ross

noun. rain; spindrift, spray, foam, rain; spray, spindrift, foam

The best known Sindarin word for “rain” (MR/155; Ety/ROS¹), also used for “spindrift, spray” (PM/368) and “foam” (PE17/121), derived from the root √ROS (PM/368).

Conceptual Development: The earliest precursor to this word may be G. {nôs >>} G. noss or noth “rain” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/60), likely derived from the early root ᴱ√NOSO or ᴱ√NOTO which had Qenya derivatives of similar meaning (QL/67). The Etymologies of the 1930s instead had N. rhoss “rain” derived from the root ᴹ√ROS “distil, drip” (Ety/ROS¹), as seen in names from this period such as N. Celebros “Silver-rain” (Ety/ROS¹; LR/140), N. Silivros “Glimmering Rain” (Ety/ROS¹; LR/210), and N. Rauros “Rush-rain, Roar-rain” (TI/285).

In later writings Tolkien began to translate S. ross as “foam”, in names like S. Cair Andros “Ship of Long Foam” (LotR/1115; PM/371), S. Elros “Star-foam” (PM/349; Let/448) and S. Celebros “Foam-silver” (WJ/151). This word and its root gave Tolkien considerable difficulty, and in a 1968 essay labeled The Problem of Ros (PM/367-371), Tolkien first gave their meaning as “spray, spindrift”, but then explored the possibility that they were instead loan words from Bëorian. However, he was forced to abandon this line of reasoning when he remembered that S. Andros “Long-foam” has appeared in The Lord of the Rings appendices as a Sindarin word.

Neo-Sindarin: For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I would use the noun ross mainly with the sense “rain”. I would use gwing for “foam, spindrift”. However, to preserve words like Cair Andros, I would also allow the use of ross for any more or less continuous “spray of water”, such as with waterfalls as indicated by the name Rauros “Roaring Spray” (RC/327).

ross

noun. foam

n. foam. >> hross

ross

adjective. red-haired, copper-coloured

ross

noun. rain

ross

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

hross

noun. foam

n. foam. >> ross

ross

red-haired

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

ross

glitter

†ross (polished metal), pl. ryss (idh ryss). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”.

ross

rain

ross (construct ros) (foam, dew, 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”.

ross

polished metal

†ross (glitter), pl. ryss (idh ryss). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”. For concrete metals, see COPPER, GOLD, IRON, SILVER. Unidentified metals: 1) mithril (i vithril, no distinct pl. form except with article [i mithril], coll. pl. ?mithrillath). The description of mithril may seem to fit titanium. 2) galvorn (i **alvorn, pl. gelvyrn [in ngelvyrn**] if there is a pl.), a black metal made by the Dark Elf Eöl. (WJ:322)

ross

polished metal

†ross (glitter), pl. ryss (idh ryss). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”.

ross

reddish

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

ross

foam

(construct ros) (rain, dew, 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”

ross

red-haired

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

ross

copper-coloured

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

ross

glitter

(polished metal), pl. ryss (idh ryss). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”.

ross

rain

(construct ros) (foam, dew, 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”.

ross

polished metal

(glitter), pl. ryss (idh** ryss**). Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”spray, foam, rain, dew”. For concrete metals, see

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”.

ross

spray

(construct ros) (foam, rain, dew), pl. ryss (idh ryss). (Letters:282) Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

ross

noun. polished metal

ross

reddish

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

gaer

copper-coloured

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

gwing

foam

1) gwing (i **wing) (spindrift, spume, spray blown off wave-tops), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwing), 2) ross (construct ros) (rain, dew, 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”, 3) falf (breaker), pl. felf, coll. pl. falvath**

gwing

spray

1) (blown off wave-tops) gwing (i **wing) (foam, spindrift, spume), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwing); 2) (of fall or fountain) ross (construct ros) (foam, rain, dew), pl. ryss (idh ryss**). (Letters:282) Note: homophones mean ”reddish, russet, copper-coloured, red-haired” and also ”polished metal, glitter”.

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”.

galenas

noun. pipe-weed (leaf) or "westmansweed", a variety of Nicotiana

mîdh

noun. dew

dew

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.

raud

noun. metal

raud

noun. metal

rust

noun. copper

rust

noun. copper

rustui

adjective. of copper

rustui

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

aglar

glitter

aglar (brilliance, glory), pl. eglair if there is a pl.

aglar

glitter

(brilliance, glory), pl. eglair if there is a pl.

eilia

rain

(vb.) eilia-, impersonal 3rd singular uil "it rains". (In ”Noldorin”, the impersonal form was "oeil" = öil, later eil.)

eilia

rain

impersonal 3rd singular uil "it rains". (In ”Noldorin”, the impersonal form was "oeil" = öil, later eil.)

falf

foam

(breaker), pl. felf, coll. pl. falvath

faltha

foam

(i faltha, i falthar)

faltha

foam

(verb) faltha- (i faltha, i falthar)

gaer

copper-coloured

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

galvorn

copper, gold,  iron, silver

(i** ’alvorn, pl. gelvyrn [in ngelvyrn*] if there is a pl.), a black metal made by the Dark Elf Eöl. (WJ:322)*

gwing

foam

(i ’wing) (spindrift, spume, spray blown off wave-tops), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwing)

gwing

spray

(i ’wing) (foam, spindrift, spume), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwing)

mithril

copper, gold,  iron, silver

(i** vithril, no distinct pl. form except with article [i** mithril], coll. pl. ?mithrillath). The description of mithril may seem to fit titanium.

mîdh

dew

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

rust

copper

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

rust

copper

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

tinc

metal

tinc (i dinc, o thinc), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thinc), coll. pl. tingath. The word rhaud “metal” occurring in the Etymologies would normally be ”updated” to Sindarin in the form raud, but since raud appears with different meanings in later sources (see

tinc

metal

(i** dinc, o thinc), no distinct pl. form except with article (i** thinc), coll. pl. tingath. The word rhaud** “metal” occurring in the Etymologies would normally be ”updated” to Sindarin in the form raud, but since raud** appears with different meanings in later sources (see

tinc

eminent

should at least be preferred for clarity).

urun

noun. copper

rhoss

noun. rain

rhoss

noun. polished metal

rhoss

noun. rain

falf

noun. foam, breaker

faltha-

verb. to foam

mîdh

noun. dew

mîdh

noun. dew

rhaud

noun. metal

rhaud

noun. metal

tinc

noun. metal

tinc

noun. metal

rossë

noun. rain; foam, (fine) rain; [ᴹQ.] dew; *spray, [Q.] foam

An element meaning “foam” (or perhaps “✱spray”) in the name Q. Elerossë “Star Foam” cognate of S. Elros in notes from the late 1960s (PM/349), or “rain” in the name of the waterfall Q. Raurossë “Roaring-rain” cognate of S. Rauros in notes probably from the 1950s (PE19/99). In The Etymologies of the 1930s, Tolkien gave ᴹQ. rosse “fine rain, dew” as a derivative of the root ᴹ√ROS “distil, drip” (Ety/ROS¹).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I would assume this word means a light rain or a continuous spray of water, or the remnants of such water in the form of dew, in other words any persistent collection of small droplets of water either in the air or on the ground, for example from light rain, morning dew or falling mist off a waterfall. This seems to be in keeping with most of its attested glosses.

For more ordinary or heavier rain, I’d use ulo instead, or for a drizzle I’d use mistë, and would reserve rossë only for a light mist-like rain. For a floating mist or fog, I’d use hísë or (if thicker) hiswe. Thus of precipitation, I’d have ulo > mistë > rossë > hísë in decreasing ranks of density, where hísë “mist” is light and/or cold enough not to longer fall. But I think rossë can refer to “already fallen” droplets in the form of dew as well.

rossë

fine rain, dew

rossë noun "fine rain, dew" (ROS1, PM:371)

rin

dew

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

russa

adjective. red-haired

alca-

verb. glitter

glitter

falasta-

to foam

falasta- vb. "to foam", participle falastala "foaming, surging" in Markirya

fallë

foam

fallë noun "foam" (PHAL/PHÁLAS)

mirilya-

glitter

mirilya- vb. "glitter" (MBIRIL)

mistë

fine rain

mistë noun "fine rain" (MIZD, VT45:35)

rauta

metal

rauta noun "metal" [meaning changed by Tolkien from "copper"]. Notice that in the LotR, the word for metal is given as tinco. (RAUTĀ)

rotsë

pipe

rotsë noun "pipe" (LT2:347); pl. rotser (?) in Narqelion? (Cf. QL:xiv)

russa

red-haired

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

simpa

pipe, flute

simpa noun "pipe, flute" (LT1:266)

simpina

pipe, flute

simpina noun "pipe, flute" (LT1:266)

tambë

copper

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

tampë

copper

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

timpinë

spray

timpinë noun "spray" (LT1:268)

timpë

fine rain

timpë noun "fine rain" (LT1:268, Narqelion)

tinco

metal

tinco noun "metal" (TINKŌ), also name of tengwa #1 (Appendix E, there spelt "tinco", but "tinko" in Etym); tincotéma noun "t-series", dental series, first column of the Tengwar system (Appendix E)

tinco

noun. metal

ulo

noun. rain

ulo

noun. rain

A noun for “rain” in Late Notes on Verbs from 1969 given as {ulla >>} ulo in the phrase ulo úva “rain (unwelcome) is coming”, clearly related to the impersonal verb ul- “to rain” appearing in its future form on the same page: uluva “it will rain” (PE22/167).

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, the noun for “rain” was ᴱQ. úqil, likewise related to the contemporaneous verb ᴱQ. uqin “it rains” (QL/98).

urus

copper

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

urus

noun. copper

winga

foam, spray

winga noun "foam, spray" (Markirya). Also wingë.

wingë

foam, crest of wave, crest

wingë noun "foam, crest of wave, crest" (WIG); "foam, spindrift" (LT1:273). In the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, wingë was also the name of tengwa #24, which letter Tolkien would later call wilya > vilya instead. - Also winga (so in Markirya).

rossē

noun. dew, spray (of fall or fountain)

russā

adjective. red-haired, copper-coloured

urun

root. copper

urus

noun. copper

meord

noun. fine rain

Primitive form given as mizdê, derived from a stem MIZD (LR:373) that is not defined, but Christopher Tolkien is undoubtedly right in observing that the stems MISK (yielding words for "wet") and MITH (yielding words for "wet mist" and "grey") are probably meant to be related to MIZD. The ending -ê seen in mizdê seems in this case to denote a substance. While final -ê sometimes becomes -a in Green-elven, it has here been lost; see beorn for some thoughts about this. This word alone shows eo from i, but cf. eo from e in beorn.