Primitive elvish

uñg

root. spider

This root and ones like it were tied to spider words for much of Tolkien’s life, most notably in the name S. Ungoliant and its precursors. The earliest iteration of this root was unglossed ᴱ√GUŊU in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. ungwe/G. gung “spider” (QL/98); Tolkien marked the root with a “?” and given that the Qenya forms had no initial consonant, the actual root may have been ✱ᴱ√ƷUŊU. In The Lost Tales of the 1910s, Tolkien changed G. Gungliont to G. Ungoliont (LT1/156), and in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon the word for “spider” was G. ungwi (GL/75), so it seems Tolkien revised {✱ᴱ√ƷUŊU >>} ✱ᴱ√UŊU.

In The Etymologies of the 1930s, unglossed ᴹ√UÑG had derivatives like ᴹQ. ungwe “gloom” and ᴹQ. ungo “cloud, dark shadow” (Ety/UÑG), and it was the second element ᴹQ. liante in ᴹQ. Ungoliante that meant “spider” (Ety/SLIG). However, in notes from 1969 Tolkien gave ✱ungu- as the basis for “spider” words (PE22/160), as reflected in Q. ungwë “spider’s web” (LotR/1122) and S. ungol “spider” in his later writings (Let/180; RC/490, 767).

Primitive elvish [PE22/160] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Noldorin 

thlingril

noun. spider

A noun appearing as N. thlingril “spider” in The Etymologies, probably a feminine form of N. thling “spider, spider’s web, cobweb” (Ety/SLIG). Christopher Tolkien said the r was uncertain.

Neo-Sindarin: Since initial sl- became lh- in Sindarin, most Neo-Sindarin writers adapt this word as ᴺS. lhingril, as suggested in HSD (HSD). This word is somewhat questionable, since in later writings √ungu- was the basis for spider words (PE22/160). I think ᴹ√SLIG may be reinterpreted as having to do with threads, and as such I think ᴺS. lhingril can be retained as originally meaning “(female) web spinner”. However, I recommend later S. ungol as the more common Sindarin word for “spider”.

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

ungol

noun. spider

thlingril

noun. spider

Noldorin [Ety/386, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

ungol

noun. spider

Noldorin [Ety/366, WR/202, LotR, RC/490] Group: SINDICT. Published by

delduthling

feminine name. Ungoliant, *(lit.) Horror Night Spider

Another name for Ungoliant appearing on in The Etymologies from the 1930s, a combination of del “horror”, “night” and thling “spider” (Ety/DYEL, DOƷ, SLIG).

Noldorin [Ety/DOƷ; Ety/DYEL; Ety/SLIG; Ety/UÑG; EtyAC/DYEL] Group: Eldamo. Published by

thling

noun. spider, spider’s web, cobweb

A noun appearing as N. thling “spider, spider’s web, cobweb” in The Etymologies, derived from primitive ᴹ✶sliñgē under the root ᴹ√SLIG (Ety/SLIG).

Neo-Sindarin: Since initial sl- became lh- in Sindarin, most Neo-Sindarin writers adapt this word as ᴺS. lhing, as suggested in HSD (HSD). This word is somewhat questionable, since in later writings √ungu- was the basis for spider words (PE22/160). However, I think ᴹ√SLIG may be reinterpreted as having to do with threads, and as such I think ᴺS. lhing can be retained, though I would limit its use to “spider’s web, cobweb”, a synonym of nath “web” but descriptive of more diaphanous webs.

Noldorin [Ety/DOƷ; Ety/SLIG] Group: Eldamo. Published by

thlê

noun. fine thread, spider filament

A noun appearing as N. thlê “fine thread, spider filament” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from ᴹ✶(s)ligā under the root ᴹ√SLIG having to do with spider words (Ety/SLIG).

Conceptual Development: A possible precursor is G. lind “twine” from the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s (GL/54), apparently based on the early root ᴱ√LI+ya “unite many as one” (QL/53).

Neo-Sindarin: In Tolkien’s later writings, √ungu- became the basis for spider words, but I retain ᴹ√SLIG assuming it has to do with threads and twining to salvage words from the 1910s and 30s. Most Neo-Sindarin writers adapt this word as ᴺS. lhê “fine thread, spider filament”, for example as suggested by HSD (HSD), because in (Old) Sindarin of the 1950s and 60s initial sl- became lh-, as opposed to (Old) Noldorin of the 1930s where it became thl-.

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

kirith ungol

place name. Spider Glen

Noldorin [SDI1/Kirith Ungol; SDI2/Kirith Ungol; TI/330; TII/Kirith Ungol; WR/104; WRI/Kirith Ungol] Group: Eldamo. Published by

terch ungol

place name. Spider’s Hole, Spider’s Lair

Noldorin [WR/202; WRI/Torech Ungol] Group: Eldamo. Published by

thling

noun. spider, spider's web, cobweb

Noldorin [Ety/386, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

thlê

noun. fine thread, spider filament

Noldorin [Ety/386, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

maur

noun. gloom

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

maur

noun. gloom

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “gloom” appearing under the root ᴹ√MOR (Ety/MOR). A nearby primitive form ᴹ✶mǭri is the likely basis for this word as suggested by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne (EtyAC/MOR), where the primitive ǭ became au as was the usual sound change in both Noldorin and later Sindarin (PE18/46, 96).

nath

noun. web

Noldorin [Ety/375] Group: SINDICT. Published by

nath

noun. web

A noun for “web” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√NAT “lace, weave, tie” with Quenya cognate ᴹQ. natse (Ety/NAT).

ogol < ogl

gloom

n/adj gloom, gloomy

Noldorin Group: Mellonath Daeron. Published by

ungoliant

feminine name. Gloomweaver

Noldorin [Ety/UÑG; LRI/Ungoliantë; LT1I/Ungoliant; RSI/Ungoliant; SM/091; SMI/Ungoliant; TII/Ungoliant; WR/196; WRI/Ungoliant(e)] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Sindarin 

ungol

noun. spider

The Sindarin word for “spider” (Let/180; RC/490, 767), derived from √ungu- that was the basis for spider words (PE22/160).

Conceptual Development: The Gnomish word for “spider” was initially G. gung in both the Qenya Lexicon and Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s as a derivative of the early root ᴱ√GUŊU (QL/98; GL/43), also appearing an element in G. Gungliont, the earliest name of Ungoliant (LT1/160). In the Gnomish Lexicon the word gung was crossed through, but may have become ging in G. gwidh-a-ging “cobweb” (GL/46). Regardless, Tolkien added G. ungwi “spider” in pencil to the Gnomish Lexicon (GL/75), which seems to indicate a change of the root from ᴱ√GUŊU to ᴱ√UŊU, consistent with the replacement name G. Ungoliont from the contemporaneous narratives (LT1/152).

In The Etymologies of the 1930s, “spider” words were derived from the root ᴹ√SLIG (Ety/SLIG); see N. thling for discussion. Tolkien soon restored Ung-, however, since N. ungol was translated as “spider” in Lord of the Rings drafts of the 1940s (WR/202).

Sindarin [Let/180; RC/490; RC/767] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lhingril

noun. spider

Sindarin [Ety/386, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

ungol

noun. spider

Sindarin [Ety/366, WR/202, LotR, RC/490] Group: SINDICT. Published by

torech ungol

place name. Shelob’s Lair, (lit.) Tunnel of the Spider

Sindarin name of Shelob’s Lair (LotR/717), more literally “Tunnel of the Spider”, a combination of torech “(secret) hole” and ungol “spider” (RC/490).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as Terch Ungol “Spider’s Lair”, revised to Torech Ungol “Spider’s Hole” (WR/202).

Sindarin [LotR/0717; LotRI/Shelob; LotRI/Torech Ungol; RC/490] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Cirith Ungol

noun. pass of spider

cirith (“pass”), ungol (“spider”)

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

cirith ungol

place name. Cleft of the Spider

The pass near Minas Morgul where Shelob laired (LotR/644). In Tolkien’s Nomenclature of the Lord of the Rings, he translated the name as “Cleft of the Spider”, a combination of cirith “cleft” and ungol “spider” (RC/767).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Kirith Ungol, translated “Spider Glen” (TI/330, WR/104).

Sindarin [LotRI/Cirith Ungol; PMI/Kirith Ungol; RC/767; RSI/Cirith Ungol; TII/Cirith Ungol; UTI/Cirith Ungol] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lhing

noun. spider, spider's web, cobweb

Sindarin [Ety/386, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhê

noun. fine thread, spider filament

Sindarin [Ety/386, X/LH] Group: SINDICT. Published by

lhingril

noun. spider

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

lhingril

spider

(?i thlingril or ?i lingrilthe lenition product of lh is uncertain); no distinct pl. form except possibly with article (?i lingril). Coll. pl. lhingrillath. (Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” *thlingril**.*)

ungol

spider

  1. ungol (pl. yngyl); coll. pl. ?unglath or ungolath; 2) *lhingril (?i thlingril or ?i lingril the lenition product of lh is uncertain); no distinct pl. form except possibly with article (?i lingril). Coll. pl. lhingrillath. (Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlingril.) 3) or

ungol

spider

(pl. yngyl); coll. pl. ?unglath or ungolath

Cirith Ungol

Spider's Cleft

Cirith Ungol (pron. ) is a Sindarin name meaning "Spider's Cleft", composed of cirith and ungol.

Sindarin [Tolkien Gateway "Cirith Ungol"] Published by

lhing

spider’s web, cobweb

(?i thling or ?i lingthe lenition product of lh is uncertain) (also used = ”spider”); no distinct pl. form except possibly with article (?i ling). – Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thling.

ungoliant

feminine name. Ungoliant

Sindarin name of the great spider-demon (LotR/723, S/73). The initial element of her name is probably ungol “spider” but the meaning of the second element is unclear. It may simply be an adaptation of her Quenya name Q. Ungoliantë (Ety/UÑG).

Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, this name first appeared as G. Gungliont “The Spider of Night” (GL/43), but this was rejected and replaced by Ungweliont or Ungoliont (GL/75), a change that was also made in the earliest Lost Tales (LT1/156). At this stage, the initial element ungwi meant “spider” (GL/75). In the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s and Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, the name was changed to Ungoliant (LB/132; SM/16, 91), though later in the drafts her name was generally replaced with its Quenya equivalent ᴹQ. Ungoliante (LR/230, 299).

At this stage, the name was frequently translated “Gloomweaver” (SM/16, 91), and in The Etymologies, N. Ungoliant was an adaption of her Quenya name with the same meaning, as noted above (Ety/UÑG). Here, the initial element Ungo- was related the root ᴹ√UÑG having to do with darkness and the final element -liant was related the root ᴹ√SLIG from which ᴹQ. liante “spider” was derived (Ety/SLIG). In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Ungoliant was also briefly considered as a name for Shelob (WR/196).

Given Tolkien’s later use of S. ungol as the Sindarin word for “spider”, it seems that he reversed the meaning of the two elements of this name again, but there is no indication of what the second element of the Sindarin name might mean in any of the published materials.

Sindarin [LotRI/Ungoliant; LR/299; MRI/Ungoliantë; SI/Ungoliant; UTI/Ungoliant; WJI/Ungoliantë] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lhing

spider’s web

(?i thling or ?i lingthe lenition product of lh is uncertain)  (cobweb), no distinct pl. form except possibly with article (?i ling). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thling.

lhing

noun. spider’s web, cobweb; spider

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

lhê

spider filament

*lhê (?i thlê or ?i lê the lenition product of lh is uncertain) (fine thread), pl. lhî (?i lî). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlê.

lhê

spider filament

(?i thlê or ?i lêthe lenition product of lh is uncertain) (fine thread), pl. lhî (?i lî). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlê.

lhê

noun. fine thread, spider filament

Sindarin Group: Eldamo - neologism/adaptations. Published by

Ungoliant

Ungoliant

The name is pronounced [uŋˈɡoljant]. In the form Ungoliant the name is technically Sindarin, but is a direct loan from Quenya Ungweliantë (ungwë + liantë: "dark spider"; pron. [uŋʷˌɡʷeliˈante]); the strictly Sindarin form being Delduthling "dark terror spider." She is also called "gloomweaver," Virilomë [ˌviriˈlome]) (Wirilomë in Vanyarin) which becomes Gwerlum ([ɡʷerlum]) in Sindarin.

Sindarin [Tolkien Gateway] Published by

lhê

fine thread

*lhê (?i thlê or ?i lê the lenition product of lh is uncertain) (spider filament), pl. lhî (?i lî). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlê.

lhê

fine thread

*lhê (?i thlê or ?i lê the lenition product of lh is uncertain) (spider filament), pl. lhî (?i lî). Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” thlê. -THREAD, see MIST.

lain

noun. thread

Sindarin [hithlain LotR/II:VIII, LotR/Index] Group: SINDICT. Published by

daw

gloom

  1. daw (i dhaw) (nighttime), pl. doe (i noe), coll. pl. ?dawath or ?doath; 2) dim (i dhim) (sadness), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nim). Note: a homophone means ”stair”. 3) fuin (darkness, night, dead of night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form. 4) maur (i vaur), pl. moer (i moer) (VT45:35)

daw

gloom

(i dhaw) (nighttime), pl. doe (i noe), coll. pl. ?dawath or ?doath

dim

gloom

(i dhim) (sadness), no distinct pl. form except with article (i nim). Note: a homophone means ”stair”.

fuin

gloom

(darkness, night, dead of night, nightshade). No distinct pl. form.

gwî

web

  1. gwî (i **) (net), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwî), 2) nath (pl. naith**).

gwî

web

(i ’wî) (net), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gwî)

lain

thread

(noun) lain; no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone is the adjective ”free, freed”.

lain

thread

; no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone is the adjective ”free, freed”.

maur

gloom

(i vaur), pl. moer (i moer) (VT45:35)

nath

web

(pl. naith).

Quenya 

liantë

spider

liantë (1) noun "spider" (SLIG), in earlier sources ascribed other meanings:(2)liantë "tendril" (LT1:271) and (3) "vine" (PE14:55, cf. liantassë elsewhere)

ungoliantë

feminine name. Gloomweaver, *Shadow Spider

Quenya form of the name of Ungoliant (WJ/14), a compound of [ᴹQ.] ungo “cloud, dark shadow” and [ᴹQ.] liante “spider” (Ety/UÑG, SLIG). Christopher Tolkien confessed that the Quenya form Ungoliantë was used in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s forward, but he changed it to Ungoliant in the published version of The Silmarillion for compatibility with The Lord of the Rings (LR/299).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales her name was ᴱQ. Ungwe Lianti or Ungweliante, translated “great spider who enmeshes” (LT1/152). At this stage, this name was likely a combination of ᴱQ. ungwe “spider” and a derivative of the root ᴱ√LIYA, perhaps ᴱQ. liante “tendril” (LT1A/Ungwë Lianti). Her Gnomish name G. Gwerlum “Gloomweaver” (ᴱQ. Wirilóme) was of a different origin (LT1A/Gwerlum).

The name ᴹQ. Ungweliante appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s (Ety/UÑG), but at this stage Tolkien reversed the meaning of its elements, with its initial element ᴹQ. ungwe “gloom” and the final element ᴹQ. liante “spider” (Ety/UÑG). Furthermore, in the contemporaneous narratives the earlier name was replaced by ᴹQ. Ungoliante, which appeared in The Etymologies beside Ungweliante, but with an initial element of ᴹQ. ungo “cloud, dark shadow” (Ety/UÑG, SLIG).

Tolkien used Ungoliantë for her Quenya name in all later writings, but he did not revisit its etymology. In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, Ungoliantë was glossed “Gloomweaver” (LR/230), but Tolkien did not translate the name in later works. The later words Q. ungwë “spider’s web” (LotR/1122) and S. ungol “spider” (Let/180) indicates that Tolkien reversed himself again and decided that the initial element Ungo- meant “spider”: the root √ungu- for “spider words” appears in later writings (PE22/160). This entry uses “Gloomweaver” as the best available translation, but it is most likely a holdover from earlier G. Gwerlum. Using the derivation from The Etymologies, a more literal translation would be “✱Shadow Spider”, but even that is questionable given Tolkien’s later rearrangement of the roots.

Quenya [MRI/Ungoliantë; WJI/Ungoliantë] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungwë

noun. spider’s web, spider’s web; [ᴱQ.] spider; [ᴹQ.] gloom

A word for “spider’s web” appearing in The Lord of the Rings Appendix E, the name of tengwa #8 [x] (LotR/1122).

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, ᴱQ. ungwe was a word for “spider” under the early root ᴱ√GUŊU (QL/98). However, in The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹQ. ungwe was glossed “gloom” under the root ᴹ√UÑG (Ety/UÑG) in keeping with the 1930s translation of the name ᴹQ. Ungoliante = “Gloomweaver” (LR/230) where the second element ᴹQ. liante meant “spider” (Ety/SLIG). In notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1940s ungwe was also glossed “(spider) gloom” (PE22/51). In Tolkien’s later writings he said √ungu- was again the basis for “spider words” (PE22/160), which explains the new translation in The Lord of the Rings appendices.

Quenya [LotR/1122; PE17/104] Group: Eldamo. Published by

lia

fine thread, spider filament

lia noun "fine thread, spider filament" (SLIG).

ungwë

spider's web

ungwë noun "spider's web", also name of tengwa #8 (Appendix E), or, in the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, tengwa #20 which letter Tolkien would later call nwalmë (VT46:20). The word as such was defined as "gloom" in the Etymologies(UÑG), while in early "Qenya" it meant "spider" ("especially Ungwë the Gloomweaver" = Ungoliant) (LT1:271)

nenungol

noun. octopus, (lit.) water-spider

A neologism for “crocodile” by Delle posted on 2023-05-08 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of nén (nen-) “water” and ✱ungol “spider”.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

pulungol

noun. tick, (lit.) swelling spider

A neologism for “tick” coined by Luinyelle and posted on 2024-08-10 in the Vinyë Lambengolmor Discord Server (VLDS), a combination of ᴱ√PULU “swell” and ungol “spider”.

Quenya Group: Eldamo - neologism/reconstructions. Published by

ungol Reconstructed

noun. (monstrous) spider

A “neologism” extracted from the name Q. Ungoliantë, which was untranslated in Tolkien’s later writings. Given that S. ungol meant “spider” (Let/180; RC/490, 767) and √ungu- was the basis for spider words (PE22/160), it is very likely that ungol in the Quenya also meant “spider” in Tolkien’s later conception of the languages. However, the latest Quenya word for “spider” in currently published material is ᴹQ. liante. To retain that word I assume that [ᴺQ.] ungol was limited to monstrous spiders, the descendents of Ungoliantë, while liante was used for ordinary spiders; see ᴹQ. liante for further discussion.

Ungoliantë

ungoliant

Ungoliantë fem. name "Ungoliant" (the Spider, ally of Morgoth); also Ungweliantë (UÑG, DYEL, SLIG)

Ungweliantë

ungweliantë

Ungweliantë fem. name, the Spider, ally of Morgoth (UÑG)

ipsin

noun. fine thread

A word for “fine thread” derived from the root √SPIN- in notes from the mid-1960s (PE17/17).

Ipsin

fine thread

Ipsin noun "fine thread" (PE17:17)

lanya

thread

#lanya (3) noun "thread", isolated from hísilanya "mist thread" (PE17:60)

lumbë

gloom, shadow

lumbë noun "gloom, shadow" (LUM)

natsë

web, net

natsë noun "web, net" (NAT)

yaru

gloom, blight

yaru noun "gloom, blight" (GL:37)

Adûnaic

dâur

noun. gloom

A noun translated as “gloom” derived from the root √DAWAR (SD/423). It is an example of how primitive [[ad|[w] and [j] became [u] and [i] before consonants and finally]], thereby producing diphthongs.

Telerin 

fuinë

noun. gloom


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!

Qenya 

liante

noun. spider, spider, [ᴱQ.] tendril, vine

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “spider” derived from the root ᴹ√SLIG with various other derivatives having to do with webs and fine threads (Ety/SLIG). Most notably it was the second element in the name ᴹQ. Ungoliante “Gloomweaver” (LR/230). In the paradigm of The Etymologies, ᴹQ. ungo was “cloud, dark shadow” (Ety/UÑG), not “spider”.

Conceptual Development: In the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa of the 1910s, ᴱQ. liante was glossed “tendril” and was derived from the early root ᴱ√LI+ya “unite many in one” (QL/53, PME/53). In this period it was an element in the name ᴱQ. Ungweliante or Ungwe Lianti “the great spider who enmeshes” (LT1/152), where the intial element ᴱQ. ungwe meant “spider” (QL/98). In the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s, ᴱQ. liante was translated “vine” (PE14/55), as opposed to the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where ᴱQ. liantasse was “vine” (QL/53).

Neo-Quenya: Tolkien gave no other Quenya words for “spider” in his later writings, but S. ungol was glossed “spider” (Let/180; RC/490, 767) and √ungu- was described as the basis for “spider words” (PE22/160), making it very likely that ✱ungol was “spider” in his later conception of the name Q. Ungoliantë. However, I think [ᴹQ.] liante might be reconceived of as a (feminine?) agental form originally meaning “weaver” or “webspinner”. Furthermore, I think [ᴺQ.] ungol might have come to be associated only with monstrous spiders, the descendants of Ungoliantë, so that [ᴹQ.] liante came to be used of ordinary spiders.

lia

noun. fine thread, spider filament, fine thread, spider filament; [ᴱQ.] twine, *wire

A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “fine thread, spider filament” and derived from ᴹ✶ligā under the root ᴹ√SLIG having to do with spider words (Ety/SLIG).

Conceptual Development: The word ᴱQ. lia “twine” appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√LI+ya “unite many as one” with derivatives having to do with threads and vines (QL/53).

Neo-Quenya: In Tolkien’s later writings, √ungu- became the basis for spider words, but I retain ᴹ√SLIG assuming it has to do with threads and strings to salvage words from the 1910s and 30s. As such I’d use lia for threads and strings that are relatively thin compared to other items of their class, especially those crafted by twining: “fine thread”, a “twine” as a thin cord and by extension things like a “✱wire”.

ungoliante

feminine name. Gloomweaver

Qenya [Ety/DYEL; Ety/SLIG; Ety/UÑG; LR/230; LRI/Ungoliantë; RSI/Ungoliant; SMI/Ungoliant] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungwe

noun. gloom

Qenya [Ety/UÑG; EtyAC/UÑG; PE22/022; PE22/051] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Gnomish

cing(win)

noun. spider

A noun for “spider” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s with variants cing and cingwin (GL/26). Tolkien indicated this word was related to G. cang “tangled” (GL/25), which was probably based on the early root ᴱ√KAŊA “weave, twine” (QL/45, 98). The i in cing indicates the primitive form was probably kŋ̣g-, since short syllabic nasals became in in Gnomish.

Gnomish [GL/25; GL/26] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gung

noun. spider

Gnomish [GL/43; GL/46; QL/098] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungwi

noun. spider

ging

noun. spider

gungliont

feminine name. The Spider of Night

Gnomish [GL/43; GL/54; GL/58; LT1/156; LT1A/Ungwë Lianti; LT1I/Ungoliant; PE15/08; PE15/27; QL/098] Group: Eldamo. Published by

gwaidhin

noun. web

A word for “web” in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s, derived from the early root ᴱ√gu̯iđ and related to G. gwidh- “weave” (GL/46). It had a deleted variant gwaith².

gwerlum

feminine name. Gloomweaver

Gnomish [GL/43; GL/46; GL/58; LT1/152; LT1A/Gwerlum; LT1I/Gwerlum; PE13/103; PE15/27] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Quenya

kangaris

noun. spider

A word for “spider” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, based on the verb ᴱQ. kanga- “weave, spin” from the early root ᴱ√KANGA (QL/45), also appearing in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/45).

Early Quenya [PME/045; QL/045] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungwe

noun. spider

Early Quenya [GL/43; LT1A/Ungwë Lianti; LT1I/Ungweliantë; PE16/145; PME/104; QL/098] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungwe fuiva

feminine name. the Spider of Night

Another name for Ungweliante (Ungoliant) doorkeeper in the Qenya Lexicon and Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa from the 1910s (QL/103; PME/81, 104), a combination of ungwe “spider” and fuiva “murky”. In the Qenya Lexicon it also appeared in the variant form Ungwe Tuita (QL/80).

Early Quenya [PE13/103; PME/081; PME/104; QL/080; QL/103] Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungweliante

feminine name. Great Spider Who Enmeshes

Early Quenya [GL/43; GL/75; LT1/152; LT1A/Ungwë Lianti; LT1I/Ungweliantë; LT2I/Ungweliant; PE15/08; QL/098; SMI/Ungoliant] Group: Eldamo. Published by

kangale

noun. web

A word for “web” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, based on the verb ᴱQ. kanga- “weave, spin” from the early root ᴱ√KANGA (QL/45), also appearing in the contemporaneous Poetic and Mythological Words of Eldarissa (PME/45).

Early Quenya [PME/045; QL/045] Group: Eldamo. Published by

nemba

noun. thread

A noun for “thread” in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s derived from the early root ᴱ√NEME having to do with sewing (QL/65).

Early Quenya [PME/065; QL/065] Group: Eldamo. Published by

wirilóme

feminine name. Gloomweaver

Another name for Ungweliante (S. Ungoliant) in the earliest Lost Tales (LT1/152), a combination of some form of the root ᴱ√GWIÐI having to do with weaving and lóme “gloom”, as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LT1A/Gwerlum).

Early Quenya [GL/46; LT1/152; LT1A/Gwerlum; LT1I/Gwerlum; LT1I/Wirilómë; LT2I/Wirilómë; PE13/103; QL/103; SMI/Wirilómë] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Primitive Elvish

guŋu

root. *spider

Early Primitive Elvish [LT1A/Ungwë Lianti; QL/098] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Middle Primitive Elvish

ligā

noun. fine thread, spider filament

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

slignē

noun. spider, spider’s web, cobweb

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

slingē

noun. spider, spider’s web, cobweb

Middle Primitive Elvish Group: Eldamo. Published by

ungwē

noun. gloom

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

Primitive adûnaic

dāw’r

noun. gloom

A Primitive Adûnaic word glossed “gloom” (SD/423), the only attested example of a single-vowel-form for a triconsonantal-root. Ordinarily such a form would not be possible, since final consonant clusters did not appear in Primitive Adûnaic (SD/418, 426). It is possible that such forms were valid in the case of medial semi-vowels [w] and [j], however, since [[ad|[w] and [j] became [u] and [i] before consonants and finally]], thereby preventing a cluster from forming.

Primitive adûnaic [SD/423] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Early Noldorin

ungoliont

feminine name. Gloomweaver

Early Noldorin [LBI/Ungoliant; SM/016] Group: Eldamo. Published by

Doriathrin

nass

noun. web

A Doriathrin noun for “web” (Ety/NAT). Its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. natse indicates a primitive form ✱✶natsē, where the [ts] became [ss] because [[ilk|medial voiceless stops became [s] before [s]]] in Ilkorin.

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