rin

dew

rin noun "dew" (LT1:265; rather rossë in LotR-style Quenya)

ringil

proper name. Ringil

The name of the sword of Fingolfin “that glittered like ice” (S/152). The name is an elaboration of [ᴹQ.] ringe (ringi-) “cold” (SA/ring).

Conceptual Development: The name ᴱQ. Ringil first appeared in the earliest Lost Tales as the name of the tower holding the northmost lamp that lit the world (LT1/69), later as either the lamp itself (Ety/RINGI) or the sea formed after its fall (LR/32). It was first used as the name of Fingolfin’s sword in The Lays of Beleriand (LB/285). The name ᴹQ. Ringil appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√RINGI, at that point still both the lamp and the sword (Ety/RINGI). In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, the name of the lamp was changed to Ormal (MR/7), but Ringil remained the name of Fingolfin’s sword.

Ringil

ringil

Ringil noun, name of one of the great Lamps (pillared on ice), apparently contains ringë (RINGI). The name was later abandoned, as Tolkien decided to call the great Lamps Illuin and Ormal.

rinda

circular

rinda adj. "circular" (RIN)

rindë

circle

rindë noun "circle" (RIN)

ringa súmaryassë

in her cold bosom

The fourth line of the Markirya poem (MC/222). The first word is ringa “cold” followed by the 3rd-singular possessive form (“her”) of súma “bosom” with the locative suffix -ssë (“in”).

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

> ringa súma-rya-ssë = “✱cold bosom-her-in”

Ringarë

december

Ringarë noun, the twelfth and last month of the year, "December" (Appendix D, SA:ring); the word seems to mean *"Cold-day".

rinca

twitch, jerk, trick, sudden move

rinca noun "twitch, jerk, trick, sudden move" (VT46:11 cf. RIK(H) )

rincë

flourish, quick stroke

rincë ("k") (stem *rinci-, given the primitive form ¤rinki) noun "flourish, quick stroke" (RIK(H); the Etymologies as printed in LR reads "quick shake", but according to VT46:11 the correct reading is "quick stroke")

ringa

cold

ringa adj. "cold" (Markirya); the Etymologies gives ringë (RINGI), but it seems that ringa is to be preferred (cf. Ringarë below). Yá hrívë tenë, ringa ná "when winter comes, it is cold" (VT49:23). According to VT46:11, Tolkien originally used the form ringa in Etym as well; later he would restore it. - In early "Qenya", ringa is glossed "damp, cold, chilly" (LT1:265)

ringwë

cold pool or lake (in mountains)

ringwë (1) noun "cold pool or lake (in mountains)" (VT46:11). The misreading ringë appears in Etym as printed in LR, entry RINGI.

ringwë

rime, frost

ringwë (2) noun "rime, frost" (LT1:265)

ringë

cold

ringë adj. "cold", also ringa (which form is to be preferred; cf. Ringarë in LotR). In the Etymologies as printed in LR, ringë is also given as a noun "cold pool or lake (in mountains)", but according to VT46:11 this noun should read ringwë. (RINGI)

ringarë

noun. December, *Coldness

rindë

adjective. swift

ringa

adjective. cold, cold, [ᴱQ.] chilly; damp

rince

noun. hook

sa-rincë

hook

sa-rincë ("k"), apparently the name of the "hook" that may be attached to a tengwa letter to indicate a following s (VT46:11). If so, sa may be a name of S (as a sound).

Ringarë

Ringarë

The word obviously contains the word ringa "cold". David Salo notes that the ending might be also seen in the abstract nouns almare "blessedness" and fanyare "the skies". Therefore the meaning of Ringare is equivalent to "*coldness".

ringihauro

noun. refrigerator, (lit.) chill cupboard

A neologism coined by Luinyelle posted on 2024-08-22 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of [ᴹQ.] ringe (ringi-) “chill” and [ᴺQ.] hauro “cupboard”.

ringincë

adjective. cool, coldish

A neologism coined by Luinyelle on 2023-07-25 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a diminutive form of [ᴹQ.] ringe (ringi-) “cold”

ringë

adjective. chill, cool

A neologism coined by Vyacheslav Stepanov posted on 2024-01-02 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), based on the primitive adjective ✶ringi “chill”.

rincuma

noun. task, charge, mission

A neologism coined by Röandil posted on 2023-02-28 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), derived from a primitive instrumental form ✱rinkumā base on √RIK “try, strive, endeavor” (comparable to ᴹQ. sanguma for similar derivation), thus more literally “a thing striven/endeavored for”. Röandil also suggested rinqua as the result of the loss of the intervening u after which [[aq|[km] became [kw]]], but the combination nkm seems very unlikely to me and I prefer rincuma.

rinqua

adjective. revolving, returning, recurrent; round, circular

corma

noun. ring

A word for “ring” appearing as an element in Q. Cormacolindor “Ring-bearers” (LotR/953), clearly derived from the root √KOR “round”. It also appeared in a translation of the title of The Lord of the Rings that Tolkien included in a 1973 letter to Phillip Brown: i Túrin i Cormaron.

Conceptual Development: Another translation of “Lord of the Rings” is known from an exhibit of Tolkien manuscripts: Heru imillion, where presumably the element millë means “ring” (DTS/54). In a deleted entry from The Etymologies of the 1930s, Tolkien had ᴹQ. kolma “ring ([?on] finger)” [or possibly “or finger”] derived from a deleted root ᴹ√KOL (EtyAC/KOL).

máhanaxar

place name. Ring of Doom, *(lit.) Ring of Judgement

The circle of thrones where the Valar sat in council (S/38), an adaptation of the Valarin word Māχananaškād “Doom-ring” (WJ/399, 401). The Valarin word māχan more accurately means “authority, authoritative decision” (WJ/399), so the “doom” in its English translation is most likely used in its older sense “judgement”. This circle is also known by the (Vanyarin?) name Rithil-Anamo, said to be a translation of the same Valarin name (WJ/401).

úlairi

collective name. Ring-wraiths, (lit.) ?Un-living, Un-summer

Quenya name of the Nazgûl, of unclear meaning (S/296, PM/175). The first element is likely the negative prefix ú-. The second element resembles a plural form of the noun lairë “summer”, so perhaps it means “✱Un-summer”, referring to their cold and undead nature. Alternately, the second element could a derivative of an unattested primitive noun ✱lay-ro “living one” from the root √LAY (having to do with life), so that the name means “✱Un-living”. Both these derivations are quite speculative.

cormacolindor

collective name. Ring-bearers

A title of Frodo and Sam as bearers of the One Ring (LotR/953). It is a compound of corma “ring” and the plural form of colindo “bearer”.

Rithil-Anamo

ring of doom

Rithil-Anamo place name "Ring of Doom", translation of the foreign word Máhanaxar that was adopted and adapted from Valarin (WJ:401). Compare Anamo, q.v. Presumably *Risil-Anamo in Exilic Quenya, since the digraph th of rithil must represent the spirant þ (expressed by the letter súlë, older thúlë, in Tengwar writing).

colma

ring (on finger)

[colma ("k")noun "ring (on finger)" (VT45:23). See corma.]

corma

ring

#corma noun "ring", isolated from #cormacolindo "Ring-bearer", pl. cormacolindor (LotR3:VI ch. 4, translated in Letters:308); Cormarë "Ringday", a festival held on Yavannië 30 in honour of Frodo Baggins (Appendix D)

cormarë

proper name. Ringday

A festival on September 30th in honour of Frodo Baggins (LotR/1112). It is a compound of corma “ring” and the suffixal form of ré “day”.

láma

ringing sound, echo

láma noun "ringing sound, echo" (LAM)

risil

ring

*risil (þ) noun "ring" (on the ground) in Rithil-Anamo, q.v.

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.

nenya

proper name. (Ring) of Water

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

vilya

proper name. (Ring) of Air

One of the three Elvish rings of power, the Ring of Air (S/288). It might simply be vilya “air” used as a name. However, given the pattern of names for the other Elvish rings, I think it is more likely to be an adjectival formation combining the root ᴹ√WIL and the adjectival suffix -ya.

millë

noun. ?ring

linga

verb. [ring]

locco

noun. ringlet

A neologism for “ringlet” coined by Boris Shapiro in PPQ (PPQ) from the early 2000s, based on N. lhoch of the same meaning as derived from ᴹ✶lokko. I prefer to use Q. lócë “bight, bend, curl of hair”, which was published after Shapiro coined this word.

nyel-

verb. to chime, to ring (like a bell)

@@@ Discord 2022-05-14

hyal-

verb. to ring, resound

hyalta-

verb. to strike, make ring; [with dative] make a phone call to, ring

colindo

noun. bearer

A word for “bearer” appearing in its plural form colindor in the title Cormacolindor “Ring-bearers” (LotR/0953). It is simply an agental form of the verb col- “bear”.

leper

noun. finger

The Quenya word for “finger” appearing in various notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from 1968, derived from the root √LEP “pick up” (VT47/10; VT48/5).

Conceptual Development: The Quenya “finger” words went through quite a few conceptual changes, but they were always based on the root √LEP. The earliest of these was ᴱQ. let (lept-) “finger” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√LEPE with plural form lepsi (QL/53). In Qenya word lists of the 1920s, however, this became ᴱQ. lepta “finger”, still with the plural lepsi (PE15/72; PE16/137).

The form was ᴹQ. let (leps-) in the Declension of Nouns of the early 1930s (PE21/19, 26), expanded to ᴹQ. lepse “finger” in The Etymologies written around 1937, based on the root ᴹ√LEPET of the same meaning (Ety/LEPET). This form demonstrated the 1930s sound change whereby pt became ps (PE19/44 note #44). Tolkien revised this sound change so that the result remained pt (PE19/44), and in 1940s drafts to The Lord of the Rings Tolkien used the word ᴹQ. rakkalepta “✱claw-fingered” in Treebeard’s description of orcs (SD/68), though in the published version this word only appeared in English.

In the Outline of Phonology from the 1950s (OP2) Tolkien considered restoring the sound change pt > ps (PE19/84 note #75), and Q. lepsë appeared in notes from the late 1950s or early 60s on the tree name S. lebethron, so named because “its leaves (like chestnut) [were] shaped like a fingered hand” (PE17/89). However, he again abandoned this, clarifying that the actual result of [[q|[pt] was a spirantal [ɸt]]] (spelled pt to represent the bilabial pronunciation), and that in Tarquesta pronunciation (Exhilic Quenya of the first age) the [ɸ] vocalized to [u̯] so that ✶lepta > leꝑta > Q. leu̯ta “finger” (PE19/84). Q. lepta appeared in several words in the 1960s: Q. leptafinya “clever-fingered” (PE17/17) and Q. Tyelpelepta “✱silver-fingered” (VT47/27).

In drafts of the 1968 notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals, lepta reappeared as an independent word, but with the gloss “thumb” (VT47/27). In the final versions of these notes, however, Tolkien used leper for “finger”, as noted above.

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would use leper for “finger”, but would retain lepta as an adjective meaning “fingered”, especially in compounds like [ᴹQ.] raccalepta “claw-fingered”.

yá

conjunction. when

A relative conjunction “when” appearing in various phrases in Tolkien’s writings of the 1950s and 60s, a vowel-lengthened form of the relative pronoun ya.

Conceptual Development: Demonstrative, Relative, and Correlative Stems (DRC) from 1948 had ᴹQ. í glossed “(relative) at the time mentioned, at the same time”, a vowel-lengthened form of the relative pronoun ᴹQ. i (PE23/109). This was also given the gloss “when, whenever” in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from this same period (PE22/121). Earlier still, ᴹQ. íre was used as the relative conjunction “when” in Fíriel’s Song of the 1930s. In the Early Qenya Grammar it seems ᴱQ. yan “when” served this function (PE14/59).

-ië

suffix. is

-ië (3) "is", -ier "are", stative verb suffix occurring in Fíriel's Song: númessier "they are in the west", meldielto "they are...beloved", talantië "he is fallen", márië "it is good" (< *númessë "in the west", melda "beloved", *talanta "fallen"); future tense -iéva in hostainiéva "will be gathered" (< *hostaina "gathered"). Compare ye "is", yéva "will be", verbs that also occur in Fíriel's Song. This suffix is probably not valid in LotR-style Quenya: -ië is an infinitival or gerundial ending in CO, for ye "is" Namárië has ná, and the phrase "lost is" is vanwa ná, not *vanwië.

Anamo

of doom

Anamo noun in genitive "of doom" in Rithil-Anamo "Ring of Doom" (q.v.) Since the reference is to a place (a circle) where judgement was passed, this seems to be "doom" in the sense of "juridical decision" or "(legal) justice". The nominative "doom" may be *anan, with stem anam- (since the root would be NAM as in nam- "to judge", námo* noun "judge"). Alternatively, but less probably, the nominative may be anama**.

Norrívë

norrívë

Norrívë noun alternative name of December (PM:135), otherwise called Ringarë.

ar

day

ar (2) noun "day" (PE17:148), apparently short for árë, occurring in the names of the Valinorean week listed below. Tolkien indicated that ar in these names could also be arë when the following element begins in a consonant (VT45:27). Usually the word for "day" in LotR-style Quenya is rather aurë (or ré), q.v.

colindo

bearer

#colindo noun "bearer", pl. #colindor in cormacolindor "ring-bearers" (q.v.)

hrívë

winter

hrívë noun "winter", in the calendar of Imladris a precisely defined period of 72 days, but also used without any exact definition (Appendix D). Yá hrívë tenë, ringa ná "when winter comes (arrives, is with us), it is cold" (VT49:23; Tolkien changed tenë to menë, p. 24). The word Hrívion, heading a section of the poem The Trees of Kortirion that has to do with the "fading time", would seem to be related (LT1:42)

ná

is

ná (1) vb. "is" (am). (Nam, RGEO:67). This is the copula used to join adjectives, nouns or pronouns "in statements (or wishes) asserting (or desiring) a thing to have certain quality, or to be the same as another" (VT49:28). Also in impersonal constructions: ringa ná "it is cold" (VT49:23). The copula may however be omitted "where the meaning is clear" without it (VT49:9). Ná is also used as an interjection "yes" or "it is so" (VT49:28). Short na in airë [] na, "[] is holy" (VT43:14; some subject can evidently be inserted in the place of [].) Short na also functions as imperative: alcar mi tarmenel na Erun "glory in high heaven be to God" (VT44:32/34), also na airë "be holy" (VT43:14); also cf. nai "be it that" (see nai #1). The imperative participle á may be prefixed (á na, PE17:58). However, VT49:28 cites ná as the imperative form. Pl. nar or nár "are" (PE15:36, VT49:27, 9, 30); dual nát (VT49:30). With pronominal endings: nányë/nanyë "I am", nalyë or natyë "you (sg.) are" (polite and familiar, respectively), nás "it is", násë "(s)he is", nalmë "we are" (VT49:27, 30). Some forms listed in VT49:27 are perhaps to be taken as representing the aorist: nain, naityë, nailyë (1st person sg, and 2nd person familiar/polite, respectively); does a following na represent the aorist with no pronominal ending? However, the forms nanyë, nalyë, ná, nassë, nalme, nar (changed from nár) are elsewhere said to be "aorist", without the extra vowel i (e.g. nalyë rather than nailyë); also notice that *"(s)he is" is here nassë rather than násë (VT49:30).Pa.t. nánë or né "was", pl. náner/nér and dual nét "were" (VT49:6, 9, 10, 27, 28, 30, 36). According to VT49:31, né "was" cannot receive pronominal endings (though nésë "he was" is attested elsewhere, VT49:28-29), and such endings are rather added to the form ane-, e.g. anen "I was", anel "you were", anes "(s)he/it was" (VT49:28-29). Future tense nauva "will be" (VT42:34, VT49:19, 27; another version however gives the future tense as uva, VT49:30). Nauva with a pronominal ending occurs in tanomë nauvan "I will be there" (VT49:19), this example indicating that forms of the verb ná may also be used to indicate position. Perfect anaië "has been" (VT49:27, first written as anáyë). Infinitive (or gerund) návë "being", PE17:68. See also nai #1.

nésa

noun. sister

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

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

onórë

sister

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

ral-

verb. *to return, *to return (to somewhere)

An untranslated verb appearing in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) as a derivative of √RAD, an example of how medial d dissimilated to l after a preceding r (PE19/99). In a Discord conversation from 2018-07-08, Elaran suggested it might mean “✱return” based on the translation of its root ᴹ√RAD “back, return” from The Etymologies of the 1930s (Ety/RAD). It was further suggested that ral- might be only intransitive “return (to somewhere)”, as opposed to transitive [ᴺQ.] ralya- “return (something)”.

rista-

verb. *to cut, [ᴹQ.] to cut

A verb appearing as ᴹQ. rista- “cut” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√RIS “slash, rip” (Ety/RIS).

A similar set of forms “rista & risse, rinse” appeared in notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s derived from √RIS “cut” as part of a discussion of the etymology of S. Imladris (PE17/87). These could be various noun or adjective forms, equivalent to the final element of Imladris, but in that note Tolkien said that Sindarin element was derived from primitive ✶rinsa “cleft, cloven, separate”. Therefore, I think these Quenya forms might instead be a formative or causative verb rista- “✱to cut” with strong pasts risse or rinse.

Neo-Quenya: Given the uncertain nature of the forms from WP, I would assume rista- is (or became) an ordinary weak verb for purposes of Neo-Quenya, with a past form ✱ristane. Given the meaning of its 1930s root (“slash, rip”), I would further assume its connotation is “cut [into]” as opposed to Q. cir- “cut completely, cut apart”.

ré

day

ré noun "day" (of the sun), a full 24-hour cycle (Appendix D) composed of aurë (day, daylight) and lómë "night" (VT49:45). Short -rë in compounds like Ringarë (q.v.). Allative rénna (VT49:45).

yelwa

cold

yelwa (2) adj. "cold" (LT1:260 this "Qenya" word is apparently obsoleted by # 1 above. In LotR-style Quenya, the regular term for "cold" seems to be ringa.)

yá

when

yá (2) conj. "when" in the sentence yá hrívë tenë, ringa ná "when winter comes, it is cold" (VT49:23). Compare írë #2.

írë

when

írë (2) conj. "when" (subordinate conjunction, not question-word: írë Anarinya queluva, "when my sun faileth") (FS). Compare yá #2.

úyë

is

úyë vb., a form occurring in Fíriel's Song (cf. VT46:22), apparently ye "is" with the negative prefix ú-, hence "is not" (úyë sérë indo-ninya símen, translated "my hearth resteth not here", literally evidently *"[there] is not rest [for] my heart here")

hrívë

noun. winter

Ae

day

Ae (Quenya?) noun "day" (LEP/LEPEN/LEPEK - ae was written over ar [# 2] in the names of the Valinorean week, but ar was not struck out.)

Hesin

winter

Hesin noun "winter" (LT1:255; LotR-style Quenya has hrívë instead)

Yelin

winter

Yelin noun "winter" (LT1:260; LotR-style Quenya has hrívë, and Yelin was probably obsoleted together with the adjective yelwa_ "cold", that appears with a different meaning in the Etymologies)._

ala

day

[ala (7) noun "day", also alan "daytime". The forms allen, alanen listed after these words could be inflected forms of them, genitive "of daytime", constracted (allen = al'nen) and uncontracted. However, Tolkien struck out all of this (VT45:13).]

alarca

swift, rapid

alarca ("k")adj. "swift, rapid" (LAK2)

ampa

hook

ampa noun "hook", also name of tengwa #14 (GAP, Appendix E, VT47:20)

ampa

noun. hook, hook, [ᴹQ.] crook

arauca

swift, rushing

arauca ("k")adj. "swift, rushing" (LT2:347). Compare arauco.

ciris

cleft, crack

ciris _("k")_noun "cleft, crack" (LT2:337 - obsoleted by cirissë?)

corima

round

corima _("k")_adj. "round" (LT1:257; rather corna in Tolkien's later Quenya)

corna

round, globed

corna ("k")adj. "round, globed" (KOR)

corto

noun. circle

falqua

cleft, mountain pass, ravine

falqua ("q") noun "cleft, mountain pass, ravine" (LT2:341)

fen

reed

fen (feng-) noun "reed" (QL:38, stem feng- also in GL:34).

findë

hair

findë (1) noun "hair" (especially of the head) (PM:340), "a tress or plait of hair" (PM:345), "tress, braid of hair, lock of hair" (SPIN)

fintalë

trick

#fintalë noun "trick", given as pl. fintaler (PE17:119)

fintalë

noun. trick

finë

hair

finë (1) (stem *fini-, given the primitive form ¤phini) noun "a hair" _(PM:340, PE17:17) or "larch" (SPIN)_

hríve

noun. winter

hyatsë

cleft, gash

hyatsë noun "cleft, gash" (SYAD), apparently changed by Tolkien from hyassë (VT46:16)

larca

swift, rapid

larca ("k")adj. "swift, rapid" (LAK2)

leper

finger

leper (pl. leperi given) noun "finger" (VT44:16, VT47:10, 14, 24, VT48:5; an older source gives the word for "finger" as lepsë, q.v.)

lepsë

finger

lepsë noun "finger" (LEP/LEPET; see leper). According to VT45:27, Tolkien derived lepsë from primitive ¤lepti; if so, lepsë should have the stem-form *lepsi-. However, Tolkien struck out the ancestral form lepti, so we cannot be sure whether this idea was maintained or not. In later sources, the word for "finger" appears as leper.

leuta

noun. finger

lev-

move

lev- verb "move" (intransitive)(PE16:132)

linta

swift

linta adj. "swift"; pl. lintë attested (PE17:63. Nam, RGEO:66) Cf. lintië.

linta

adjective. swift

liscë

reed, sedge

liscë _("k")_noun "reed, sedge" (LT2:335)

loxë

hair

loxë (1) ("ks")noun "hair" (LOK). In later sources Tolkien uses findë, findessë, findilë for "hair", leaving the conceptual status of loxë uncertain.

niquë

noun. cold, cold; [ᴹQ.] snow

nyellë

bell

nyellë noun "bell" (NYEL). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, nyellë was also the name of tengwa #21 with overposed dots to indicate "following y", the whole symbol having the value ny (VT46:7)

nésa

sister

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

osellë

sister, [female] associate

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

rihta-

verb. jerk, give quick twist or move, twitch

rihta- vb. "jerk, give quick twist or move, twitch" (RIK(H) )

sanca

cleft, split

sanca (þ) ("k") noun? (or adj, or both?) "cleft, split" (STAK)

seler

sister

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

tyelca

swift, agile

tyelca ("k")adj. "swift, agile" (KYELEK), "hasty" (PM:353)

ye

is

ye (2) copula "is" (FS, VT46:22); both earlier and later sources rather point to ná (q.v.) as the copula "is", so ye may have been an experiment Tolkien later abandoned. Future tense yéva, q.v.

árë

day

árë noun "day" (PM:127) or "sunlight" (SA:arien). Stem ári- _(PE17:126, where the word is further defined as "warmth, especially of the sun, sunlight"). Also name of tengwa #31; cf. also ar # 2. Originally pronounced ázë; when /z/ merged with /r/, the letter became superfluous and was given the new value ss, hence it was re-named essë (Appendix E)_. Also árë nuquerna *"árë reversed", name of tengwa #32, similar to normal árë but turned upside down (Appendix E). See also ilyázëa, ilyárëa under ilya. In the Etymologies, this word has a short initial vowel: arë pl. ari (AR1)

í(qua), illume, iquallume

conjunction. when, whenever

úlairi

nazgûl

Úlairi pl. noun "Nazgûl" (sg. *Úlairë*? Úlair**?) Etymology obscure.

atyenárë

noun. anniversary

malumë

adverb. when

ringwil

place name. Ringwil

A stream flowing into the river Narog (S/122). Its initial element is ring “cold” (SA/ring), but the meaning of its final element is unclear.

Conceptual Development: This river was first named in the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s as ᴱN. Ingwil (LB/68), and remained N. Ingwil in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/262). It was changed to S. Ringwil in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/197 note §112).

Ringlo

Ringlo

. This gloss was rejected.

Ringlô

place name. Ringlô

topon. >> hlô, lô, -lô

ringló

place name. Chillflood

A river in Gondor (LotR/875) translated “Chillflood” (VT42/13), a combination of ring “cold” and l(h)ô “flood” (SA/ring, VT42/13-4, VT48/27-8).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Ringlo with a short o (WR/287).

Ringló

noun. cold water

ring (“cold”) + lô (“shallow lake, fenland”)

ringnen

place name. Chill-water

A lake said to be the source of the Ringló translated “Chill-water” (VT42/14), a combination of ring “cold” and nen “water”.

ring

adjective. cold, chill, cold, chill, [G.] cool

rinc

noun. twitch, jerk, trick, sudden move

rind

noun. circle

ring

adjective. cold

ringorn

noun. circle

idhrinn

noun. year

Ringlo

Ringló

The name Ringló was composed of the elements Ring, meaning "cold, chill", and ló (earlier loga), meaning "fenland". The second element referred to the fact that at its source the Ringló came from a shallow lake fed by a high snowfield in the White Mountains.

rind

circle

1) rind (construct rin; no distinct pl. form except with article: idh rind), coll. pl. rinnath. 2) corn (i gorn, o chorn), pl. cyrn (i chyrn). The word is also used as an adj. "circular, round, globed", 3) (outer ring or circle) echor (pl. echyr), 4) ringorn, pl. ringyrn (idh ringyrn)

rind

circle

(construct rin; no distinct pl. form except with article: idh rind), coll. pl. rinnath.

rinc

trick

(noun) rinc (twitch, jerk, sudden move), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc), coll. pl. ringiath

rinc

jerk

(noun) rinc (twitch, trick, sudden move), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc); coll. pl. ringath.

rinc

twitch

(noun) rinc (jerk, trick, sudden move), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc), coll. pl. ringath.

rinc

sudden move

rinc (twitch, jerk, trick), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc), coll. pl. ringath.

ring

cold

(adj.) ring (no distinct pl. form),

rinc

trick

(twitch, jerk, sudden move), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc), coll. pl. ringiath

rinc

sudden move

(twitch, jerk, trick), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc), coll. pl. ringath.

rinc

jerk

(twitch, trick, sudden move), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc); coll. pl. ringath.

rinc

twitch

(jerk, trick, sudden move), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc), coll. pl. ringath.

rinc

sudden move

(twitch, jerk, trick), no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rinc), coll. pl. ringath.

ringorn

circle

pl. ringyrn (idh ringyrn)

rin-

verb. to revolve, return, come back; to do again

rinc

noun. twitch, jerk, sudden move

rind

noun. circle

ring

cold

(no distinct pl. form)

ringorn

noun. circle

cor

noun. ring, circle

lebent

noun. ring finger

loch

noun. ringlet

nethig

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

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

cerin

circular raised mound

(i gerin, o cherin) (circular enclosure), no distinct pl. form except with article (i cherin).

idhrinn

year

(no distinct pl. form).

legrin

swift

(rapid), no distinct pl. form

echor

noun. outer circle, encircling, outer ring

laws

noun. hair ringlet

corf

noun. ring (for fingers)

A neologism for a “(finger) ring”, Sindarin cognate of Q. corma, which has been around long enough that a precise attribution is impossible.

echor

ring

(outer ring or circle) echor (pl. echyr). It is unclear what the Sindarin word for an ornamental ring is; the cognate of Quenya corma would be *corf (i gorf, o chorf; pl. cyrf, i chyrf, coll. pl. corvath).

lebent

ring finger

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

echor

ring

(pl. echyr). It is unclear what the Sindarin word for an ornamental ring is; the cognate of Quenya corma would be ✱corf (i gorf, o chorf; pl. cyrf, i chyrf, coll. pl. corvath).

lebent

ring finger

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

laus

ringlet

laus (pl. loes, coll. pl. losath)

loch

ringlet

loch (pl. lych)

nelladel

ringing of bells

nelladel (pl. nelledil):

nelladel

ringing of bells

nelladel (pl. nelledil)

laus

noun. ringlet

laus

ringlet

(pl. loes, coll. pl. losath)

loch

noun. ringlet

loch

ringlet

(pl. lych)

nelladel

ringing of bells

(pl. nelledil):

nellad

noun. sound of bells, ringing

riss

adjective. cleft

_ adj. _cleft, cloven, separate. Q. rista, risse, rinse. >> Imladris

criss

noun. cleft, cleft, [N.] cut, slash, [G.] gash; [N.] pass, [G.] gully, ravine

A word for a “cleft, cut, slash” (PE21/81; Ety/KIRIS) derived from √KIRIS, a blend of the roots √KIR and √RIS (PE17/87).

Conceptual Development: This word dates all the way back to G. criss “cleft, gash, gully” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s where it was probably already a derivative of the early root ᴱ√KIRISI as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (GL/27; LT2A/Cris Ilbranteloth). In the Name-list to The Fall of Gondolin Tolkien gave cris with the definition “a cleft, ravine, or narrow way of waters with high walls” (PE15/21), and in this period it typically appeared in this shorter form within names like G. Cris Ilbranteloth or G. Cris Thorn.

N. criss appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “cleft, cut, slash” under the root ᴹ√KIRIS “cut” (Ety/KIRIS). It also appeared under the root ᴹ√KIR with the gloss “cleft, pass”, but this instance was deleted (EtyAC/KIR). S. criss “cleft” was mentioned in passing in Common Eldarin: Noun Structure (EVS2) from the early 1950s as derived from primitive ✶kirissi (PE21/80-81), and it was mentioned as a blending of roots in notes on Words, Phrases and Passages from the Lord of the Rings (WPP) from the late 1950s or early 1960s as described above (PE17/87). Its use in names diminished over time, however, the only remnant in the final version of The Silmarillion being S. Crissaegrim (S/121).

Neo-Sindarin: In The Etymologies of the 1930s it seems this word was principally used as for a “cleft, cut, slash” independent of geography. I would assume the same is true for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, since criss is used only in a single geographic name in Tolkien’s later writings; S. cirith was use more broadly in geographic features. I would also assume it was a larger and more violent cut (a “gash” or “slash”) compared to S. rest for simple cuts.

lagor

adjective. swift, rapid

The form lhegin in the published Etymologies might be a misreading for lhegrin, see VT/45:25. As noted by Bertrand Bellet, the two forms are listed side by side, and they may simply be doublets, but it is also possible that we have here a singular followed by its plural.

leber

noun. finger

The Sindarin word for “finger”, derived from primitive ✶leper and based on the root √LEP “pick up” (VT47/10; VT48/5).

Conceptual Development: Tolkien used various Elvish words for “finger” over his life, but most were based on the root √LEP. The Gnomish Grammar and Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s had G. leptha “finger” (GG/13; GL/53), clearly derived from the early root ᴱ√LEPE that was the basis for contemporaneous Qenya finger words (QL/53). In Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s it was ᴱN. lhê “finger”, derived from primitive ᴱ✶lept- (PE13/148). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it was N. lhebed “finger” based on the root ᴹ√LEPET of the same meaning (Ety/LEP). In drafts of the 1968 notes mentioned above, Tolkien had S. lebed “finger” (VT47/27), but this was replaced by leber in the finished versions (VT47/23-24 note #30).

lisg

noun. reed, reed, [G.] sedge

A word appearing as an element in the name Lisgardh “Land of Reeds” (UT/34).

Conceptual Development: An earlier version of this name was G. Arlisgion or Garlisgion “Place of Reeds” (LT2/153; GL/67), which contained G. lisg or lisc “reed, sedge” from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/54). This became ᴱN. lhesg “sedge” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/148).

mîdh

noun. dew, dew, *moisture, damp(ness); [ᴱN.] mist, drizzle

A Sindarin word for “dew” given as míð in the Outline of Phonology (OP2) from the 1950s as a derivative of ✶mizdē “drizzle” (PE19/101), illustrating how [[os|[z] vanished before [d] lengthening preceding vowel]] in (Old) Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: N. mîdh “dew” also appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the same derivation as given above (Ety/MIZD), though Tolkien first wrote its gloss as “fine rain” (EtyAC/MIZD). This deleted gloss seems to be a remnant of ᴱN. midh “mist, drizzle” from Early Noldorin Word-lists, but there its primitive form was ᴱ✶míye (PE13/150).

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would extend the meaning of this word to include “✱moisture, damp(ness)” in general, especially as the result of a previous rain.

nethel

noun. sister

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

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

rîf

noun. bark

A word for “bark” (or possibly “skin”) appearing only in the name S. Fladrif “Skinbark” (LotR/474).

Conceptual Development: Earlier “bark” words include G. padhwen “bark” (GL/63) and G. dafros “bark, skin, peel” (GL/29) from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, G. {daus >>} dâf “bark” in Gnomish Lexicon Slips (PE13/112), and ᴱN. {gwath “bark” >>} gwadh “bark, skin, peel” in Early Noldorin Word-lists of the 1920s (PE13/146).

în

noun. year

A Sindarin word for “year”, derived from the primitive root ᴹ√YEN of similar meaning, with its vowel sound the result of [[s|a long [ē] becoming [ī]]].

Conceptual Development: The word în first appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s with the gloss and derivation given above. It did not directly appear in Tolkien’s later writings, but was an element in several later words such as S. ínias “annals” and S. ifant “aged” (lit. “year full”). Furthermore, its Quenya cognate yén did reappear in the Lord of the Rings appendices.

In The Etymologies, both N. în and ᴹQ. yén were glossed “year”, and there were other words for longer periods of time, such as ᴹQ. qantien “century, (lit.) full year” and N. anrand “cycle, age”. In the Lord of the Rings and other later writings, Tolkien changed the meaning Q. yén to an “Elvish century” of 144 years. It is quite likely that S. în also changed to this meaning, but since it did not appear as an independent word in later writing, we have no direct confirmation of this.

Neo-Sindarin: Most Neo-Sindarin writers continue to use în with the sense “year” (that is, a solar year of 365 days). If you are concerned with this word’s true meaning, you might instead use a neologism for this period of time, such as ᴺS. lóran or ᴺS. coranor, but since these are not in widespread use, it is less likely a reader would understand your meaning.

celeg

swift

1) celeg (agile), lenited geleg, pl. celig, 2) lagor, analogical pl. legyr, 3) legrin (rapid), no distinct pl. form, 4) lint (no distinct pl. form)

corn

circular

1) corn (round, globed), lenited gorn, pl. cyrn. The word is also used as a noun "circle", 2) rend (pl. rind) (VT46:11),

ir

when

?ir (not used in questions but to indicate time, as in ”when I saw you, I was glad”). This is one of several possible interpretations of the word, which occurs in a Sindarin poem untranslated by Tolkien (ir Isil ammen Eruchín…síla, ?”when the Moon shines for us Children of Eru…”, The Lays of Beleriand p. 354). By another interpretation, ir is simply a variant of the definite article.(relative pronoun), see THAT

leber

finger

leber (pl. lebir) (VT47:10, 23, 24; VT48:5). This may replace ”Noldorin” lhebed, which we would otherwise update to Sindarin as lebed. For names of specific fingers, see INDEX FINGER, LITTLE FINGER, MIDDLE FINGER, RING FINGER, THUMB.

neth

sister

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

în

year

1) în, no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. ?íniath. 2) idhrinn (no distinct pl. form). LONG YEAR (Valian year) ennin. No distinct pl. form, but coll. pl. enniniath.

edinor

anniversary day

(pl. edinoer). Archaic edinaur. In ”Noldorin”, the word appeared as edinar.

io

conjunction. when

A neologism coined by Röandil as io “when” posted on 2024-03-19 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), the Sindarin equivalent of Q. yá “when”. In stressed positions, this conjunction might remain iaw. Both of these forms conflict with existing Noldorin words: [N.] io “ago” and [N.] iau “corn”, but that doesn’t preclude their use.

rend

circular

(pl. rind) (VT46:11)

ress

adjective. cleft, cloven, separate

lim

adjective. swift

adj. swift. Noro lim, noro lim Asfaloth. 'Run swift, run swift Asfaloth'. Q. limbe,#linta.

him

adjective. cool

aur

day

aur (morning), pl. oer. As prefix or- in names of weekdays.

bragol

sudden

1) bragol (lenited vragol), pl. bragoel. Archaic *bragaul. 2) brêg (quick, lively), lenited vrêg, pl. brîg.

corn

round

corn (circular, globed), lenited gorn, pl. cyrn. The word is also used as a noun "circle".

cyll

bearer

cyll (i gyll, o chyll), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chyll)

fîn

hair

1) (a single hair) fîn (construct fin), no distinct pl. form. (PM:362), 2) (lock of hair, tress) find (construct fin), no distinct pl. form, coll. pl. finnath.

gamp

hook

1) gamp (i **amp) (claw, crook), pl. ?gaimp or ?gemp (i ngaimp = i ñaimp or i ngemp = i ñemp), coll. pl. gammath**

girithron

december

Girithron (na **Irithron**)

him

cool

him (lenited chim; no distinct pl. form). Note that homophones include both the adjective ”steadfast, abiding” and the adverb ”continually”.

lisc

reed

lisc, no distinct pl. form.

mîdh

dew

1) mîdh (i vîdh, construct midh), no distinct form in pl. except with article (i mîdh), 2) ross (construct ros) (foam, rain, spray [of fall or fountain]), pl. ryss (idh ryss). (Letters:282) Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

nell

bell

nell (construct nel; pl. nill);

nellad

sound of bells

?nellad (pl. nellaid)

nellad

sound of bells

*nellad (pl. nellaid);

rhîw

winter

rhîw (?i thrîw or ?i rîw the lenition product of rh- is uncertain); no distinct pl. form except with article (?idh rîw)

rist

cleft

(noun) 1) rist (-ris), no distinct pl. except with article (idh rist). Note: a homophone means ”cleaver, cutter”, 2) cirith (i girith, o chirith) (cutting, pass), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chirith), 3) cîl (i gîl, o chîl) (pass between hills, gorge), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chîl), coll. pl. cíliath. A homophone means ”renewal”. 4) criss (i griss, o chriss, construct cris) (cut, slash), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chriss), 4) iaw (gulf, ravine), pl. ioe. Note: a homophone means ”corn”, 5) rest (ravine, cut), pl. rist (idh rist), 6) (deep cleft) falch (ravine[?]), pl. felch

ritha

jerk

(verb) ritha- (twitch, snatch) (i ritha, idh rithar)

ritha

twitch

(verb) ritha- (jerk, snatch) (i ritha, idh rithar)

thanc

cleft

(adj.) thanc (forked, split), pl. thainc

aur

noun. day, sunlight, morning

bragol

adjective. sudden

bragol

adjective. sudden

calan

noun. day, period of actual daylight

Attested in the first edition of LotR, but omitted from the second.

celeg

adjective. swift, agile, hasty

cirith

noun. cleft, high climbing pass, narrow passage cut through earth or rock, ravine, defile

cyll

noun. bearer

damen-

verb. to return

edinor

noun. anniversary day

falch

noun. deep cleft, ravine

gamp

noun. hook, claw, crook

girithron

noun. december (month)

him

adjective. cool

ir

conjunction. (?) when

This word is not translated. It could be related to Quenya íre "when". Some scholars also consider that it could be the form taken by the article i before a vowel, on a pattern similar to ah . To this respect, it might be interesting to note the ir was the allative/dative form of the article in the old Gnomish lexicon, PE/11:9

lebed

noun. finger

Tolkien later seems to have replaced this form by leber

lebenedh

noun. middle finger

leber

noun. finger

lebig

noun. little finger

mîdh

noun. dew

dew

neth

noun. sister

neth

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

nethig

noun. "litte sister"

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

niged

noun. little finger

nobad

noun. the pair of fingers composed of the thumb and the index (grouped together as in the act of picking something)

nîth

noun. sister

nîth

noun. sister

oel

adjective. cool

oraearon

noun. seventh day of the Númenórean week, Sea-day

oranor

noun. second day of the week, day of the Sun

orbelain

noun. sixth day of the week, day of the Powers or Valar

orgaladh

noun. fourth day of the Númenórean week, day of the White Tree

This day was formerly called orgaladhad in the Elvish calendar

orgaladhad

noun. fourth day of the Elvish week, day of the Two Trees

This day was renamed orgaladh in the Númenórean calendar

orgilion

noun. first day of the week, day of the Stars

orithil

noun. third day of the week, day of the Moon

ormenel

noun. fifth day of the week, Heavens' day

penninor

noun. last day of the year

rend

adjective. circular

rhîw

noun. winter season

rhîw

noun. winter

ritha-

verb. to jerk, twitch, snatch

rîf

noun. bark

thanc

adjective. cleft, split, forked

aur

day

(morning), pl. oer. As prefix or- in names of weekdays.

avorn

not moving

(staying, fast), pl. evyrn

basgorn

round bread

(loaf) (i masgorn), pl. besgyrn (i mbesgyrn).

bragol

sudden

(lenited vragol), pl. bragoel. Archaic ✱bragaul.

breged

suddenness

(i vreged) (violence), pl. bregid (i mregid) if there is a pl. Note: the word is also used as adv. "suddenly".

brêg

sudden

(quick, lively), lenited vrêg, pl. brîg.

calan

daytime

(i galan, o chalan), pl. celain (i chelain)

celeg

swift

(agile), lenited geleg, pl. celig

cirith

cleft

(i girith, o chirith) (cutting, pass), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chirith)

colron

noun. bearer

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2021 specifically for Eldamo, an agental form of [ᴺS.] col- “bear” and equivalent to Q. colindo. It must be a late or reformed compound in order for the lr to be preserved, as opposed to (for example) [N.] callon “hero” < ᴹ✶kalrondō where ancient lr became ll.

corn

round

(circular, globed), lenited gorn, pl. cyrn. The word is also used as a noun "circle".

corn

circular

(round, globed), lenited gorn, pl. cyrn. The word is also used as a noun "circle"

corn

circle

(i gorn, o chorn), pl. cyrn (i chyrn). The word is also used as an adj. "circular, round, globed"

corod Reconstructed

noun. circle

criss

cleft

(i griss, o chriss, construct cris) (cut, slash), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chriss), 4) iaw (gulf, ravine), pl. ioe. Note: a homophone means ”corn”

cyll

bearer

(i gyll, o chyll), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chyll)

cîl

cleft

(i gîl, o chîl) (pass between hills, gorge), no distinct pl. form except with article (i chîl), coll. pl. cíliath. A homophone means ”renewal”.

dolt

round knob

(i dholt) (boss), pl. dylt

echor

circle

(pl. echyr)

falch

cleft

(ravine[?]), pl. felch

fast

shaggy hair

(pl. faist if there is a pl.).

finc

noun. trick

find

hair

(construct fin), no distinct pl. form, coll. pl. finnath.

fîn

hair

(construct fin), no distinct pl. form. (PM:362)

gamp

hook

(i ’amp) (claw, crook), pl. ?gaimp or ?gemp (i ngaimp =  i ñaimp or i ngemp = i ñemp), coll. pl. gammath

girithron

december

(na ’Irithron)

helch

bitterly cold

(lenited chelch; pl. hilch);

him

cool

(lenited chim; no distinct pl. form). Note that homophones include both the adjective ”steadfast, abiding” and the adverb ”continually”.

ir

when

(not used in questions but to indicate time, as in ”when

ir

i

is simply a variant of the definite article.

lagor

swift

analogical pl. legyr

lint

swift

(no distinct pl. form)

lisc

reed

no distinct pl. form.****

mîdh

dew

(i vîdh, construct midh), no distinct form in pl. except with article (i mîdh)

nell

bell

(construct nel; pl. nill);

nella

sound bells

(i nella, in nellar) (but according to VT46:7, this may be a misreading of Tolkien’s manuscript),  

nellad

sound of bells

(pl. nellaid)

rend

adjective. circular

rest

cleft

(ravine, cut), pl. rist (idh rist)

rhîw

winter

(?i thrîw or ?i rîw – *the lenition product of rh- is uncertain*); no distinct pl. form except with article (?idh rîw)

rim

cold pool/lake

; no distinct pl. form except with article (idh rim), coll. pl. rimmath. Note: a homophone means ”crowd, great number, host”.

rim

noun. cold pool or lake (in mountains)

rist

cleft

(-ris), no distinct pl. except with article (idh rist). Note: a homophone means ”cleaver, cutter”

ritha

jerk

(twitch, snatch) (i ritha, idh rithar)

ritha

twitch

(jerk, snatch) (i ritha, idh rithar)

ross

dew

(construct ros) (foam, rain, spray [of fall or fountain]), pl. ryss (idh ryss). (Letters:282) Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

thanc

cleft

(forked, split), pl. thainc

în

year

no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. ?íniath.

ringlo

place name. Ringlo

rhinc

noun. twitch, jerk, trick, sudden move

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “twitch, jerk, trick, sudden move”, apparently derived from ᴹ✶rinki under the root ᴹ√RIK(H) “jerk, sudden move, flirt” (Ety/RIK(H)).

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. rinc “twitch, jerk, sudden move”, as suggested in HSD (HSD).

Conceptual Development: Earlier nouns for “jerk” included G. cilt from Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/26), clearly a cognate of ᴱQ. kilt “tuck” under the early root ᴱ√KḶTḶ “tilt; fling” (QL/47).

rhinn

noun. circle

rhing

adjective. cold

rhinc

noun. twitch, jerk, trick, sudden move

rhind

noun. circle

rhing

adjective. cold

rhinn

noun. circle

imlad-ringlo

place name. Ringlo Vale

Name for the Ringlo Vale in Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s (WR/287), a combination of imlad “vale” and the river name Ringlo.

idhrin

noun. year

idhrind

noun. year

lhoch

noun. ringlet

A noun appearing as N. lhoch “ringlet” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√LOKH (Ety/LOKH).

Neo-Sindarin: Since the unvoicing of initial liquids did not occur in Sindarin, many people adapt this word as ᴺS. loch “ringlet” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin, as suggested in HSD (HSD).

lhaws

noun. ringlet

A noun appearing as N. lhaws “ringlet” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√LOKH, cognate to ᴹQ. lokse “hair” (Ety/LOKH). In this word, the spirantal χ vocalized to u after o as usual in Noldorin and then ou became au (aw).

Neo-Sindarin: Some people adapt this word as ᴺS. laus for Neo-Sindarin, replacing the unvoiced lh with voiced l. However, this is not the only relevant phonetic difference between Noldorin and Sindarin: χ generally vocalized to i in Sindarin and in any case seems not to have vocalized at all before s. It’s probably better to avoid such issues and just use ᴺS. loch for “ringlet”, adapted from N. lhoch.

nelladel

noun. ringing of bells

lhoch

noun. ringlet

nelladel

noun. ringing of bells

nella-

verb. to sound (of bells), to sound (of bells), *ring

lhaws

noun. hair ringlet

rhim

noun. cold pool or lake (in mountains)

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s given as N. rhim “cold pool or lake (in mountains)” derived from the root ᴹ√RINGI “cold” (Ety/RINGI). This word is the final element of N. Mithrim “✱Grey Lake” in The Etymologies, but in later writings Tolkien explained this name differently, deriving the name from the Elves that lived around the lake, so it may have been abandoned.

Neo-Sindarin: If adapted to Neo-Sindarin, this word would be ᴺS. rim. Since √RINGI “cold” survived in later writings, this word may still be viable, though it would conflict with S. rim “host, a great number”.

lhagr

adjective. swift, rapid

The form lhegin in the published Etymologies might be a misreading for lhegrin, see VT/45:25. As noted by Bertrand Bellet, the two forms are listed side by side, and they may simply be doublets, but it is also possible that we have here a singular followed by its plural.

thêl

noun. sister

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

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

rhenn

adjective. circular

ar-

prefix. day

în

noun. year

nell

noun. bell

rhingorn

noun. circle

aur

noun. day, sunlight, morning

celeg

adjective. swift, agile, hasty

corn

adjective. round, globed

criss

noun. cleft, cut, slash

cîl

noun. cleft, pass between hills, gorge

edinar

noun. anniversary day

ennin

noun. Valian year

fast

noun. shaggy hair

findel

noun. (braided) hair

finnel

noun. (braided) hair

gamp

noun. hook, claw, crook

gwathel

noun. sister, associate

helch

noun. bitter cold

lhebed

noun. finger

Tolkien later seems to have replaced this form by leber

lhebed

noun. finger

muinthel

noun. sister

muinthel

noun. sister

mîdh

noun. dew

mîdh

noun. dew

nell

noun. bell

penninar

noun. last day of the year

rhenn

adjective. circular

rhingorn

noun. circle

rhitha-

verb. to jerk, twitch, snatch

rhíw

noun. winter

thanc

adjective. cleft, split, forked

thêl

noun. sister

în

noun. year

ringā

adjective. ringā

ringi

root. cold

Tolkien used very similar forms for Elvish words for “cold” for all of his life. The earliest iteration of this root was unglossed ᴱ√RIŊI in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. rin (ring-) “dew” and ᴱQ. ringa “damp, cold, chilly” (QL/80). The root had similar derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. rî “coolness, cool” and G. ring “cool, cold” (GL/65). In The Etymologies of the 1930s Tolkien gave the root {ᴹ√RINGĀ >>} ᴹ√RINGI “cold” with derivatives like ᴹQ. ringe/N. rhing “cold” (Ety/RINGI; EtyAC/RINGI). Primitive forms ✶riñgi “chill” and ✶riñgā appeared in Common Eldarin: Noun Structure from the early 1950s (PE21/80), and Christopher Tolkien mentioned √ring as the basis for cold words in the Silmarillion Appendix (SA/ring).

rindi

adjective. swift

ringi

adjective. chill

rinsa

adjective. cleft, cloven, separate

ñyel

root. ring(ing), ring(ing), [ᴹ√] sing, give out a sweet sound

This root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹ√NYEL “ring, sing, give out a sweet sound”, with derivatives like ᴹQ. nyelle/N. nell “bell”, ᴹQ. nyello “singer” and N. nella- “sound (of bells)” (Ety/NYEL, EtyAC/NYEL), though an earlier hint of it might be seen in the Gnomish verb G. nelu- “ring (tr. & intr.)” from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/60). Tolkien also mentioned this root in the first version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa from the 1930s (TQ1) as having a variant √NYOL, also meaning “ring” but representing a deeper sound (PE18/45).

In the second version of Tengwesta Qenderinwa from the early 1930s (TQ2), he gave the variants as √ŊYEL/√ŊYOL “ring”, in keeping with his decision to remove initial palatalized dentals from Primitive Elvish. A similar set of variants √(Ñ)GYEL/√(Ñ)GYOL “ringing” appeared in a list of sound roots from around 1959-60 (PE17/138).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is best to ignore Tolkien’s decision to remove initial palatalized dentals from Primitive Elvish, and I recommend retaining √NYEL as the root for “bell” words.

gyel

root. ringing, [ᴹ√] *cry of joy or triumph, [√] ringing

This root appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s unglossed, but with derivatives like ᴹQ. yello “call, shout, cry of triumph” and N. gell “joy, triumph, (?victory)” (Ety/GYEL); the last gloss being unclear (EtyAC/GYEL). In The Etymologies, it replaced deleted ᴹ√GEL, also indicated by ᴹQ. ello >> yello. The root reappeared a couple decades later in a list of sound words as part of the set √GYEL, √ÑGYEL, √GYOL, √ÑGYOL collectively glossed “ringing” (PE17/138); see √ÑYEL for further discussion. For the purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I think it is best to assume this root retained its 1930s meaning, which was probably something like “✱cry of joy or triumph”.

gyol

root. ringing

ñyol

root. ring(ing)

kor

root. round, round; [ᴱ√] be round, roll

This was the Elvish root for round things throughout Tolkien’s life. It first appeared as ᴱ√KORO “be round, roll” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, and had Early Qenya and Gnomish derivatives like ᴱQ. korima “round” and G. corm “ring, circle, disc” (GL/26). ᴹ√KOR “round” reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives in both Quenya and Noldorin (Ety/KOR). √KOR “round” was also mentioned in etymological notes probably written in the early 1960s (PE17/184). Its derivatives like Q. corma “ring” (LotR/953) and S. cerin “(circular) mound” (LotR/350; RC/309) appeared regularly in Tolkien’s later writings.

-inā

suffix. adjective; passive participle

gampa

noun. hook

kirissi

noun. cleft

labmē

noun. *language

lepe

noun. finger

leper

noun. finger

lepero

noun. finger

nēthā

noun. sister

phin

root. hair

ring inscription

one ring to rule them all

nazgûl

noun. Ring-wraith

nazg

noun. ring

ash nazg durbatulûk

one ring to rule them all

Nazgûl

noun. Ringwraiths

nazg

noun. (finger-)ring

>> Nazgûl 'Ringwraiths'

Nazgûl

Nazgûl

Nazgûl means "ringwraiths" in the Black Speech (consisting of nazg + gûl).

leper

noun. finger

néþa

noun. sister

bark

bark

Root *B-R-K It is possible that "baruk" is also a genitive case, meaning "axes of <something>" rather than just "axes". The phrase "baruk Khazâd" can be compared to a "construct pair" in Semitic languages, such as Hebrew and Arabic.