(hot), lenited vorn, pl. byrn

caran

red

(lenited garan, pl. cerain). Also carn (lenited garn, pl. cern)

coll

red

(scarlet), lenited goll, pl. cyll (VT45:15, 24). Note: homophones mean "hollow" and also "cloak".

naru

red

(analogical pl. nery). The archaic fom narw is also listed (LR:374 s.v. NAR1).

rhosc

red

(russet, brown), lenited ?throsc or ?rosc *(the lenition product of rh is uncertain)*, pl. rhysc. Cf. also

Caranthir

Red-face

Caranthir's father-name was Morifinwë, meaning "Dark Finwë", a reference to his dark hair. The Quenya word was formed using the noun more, meaning "blackness", "night" or "dark", which became mori- when added to his grandfather's name, Finwë. His mother-name was Carnistir, which can be translated as "Red-face". Carnë in Quenya means "red" or "scarlet". The name Caranthir is the Sindarin translation of his mother-name.

Cardolan

Red Hill Land

The name Cardolan appears to be Sindarin for "Red Hill Land". In that case, the name could be analyzed as caran "red", dol "hill" and the toponymial ending -(i)an.

ruin

red flame

(no distinct pl. form except with article: idh ruin) (blazing fire). Also used as an adj. ”fiery red, burning”. (Silm app, entry ruin; PM:366)

ruin

red flame

ruin (no distinct pl. form except with article: idh ruin) (blazing fire). Also used as an adj. ”fiery red, burning”. (Silm app, entry ruin; PM:366)

ruin

red flame

ruin (no distinct pl. form except with article: idh ruin) (blazing fire). Also used as an adj. ”fiery red, burning”. (Silm app, entry ruin; PM:366)

gaer

red, reddish

gaer (copper-coloured, ruddy); lenited aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea".

ross

red-haired

ross (russet, copper-coloured, reddish), pl. ryss. _(PM:366, VT41:9) _Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

ross

red-haired

(russet, copper-coloured, reddish), pl. ryss. (PM:366, VT41:9) Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

rusc

noun. fox

The Sindarin word for “fox” from the root √(u)rus “brownish red”. Normally a short u became o in Sindarin, but in this case it seems likely that the presence of a second u (later lost) help preserve the u in rusc.

rîdh

noun. sown field, sown field, [N.] acre

A noun for a “sown field” in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) derived from primitive ✶reddā (PE19/91). The Etymologies of the 1930s had N. rîð “‘sown’, sown field, acre” also from primitive ᴹ✶reddā under the root ᴹ√RED “scatter, sow” (Ety/RED; EtyAC/RED). The form N. rîð did not appear in The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road (LR/383), but Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne noted its existence in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (VT46/11).

Conceptual Development: There were several other “field” words in Tolkien’s earlier writings. G. garw “sown-field” appeared in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, also functioning as an adjective meaning “tilled” (GL/38). ᴱN. gwas “field” appeared in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/146).

gaer

adjective. red, copper-coloured, ruddy

Caradhras

Redhorn

The name is Sindarin and means Redhorn. It is composed of caran "red" and ras "horn". As a compound, the contact of n next to r presents a phenomenon similar to prestanneth: Caran-ras is assimilated to Caradhras.

Barazinbar (or also Baraz) is the literal Khuzdul translation of "Redhorn".

ross

reddish

ross (russet, copper-coloured, red-haired), pl. ryss. _(PM:366, VT41:9) Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter” )_

ross

reddish

(russet, copper-coloured, red-haired), pl. ryss. (PM:366, VT41:9) Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter” )

níthannen

verb. reduced, minor

gaer

copper-coloured

1) gaer (red, reddish, ruddy); lenited aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea". 2) ross (russet, red-haired, reddish), pl. ryss. _(PM:366, VT41:9) _Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter”

gaer

copper-coloured

(red, reddish, ruddy); lenited ’aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea".

ross

copper-coloured

(russet, red-haired, reddish), pl. ryss. (PM:366, VT41:9) Note: homophones mean ””foam, rain, dew, spray” and also ”polished metal, glitter”

nítha-

verb. to reduce, make small

anor

noun. Sun

The most common Sindarin name for the Sun derived from primitive ✶Anār, an augmented form of the root √NAR “fire” (PE17/38; Ety/ANÁR; SD/302-303, 306). The o is the result of ancient ā becoming au and then this au becoming o in polysyllables.

Conceptual Development: The term Anor was first mentioned in conjunction with early tales of Númenor (LR/41). It briefly appeared as N. {ánar >>} Anar “sun” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the entry for ᴹ√NAR (Ety/NAR¹; EtyAC/NAR¹), but as Anor under ᴹ√ANÁR (Ety/ANÁR). In The Notion Club Papers of the 1940s it was Anor, archaic †Anaur (SD/302-303, 306) and it retained this form thereafter.

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

dôr

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

Caradhras

Caradhras

The name is Sindarin and means Redhorn. It is composed of caran "red" and ras "horn". As a compound, the contact of n next to r presents a phenomenon similar to prestanneth: Caran-ras is assimilated to Caradhras. Barazinbar (or also Baraz) is the literal Khuzdul translation of "Redhorn".

Caranthir

Caranthir

Caranthir's father-name was Morifinwë, meaning "Dark Finwë", a reference to his dark hair. The Quenya word was formed using the noun more, meaning "blackness", "night" or "dark", which became mori- when added to his grandfather's name, Finwë. His mother-name was Carnistir, which can be translated as "Red-face". Carnë in Quenya means "red" or "scarlet". The name Caranthir is the Sindarin translation of his mother-name.

Carcharoth

Carcharoth

The name is translated as Red Maw; the recogniseable Sindarin elements are car(a)n "red" as well as carach "jaw" or carch "fang". Based on the above, perhaps the name can be analyzed into the unattested words carn (an alternate version of caran) and caroth "maw", the latter ending with the augmentative suffix -oth also seen in Nogoth "(Big) Dwarf" = naug + oth ("maw" = "big jaw"). Note that the final letter of car(a)n + the initial letter of carach/oth- produce the sound ch (IPA: x) with the phenomenon called nasal mutation.

Cardolan

Cardolan

It is not known if Tolkien ever explained the name Cardolan. The most common suggestion is that Cardolan likely is Sindarin for "red hill country". In that case, the name could be analyzed as carn "red", dol "hill, mount" and an(n) "land". An alternative etymology has been suggested by Roger Clewley: Cardolan deriving from Noldorin car "house", dolen "hidden, secret", and the toponymical ending -and, thus meaning "place/land of hidden houses" (a reference to the "dead entombed there").

born

hot

(red), lenited vorn, pl. byrn.

crann

ruddy

1) (of face) crann (lenited grann, pl. crain), 2) gruin (lenited ruin, no distinct pl. form), 3) gaer (copper-coloured, red, reddish); lenited aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea".

gaer

ruddy

(copper-coloured, red, reddish); lenited ’aear; no distinct pl. form. (This is a suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” goer.) Note: homophones mean "dreadful, awful, fearful; holy" and also "sea".

ruin

slot

*ruin (spoor, track, footprint), pl. rŷn (idh rŷn). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” ”rhoein” = rhöin, LR:364 s.v. __. Note: a homophone means ”blazing fire, red flame” and also ”fiery red, burning” as an adj.

ruin

slot

(spoor, track, footprint), pl. r**ŷn (idh r**ŷn). – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” ”rhoein” = rhöin, LR:364 s.v. RUN. Note: a homophone means ”blazing fire, red flame” and also ”fiery red, burning” as an adj.

úrui

hot

1) úrui (no distinct pl. form), 2) born (red), lenited vorn, pl. byrn.

rust

noun. copper

urui

noun/adjective. hot

urui

noun/adjective. the month of august

Anor

noun. sun

Anor

noun. Sun

_n. Astron._Sun. Q. anār/anăr. >> Ithil

dôr

noun. land, land, [N.] region where certain people live, [ᴱN.] country; [G.] people of the land

lach

noun. (leaping) flame

lacha-

verb. to flame

lacho

verb. flame!

naur

noun. flame

naur

noun. fire

rein

noun. slot, spoor, track, footprint

rusc

noun. fox

rust

noun. copper

rustui

adjective. of copper

rustui

adjective. copper, copper, *of copper, like copper

rîdh

noun. sown field

sown field, tilled ground

Anor

sun

1) Anor (pl. Anoer if there is a pl.) Archaic Anaur (SD:306). 2) naur (mainly in compounds as nar-, -nor) (flame, fire), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath.

Eru

god

(the One) #Eru, isolated from Eruchín** **"children of the One" (= Elves and Men; sg. *Eruchen).

aenor

noun. god

A neologism for “a god” opposed to “God” (Eru), based on Gnomish ain. A direct adaptation of the Gnomish form would be aen, but that conflicts with aen “should be”; Fiona Jallings suggested the extended form aenor in a Discord chat in August 2019.

anor

sun

(pl. Anoer if there is a pl.) Archaic Anaur (SD:306).

brassen

white-hot

(lenited vrassen, pl. bressin)

bâr

land

(dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

crann

ruddy

(lenited grann, pl. crain).

crann

ruddy

(of face) crann (lenited grann, pl. crain).

dôr

land

1) dôr (i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413), 2) bâr (dwelling, house, home, family; earth) (i mâr, o mbâr, construct bar), pl. bair (i mbair). Also -bar, -mar at the end of compounds.

dôr

land

(i nôr, construct dor) (dwelling place, region), pl. dŷr (i ndŷr), coll. pl. dorath (WJ:413)

eru

noun. God

eru

god

isolated from Eruchín "children of the One" (= Elves and Men; sg. ✱Eruchen).

gruin

ruddy

(lenited ’ruin, no distinct pl. form)

gwaith

troop of able-bodied men

(i ’waith) (manhood, manpower, host, regiment, people, region; wilderness), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwaith).

gwanur

kinsman, kinswoman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

gwanur

kinswoman

(i ’wanur) (brother), pl. gwenyr (in gwenyr). Note: a homophone of the sg. means ”pair of twins”.

lach

flame

(noun) 1) lach (leaping flame), pl. laich; 2) naur (in compounds nar-, -nor) (fire, sun), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath, 3) rill (construct ril) (brilliance, glittering reflected light), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

lach

flame

(leaping flame), pl. laich;  2) naur (in compounds nar-, -nor) (fire, sun), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath, 3) rill (construct ril) (brilliance, glittering reflected light), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rill).

lacha

flame

(verb) *lacha- (i lacha, i lachar). Only the imperative form lacho is attested.

lacha

flame

(i lacha, i lachar). Only the imperative form lacho is attested.

lachenn

flame-eyed

pl. lachinn *(WJ:384, there cited in archaic form lachend)*.

nand

wide grassland

(construct nan) (valley), pl. naind, coll. pl. **nannath **(VT45:36);

naur

sun

(mainly in compounds as nar-, -nor) (flame, fire), pl. noer, coll. pl. norath.

parth

enclosed grassland

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

pol-

verb. can

rosg

noun. fox

A neologism for “fox” coined by Ryszard Derdzinski in PPW (PPW) from the early 2000s, based on Q. rusco (PM/353). However, the actual Sindarin form S. rusc as published in Vinyar Tengwar #41 (VT41/10).

rusc

fox

rusc, pl. rysc (idh rysc)

rusc

fox

pl. rysc (idh rysc)

rust

copper

rust, pl. ryst (idh ryst) if there is a pl. Possibly also ?urun (pl. yryn if there is a pl.).

rust

copper

pl. ryst (idh ryst) if there is a pl.  Possibly also ?urun (pl. yryn if there is a pl.).

rîdh

sown field

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

rîdh

sown field

rîdh (acre); no distinct pl. form except possinly with article (idh rîdh) (VT46:11)

urun

noun. copper

úrui

hot

(no distinct pl. form)

carnë

red

carnë adj. "red", "scarlet, red" (SA:caran, PE17:154, MC:214, KARÁN - spelt with a k in the two latter sources), not to be confused with the past tense of car- "do, make". Stem carni- as in Carnimírië, Carnistir.

nasar

red

nasar adj. "red" (in Vanyarin Quenya only). Adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399)

carne (carni-)

adjective. red

carnil

proper name. *Red Star

The name of a red star (SI/Carnil), possibly Mars (MR/435), it is perhaps a compound of carnë (carni-) “red” and †él “star”.

carnimírië

proper name. Red-jewelled

The name of a tree in Fangorn beloved of the Ent Bregalad (LotR/483). It is a compound of carnë (carni-) “red” and the adjective mírëa “jewelled”, converted to a noun with the abstract suffix -ië (PE17/83).

carnistir

masculine name. Red-face

The mother-name of S. Caranthir, from which his Sindarin name was derived (PM/353). It is a compound of carnë (carni-) “red” and the primitive form stīrē “face” (VT41/10). In other writings Tolkien gave the words anta or cendelë for “face”.

Conceptual Development: Tolkien also briefly considered the form Carastir in a marginal note (VT41/10).

orocarni

place name. Red Mountains

A mountain range near Cuiviénen where the elves awoke, described as the “Mountains of the East” (S/49) and translated “Red Mountains” (MR/77). This name is a compound of the prefix oro- “mountain” and the plural of carnë “red” (SA/orod, caran).

Conceptual Development: As pointed out by Christopher Tolkien, the Orocarni as described in The Silmarillion correspond to a mountain range appearing on the earlier Ambarkanta maps, with the label the “Red Mountains” (SM/256, MR/77 notes §41).

rúnya

noun. red flame

A word for a “red flame” mentioned in the Silmarillion appendix (SA/ruin). It is likely derived from the root √RUN “red, glowing” (PM/366).

Carnistir

red-face

Carnistir masc. name "red-face", mother-name (never used in narrative) of Morifinwë = Caranthir (PM:353)

Culúrien

golden-red

Culúrien another name of Laurelin; apparently derived from the stem KUL- "golden-red" (Silm; LR:365)

Orocarni

the red mountains

Orocarni noun "the Red Mountains", place-name: literally rather *"Mountain-Reds": a plural form of carnë "red" with the element oro- "mountain" or "high" prefixed (Silm)

aira

red, copper-coloured, ruddy

aira (1) adj. "red, copper-coloured, ruddy" (GAY)

carneambarai

red-???

carneambarai ("k")"red-???" (Narqelion; very early "Qenya")

carnevaitë

red sky

carnevaitë _("k")_noun "red sky" (MC:221; this is "Qenya")

carnevalinar

red-???

carnevalinar ("k")"red-???" (Narqelion; very early "Qenya")

carni-mírëa

red-jewelled

†carni-mírëa adj. "red-jewelled" (PE17:83), whence the name Carnimírië "[one] having red gems, Red-jewelled", the rowan-tree in Quickbeam's song (LotR2:III ch. 4, SA:caran, PE17:83), also translated "with adornment of red jewels" (Letters:224; where the reading "carnemírie" occurs)

cullo

red gold

†cullo ("k")noun "red gold" (KUL, VT45:24)

narsil

proper name. Red and White Flame

The Sword of Elendil that was broken (LotR/243), later reforged as Andúril (LotR/277). This name is a combination of the primitive roots √NAR “fire” and √THIL “white light” (Let/425), and was translated “red and white flame” in the 1966 index of The Lord of the Rings (RC/231).

Conceptual Development: Its Quenya name first appeared as ᴹQ. Narsil in the draft of The Lord of the Rings chapter: “The Battle of the Pelennor Fields” (WR/370, 372 note #14).

narwa

ruddy, red of hair

*narwa adj. "ruddy, red of hair" (PE17:154), also "fiery red" in general _(NAR1; only the archaic form narwā is given in the Etymologies)_

rusca

red-brown

[rusca] (2) adj. "red-brown" (VT41:10)

russa

red-haired

russa adj. "red-haired" (VT41:10)

rúnya

red flame

rúnyanoun "red flame" (SA:ruin; PM:366 gives runya)

yulmë

red [?heat]

yulmë (2) noun "red [?heat]" (the gloss was illegible)(YUL)

carnë

adjective. red, scarlet

rusca

adjective. red-brown

russa

adjective. red-haired

caranya-

verb. make red, redden

narwa

adjective. ruddy, red of hair

-ando

redeemer

-ando masculine agentive suffix, deleted in the Etymologies (VT45:16), but occurring in words Tolkien used later, like #runando "redeemer".

Mardorunando

redeemer of the world

Mardorunando noun "Redeemer of the world" (VT44:17). Unless the initial element mardo- is a distinct and otherwise unattested word for "world", it may be the genitive form of mar (mard-) "earth", q.v.

runando

redeemer

#runando noun "redeemer", isolated from Mardorunando masc. name "Redeemer of the world" (VT44:17)

finda

having hair, -haired

finda (1) adj. "having hair, -haired" (Tolkien's gloss "-haired" evidently means that finda may be used in compounds, like *carnifinda "red-haired") (PM:340)

rúcina

confused, shattered, disordered, ruined

rúcina ("k") adj. (or passive participle?) "confused, shattered, disordered, ruined" in Markirya (the first version of this poem had "red skies", MC:215, changed to "ruined skies" in the final version; see MC:220, note 8)

mardorunando

proper name. *Redeemer of the World

A name or title of Christ as the redeemer of the world, used in Tolkien’s Quenya translation of the Litany of Loreto prayer (VT44/12).

Possible Etymology: The first element is the genitive form mardo (“of the World”) of the noun mar(da), elsewhere translated as “dwelling” (PE17/107). This word (and its relative már) did not usually mean “World” in Tolkien’s later writings, but the earlier form ᴹQ. mar (mard-) was sometimes glossed “Earth” in his writing from the 1930s (LR/72, Ety/MBAR in Martano “Earthbuilder” and Endamar “Middle-earth”). Alternately, this may have been a restoration of the much earlier ᴱQ. marda “world”. In later writings, the usual Quenya word for “World” was Ambar.

The second element of this name is runando, apparently meaning “redeemer”.

a eruion mardorunando, eru órava (o)messë

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us

The seventh line of Tolkien’s Quenya translation of the Litany of Loreto prayer (VT44/12). The first word is the vocative a “O” followed by Eruion, a name for Christ as the “Son of God”. The third word Mardorunando seems to be a translation of “Redeemer of the World”. The fourth word Eru is Tolkien’s usual Quenya name for God. The phrase órava (o)messe “have mercy on us” is essentially the same as in the first line; see that entry for discussion.

Decomposition: Broken into its constituent elements, this phrase would be:

> a Eru-ion Mard-o-runando, Eru órava (o)me-sse = “✱o God-son world-of-redeemer, God have-mercy us-on”

Conceptual Development: Tolkien began two incomplete forms Io >> Yón before settling on Eruion. As in the first line, Tolkien first used the dative ómen for “on us” before revising it to the locative (o)messe (VT44/12, notes on line 7).

runando

noun. *redeemer

rusco

noun. fox

The Quenya word for “fox” from the root √(u)rus “brownish red” (VT41/10). It has a stem form of ruscu- and hence a plural form is rusqui.

resta

sown field, acre

resta noun "sown field, acre" (VT46:11 cf. RED-). The word parma-restalyanna, probably meaning *"(up)on your book-fair", seems to use #resta in the sense of "fair" (as held in a field?) Carl F. Hostetter however suggests that #resta "fair" may be related to ré "day" (VT49:39-40); if so this word is wholly distinct from resta "sown field".

runya

slot, footprint

runya noun "slot, footprint" (RUN; according to PM:366 runya also means "red flame", but SA:ruin has rúnya for this meaning)

nihtana

verb. reduced, minor

nihta-

verb. to reduce, make small

píta-

verb. to reduce, decrease

anar

noun. Sun

The most common Quenya name for the Sun derived from primitive ✶Anār, an augmented form of the root √NAR “fire” (Let/425; PE17/38; Ety/ANÁR; SD/302, 306).

Conceptual Development: This term appeared in Silmarillion drafts of the 1930s with the gloss “Heart of Flame” (LR/240) and as ᴹQ. Anar “sun” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above (Ety/ANÁR, NAR¹).

eterúna-

deliver

eterúna- vb. (also etrúna-, though the cluster tr seems unusual for Quenya) "deliver" (= "save"). Tolkien may have abandoned this verb in favour of etelehta-, q.v. (VT43:23; VT44:9), but the root also appears in #runando "redeemer", so maybe eterúna- can stay with the meaning "redeem".

lerta-

can

lerta- vb. "can" in the sense "be free to do", being under no restraint (physical or other). Lertan quetë "I can speak (because I am free to do so, there being no obstacle of promise, secrecy, or duty)". Where the absence of a physical restraint is considered, this verb can be used in much the same sense as pol- (VT41:6)

rúna-

[to] free

rúna- vb. "[to] free" (VT43:23). Compare eterúna-, etrúna-, q.v. It is not quite clear whether rúna by itself is an adjective or a verb; the gloss "free" makes room for both interpretations. If #runando "redeemer" (q.v.) is formed from this noun, it would cover "to redeem" as well.

úr(in)

proper name. Sun

A late remnant of earlier names for the Sun: ᴱQ. Ûr and ᴹQ. Úrin. In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, this name was changed from Úrin >> Naira >> Vása (MR/198), but the form Úr(in) occasionally appeared in some later writings (PE17/148, MR/377). This name was a derivative of the root √UR “heat, be hot” (PE17/148).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, this name was ᴱQ. Ûr, Ur or Úri “Sun”, but literally meaning “Fire” (LT1/187, QL/98). The name became ᴹQ. Úrin in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/240). It was rejected in The Etymologies along with the root form ᴹ√UR, but reappeared sometimes in later writing as noted above.

russambos

noun. robin

A neologism for “robin” coined by Tamas Ferencz in the VQP (VQP), a combination of russa “red-haired” and [ᴱQ.] ambos “breast”. I prefer adapting ᴱQ. karneambar “robin” as ᴺQ. carniambos.

urus

noun. copper

rel-

verb. to sow

ret-

verb. to climb

aino

noun. god

narya

proper name. (Ring) of Fire

One of the three Elvish rings of power, the Ring of Fire (S/288). It is a combination of nár “fire” and the adjectival suffix -ya.

-ndor

land

-ndor, final element in compounds: "land" (Letters:308, UT:253)

Aino

god

Aino noun "god", within Tolkien's mythos a synonym of Ainu (but since Aino is basically only a personalized form of aina "holy", hence "holy one", it could be used as a general word for "god") (PE15:72)

Anar

sun

Anar noun "Sun" (ANÁR, NAR1, SA:nár; UT:22 cf. 51); anar "a sun" (Markirya); Anarinya "my Sun" (FS). See also ceuranar, Úr-anar. (According to VT45:6, Tolkien in the Etymologies mentioned anar "sun" as the name of the short vowel carrier of the Tengwar writing system; it would be the first letter if anar is written in Quenya mode Tengwar.) Compounded in the masc. name Anárion "Sun-son" (Isildur's brother, also the Númenorean king Tar-Anárion, UT:210); also in Anardil "Sun-friend" (Appendix A), a name also occurring in the form Anardilya with a suffix of endearment (UT:174, 418). Anarya noun second day of the Eldarin six-day week, dedicated to the Sun (Appendix D). Anarríma name of a constellation: *"Sun-border"??? (Silm; cf. ríma)

Calaventë

sun

Calaventë _("k")_noun "Sun" (LT1:254)

Calavénë

sun

Calavénë _("k")_noun "Sun" (lit. "light-vessel", "light-dish") (LT1:254)

Narsil

sun

Narsil (Þ) noun the sword of Elendil, compound of the stems seen in Anar "Sun" and Isil "Moon"; see Letters:425 for etymology

apairë

victory

apairë noun "victory" (GL:17)

etelehta-

deliver

etelehta- vb. "deliver" (= "save") (VT43:23)

nár

flame

nár noun "flame", also nárë (NAR1).Translated "fire" in some names, see Aicanár(o), Fëanáro (where nár apparently has the masculine ending -o added to it). According to PE17:183, nár- is "fire as an element" (a concrete fire or blaze is rather called a ruinë).

nárë

flame

nárë, also short nár, noun "flame" (NAR1, Narqelion). Translated "fire" in some names, see Aicanáro, Fëanáro (where nár apparently has the masculine ending -o, though in the latter name it may also be the genitive ending since Fëa-náro** is translated "Spirit of Fire"). At one point, Tolkien mentioned "nār-" as the word for "fire (as an element)" (PE17:183). Cf. ruinë** as the word for "a fire" (a concrete instance of fire) in the same source.

nór

land

nór noun "land" (stem nor-, PE17:106) this is land as opposed to water and sea (nor in Letters:308). Cf. nórë.

nór

noun. land

A term for “land” as in “(dry) land as opposed to the sea”, mentioned in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 (WJ/413) and again in notes from around 1968 (PE17/106-107).

Possible Etymology: In the Quendi and Eldar essay this term was derived from primitive ✶ndōro, but in the aforementioned 1968 notes Tolkien clarified that its stem form was nŏr-. This means it was probably derived from ancient ✱ndŏr-, where the long vowel in the uninflected form was inherited from the Common Eldarin subjective form ✱ndōr, a phenomenon also seen in words like nér (ner-) “man”. I prefer this second derivation, as it makes the independent word more distinct from the suffixal form -ndor or -nóre used in the names of countries.

nóre

noun. land

nórë

land

nórë noun "land" (associated with a particular people) (WJ:413), "country, land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live, race, clan" (NŌ, NDOR, BAL), also used = "race, tribe, people" (SA:dôr, PE17:169; however, the normal word for "people" is lië). Early "Qenya" hasnórë "native land, nation, family, country" (in compounds -nor) (LT1:272)

pol-

can

pol- (1) vb. "can" = have physical power and ability, as in polin quetë "I can speak (because mouth and tongue are free)". Cf. ista-, lerta- as verbs "can" with somewhat different shades of meaning. (VT41:6, PE17:181)

resta

noun. sown field

sown field, tilled ground, acre

roina

ruddy

roina adj. "ruddy" (ROY2)

rusco

fox

rusco (stem ruscu-, pl. rusqui) noun "fox" (PM:353, VT41:10)

saiwa

hot

saiwa adj. "hot" (LT1:248, 255, 265); rather lauca in Tolkien's later Quenya

tambë

copper

tambë (2) noun "copper" (LT1:250; this is "Qenya"; see urus for a later word for "copper")

tampë

copper

tampë noun "copper" (LT1:268; in LotR-style Quenya tampë is [also?] the past tense of tap- "stop, block")

urus

copper

urus (urust-) noun "copper" (VT41:10)

velca

flame

velca ("k") noun "flame" (LT1:260; nár, nárë would be the normal word in Tolkien's later Quenya)

vinta-

scatter

*vinta- (1) vb, later pronunctiation of winta- "scatter", q.v.

winta-

scatter, blow about

winta- vb. "scatter, blow about" (both transitive and intransitive) (PM:376)

úri

sun

úri noun "sun" (MC:214, 221; this is "Qenya"); genitive úrio "sun's" (MC:216)

cemendur

noun. farmer

A neologism for “farmer” coined by Helge Fauskanger for his NQNT (NQNT), a combination of cemen “earth” and -(n)dur “servant”, a suffix sometimes used in the names of professions such as arandur “minister” and ornendur “forester”.

nangwë

noun. victory

caran

adjective. red

naru

adjective. red, [fiery] red

caran

adjective. red

caron

adjective. red

naru

adjective. red

narw

adjective. red

crandir

place name. Red Way

Earlier name for Celebrant in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/433). Its first element is likely caran “red”, but the meaning of its second element is unclear; Roman Rausch suggested several possibilities (EE/1.10).

narodûm

place name. Red Valley

Earlier name for Nanduhirion in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s that matched the river name Narosîr “Red Way” (RS/433). It seems to be a combination of naru “red” and a lenited form of tum “valley”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/1.6).

rathcarn

place name. Red Way

Variant of Crandir, an earlier name for Celebrant in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/433). Its first element is likely rath “course” and its second element a variant of caran “red”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/1.10).

caron-dûn

place name. Red Valley

Earlier name for Nanduhirion in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s that matched the river name Crandir “Red Way” (RS/419). It appeared in a variety of forms: Carndoom, Doon-Caron and Dûn Caron (RS/433), all apparently rearrangements of the same elements. It seems to be a combination of caran “red” and a variant or lenited form of tum “valley”. This etymology was suggested by Roman Rausch, along with several other possibilities to explain why the initial d was retained when it appeared in the initial element (EE/1.13). This name strongly resembles later S. Carn Dûm in Angmar, and might be a precursor to that name.

cris-caron

place name. Red Pass

Earlier name for the pass of Caradhras in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/419), a combination criss “pass” and a variant of caran “red”. Roman Rausch suggested the second element might be Ilkorin instead of Sindarin (EE/1.11).

dunruin

place name. Red Valley

Earlier name for Nanduhirion in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s that matched the river name Ruinnel “Red Way” (RS/464). It seems to be a combination of a variant form of tum “valley” and a variant or lenited form of gruin “ruddy”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/1.13).

nerwing

place name. Red Foaming Waters

An otherwise unattested place name appearing in The Etymologies from the 1930s (EtyAC/NAR¹), apparently a combination of an i-affected form of naru “red” and the lenited form of gwing.

coll

adjective. red, scarlet

goer

adjective. red, copper-coloured, ruddy

coll

adjective. (golden) red

goer

adjective. red, copper-coloured, ruddy

narosîr

place name. Redway

Variant of Crandir, an earlier name for Celebrant in Lord of the Rings (RS/433). It seems to be a combination of naru “red” and sîr “river”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/1.6).

rhascaron

place name. Redhorn

Earlier name of Caradhras “Redhorn” in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (RS/433). Its elements were reversed, with rhas “horn” first and caran “red” second.

caradras

place name. Redhorn

ruinnel

place name. Redway

Earlier name for Celebrant in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (TI/114). Its initial element seems to be a variant form of gruin “ruddy”, as suggested by Roman Rausch (EE/2.7), but the derivation of the final element is unclear.

rhedh-

verb. to sow

A verb in The Etymologies of the 1930s appearing in its [Noldorin] infinitive form N. rheði “to sow” under the root ᴹ√RED “scatter, sow” (Ety/RED).

Neo-Sindarin: Since initial r unvoiced to rh in Noldorin of the 1930s but not in Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s, most Neo-Sindarin writers adapt this word as ᴺS. redh- “to sow”, as suggested in HSD (HSD).

cûl

noun. flame

A word for “flame” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√KUL “golden-red”, but this word was deleted (EtyAC/KUL).

dor

noun. land, dwelling-place, region where certain people live

The form dor in the Etymologies is a misreading, see VT/45. In composition and in toponyms, the word is nevertheless reduced to Dor

rîdh

noun. ‘sown’, sown field, acre

gruin

adjective. ruddy

Anor

noun. sun

anaur

noun. Sun

anor

noun. Sun

carcharoth

masculine name. Knife-fang

crann

adjective. ruddy (of face)

gruin

adjective. ruddy

lhach

noun. (leaping) flame

naur

noun. flame

naur

noun. fire

naur

noun. flame

rhedh-

verb. to sow

rhein

noun. slot, spoor, track, footprint

rhœin

noun. slot, spoor, track, footprint

nasar

adjective. red

baraz

adjective. red, ruddy

barazinbar

place name. Redhorn

zâyan

noun. land

An Adûnaic word for “land” (SD/423). It has an irregular plural form zâin which is the result of the phonetic change (SD/423): [[pad|medial [w] and [j] vanished before [u] and [i]]]. Thus, the archaic plural changed from †zâyîn > zâîn > zâin.

Conceptual Development: In earlier names this word appeared as zen (SD/378, 385).

ûri

noun. sun

A noun translated “sun” (SD/306, 428). This word appears in the forms ûrê, ûri and ûrî, but Tolkien declared that the form with long î is actually the personified form Ûrî “Lady of the Sun” (SD/426), perhaps the Adûnaic name of Q. Arien. The form ûrê only appears once (SD/426), so ûri is probably to be preferred as the ordinary word for Sun, especially since it is a neuter noun, which ordinarily cannot end in a long -ê (SD/427). Tolkien lists the “later forms Uir, Ŷr” (SD/306), one of which may be the Westron word for “sun”, most likely Wes. uir. As suggested by several authors (AAD/24, EotAL/UR), ûri is probably derived from the Elvish root ᴹ√UR.

thâni

noun. land

A noun translated “land” (SD/435) appearing in the Adûnaic names for the Blessed Realm: Amatthâni and thâni’nAmân. Its Primitive Adûnaic form was also ✶thāni, though its primitive was glossed “realm" (SD/420).

urus

noun. copper

rath-

verb. to climb

resta

noun. sown field

sown field, tilled ground

dóri-

noun. land

Isolated from Lindórinan. The independent form of the word may differ; it is unclear where the i of the compound Lindórinan comes from. In the Etymologies, the Eldarin words for "land" are derived from a stem NDOR "dwell, stay, rest, abide" (LR:376).

No Nandorin word is there listed, but Sindarin dor is derived from primitive ndorê. Notice, however, that Tolkien many years later derived the Eldarin words for "land" from a stem DORO "dried up, hard, unyielding" (WJ:413). However, this later source does confirm that the Primitive Quendian form was ndorê, now thought to be formed by initial enrichment d > nd. This is defined as "the hard, dry land as opposed to water or bog", later developing the meaning "land in general as opposed to sea", and finally also "a land" as a particular region, "with more or less defined bounds".

Whether dóri- actually comes from ndorê is highly doubtful (this would rather yield *dora in Nandorin), but it must be derived from the same set of stems.