isilmë
moonlight
isilmë
noun. moonlight
A word loosely translated as “moon” in the Markirya poem of the 1960s (MC/222), but more accurately “moonlight” according to the glossary following the poem (MC/223), perhaps an elaboration of Q. silmë “starlight” under the influence of Q. Isil “moon”.
Conceptual Development: A similar word ᴱQ. silma “a ray of moonlight” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√SILI which was also the basis for ᴱQ. Sil “moon” (QL/83).
Element in
- Q. Isilmë “*Moonlight”
- Q. isilmë ilcalassë “in the moon gleaming” ✧ MC/222
- Q. isilmë lantalassë “in the moon falling” ✧ MC/222
- Q. isilmë pícalassë “in the moon waning” ✧ MC/222
Elements
Word Gloss Isil “Moon, (lit.) Sheen” silmë “starlight, starlight; [ᴹQ.] silver [light], moonlight, light of Silpion” Variations
- isilme ✧ MC/222; MC/222; MC/222; MC/223
silith
silver light
silith (i hilith, o silith), no distinct pl. form except with article (i silith), if there is a pl. form. The word silif is of similar meaning and would have the same mutations.
ithilgalad
3Gな%xな#2# noun. light of the moon, moonlight
ithilgalad
3Gな%xな#2# noun. light of the moon, moonlight
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!
istil
noun. silver light, starlight
A Doriathrin noun for “silver light, starlight”, also given as istel, which developed from the root ᴹ√SIL (Ety/SIL). Tolkien said that it was probably originally a (ancient?) Quenya word learned from Melian. This apparently this means its development was unusual. Along with the identical Istil “Moon”, it is the only Ilkorin noun with a medial [st]. Helge Fauskanger suggested it must have developed by a strengthening of [s] to [st]. It may also be another example of a development from syllabic [ṣ], though elsewhere [[ilk|initial [s] became [es] before voiceless stops]].
Cognates
- ᴹQ. silme “moonlight, light of Silpion, †silver” ✧ Ety/SIL
Derivations
- ᴹ√SIL “shine silver” ✧ Ety/SIL
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴹ√SIL > istel/istil [isil] > [istil] ✧ Ety/SIL Variations
- istel/istil ✧ Ety/SIL (Dor. istel/istil)
gilm
noun. moonlight, silver light
A word for “moonlight, silver light” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√Gil- (GL/48).
Derivations
- ᴱ√GILI “*shine (pale)” ✧ GL/38
Phonetic Developments
Development Stages Sources ᴱ√Gil- > gilm [gilm] ✧ GL/38
isilmë (þ) noun "moonlight", occurring in Markirya; free translation "the moon" in MC:215 (isilmë ilcalassë, literally "moonlight gleaming-in" = "in the moon gleaming"). Isilmë also appears as the name of a Númenorean woman (UT:210).