Primitive elvish

soñ

root. *mouth

A root given as √SOŊ in notes having to do with the apparatus used for vocal sound production, with a single derivative Q. songa “mouth” as the “interior cavity behind the teeth containing tongue” (PE17/126).

Primitive elvish [PE17/126; PE17/185] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Quenya 

songa

noun. mouth (interior cavity behind the teeth containing the tongue)

A word appearing in some 1964 notes on various elements of the mouth, specifically referring to the “interior cavity behind the teeth, containing tongue”, derived from the root √SOŊ (PE17/126). This is likely a technical term, as opposed to the more ordinary word for mouth: Q. anto.

Conceptual Development: An earlier word for the interior of the mouth was ᴱQ. matu “the mouth (inside)” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√MATA (QL/59).

songa

mouth

songa noun "mouth", in the sense of "interior cavity behind the teeth, containing tongue" (PE17:126)

lírë

song

lírë noun "song", stem #líri- in the instrumental form lírinen "in [the] song" or *"by [the] song" (Nam, RGEO:67)

lírë

noun. song

Quenya [LotR/0377; PE17/067; PE17/076; PM/364; RGEO/58; RGEO/59] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laurelin

proper name. Song of Gold, Singing Gold

Name of the Golden Tree of Valinor, the one of the Two Trees which shone with golden light (S/38). It is a compound of laurë “gold” and lin(dë) “singing, song” (SA/laurë, lin²), variously translated as “Song of Gold” (MR/155) or “Singing Gold (PE17/80)”.

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, the tree was first named ᴱQ. Lindelokte “Singing Cluster” with numerous variations (LT1/22, LTA/Lindelos). Towards the end of Tolkien’s work on the Lost Tales, he introduced the name ᴱQ. {Lindelaure >>} Laurelin “Singing-gold” (LT2/216), and used this as the name thereafter.

The name ᴹQ. Laurelin was translated “Song of Gold” in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/210). This translation also appeared in The Etymologies (Laurelind-, Ety/LIN²), but there Tolkien considered a variant, co-existing translation “Hanging Flame” (Laureling-, EtyAC/LING). This variant was retained in the later Sindarin name of the tree: S. Glingal.

Quenya [LotRI/Laurelin; LotRI/Trees, Two; MR/155; MRI/Laurelin; PE17/061; PE17/080; PMI/Laurelin; S/038; SA/laurë; SA/lin²; SI/Laurelin; UTI/Laurelin; WJI/Laurelin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lindë

air, tune, singing, song

lindë noun "air, tune, singing, song" (SA:gond, (LIN2, [GLIN]); lindelorendor "music-dream-land"; see laurelindórenan lindelorendor... _(LotR2:III ch. 4, cf. Letters:308). _Also compare lindi- in lindimaitar, q.v. (but the other compounds here cited do not give a lindë a stem-form lindi-).

lirilla

lay, song

lirilla noun "lay, song" (LT1:258)

narsilion

proper name. (Song) of the Sun and Moon

The tale of the creation of the Sun and the Moon, glossed “Song of the Sun and Moon” (S/99). Like the name Narsil, this name is probably a combination of the primitive roots √NAR and √THIL from which the words for the Sun and Moon were derived (Anar and Isil). The name is in the genitive plural (“of the”), but there is no element corresponding to “Song”, so a more accurate translation would simply be “Of the Sun and Moon”.

Quenya [MR/130; MRI/Narsilion; S/099; SI/Narsilion; SMI/Narsilion] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lindë

noun. singing, song, musical sound, singing, song, musical sound; [ᴹQ.] air, tune

Quenya [Let/308; NM/351; PE17/080; PE17/163; SA/gond] Group: Eldamo. Published by

anto

noun. mouth, mouth [as a thing for eating]; [ᴱQ.] jaw

The basic Quenya word for “mouth”, appearing as the name of tengwa #13 (4) in The Lord of the Rings Appendix E (LotR/1123). It is likely derived from the root √MAT “eat” from primitive ✱amtō, and hence refers to the mouth as a thing for eating. Quenya has a number of other more specialized words for the mouth, however, such as Q. for the closed mouth, Q. ópa for the mouth opening, Q. songa for the interior of the mouth and Q. náva for the entire mouth apparatus (tongue, lips and teeth) used for speech.

Conceptual Development: ᴹQ. anto “mouth” first appeared in notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1940s, where it replaced ᴹQ. anta “jaws” (PE22/50 note #50). In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, ᴱQ. anto (antu-) was itself glossed “jaw” and was based on the early root ᴱ√MATA “eat” (QL/31, 59).

Laurelin

Laurelin

Laurelin is said to mean "Song of Gold". In the Etymologies, the element laure ("gold") in Laurelin derives from the root LÁWAR-. The name Laurelin appears to be Quenya.

Quenya [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

lindalë

noun. music

ainulindalë

proper name. Music of the Ainur

The title of the opening story of The Silmarillion (S/15-22), clearly a compound of Ainu “Holy One” and lindalë “music”.

Conceptual Development: Although the story itself dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, this title only emerged in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s version (LR/156).

Quenya [LT1I/Ainulindalë; LT2I/Ainulindalë; MRI/Ainulindalë; S/015; SA/aina; SA/lin²; SI/Ainulindalë; SI/Music of the Ainur; SMI/Ainulindalë; WJI/Ainulindalë] Group: Eldamo. Published by

anto

mouth

anto (1) noun "mouth", also name of tengwa #13 (Appendix E)

cainë

lay

cainë "lay", pa.t. of caita- "lie", q.v.

cairë

lay

cairë _("k")_vb. "lay" (pa.t. of "lie") (MC:221; this is "Qenya" - in LotR-style Quenya cainë pa.t. of caita?) An word cairë with no clear definition appears in PE17:101; see cëa, cairë.

carpa

mouth

carpa ("k") (1) noun "mouth", including lips, teeth, tongue etc. (PE17:126); also used for "language", in particular the phonetic system.Cf. náva and páva.

lindalë

music

lindalë noun "music". Cf. Ainulindalë "Music of the Ainur". (The word is cited as lindelë in the printed Etymologies, entry LIN2, but according to VT45:27, this is a misreading for lindalë in Tolkien's manuscript.) The word lindalë may argue the existence of a verbal stem #linda- "sing, make music".

lindelë

music

lindelë noun "music" (LIN2, LT1:258 lindalë in Ainulindalë). According to VT45:27, lindelë in the printed Etymologies (entry LIN2) is a misreading for lindalë in Tolkien's manuscript.

nyarna

tale, saga

nyarna noun "tale, saga" (NAR2), compounded in nyarmamaitar noun "storyteller" (PE17:163), literally *"tale-artist" (see maitar).

nyárë

tale, saga, history

nyárë noun "tale, saga, history". Compounded in Eldanyárë "History of the Elves", lumenyárë "history, chronological account" (NAR2, LR:199). Compare nyarië, nyarna.

náva

mouth

náva ("ñ")noun "mouth", apparently not only the lips but also the inside of the mouth (VT39:13 cf. 8). Possibly, but probably not, the same element that is translated "hollow" in Návarot, q.v.

páva

mouth

páva noun "mouth" (including tongue, lips and teeth). Apparently changed by Tolkien to náva, q.v. (VT39:19)

páva

noun. mouth

quenta

tale

quenta ("q")noun "tale" (KWET), "narrative, story" (VT39:16); Quenta Silmarillion "the Story/Tale of the Silmarils", also Quenta Eldalien "History of the Elves" (SD:303), notice "Qenya" genitive in -n in the latter title. Quenta is also translated "account", as in Valaquenta "Account of the Valar".

tindon

lay

tindon pa.t. vb? "lay" (???) (MC:220; this is "Qenya")

vilwa

air, lower air

[vilwa < wilwa] noun "air, lower air" (distinct from the 'upper' air of the stars, or the 'outer') (WIL; in one place vilwa was not struck out, VT46:21) According to VT46:21, Tolkien considered vilda < wilda as a replacement form, but rejected it.

vilya

air, sky

vilya noun "air, sky", also name of tengwa #24. Older wilya. (Appendix E). Early "Qenya" has Vilya (changed from Vilna) "lower air" (LT1:273); also vilya "air" (MC:215)

wilma

air, lower air

wilma noun "air, lower air" (distinct from the 'upper' air of the stars, or the 'outer') (WIL)

ópa

mouth

ópa noun "mouth", in the sense of mouth-opening with lips as the edges (PE17:126)

Sindarin 

laer

noun. song

glind

noun. *song

glinn

noun. *song

glewellin

proper name. Song of Gold

Sindarin cognate of Q. Laurelin “Song of Gold” appearing in the Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s but not in the published version of The Silmarillion (MR/155). It is a combination of Old Sindarin †glawar “gold” (PE17/61) and lind “song”, with the vowels in the initial element shifted to e because of the i in the last syllable.

Conceptual Development: The name N. Glewellin first appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/210). In The Etymologies, it already had the derivation given above (Ety/LÁWAR). @@@ Glorlin

Sindarin [MR/155; MRI/Glewellin; PE17/061] Group: Eldamo. Published by

laer cú beleg

proper name. Song of the Great Bow

The song of mourning for Beleg (S/209), a combination of laer “song”, “bow” and beleg “great” (SA/beleg, cú).

Sindarin [LBI/Laer Cú Beleg; S/209; SA/beleg; SA/cú; SI/Laer Cú Beleg] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Laer Cú Beleg

noun. song of the great bow

laer (“song”), cû (“bow”), beleg (“great, mighty”) #The lack of lenition in beleg could be explained by dialectal differences or by the play of words “Great Bow” - “Bow of Beleg”.

Sindarin [Tolkiendil] Group: Tolkiendil Compound Sindarin Names. Published by

glaer

noun. tale, [N.] long lay, narrative poem, [S.] tale, song

Sindarin [S/209; WJ/160] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lind

noun. song, chant, singing; singer, song, chant, singing, [N.] air, tune; [N. and S.] singer

Sindarin [PE17/027; VT44/24; VT50/14; VT50/18; WJ/309] Group: Eldamo. Published by

aerlinn

noun. (unknown meaning, perhaps a song about the sea, or possibly holy song)

Sindarin [RGEO/70, X/ND4] aer+lind (?) "sea-song" or (?) "holy song", OS *airelinde. Group: SINDICT. Published by

laer

noun. song, long lay

Sindarin [Laer Cú Beleg S/406, VT/45:28, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

linn

noun. song, chant

lîr

noun. song, poem, lay

Sindarin [VT/45:28, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

glîr

song

1) glîr (i **lîr, construct glir) (poem, lay), no distinct pl. form except with article (in glîr), coll. pl. glíriath. 2) laer (no distinct pl. form). Note: a homophone means ”summer”. 3) lind (air, tune; also = singer, in the latter sense also used of rivers), no distinct pl. form (WJ.309). See also HYMN regarding the word aerlinn**.

glîr

song

(i ’lîr, construct glir) (poem, lay), no distinct pl. form except with article (in glîr), coll. pl. glíriath. 2)  laer (no distinct pl. form). Note: a homophone means ”summer”. 3) lind (air, tune; also = singer, in the latter sense also used of rivers), no distinct pl. form (WJ.309). See also

glîr

lay

glîr (i **lîr, construct glir) (poem, song), no distinct pl. form except with article (in glîr), coll. pl. glíriath**;

glîr

lay

(i ’lîr, construct glir) (poem, song), no distinct pl. form except with article (in glîr), coll. pl. glíriath;

lind

air

3) (of music) lind (song, tune; singer, in the latter sense also used of rivers), no distinct pl. form, but coll. pl. linnath (WJ.309)

lind

air

(song, tune; singer, in the latter sense also used of rivers), no distinct pl. form, but coll. pl. linnath (WJ.309)

linnas

noun. music

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

ethir

noun. mouth (of a river), estuary

Sindarin [LotR/II:X, Ety/356, RC/350] ed+sîr "outflow". Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwelu

noun. air (as substance)

Sindarin [Ety/398, X/W] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lind

noun. air, tune

Sindarin [Ety/369, X/LH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

narn

noun. a tale or a saga, that is told in verse to be spoken and not sung

Sindarin [Ety/374, WJ/313, MR/373, S/412] OS *narna, CE *nʲarnâ "told". Group: SINDICT. Published by

narn

noun. tale, tale, [N.] saga

Sindarin [MR/373; MR/471; S/198; SI/Narn i Hîn Húrin; UT/057; UT/146; WJ/313] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glaer

long lay

(i ’laer) (narrative poem), no distinct pl. form except with article (in glaer)

glawar

laurelin, radiance of

(i ’lawar) (sunlight, gold), pl. glewair (in glewair) (VT41:10)

gobem

noun. mouth

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

gwelu

air

2) (as substance) gwelu (i **welu), analogical pl. gwely (in gwely) if there is a pl. The attested form is archaic gwelw** (LR:398 s.v. WIL). Hence the coll. pl. is likely *gwelwath, if there is a coll. pl..

gwelu

air

(i ’welu), analogical pl. gwely (in gwely) if there is a pl. The attested form is archaic gwelw (LR:398 s.v. WIL). Hence the coll. pl. is likely ✱gwelwath, if there is a coll. pl..

gwelwen

air

1) (as a region) gwelwen (i **welwen), pl. gwelwin (in gwelwin), also gwilith (i **wilith), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwilith)

gwelwen

air

(i ’welwen), pl. gwelwin (in gwelwin), also gwilith (i ’wilith), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwilith)

narn

tale

1) narn (saga; versified tale to be spoken rather than sung), pl. nern**; 2) pent (i bent, o phent) (story), pl. pint (i phint), coll. pl. pennath; 3) trenarn (i drenarn, o threnarn) (account), pl. trenern (i threnern); 4) gwanod (i **wanod) (number), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd).

narn

tale

(saga; versified tale to be spoken rather than sung), pl. *nern***; 2) pent (i** bent, o phent) (story), pl. pint (i** phint), coll. pl. pennath; 3) trenarn (i** drenarn, o threnarn) (account), pl. trenern (i** threnern); 4) gwanod (i ’wanod) (number), pl. gwenyd (in gwenyd**).

Noldorin 

glewellin

proper name. Song of Gold

Noldorin [Ety/LÁWAR; LR/210; LRI/Glewellin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glinn

noun. song, poem, lay

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

glîr

noun. song, poem, lay

Noldorin [Ety/359] Group: SINDICT. Published by

glîr

noun. song, poem, lay

Noldorin [Ety/GLIR; EtyAC/LIR¹] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lhaer

noun. song, long lay

Noldorin [Laer Cú Beleg S/406, VT/45:28, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhîr

noun. song, poem, lay

Noldorin [VT/45:28, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhîr

noun. song, poem, lay

lhinn

noun. air, tune

Noldorin [Ety/LIN²; Ety/TIN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ethir

noun. mouth (of a river), estuary

Noldorin [LotR/II:X, Ety/356, RC/350] ed+sîr "outflow". Group: SINDICT. Published by

glaer

noun. long lay, narrative poem

Written glær (with ae-ligature) in the Etymologies, rectified here according to VT/45:15

Noldorin [Ety/359, VT/45:15] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwanod

noun. tale, number

Noldorin [Ety/378] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwelw

noun. air (as substance)

Noldorin [Ety/398, X/W] Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwelwen

noun. air, lower air (distinct from the upper air of the stars, or the outer)

Noldorin [Ety/398] gwelu+men. Group: SINDICT. Published by

gwilith

noun. air (as a region)

Noldorin [Ety/398] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhind

noun. air, tune

Noldorin [Ety/369, X/LH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhinn

noun. air, tune

Noldorin [Ety/369, X/LH, X/ND1] Group: SINDICT. Published by

narn

noun. a tale or a saga, that is told in verse to be spoken and not sung

Noldorin [Ety/374, WJ/313, MR/373, S/412] OS *narna, CE *nʲarnâ "told". Group: SINDICT. Published by

pent

noun. tale

Noldorin [Ety/366] Group: SINDICT. Published by

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!

Gnomish

dólin

noun. song

Gnomish [GL/29; LT1A/Gondolin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glîr

noun. song, poem

Gnomish [GL/39; GL/47; LT1A/Lindelos] Group: Eldamo. Published by

glingon

noun. song, chanting, chant

gwethlir

noun. song of welcome

gling

noun. music

gogail

noun. mouth

A noun appearing as G. gogel “mouth” in The Gnomish Grammar (GG/8) and as {gogel >} gogíl or gogail “mouth” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/40). In the latter document, Tolkien said it was a combination of G. go- “together” and G. cail “lip”, from more archaic forms gwa-caíl, gwa-cil. An unrelated word G. mem “mouth” also appeared in Gnomish Lexicon (GL/57), perhaps related to G. beg “chin” which Tolkien connected to ᴱQ. “(closed) mouth” = “the two lips” (GL/57; QL/72).

Neo-Sindarin: I’ve used these Gnomish words as the inspiration for a neologism ᴺS. gobem “mouth”, based on the (neologism) ᴺS. pemp “lip”, where the reduction of -mp to -m finally is an irregular assimilation to the preceding voiced b: -mp > -mb > -m.

Gnomish [GG/08; GL/24; GL/40] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gogel

noun. mouth

gogìl

noun. mouth

gwail

noun. air

mem

noun. mouth

Early Noldorin

golyn

noun. song

gôl

noun. song

Early Noldorin [PE13/145] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Qenya 

laurelin

proper name. Song of Gold

Qenya [Ety/GLAW(-R); Ety/GLIN; Ety/LÁWAR; Ety/LIN²; EtyAC/LING; LR/210; LRI/Laurelin; RSI/Laurelin; SMI/Laurelin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

linde

noun. air, tune

Qenya [Ety/GLIN; Ety/LIN²; Ety/TIN] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ainulindale

proper name. Music of the Ainur

Qenya [Ety/AYAN; LR/156; SDI2/Ainulindalë; TII/Ainulindalë] Group: Eldamo. Published by

anto

noun. mouth

kantele

noun. music, music; [ᴱQ.] harping; repetition

lindale

noun. music

Qenya [Ety/LIN²; EtyAC/LIN²] Group: Eldamo. Published by

noun. mouth

Qenya [Ety/PEG; PE21/38; PE21/41] Group: Eldamo. Published by

vista

place name. Air

Name for the region of Air in Silmarillion notes from the 1930s (SM/236). It is simply vista “air as substance” used as a name.

Qenya [LRI/Vista; SM/236; SM/240; SM/241; SMI/Vista; SMI/Wilwa] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

lindele

noun. music, song

Early Quenya [LT1A/Lindelos; PME/054; QL/054] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lirilla

noun. lay, song

Early Quenya [LT1/047; LT1A/Lindelos; PME/054; QL/054] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ilma

noun. air

A word for “air” in Early Qenya Word-lists of the 1920s (PE16/142), probably based on the early root ᴱ√ILU “ether”. Later ᴹQ. Ilma was used for “Starlight” (Ety/GIL; LR/205).

Early Quenya [PE16/142] Group: Eldamo. Published by

linda

adjective. singing

Early Quenya [LT1A/Gondolin] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nyara

noun. tale

Early Quenya [QL/068] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ó(vo)

noun. mouth

Early Quenya [PE16/136] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

kwentā

noun. tale

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

wis

root. air

Middle Primitive Elvish [Ety/WIS; EtyAC/SWES] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Valarin 

tulukhedelgorūs

proper name. Laurelin

šebeth

noun. air