Sindarin 

ring

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

Sindarin [SA/ring; VT42/13; VT42/14] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ring

adjective. cold

Sindarin [Ety/383, S/436, VT/42:13, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

ringorn

noun. circle

Sindarin [Ety/365, X/RH] rind+corn. Group: SINDICT. Published by

rind

noun. circle

Sindarin [Ety/383, X/RH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

ring

cold

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

ring

cold

(no distinct pl. form)

ephel

noun. surrounding ring

_ n. _surrounding ring.

Sindarin [(PE17 Sindarin Corpus) PE17:87] -. Group: Parma Eldalamberon 17 Sindarin Corpus. Published by

ringorn

circle

pl. ringyrn (idh ringyrn)

ringorn

noun. circle

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

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)

cor

noun. ring, circle

echor

noun. outer circle, encircling, outer ring

Sindarin [LotR/V:I, LotR/Index, S/430] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rind

noun. circle

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

rind

circle

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

ephel

noun. outer fence, surrounding ring

Sindarin [LotR/1114; PE17/065; PE17/087; SA/pel] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lebent

noun. ring finger

Sindarin [VT/48:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

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

Sindarin [VT/47:14, VT/47:38-39, VT/48:6,17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

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).

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).

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.

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

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)

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)

echor

outer ring/circle

echor (pl. echyr)

echor

outer ring/circle

(pl. echyr)

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).

Sindarin [LotR/0474] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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.

him

adjective. cool

cyll

noun. bearer

Sindarin [Taengyl, Tengyl MR/385] Group: SINDICT. Published by

him

adjective. cool

Sindarin [S/432] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lebed

noun. finger

Tolkien later seems to have replaced this form by leber

Sindarin [Ety/368, X/LH, VT/47:23-24,27] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lebenedh

noun. middle finger

Sindarin [VT/48:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

leber

noun. finger

Sindarin [VT/47:10,23-24, VT/48:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

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).

Sindarin [VT47/10; VT47/23; VT47/24; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lebig

noun. little finger

Sindarin [VT/48:5,15] Group: SINDICT. Published by

mîdh

noun. dew

dew

Sindarin [PE 19:101] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

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.

Sindarin [PE19/101] Group: Eldamo. Published by

neth

noun. sister

Sindarin [VT/47:14-16,33, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

neth

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

Sindarin [VT/47:14-16,33, VT/48:6] Group: SINDICT. Published by

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.

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

Sindarin [VT/47:14, VT/47:38-39, VT/48:6,17] Group: SINDICT. Published by

niged

noun. little finger

Sindarin [VT/48:5] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nobad

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

Sindarin [VT/48:5,16] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nîth

noun. sister

Sindarin [VT/47:14] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nîth

noun. sister

oel

adjective. cool

rîf

noun. bark

Sindarin [Fladrif LotR/E, TC/169, TC/173] Group: SINDICT. Published by

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.

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

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

cyll

bearer

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

cyll

bearer

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

echor

circle

(pl. echyr)

ephel

outer fence

(encircling fence) ephel (pl. ephil)

ephel

outer fence

(pl. ephil)

helch

bitterly cold

(lenited chelch; pl. hilch);

him

cool

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

him

cool

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

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”.

mîdh

dew

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

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).

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)

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

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”.

Noldorin 

rhing

adjective. cold

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

rhing

adjective. cold

Noldorin [Ety/383, S/436, VT/42:13, X/RH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nella-

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

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

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”.

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

rhinn

noun. circle

ephel

noun. outer fence

gwathel

noun. sister, associate

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

helch

noun. bitter cold

Noldorin [Ety/364] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhebed

noun. finger

Tolkien later seems to have replaced this form by leber

Noldorin [Ety/368, X/LH, VT/47:23-24,27] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhebed

noun. finger

muinthel

noun. sister

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

muinthel

noun. sister

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

mîdh

noun. dew

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

mîdh

noun. dew

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

rhind

noun. circle

Noldorin [Ety/383, X/RH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

rhingorn

noun. circle

Noldorin [Ety/365, X/RH] rind+corn. Group: SINDICT. Published by

rhingorn

noun. circle

Noldorin [Ety/KOR; Ety/RIN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rhinn

noun. circle

Noldorin [Ety/383, X/RH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

thêl

noun. sister

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

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.

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

Black Speech

ring inscription

one ring to rule them all

nazg

noun. ring

Black Speech [Let/178; Let/382; Let/384; LotR/0254; PE17/011; PE17/031; PE17/079; PE17/125; PE19/101; RC/762] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nazgûl

noun. Ring-wraith

Black Speech [Let/178; Let/382; LotR/0839; LotRI/Nazgûl; LotRI/Ringwraiths; LT2I/Nazgûl; PE17/011; PE17/031; PE17/079; PE17/125; PMI/Nazgûl; RC/762; RSI/Nazgûl; S/296; SDI1/Nazgûl; SI/Nazgûl; SI/Ring-wraiths; TI/389; TII/Nazgûl; UTI/Nazgûl; WRI/Nazgûl] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ash nazg durbatulûk

one ring to rule them all

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

ash nazg gimbatul

one ring to find them

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

ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul

one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

Black Speech [LotR/0254; PE17/011; PE17/012] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nazg

noun. (finger-)ring

>> Nazgûl 'Ringwraiths'

Black Speech [PE17/11] Published by

Quenya 

rin

dew

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

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.

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)

ringa

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

Quenya [CPT/1298; MC/222; VT49/23] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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).

Quenya [LotR/0953; LotR/1112; Minor-Doc/1973-05-30] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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)

risil

ring

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

linga

verb. [ring]

Quenya [PE 22:103] Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

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).

Quenya [S/038; SI/Máhanaxar; SI/Ring of Doom; WJ/399; WJ/401; WJI/Máhanaxar] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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”.

Quenya [Let/448; LotR/0953; PE17/103] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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.

Quenya [LotRI/Narya; PMI/Narya; S/288; SA/nár; SDI1/Narya; SI/Narya; SI/Red Ring; UTI/Narya] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Máhan

doom ring

Máhan (pl. Máhani attested in WJ:402), noun: one of the eight chiefs of the Valar (adopted and adapted from Valarin, but usually translated as Aratar). Máhanaxar the "Doom Ring" of Aman; adopted and adapted from Valarin. (WJ:399)

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.]

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.

Quenya [LotR/0365; LotRI/Nenya; S/288; SA/nen; SDI1/Nenya; SI/Nenya; UTI/Nenya] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rithil-anamo

place name. Doom-ring

A translation of the Valarin name Māχananaškād, more commonly known by its direct adaptation into Quenya: Q. Máhanaxar (WJ/401). The presence of the sound “th” in Rithil-Anamo means this name must be either archaic or from the Vanyarin dialect of Quenya. The name is translated “Doom-ring”, but the etymology of its elements is unclear. The second element may be related to the verb nam- “to judge”, but nothing similar to the first element appears elsewhere in the published material.

Quenya [WJ/401; WJI/Rithil-Anamo] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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.

Quenya [LotRI/Vilya; S/288; SDI1/Vilya; SI/Vilya; UTI/Vilya] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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.

Quenya [PM/175; PMI/Nazgûl; PMI/Úlairi; S/296; SI/Ring-wraiths; SI/Úlairi] Group: Eldamo. Published by

millë

noun. ?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”.

nyel-

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

@@@ Discord 2022-05-14

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

hyal-

verb. to ring, resound

hyalta-

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

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**.

colindo

bearer

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

laita-

verb. bless, praise

laita- vb. "bless, praise": a laita, laita te! Andavë laituvalmet! ... Cormacolindor, a laita tárienna "bless them, bless them! Long shall we bless them! ... [The] Ring-bearers, praise [them] to [the] height!" (lait[a]-uva-lme-t "bless-shall-we-them) (LotR3:VI ch. 4, translated in Letters:308; the meaning of the suffix -lmë _was revised from inclusive to exclusive "we", VT49:55). Verbal noun laitalë "praising", isolated from Erulaitalë (UT:166, 436)_

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”.

Quenya [VT47/03; VT47/04; VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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.)

corto

noun. circle

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

manta-

verb. bless

*manta- vb. "bless", only attested in the present/continuative tense: mánata (VT49:39, 52, 55)

manya-

verb. bless

manya- vb. "bless" "sc. either to afford grace or help or to wish it" (VT49:41)

niquë

noun. cold, cold; [ᴹQ.] snow

Quenya [PE17/168; WJ/417] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nésa

sister

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

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 - in Quenya, but - is relatively well attested; cf. for instance ontarë.) A later source gives the word for "sister" as nésa instead.

osellë

sister, [female] associate

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

rindë

circle

rindë noun "circle" (RIN)

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.

Primitive elvish

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. “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).

Primitive elvish [SA/ring] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ringi

adjective. chill

Primitive elvish [PE21/81] Group: Eldamo. Published by

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.

Primitive elvish [PE17/138; PE17/155; PE17/169; PE18/094] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ñyol

root. ring(ing)

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”.

Primitive elvish [PE17/138; PE17/155] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gyol

root. ringing

et-pel

noun. outer fence

Primitive elvish [PE17/065; SA/pel; WR/137] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lepe

noun. finger

Primitive elvish [PE21/71; VT47/10; VT47/11; VT47/28] Group: Eldamo. Published by

leper

noun. finger

Primitive elvish [VT44/16; VT47/10; VT47/11; VT47/24; VT47/29; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lepero

noun. finger

Primitive elvish [VT47/13; VT47/24] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nēthā

noun. sister

Primitive elvish [VT47/14] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Khuzdûl

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.

Khuzdûl [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

Telerin 

leper

noun. finger

Telerin [VT47/10; VT47/24; VT48/05] Group: Eldamo. Published by

néþa

noun. sister


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

Doriathrin

ring

noun. cold pool or lake (in mountains)

A Doriathrin noun meaning “cold pool or lake (in mountains)” derived from the root ᴹ√RINGI (Ety/RINGI). Its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. ringwe suggests a primitive form ✱✶riñgwi [riŋgwi]. This is problematic, since [[ilk|[ŋg] vanished before [w] lengthening the preceding vowel]], as with Dor. líw < ᴹ✶liñ(g)wi. It is possible, though, that this word developed directly from the root form ✱✶riñgi [riŋgi], as suggested by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Doriathrin/ring).

Doriathrin [Ety/RINGI] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

ring

adjective. cool, cold

Gnomish [GL/65; LT1A/Ringil] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lemfarilt

noun. ring

grilthi

noun. finger-ring

A noun for “finger-ring” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, an elaboration G. grail “ring, circle” (GL/42). It had a longer variant G. lemfarilt with a prefixed adjectival variant of G. leptha “finger” (GL/53).

Gnomish [GL/42; GL/53] Group: Eldamo. Published by

crithos

noun. circle, ring

Gnomish [GL/27; PE13/111] Group: Eldamo. Published by

culugrithnir

proper name. ring of gold

dala-

verb. to sing or ring

grail

noun. ring, circle, circlet

corm

noun. ring, circle, disc

drinn

noun. ring, disc

lang-

verb. to blare, clang, ring

lemfadrin

noun/adjective. of the finger; ring

lintha-

verb. to sound (tr.), strike or ring bell, play an instrument

timpa-

verb. to ring, jingle, tinkle

Gnomish [GL/70; LT1A/Tinfang] Group: Eldamo. Published by

timpintha-

verb. to ring, jingle, tinkle

nelu-

verb. ring (tr. & intr.)

drim

noun. dew

A word for “dew” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/30), probably related to the early root ᴱ√RIŊI given its derivative ᴱQ. rin (ring-) “dew” (QL/80).

leptha

noun. finger

Gnomish [GG/13; GL/53] Group: Eldamo. Published by

dâf

noun. bark

hethir

noun. sister

A word for “sister” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, a feminized form of G. heth “brother or sister, ✱sibling”, along with several (archaic) variant forms hethwin, hestril, and hethril (GL/48). It was ultimately derived from the early root ᴱ√HESE [HEÞE?] (QL/40).

padhwen

noun. bark

A noun for “bark” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/63), apparently based on the early root ᴱ√PARA [PAÐA?] which might mean “peel” (QL/72).

Middle Primitive Elvish

rin

root. *circle

This root first appeared as unglossed ᴱ√RINI in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. rin (rind-) “year, circle” and ᴱQ. rinko “disc, orb, circle” (QL/80). It also had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. rin- “revolve, return, come back; do again” and G. rinc “circular; disc, rondure” (GL/65), but also strengthened forms like G. †drinn “ring, disc” and G. drintha- “to turn (tr.), twist” (GL/30). The root reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s with derivatives like ᴹQ. rinda/N. rhenn “circular” and ᴹQ. rinde/N. rhinn “circle” (Ety/RIN).

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/KOR; Ety/RIN; Ety/YEN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ringi

root. cold

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/MITH; Ety/RINGI; EtyAC/RINGI] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nyol

root. ring

Middle Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

lepet

root. finger

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

thel(es)

root. sister

Tolkien gave this root in The Etymologies of the 1930s as ᴹ√THEL and extended form ᴹ√THELES with the gloss “sister” and derivatives like ᴹQ. seler and N. thêl of the same meaning, both derived from the extended root as made clear by the Noldorin plural thelei < ON. thelehi (Ety/THEL). Hints of the roots continued use appear in the 1959 term Q. meletheldi “love-sisters” for close female friends (NM/20). In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien gave Q. nésa and S. nethel as the words for “sister”, both from the root √NETH. Nevertheless, I think it is worth retaining ᴹ√THEL(ES) to represent more abstract notions of “sisterhood” for the purposes of Neo-Eldarin, for “metaphorical sister”s as opposed to Q. nésa/S. nethel for sisters by blood.

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/THEL; Ety/TOR; Ety/WŌ] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

rin

noun. dew

A word for “dew” in Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√RIŊI (QL/80).

Early Quenya [LT1A/Ringil; QL/080] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hyal-

verb. to ring, resound

A verb appearing as ᴱQ. hyal- “ring, resound” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/144), possibly related to the 1930s root ᴹ√SYAL having to do with sea shells if the underlying meaning was resonant sounds (Ety/SYAL); see that root’s entry for discussion.

Neo-Quenya: Given the (possible) survival of its root, I would retain ᴺQ. hyal- “to ring, resound” for purposes of Neo-Quenya.

Early Quenya [PE16/144] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hyalta-

verb. to strike, make ring

A verb appearing as ᴱQ. hyalta- “to strike, make ring” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/144), possibly related to the 1930s root ᴹ√SYAL having to do with sea shells (Ety/SYAL); see that root’s entry for discussion.

Neo-Quenya: Given the (possible) survival of its root, I would retain ᴺQ. hyalta- “to strike, make ring” for purposes of Neo-Quenya. Luinyelle that it might be used to mean “ring = make a phone call to”, in combination with the dative: hyaltuvan lyen “I will call you, (lit.) I will ring to you”.

Early Quenya [PE16/144] Group: Eldamo. Published by

randa

noun. bark; peel, rind, outer ring, circumference

A word for “bark” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, also glossed “peel, rind, outer ring, circumference” and derived from the early root ᴱ√RAŘA [RAÐA] (QL/79).

Early Quenya [QL/079] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nala-

verb. to sing or ring

Early Quenya [GL/29] Group: Eldamo. Published by

pirimbe

noun. ring, circle

Early Quenya [PE13/152] Group: Eldamo. Published by

yalle

noun. a hollow ring

Early Quenya [PE16/143; QL/105] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kalonya-

verb. to ring, peal

Early Quenya [QL/046] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kilintya-

verb. to ring, tinkle

Early Quenya [QL/046] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nóte

noun. dew

A noun appearing as ᴱQ. nōte “dew” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√NOSO (QL/67), and as ᴱQ. nóte “dew” in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/68). It also appeared as ᴱQ. nōtē­ in the Early Noldorin Grammar of the 1920s as a cognate of ᴱN. nûd “wet” (PE13/122).

Early Quenya [PE13/122; PME/068; QL/067] Group: Eldamo. Published by

heresse

noun. sister

A word for “sister” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with numerous variants: heresse, hesta(noi)ni, and hestaqin, all based on the early root ᴱ√HESE that was the basis for “brother” and “sister” words (QL/40). Of these Tolkien said heresse was the “ordinary word”, and it also appeared in the Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/40).

Early Quenya [PME/040; QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hestani

noun. sister

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

hestanoini

noun. sister

hestaqin

noun. sister

Early Quenya [QL/040] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lepta

noun. finger

Early Quenya [PE15/72; PE15/74; PE16/137] Group: Eldamo. Published by

let

noun. finger

Early Quenya [PME/053; QL/053] Group: Eldamo. Published by

tenge

noun. finger

tenna

noun. finger

A noun for “finger” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√TENE “touch, feel” (QL/91). It was also mentioned in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa, but with -nd- written above it indicating a variant form tenda (PME/91). A similar word tenge “finger” appeared Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/137), but ᴱQ. lepta was written next to it, perhaps as a replacement, since after this point finger-words were primarily based on √LEP.

Early Quenya [PE16/137; PME/091; QL/091] Group: Eldamo. Published by

yelwa

adjective. cold

Early Quenya [LT1A/Melko; QL/106] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

ringwe

noun. cold pool or lake (in mountains)

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s given as ᴹQ. ringwe “cold pool or lake (in mountains)” derived from the root ᴹ√RINGI “cold” (Ety/RINGI; EtyAC/RINGI). In The Etymologies as published in The Lost Road the form was given as ringe (LR/383), but this was corrected to ringwe by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (VT46/11).

Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. ringwe was glossed “rime, frost” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√RIŊI (QL/80). In Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s, ᴱQ. ringwe was a noun for “cold” (PE16/145).

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

ringe

noun. cold, cold, *chill

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

linga-

verb. to ring, twang, to twang, [ᴱQ.] hum like the string of a harp, *resonate; [ᴹQ.] ring

kolma

noun. ring (?on finger)

rinde

noun. circle

lepse

noun. finger

Qenya [Ety/LEP; PE19/042] Group: Eldamo. Published by

let

noun. finger

Qenya [PE21/19; PE21/26] Group: Eldamo. Published by

seler

noun. sister

A noun for “sister” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√THEL or THELES of the same meaning, with an irregular plural selli (Ety/THEL), where the stem form sell- is because the Quenya syncope caused the second e to be lost and then the ancient ls became ll.

Neo-Quenya: In notes from the late 1960s, Tolkien introduced a new word nésa for “sister” (VT47/14). However, I think seler 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 meletheldi “love-sister, ✱close female friend” or ᴹQ. oselle “sworn sister”. In this sense, nésa would be limited to biological relationships, but seler would refer to sisterly (or sister-like) affection.

Old Noldorin 

ringe

adjective. cold

Old Noldorin [Ety/RINGI; EtyAC/RINGI] Group: Eldamo. Published by

thele

noun. sister

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

Early Primitive Elvish

rini

root. *circle

Early Primitive Elvish [QL/080; QL/103] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ẏala

root. ring, sound hollow

A root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “ring, sound hollow” with derivatives ᴱQ. yalka “ice” and ᴱQ. yalle “a hollow ring” (QL/105). There are no signs of this root in Tolkien’s later writing.

Early Primitive Elvish [QL/105] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kḷnḷ Speculative

root. *ring

A hypothetical root serving as the basis for “bell” words in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s such as ᴱQ. kilin “bell” and ᴱQ. kalon “(large) bell” (QL/46); syllabic would help explain the vowel variations. In Tolkien’s later writings, “bell” words were derived from ᴹ√NYEL.

Early Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

n(d)ala Reconstructed

root. ring, play

Early Primitive Elvish [QL/064] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

crithos

noun. ring, ring; [G.] circle

Early Noldorin [PE13/141] Group: Eldamo. Published by

rhim

noun. ring, circle

Early Noldorin [PE13/152] Group: Eldamo. Published by

craith

noun. circle

Early Noldorin [PE13/140] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwath

noun. bark

lhing

adjective. cool

Early Noldorin [PE13/149] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lhê

noun. finger

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

Valarin 

māχananaškād

place name. Doom-ring