tin

noun. spark

_ n. _spark, sparkle (esp. used of the twinkle of stars). >> ithildin

Tinnúviel

noun. Tindómiel

_prop. n. _Q. Tindómiel. . This gloss was rejected.

Tinnúviel

noun. nightingale

nightingale

Tinnúviel

noun. daughter of twilight

[Etym. TIN-] tindumh (AS “twilight”) + iell (“daughter, child” [Etym. SEL-D] traditional ending for women’s names) [Etym.] AS *Tindômiselde, Q Tindómerel.

Tindobel

noun. starlit village, city

tindu (AS “twilight”) + gobel (“village, town”) #Nd doesn’t become nn within one morpheme as it’s an archaic name.

ti

pronoun. them

tinu

noun. spark, small star

tîn

spark

n. spark, star. Q. tinwe spark (Poet. star).

tin

pronoun. them

tinúviel

nightingale

(”daughter of twilight”, a poetic kenning) (i** dinúviel, o thinúviel), pl. ?tinúvil (i** thinúvil), coll. pl. tinúviellath** **(MR:373, WJ:62)

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), t

olkien may have abandoned this word (or tinc should at least be preferred for clarity).

tiniath

noun. group of stars, star-cluster, constellation

A neologism coined by Paul Strack in 2021 specifically for Eldamo, a class-plural form of S. tîn. This word refers only the entirety of specific group of stars; all stars that exist (or in the sky) would be S. giliath. As an ordinary class-plural, tiniath may also refer to any collection of sparkling things.

tinna

glint

(vb.) *tinna- (cited as a ”Noldorin” infinitive tinno) (i dinna, i thinnar). Noun

tinna

glint

(cited as a ”Noldorin” infinitive tinno) (i dinna, i thinnar). Noun

tinnu

dusk

tinnu (i dinnu, o thinnu) (twilight, starlit evening, early night without a moon, starry twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

dusk

(i dinnu, o thinnu) (twilight, starlit evening, early night without a moon, starry twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

starlit evening

(i** dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight, early night without a moon), pl. tinny (i** thynny) if there is a pl. Verb

tinnu

twilight

(i** dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, starlit evening, early night without a moon, starry twilight), pl. tinny (i** thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

starry twilight

tinnu (i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight, starlit evening, early night without a moon), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

early night without a moon

tinnu (i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight, starlit evening), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

early night without a moon

tinnu (i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

starlit evening

tinnu (i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight, early night without a moon), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl. Verb

tinnu

starlit evening

tinnu (i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight, early night without a moon), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tinnu

early night without a moon

(i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl.

tint

spark

1) tint (i dint, o thint), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thint), coll. pl. tinnath; 2) tinu (i dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds), analogical pl. tiny (i thiny). The word is also used =

tint

spark

(i dint, o thint), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thint), coll. pl. tinnath

tinu

small star

(i** dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds) (spark), analogical pl. tiny (i** thiny). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely  tinwath.

tinu

spark

(i dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds), analogical pl. tiny (i thiny). The word is also used =

tinu

small star

tinu (i dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds) (spark), analogical pl. tiny (i thiny). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely tinwath.

tinu

small star

tinu (i dinu, o thinu; also -din at the end of compounds) (spark), analogical pl. tiny (i thiny), coll. pl. tinwath

tingen

adjective. metallic

tinc

eminent

should at least be preferred for clarity).

till

tine

_ n. _tine, spike, point. >> Celebdil

dúlin

noun. nightingale

A word for “nightingale” appearing in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a combination of N. dû “night” and N. lhinn “tune” (Ety/DOƷ, Ety/LIN², TIN). It appeared as both dúlinn (Ety/LIN²) and dúlin (Ety/TIN). In The Notion Club Papers of the 1940s, Tolkien instead gave duilin “nightingale” as a derivative of primitive ᴹ✶dōmilindē, demonstrating a phonetic development whereby the ancient m became v and then vanished after the u, but the medial i was preserved. However, Christopher Tolkien used the form dúlin in The Silmarillion appendix (SA/dú), and that form is thus better known.

celebdil

place name. Silvertine

Sindarin name of a peak in the Misty Mountains translated “Silvertine”, itself a translation of Kh. Zirakzigil of the same meaning (LotR/283). This name is a combination of celeb “silver” and the lenited form of till “point, spike”.

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Tolkien first wrote this name as N. Celebras “Silverhorn” before settling on N. Celebdil (TI/174, 306).

till

noun. point, spike, (sharp) horn, tine, ending

dúlin

noun. nightingale

mîw

tiny

(small, frail), lenited vîw, no distinct pl. form

till

tine

till (i dill, o thill, construct til; also -dil, -thil at the end of compounds) (spike, point, sharp horn, sharp-pointed peak), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thill). Archaic †tild.

till

tine

(i dill, o thill, construct til; also -dil, -thil at the end of compounds) (spike, point, sharp horn, sharp-pointed peak), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thill). Archaic †tild.

tithen

tiny

1) tithen (lenited dithen, pl. tithin) (little), 2) mîw (small, frail), lenited vîw, no distinct pl. form; 3) pigen (lenited bigen; pl. pigin)

tudh

noun. tinder

pigen

tiny

(lenited bigen; pl. pigin)

tithen

tiny

(lenited dithen, pl. tithin) (little)

dúlinn

nightingale

1) dúlinn (i dhúlinn) (dusk-singer), same form pl. except with article (i núlinn) (SD:302). 2) merilin (i verilin), no distinct pl. form except with article (i merilin), coll. pl. merilinnath. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” ”moerilind” = mörilind. 3) tinúviel (”daughter of twilight”, a poetic kenning) (i dinúviel, o thinúviel), pl. ?tinúvil (i thinúvil), coll. pl. tinúviellath (MR:373, WJ:62)

merilin

nightingale

(i** verilin), no distinct pl. form except with article (i** merilin), coll. pl. merilinnath. Suggested Sindarin form of ”Noldorin” ”moerilind” = mörilind.

dúlinn

nightingale

(i** dhúlinn) (dusk-singer), same form pl. except with article (i** núlinn) (SD:302).

pîn

adjective. little

Similar words occur in Gnomish (pinig "tiny, little", PE/11:64) and in Qenya (pinea "small" etc., PE/12:73)

raud

noun. metal

A noun appearing as N. rhaud “metal” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√RAUTĀ of the same meaning (Ety/RAUTĀ). In that document, it was the basis for the second element of the names Finrod, Angrod and Damrod. In Tolkien’s later writings the second element of these names were based on S. raud “noble” instead. This 1930s “metal” word might reappear in Rodëol “metal of Eöl” in drafts of the Silmarillion from the 1950s, since in Sindarin initial r did not become rh as it did in Noldorin. For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I think it best to stick to [N.] tinc “metal”

aeg

point

1) aeg (peak, thorn). No distinct pl. form. Note: aeg is also used as adj. "sharp, pointed, piercing". 2) naith (spearhead, gore, wedge, promontory); no distinct pl. form. 3) nass (sharp end, angle, corner), construct nas, pl. nais. 4)

aeg

point

(peak, thorn). No distinct pl. form. Note: aeg is also used as adj. "sharp, pointed, piercing".

aew

small bird

. No distinct pl. form.

carag

spike

1) carag (i garag, o charag) (tooth of rock), pl. ceraig (i cheraig). 2) ceber (i geber, o cheber) (stake, stone ridge), pl. cebir (i chebir). A lenited pl. form occurs in the name Sarn Gebir. 3) till (i dill, o thill, construct til; also -dil, -thil at the end of compounds) (spike, tine, point, sharp horn, sharp-pointed peak), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thill). Archaic †tild.

fuin

night, nightshade, dead of night

(gloom, darkness). No distinct pl. form.

glaer

long lay

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

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;

gwenig

little baby

(i ’wenig, no distinct pl. form except with article: in gwenig). Also used (in children’s play) as a name of the little finger. (VT47:6, 16-17)

gîl

silver glint

(i ngîl = i ñîl, o n’gîl = o ñgîl, construct gil) (star, bright spark), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. *giliath (RGEO, MR:388)*

gîl

star

gîl (i ngîl = i ñîl, o n**gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath** (RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

gîl

star

(i ngîl = i ñîl, o n’gîl, construct gil) (bright spark, silver glint), no distinct pl. form except with article (in gîl = i ñgîl), coll. pl. giliath **(RGEO, MR:388). Poetic †êl (elen-, pl. **elin, coll. pl. elenath) (RGEO, Letters:281, WJ:363).

ist

knowledge

ist (lore); no distinct pl. form.

ist

knowledge

(lore); no distinct pl. form.

laes

babe

laes (no distinct pl. form);

laes

babe

(no distinct pl. form);

lim

sparkling

(adj.) lim (clear, light), no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means ”fish”.

lim

sparkling

(clear, light), no distinct pl. form. Note: a homophone means ”fish”.

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.

muil

twilight

(i vuil) (dreariness, shadow, vagueness), no distinct pl. except with article (i muil)

mîw

small

1) mîw (tiny, frail), lenited vîw, no distinct pl. form, 2) niben (petty), pl. nibin. Also used as a name for the the little finger. (VT48:6) 3) SMALL (and frail) nimp, no distinct pl. form (VT48:18)

mîw

small

(tiny, frail), lenited vîw, no distinct pl. form

naith

point

(spearhead, gore, wedge, promontory); no distinct pl. form.

nimp

small

no distinct pl. form (VT48:18)

thela

spear point

(-thel), pl. ?thili, 3) aith; no distinct pl. form.

thîn

evening

†*thîn (no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. thíniath). The form cited in LR:392 s.v. __ is not marked as containing a long vowel (“thin”).

thîn

evening

(no distinct pl. form; coll. pl. thíniath). The form cited in LR:392 s.v. THIN is not marked as containing a long vowel (“thin”).

till

spike

(i** dill, o thill, construct til; also -dil, -thil at the end of compounds) (spike, tine, point, sharp horn, sharp-pointed peak), no distinct pl. form except with article (i** thill). Archaic †tild.

till

point

till (i dill, o thill, construct til; also -dil, -thil at the end of compounds) (spike, tine, sharp horn, sharp-pointed peak), no distinct pl. form except with article (i thill). Archaic †tild. 5)

till

point

(i** dill, o thill, construct til; also -dil, -thil at the end of compounds) (spike, tine, sharp horn, sharp-pointed peak), no distinct pl. form except with article (i** thill). Archaic †tild. 5)

tim

small star

(MR:388). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely  tinwath. 3)

tim

small star

. In First Age North Sindarin this word appears as tim (MR:388). Archaic tinw, so the coll. pl. is likely tinwath. 3)

tithen

little

1) tithen (lenited dithen, pl. tithin) (tiny), 2) pîn (lenited bîn; no distinct pl. form) (RC:536).

uial

twilight

1) uial (pl. uiail if there is a pl.). This can be specified as: 1) (morning twilight) minuial (i vinuial) (dawn, morrowdim), pl. minuiail (i minuiail). 2) (second twilight, before nightfall) aduial (evendim, the time of evening when the stars come out), pl. aduiail. Other terms for twilight: 1) tinnu (i dinnu, o thinnu) (dusk, starlit evening, early night without a moon, starry twilight), pl. tinny (i thynny) if there is a pl. 2) muil (i vuil) (dreariness, shadow, vagueness), no distinct pl. except with article (i muil)

-il

point

suff. point, ending. >> niphredil, til

Míriel

noun. sparkling like a jewel

aduial

noun. the evening, time of star-opening, "evendim"

aeg

noun. point

The adjective oeg "sharp, pointed, piercing" from Ety/349 is perhaps rejected: Tolkien later decided that no cognate of Quenya aica "fell, terrible, dire" was used in Sindarin, "though aeg would have been its form if it had occurred" (PM/347). On the other hand, we have words such as aeglos and aeglir , so there must be a noun aeg "point"

cal-

verb. to shine

cidinn

adjective. small

_ adj. _small. Q. cinta.

cinnog

adjective. small

_ adj. _small. Q. cinta.

dîn

noun. silence

Adjectival use seems to be attested in several place names (Amon Dín "Silent Hill", etc.), though an adjective dínen.1 is also attested (Rath Dínen "Silent Street"). When compared with other toponyms where lenition does occur (Taur-na-Chardhîn "Forest of the Southern Silence" in WJ/185,193 and Dor Dhínen in WJ/333,338), the forms dîn and dínen clearly seem to be unmutated. Absence of lenition in these examples from LotR was therefore tentatively explained by resistance to mutation (as in Nan Tathren, Ered Mithrin). However, Tolkien apparently changed his mind in his unfinished index of names from LotR, where he explains both words as mutated adjectives whose unlenited forms are respectively tîn.2
and tínen . Such hesitations between mutated and unmutated forms is not unusual, for instance a similar issue is met with gaear and aear . Of course, Taur-na-Chardhîn and Dor Dhínen would hardly be explainable in that alternate scenario

dîn

noun. silence

_ n. _silence. >> Amon Dîn, dínen

el

star

n. star.

elen

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath _n._star. Its collective plural (pl2.) designates 'the (host of all the) stars, (all) the (visible) stars of the firmament'. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni. o menel aglar elenath ! lit. 'from Firmament glory of the stars !'. >> êl

elen

noun. star

gil

noun. star, bright spark

In The Etymologies (Ety/358, corrected by VT/45:15), this word was given as geil , plural gîl. However, later in LotR/E and RGEO/73, Tolkien seems to consider gil as a singular (with no hints in the sources of what the plural would be, besides the collective plural giliath )

gil-

noun. star

gil-

prefix. spark

_ pref. _spark, often used for 'star'. Form of gail/geil in compounds. >> gail, geil, Gilgalad

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

gill

noun. star

gwein

adjective. young

adj. young. Q. vinya. >> gwîn

gwein

adjective. young

gûl

noun. knowledge

n. knowledge, deep knowledge not 'occult' in modern sense, but applied to the deper knowledge of the 'wise' or skilled persons, not kept secret (as [?among the] Elves) but not attainable by all. Q. ñōle, B.S. gûl phantom, shadow of dark magic, necromancer, slave, servant?. The B.S. word gûl was prob. derived from ngōl-.

hên

noun. child (mostly used as a prefix in patronymics or metronymics)

hên

noun. child

A word for “child” derived from the root √KHIN, more specifically from ✶khinā with short i which became e in Sindarin due to a-affection (WJ/403). It often appeared in its mutated plural form chîn in phrases like Narn i Chîn Húrin “Tale of the Children of Húrin” (WJ/160). This is pronounced with spirantal “ch” as in German Bach, not affricate “ch” as in English “church”.

Christopher Tolkien made the editorial decision to render this plural form as Hîn in The Silmarillion as published as well as in Unfinished Tales, where it “was improperly changed by me [Christopher Tolkien] to Narn i Hîn Húrin ... because I did not want Chîn to be pronounced like Modern English chin” (LR/322).

In the Quendi and Eldar (Q&E) essay of 1959-60, Tolkien said “S has hên, pl. hîn, mostly used as a prefix in patronymics or metronymics”, meaning this word was often used to mean “child of” in reference to one’s parents, for example Túrin hen Húrin or Túrin hen Morwen.

laes

noun. babe

moth

noun. dusk

niben

adjective. small, petty

niben

adjective. little finger (Elvish play-name used by and taught to children)

nimp

adjective. small and frail

pîn

adjective. little

raud

noun. metal

til

point

n. point, ending. >> -il, niphredil

toniel

noun. kindler

uial

noun. twilight

uial

noun. twilight

_ n. _twilight. Q. úyale, yúyal.

êl

noun. star (little used except in verses)

êl

star

pl1. elin, pl2. elenath** ** n. star. Q. elen, pl1. eldi, eleni, pl2. elelli. >> elen

êl

noun. star

A Sindarin word for “star” that is largely archaic and poetic, and is mainly used as element in names like Elrond (Let/281; WJ/363; Ety/EL); the more usual word for “star” in ordinary speech was gil (RGEO/65). However, the collective form elenath is still used in common speech to refer to the entire host of stars (WJ/363). The plural of êl is elin, as this word was derived from ancient ✶elen, and the final n that was lost in the singular was preserved in the plural. In some cases Tolkien posited a restored analogical singular elen from the plural form (PE17/24, 67, 139), but this isn’t in keeping with the notion that the word was archaic, so I would ignore this for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

Conceptual Development: This word and its root first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, where N. el “star” was derived from the root ᴹ√EL of similar meaning, but was “only [used] in names” (Ety/EL). It seems Tolkien introduced the root to give a new etymology for names like N. Elrond and N. Elwing, which initially appeared under the root ᴹ√ƷEL “sky” (Ety/ƷEL).

carag

spike

(i** garag, o charag) (tooth of rock), pl. ceraig (i** cheraig).

ceber

spike

(i** geber, o cheber) (stake, stone ridge), pl. **cebir (i** chebir). A lenited pl. form occurs in the name Sarn** Gebir.

daw

nighttime

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

dess

young woman

(i ness, o ndess, constuct des), pl. diss (i ndiss)

dúath

nightshade

(i dhúath) (dark shadow), pl. dúaith (i núaith).

dû

dusk

(i dhû) (night, nightfall, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302).

dû

late evening

(i dhû) (night, nightfall, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302).

dû

night

(i dhû) (nightfall, dusk, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302)

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).

ecthel

spear point

(pl. ecthil), literally "thorn point”

eruchen

children of the one

)

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)*

gilion

of stars

(lenited ngilion; pl. gilioen). Archaic ✱giliaun.

glâd

small forest

(i ’lâd, construct glad) (wood), pl. glaid (in glaid).

hain

them

hain (of inanimates) One entry in the Etymologies ( LR:385 s.v. S-) may be taken as implying that the pronouns ”they” (and ”them”?) are hein of inanimates, hîn of women and huin of men. For ”Noldorin” hein and huin we may have to read hain and hŷn, respectively, in Third Age Sindarin.

hain

them

(of inanimates) One entry in the Etymologies ( LR:385 s.v. S-) may be taken as implying that  the pronouns ”they” (and ”them”?) are hein of inanimates, hîn of women and huin of men. For ”Noldorin” hein and huin we may have to read hain and hŷn, respectively, in Third Age Sindarin.

hên

child

hên (i chên), pl. hîn (i chîn); also -chen, pl. -chín at the end of compounds (e.g. Eruchín ”Children of Eru”). _(WJ:403) _CHILDREN OF THE ONE (Elves and Men as children of God) Eruchín** **(sg. *Eruchen)

hên

child

(i chên), pl. hîn (i chîn); also -chen, pl. -chín at the end of compounds (e.g. Eruchín ”Children of Eru”). (WJ:403)

hûb

small landlocked bay

(i chûb, o chûb, construct hub) (harbour, haven), pl. huib (i chuib).

ista

have knowledge

(i ista, in istar), pa.t. sint or istas (VT45:18).

laes

noun. babe

lilla-

なな¸%`C verb. dance, to dance

lilt

なな%1 noun. dance

lilt

noun. dance

liltha-

verb. to dance

ment

point

(at the end of a thing) ment (i vent), pl. mint (i mint), coll. pl. mennath.

ment

point

(i vent), pl. mint (i mint), coll. pl. mennath**. **

minuial

twilight

(i vinuial) (dawn, morrowdim), pl. minuiail (i minuiail).

morn

night

(i vorn) (darkness), pl. myrn (i myrn). Note: the word is also used as an adjective ”dark, black” (Letters:386).

moth

dusk

1) moth (i voth), pl. myth (i myth). David Salo would read *môth with a long vowel. 2) dû (i dhû) (night, nightfall, late evening, darkness), pl. dui (i nui) (SD:302).

moth

dusk

(i voth), pl. myth (i myth). David Salo would read ✱môth with a long vowel.

míriel

sparkling like a jewel

(lenited víriel, pl. míril) (jewel-like)

nartha

kindle

nartha- (i nartha, in narthar) (VT45:37)

nass

point

(sharp end, angle, corner), construct nas, pl. nais.

nasta

point

(verb) nasta- (i nasta, in nastar) (prick, stick, thrust)

nasta

point

(i nasta, in nastar) (prick, stick, thrust)

neth

young

neth (pl. nith). A homophone is the noun ”sister, girl”.

neth

young

(pl. nith). A homophone is the noun ”sister, girl”.

niben

small

(petty), pl. nibin. Also used as a name for the the little finger. (VT48:6) 

pêg

small spot

(i** bêg, construct peg) (dot), pl. pîg (i** phîg) 

pêg

dot

pêg (i bêg, construct peg) (small spot), pl. pîg (i phîg)

pêg

dot

(i bêg, construct peg) (small spot), pl. pîg (i phîg)

rafn

extended point at the side

(wing, horn), pl. raifn (idh raifn).

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

thinna

grow toward evening

(fade).

thoniel

kindler

(feminine) #thoniel (pl. thonil). Isolated from Vardas title Gilthoniel, Star-kindler.

tinda

glinting, silver

tinda (1) adj. "glinting, silver" (TIN)

Tindómisel

noun. nightingale

PQ. nightingale

tindómerel

noun. nightingale

TQ. nightingale

tindómizel

noun. nightingale

PQ. nightingale

tindómerel

feminine name. Daughter of Twilight

The Quenya name of Tinúviel (SA/tin, PE19/73). Since she was a Sindarin elf, this name is largely theoretical, as a development from the same primitive form: ✶Tindōmiselde. This name is a compound of tindómë and a suffixal form -rel of seldë “daughter”. In a couple places, Tolkien used this name to illustrated the development of primitive intervocalic ✶[s] into Quenya [r] (PE19/33, 73).

Conceptual Development: The earliest “Qenya” name for Tinúviel was ᴹQ. Tinúviel in linguistic notes from the early 1930s; it was declined in various noun cases, and was clearly intended to be a purely Qenya name rather than an adaptation of the Noldorin Tinúviel (PE21/35). The name ᴹQ. Tindómerel appeared in The Etymologies from the mid-1930s, where it already had the derivation described above (Ety/SEL-D, TIN). In some notes on Quenya phonology from the 1930s, this name appeared as Tindómirel with a medial i (PE19/33), but in a revision of those notes from the 1950s it was reverted back to Tindómerel (PE19/73). It appeared as (Tindómrl) in some examples of left-handed tengwar writing from the 1960s (VT47/37); Tolkien probably neglected to add the vowel diacritics in this case.

tinwë

noun. spark, [apparent] star

A word that technically means “spark”, but was often applied to stars as well (PE17/66, RGEO/61), derived from the root √TIN “spark(le)” (MR/388; PE17/22).

Conceptual Development: ᴱQ. tinwe was used for “star” all the way back in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, where it was also derived from the root ᴱ√TINI “twinkle” (QL/92). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it appeared as ᴹQ. tinwe “spark (star)” with the primitive form ᴹ✶tinmē under the root ᴹ√TIN “sparkle, emit slender (silver pale) beams” (Ety/TIN); the gloss was corrected from “sparkle (star)” to “spark (star)” by Carl Hostetter and Patrick Wynne in their Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies (EtyAC/TIN). The word and its derivation appeared numerous times in Tolkien’s later writings, making it exceptionally stable in his mind.

tintallë

feminine name. (Star) Kindler

A title of Varda as maker of the stars (LotR/377). The first element of this name is the verb tinta- “to kindle” (SA/tin, MR/388), and the second element is the feminine agental suffix -llë (PE17/69).

Conceptual Development: The name ᴹQ. Tintalle appears in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (LR/200, 212), as well as in The Etymologies (Ety/TIN). In The Etymologies, the variant form ᴹQ. Tintánie “star-maker, star-making” also appeared (Ety/TIN, TAN; EtyAC/TAN), which seems to be a combination of the roots ᴹ√TIN “sparkle” and ᴹ√TAN “make” with the abstract noun ending ᴹQ. -ie; this name did not appear in the narratives, however.

In Notes on Galadriel’s Song (NGS) from the late 1950s or early 1960s, Tolkien considered and rejected the root √TAN “construct” as an element in the name Tintallë (PE17/69). After this rejection, he decided that the final element -lle was a feminine agental suffix, but this unfortunately clashed with the contemporaneous 2nd-plural pronominal suffix -llë “you”. Tolkien considered changing Varda’s title to Tintalde to avoid this conflict (PE17/69). In later writings, he revised the 2nd-plural pronoun to -ldë instead (VT49/16, 51), which allowed Tintallë to stand unchanged.

Tindómiel

daughter of twilight

Tindómiel, fem. name (UT:210), probably *"daughter of twilight" (tindómë + -iel) and thus the equivalent of Sindarin Tinúviel. Compare tindómerel.

Tintallë

kindler

Tintallë noun "Kindler", a title of Varda who kindled the stars (TIN, Nam, RGEO:67). From tinta- "kindle, make to sparkle" (MR:388). According to PE17:69, the form "should be Tintalde", apparently because -llë was at the time the ending for plural "you" and Tintallë could be taken as meaning *"you kindle" rather than as a noun "Kindler". However, Tolkien later changed the pronominal suffix, eliminating the clash of forms while leaving Tintallë correct (after the revision, it was *tintaldë itself that would be the verb "you kindle").

Tintanië

kindler

Tintanië noun "Kindler" = Varda (TIN; Tintánië under TAN, which according to VT46:17 Tolkien interpreted both as "Star-maker" and "Star-making")

Tinwerontar

star-queen, title of varda

[Tinwerontar] noun "star-queen, title of Varda" (TIN, TĀ/TA3)

Tinwetar

star-queen, queen of stars

[Tinwetar] noun "star-queen, Queen of Stars", title of Varda (TIN, TĀ/TA3)

tin-

verb. glint, spark, glitter

tin- vb. "glint, spark, glitter" (3rd pers. aorist tinë "it glints") (TIN, PE17:69)

tindë

glint

tindë noun "glint" (TIN)

tindómerel

daughter of twilight

tindómerel (also capitalized Tindómerel) fem. name "daughter of twilight", a kenning (poetic name) of the nightingale; = Sindarin Tinúviel. (TIN, SEL-D, SA:tin; "Tindómrl" in mirrored Tengwar in VT47:37 would seem to be an incomplete annotation of the same word). The form Tindómiel (UT:210) could well be an alternative Quenya equivalent of Tinúviel, and it is possibly to be preferred because the status of the ending -rel "daughter" is uncertain (it was to represent older -zel, -sel corresponding to the independent word seldë, but Tolkien changed the meaning of this word from "daughter" to "child", and since the word for "child" appears as hína in later texts, it may be that seldë and the corresponding ending -rel were dropped altogether).

tindómë

starry twilight, starlit dusk

tindómë noun "starry twilight, starlit dusk" (DOMO, TIN, SA:tin), usually of the time near dawn, not near evening (SA:tin)

tingilindë

twinkling star

tingilindë noun "a twinkling star" (TIN, VT45:15)

tingilya

twinkling star

tingilya noun "a twinkling star" (TIN), also divided ting-ilya (VT45:15)

tinta-

verb. kindle, cause to sparkle

tinta- vb. "kindle, cause to sparkle", cf. Tintallë (TIN, SA:tin, MR:388)

tintina-

verb. sparkle

tintina- vb. "sparkle" (actually glossed "it sparkles") (TIN)

tinwë

spark

tinwë noun "spark" (gloss misquoted as "sparkle" in the Etymologies as printed in LR, see VT46:19), also "star"; pl. tinwi "sparks", properly used of the star-imagines on Nur-menel (q.v.). Cf. nillë. (TIN, MR:388) In early "Qenya", tinwë was simply glossed "star" (LT1:269, cf. MC:214). In one late source, the meaning of tinwë is given as "spark", and it is said that this word (like Sindarin gil) was used of the stars of heaven "in place of the older and more elevated el, elen- stem" (VT42:11).

tinco

noun. metal

A word for “metal” in Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings as the name of tengwa #1 [1] and the tincotéma series of tengwar. ᴹQ. tinko “metal” first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√TINKŌ of the same meaning (Ety/TINKŌ). It also appeared in notes on The Feanorian Alphabet from the 1930s and 40s (PE22/22, 50, 61), already the name of tengwa #1 and its corresponding series.

Conceptual Development: A possible precursor is ᴱQ. sink (sinq-) “mineral, gem, metal” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√SINI “pale blue” (QL/83). Hints of this earlier word can be seen in ✶sinkitamo >> sintamo “[metal] smith” in notes from the late 1960s.

Tinwerína

star-crowned

Tinwerína adj. used as noun: place-name "Star-crowned", variant of Elerrína as a name of Taniquetil (RIG, PE17:182)

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)

tinda

spike

tinda (2) noun "spike" (LT1:258; probably obsoleted by # 1 above)

tindon

lay

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

tinga-

verb. to twang, make a twang

tinga- vb. (not glossed, evidently meaning *"to twang, make a twang") (TING/TANG)

tingë

twang

tingë noun "twang" (TING/TANG)

tintila-

verb. twinkle

tintila- vb. "twinkle", present (or maybe rather aorist) pl. tintilar (Nam, RGEO:67)

tinwelindon

like stars

tinwelindon similative noun "like stars" (MC:213, MC:220; this is a "Qenya" similative form in -ndon and with pl. in -li)

tincotéma

noun. t-series

tincotéma

noun. t-series

t-series

tincoina

adjective. metallic

tusturë

tinder

tusturë noun "tinder" (LT1:270)

-llë

one of several suffixes indicating feminine agent

-llë (1) "one of several suffixes indicating feminine agent", as in Tintallë "kindler" vs. the verb tinta- "to kindle". In the source _(PE17:69) _Tolkien noted that -llë was little used because of the clash with the pronominal ending -llë (see #2 below), but the latter ending was later revised.

morilindë

nightingale

morilindë noun "nightingale" (MOR)

titta

little, tiny

titta adj. "little, tiny" (TIT)

tixë

dot, tiny mark, point

tixë ("ks")noun "dot, tiny mark, point" (TIK)

lómë

dusk, twilight

lómë noun "dusk, twilight", also "night"; according to SD:415, the stem is lómi- (contrast the "Qenya" genitive lómen rather than **lómin in VT45:28). According to PE17:152, lómë refers to night "when viewed favourably, as a rule, but it became the general rule" (cf. SD:414-415 regarding lōmi as an Adûnaic loan-word based on lómë, meaning "fair night, a night of stars" with "no connotations of gloom or fear"). In the battle-cry auta i lómë "the night is passing" (Silm. ch. 20), the "night" would however seem to refer metaphorically to the reign of Morgoth. As for the gloss, cf. Lómion masc. name "Child of Twilight [dusk]", the Quenya name Aredhel secretly gave to Maeglin _(SA). Otherwise lómë is usually defined as "night" (Letters:308, LR:41, SD:302 cf.414-15, SA:dú)_; the _Etymologies defines lómë as "Night [as phenomenon], night-time, shades of night, Dark" (DO3/DŌ, LUM, DOMO, VT45:28), or "night-light" (VT45:28, reading of _lómë uncertain). In early "Qenya" the gloss was "dusk, gloom, darkness" (LT1:255). Cf. lómelindëpl. lómelindi "nightingale" _(SA:dú, LR:41; SD:302, MR:172, DO3/DŌ, LIN2, TIN). _Derived adjective #lómëa "gloomy" in Lómëanor "Gloomyland"; see Taurelilómëa-tumbalemorna...

tusturë

noun. tinder, chips, firewood

elerrína

place name. Crowned with Stars

Another name of Taniquetil (S/37), a compound of elen “star” and rína “crowned”. The final -n of elen was assimilated to the r, which also happened in the names Elerondo and Elerossë.

Conceptual Development: This name first appeared in Silmarillion drafts from the early 1930s as ᴹQ. Tinwenairin (SM/81) using the earlier word ᴹQ. tinwe for star. In drafts from the mid-30s the name was changed to ᴹQ. Tinwerína and then ᴹQ. Elerína (LR/209, 210). Both of these names appeared in The Etymologies, Tinwerína as a derivative of ᴹ√RIG (Ety/RIG) and Elerína in a later marginal note near ᴹ√EL (Ety/EL). The form was changed to Elerrína with two r’s in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (MR/154) and remain so thereafter, though Tinwerína briefly reappeared in some notes from the 1950s (PE17/182).

-ldë

kindler

-ldë (2) feminine agental suffix. Tolkien at one point commented that Vardas title Tintallë "Kindler" should be Tintaldë because the ending -llë was rather the suffix for plural "you" (PE17:69). Since this pronominal suffix -llë was later revised to -ldë, it is now the ending of Tintaldë itself that would be potentially problematic.

Nur-menel

nur-menel

Nur-menel noun the lesser firmament, a great dome covering Valinor, made by Varda and full of star-imagines (see tinwë, nillë). It was a simulacrum of Tar-menel, the true firmament (MR:388)

hína

noun. child

A word for “child” derived from the root √KHIN (PE17/157; WJ/403), most notably an element in Eruhíni “Children of God”, a term for Elves and Men as the children of Eru. This word illustrates that hína has an abnormal plural form: híni rather than the expected ✱✱hínar. A variant hina with a short i was “only used in the vocative addressing a (young) child, especially in hinya (< hinanya) ‘my child’ (WJ/403)”.

Conceptual Development: The term Êruhîn “Children of God” first appeared as an Adûnaic word in the 1940s (SD/247-8, 358), later adapted as Quenya Eruhíni and Sindarin Eruchîn, which seems to be the source of Q. hína and S. hên “child”. At one point Tolkien coined masculine and feminine variants Q. hindo and Q. hindë, but they were deleted (PE17/157). Tolkien often used an alternate Quenya form sén (MR/423; UT/274; RGEO/66), perhaps out of a desire to have a Sindarin form Eruhîn that was closer to the original Adûnaic form. This variant continued to appear as late as 1969, where sén was written below Eruhíni as a variant form in Late Notes on Verbs (LVS: PE22/158).

nessa

young

nessa adj. "young" (NETH), alsoNessa as name of a Valië, the spouse of Tulkas (adopted and adapted from Valarin, or an archaic Elvish formation: WJ:404 vs. 416). Also called Indis, "bride" (NETH, NI1). The fem. name Nessanië (UT:210) would seem to incorporate Nessa's name; the second element could mean "tear" (nië), but since Nessa is not normally associated with sorrow, this #nië is perhaps rather a variant of ní "female" (compare Tintanië as a variant of Tintallë).

quingi

twang, of strings, harp

quingi("q")noun "twang, of strings, harp" (LT1:256; rather tingë, tango in Tolkien's later Quenya)

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)

seldë

child

seldë noun "child" (meaning changed by Tolkien from "daughter"; in his later texts the Quenya word for "child" is rather hína, and the final status of seldë is uncertain. See also tindómerel.) (SEL-D, VT46:13, 22-23) In one late source, Tolkien reverts to the meaning "daughter", but this may have been replaced by anel, q.v.

sincahonda

adjective. flint-hearted

A word for “flint-hearted” in Treebeard’s description of orcs, a combination of Q. sinca “flint” and Q. honda “hearted” (LotR/979; PE17/111).

Conceptual Development: In 1940s Lord of the Rings drafts, this word first appeared as ᴹQ. tingahondo (SD/68).

tango

twang

tango noun "twang" (TING/TANG)

tunda-

verb. kindle

tunda- vb. "kindle" (LT1:270; rather tinta- or narta- in Tolkien's later Quenya)

turu-

verb. kindle

turu- (2) vb. "kindle" (a "Qenya" form from LT1:270; rather narta- or tinta- in LotR-style Quenya)

undómë

twilight

undómë noun "twilight", usually of the time near evening, not near dawn (that is tindómë)

él

noun. star

An archaic or poetic word for star (WJ/362), somewhat common in compounds but in ordinary speech typically appearing as elen. It was derived directly from the primitive root √EL “behold”, the basis for other star words (PM/340; WJ/360).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared as poetical ᴹQ. él “star” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, already with the derivation given above, though in this document the root ᴹ√EL meant “star” (Ety/EL), a common gloss for the root in later writings as well.

elen

noun. star

The most common Quenya word for “star”, mentioned very frequently, derived from an extended form ✶elen of the root √EL “behold” (PE17/67; WJ/360, 362). Its usual plural form is eleni, but it has an archaic plural †eldi sometimes used in verse, the result of the Ancient Quenya sound whereby [[aq|[ln] became [ld]]] after the ancient plural underwent the Quenya syncope, ✶elenī > AQ. elni; its normal modern plural form eleni was actually a reformation from the singular (PE17/57, 151; WJ/362).

Conceptual Development: This word first appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s, though in the original entry for the root ᴹ√EL Tolkien said it was poetical and gave variants ellen and elena (Ety/EL).

picina

adjective. little

Elentári

star-queen

Elentári noun "Star-queen", title of Varda (EL, SA:tar)

Elerína

star-crowned

Elerína adj. used as noun:"star-crowned", a name of Taniquetil (EL, RIG), spelt Elerrína in Silm

Nolmë

knowledge, philosophy (including science)

Nolmë ("ñ")noun "knowledge, Philosophy (including Science)" (PM:360 cf. 344)

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.

cal-

verb. to shine

calta-

verb. to kindle, to kindle, [ᴹQ.] (cause to) shine, light up, [ᴱQ.] set light to

This causative verb meaning “kindle, cause to shine” was based on the root √KAL “light; shine” and had a lengthy history in Tolkien’s Elvish languages. ᴱQ. kalta- “kindle, set light to” first appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s under the early root ᴱ√KALA “shine golden” (QL/44), but in The Etymologies of the 1930s ᴹQ. kalta- was only glossed “shine” (Ety/KAL). However in the Quenya Verbal System (QVS) from 1948 kaltā́ was given as an example of causative verbs and glossed “cause to shine, light up, or kindle (lamp etc.)” (PE22/114). In Common Eldarin: Verb Structure from the early 1950s (primitive) kalta- was glossed “cause to shine, kindle” (PE22/156). This verb also appeared in Late Notes on Verb Structure (LVS) from 1969 as an element in the adjective Q. lacaltaima “not possible to be kindled”.

cendë

point

cendë noun "point" (PE16:96)

cendë

noun. point

cinta

small

cinta adj. "small" (PE17:157)

cinta

adjective. small

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)

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).

elen

star

elen noun "star" (SA:êl, elen, EL, VT49:39); pl. eleni (occasionally in verse: eldi) (WJ:362, PE17:127); partitive pl. elelli for elenli (PE17:127), gen. pl. elenion in the phrase Elenion Ancalima "brightest of stars" (LotR2:IV ch. 9; see Letters:385 for translation); elen atta "two stars" (VT49:44), genitive elen atto "of two stars" (VT49:45), eleni neldë "three stars", archaic elenion neldë = "of stars three". Genitive "of 3 stars" = elenion neldë (for archaic elenion neldëo) (VT49:45). Allative elenna "starwards" used as name of Númenor _(Silm; see Elenna)_; ablative pl. elenillor "from stars" in Markirya. **Nai elen siluva ***"may a star shine", VT49:38.

handë

knowledge, understanding, intelligence

handë noun "knowledge, understanding, intelligence" (KHAN). Note: *handë is (probably) also the past tense of the verb har- "sit".

histë

dusk

histë noun "dusk" (LT1:255)

hína

child

hína noun "child", also hina used in the vocative to a (young) child (also hinya "my child", for hinanya) (WJ:403). Pl. híni (surprisingly not **hínar) in Híni Ilúvataro "Children of Ilúvatar" (Silmarillion Index); dative hínin in VT44:35. In compounds -hin pl. -híni (as in Eruhíni, "Children of Eru", SA:híni). According to one source, the word is hín(i) and solely plural (PE17:157), but this is obviously contradicted by some of the sources quoted above.

hísë

dusk

hísë (2) noun "dusk" (LT1:255). A "Qenya" form possibly obsoleted by #1 above.

inya

small

inya (2) adj. "small" (LT1:256; this "Qenya" word may be obsoleted by # 1 above)

issë

knowledge, lore

issë noun "knowledge, lore" (LT2:339; rather ista or istya in Tolkien's later Quenya)

ista

knowledge

ista (1) noun "knowledge" (IS). Also istya.

istare

noun. knowledge

istya

knowledge

istya noun "knowledge" (IS). Also ista (#1).

ita-

verb. sparkle

ita- 1) vb. "sparkle" (SA:ril, PM:363)

ita-

verb. to sparkle

laituvalmet

them

-t (2) "them", pronominal ending; seen in the word laituvalmet "we shall bless them" (lait-uva-lme-t "bless-shall-we-them"). According to PE17:110, this -t covers both sg. and dual. Also independent word te pl. and tú dual (possibly *tu when unstressed).

lapsë

babe

lapsë noun "babe" (LAP)

lilta-

verb. dance

lilta- vb. "dance" (LILT, Narqelion)

lilta-

verb. to dance

A verb in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “dance” derived from the root ᴹ√LILT of the same meaning (Ety/LILT). The verb reappeared as an active participle liltalyar “dancing” in notes from the late 1960s (PE23/134).

Conceptual Development: The Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s had ᴱQ. lilt- “to dance” under the early root ᴱ√LḶTḶ (QL/55), where [[eq|short syllabic [ḷ] became [il]]] (PE12/11). It reappeared in the Early Qenya Grammar and English-Qenya Dictionary of the 1920s, where its past forms lalsie or †laltye indicate the development of [[eq|long syllabic [ḹ] to [al]]] (PE14/58; PE15/71). After Tolkien decided that syllabic ḷ, ṇ, ṛ were not vowels in Primitive Elvish, he revised the root to ᴹ√LILT as noted above, so that the verb would probably have a more regular past like ✱liltane.

lirilla

lay, song

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

mentë

point, end

mentë noun "point, end" (MET)

mintë

small

mintë adj. "small" (VT45:35)

mitsa

small

mitsa adj. "small" (VT45:35) Another synonym from the same source, mitra, looks unusual for a Quenya word (because of the medial cluster tr)

narta-

verb. kindle

narta- vb. "kindle" (VT45:37)

nincë

small

*nincë (ninci*-) ("k")adj. "small". The form is given as "ninki" with the last vowel marked as short; this is probably the etymological form that would underlie Quenya nincë. The word is said to mean "small" with "good senses"; contrast nípa**, *nimpë. (VT48:18)

nitya

small

#nitya adj. "small" (VT48:15, PM:365)

nitya

adjective. little

níca

small

níca ("k")adj. "small". The word is said to mean "small" with "good senses"; contrast nípa, *nimpë. (VT47:26, VT48:18)

onna

noun. child, child, *offspring; [ᴹQ.] creature

A word for “child” appearing in various late notes and phrases (NM/31; PM/391; VT49/42), derived from the root √NŌ/ONO “beget, be born” and once appearing in a variant form onwe (PE17/170). Giving its derivation, its actual meaning may be closer to “✱offspring”, as first suggested to me by Tamas Ferencz.

Conceptual Development: In The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹQ. onna was instead glossed “creature”, though it was still derived from the root ᴹ√ONO “beget” (Ety/ONO).

onwë

child

onwë noun "child" (PE17:170)

onwë

noun. child

pia

little

pia adj. "little" (PE17:115); variants picina ("k"), pincë ("k"), pitya

pia

adjective. little

pincë

adjective. little

pinilya

small

pinilya adj. "small" (MC:220; this is "Qenya")

pitya

little

#pitya adj. "little" in Pityafinwë, Pitya-naucor

quilë

hue, colour

quilë noun "hue, colour" (QL.77)

risil

ring

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

selda

child

selda adj.?noun? (meaning not clear, related to seldë "child" (meaning changed by Tolkien from "daughter") and seldo "boy". Thus selda may be an adjective "childlike", since -a is a frequent adjectival ending. Alternatively, as suggested in VT46:13, selda may be a neuter noun "child", corresponding to masc. seldo "boy" and fem. seldë "girl" (before Tolkien changed the meaning of the latter to "child"). (SEL-D, cf. VT46:22-23)

seldo

child

seldo noun (meaning not quite clear, likely the masculine form of seldë "child", hence *"boy") (SEL-D, VT46:13, 22-23)

sincahonda

flint-hearted

sincahonda adj. "flint-hearted" (LotR3:VI ch. 6). Hence noun #sinca "flint-[stone]"?

sinyë

evening

sinyë (þ) noun "evening" (THIN)

sén

noun. child

tildë

spike, horn

tildë noun "spike, horn" _(TIL; in the Etymologies as printed in LR, the first gloss is quoted as "point", but according to VT46:19, the proper reading is "spike")_

tilma

noun. point

tixe

noun. dot

usque

noun. dusk

dusk

usque

noun. dusk, twilight

vinya

young

vinya (1) adj. "young" (VT46:22, VT47:26, PE17:191) or "new" (cf. compounds Vinyamar, Vinyarië below; cf. also winya "new, fresh, young" in a deleted entry in the Etymologies, VT45:16; there the word was first written as vinya.) Vinya "the Young", original name of the isle of Númenor among its own people (SD:332).

vinyë

evening

[vinyë noun "evening" (VT46:21)]

wintil

glint

wintil noun "glint" (LT1:261)

yualë

twilight

yualë noun "twilight" (KAL). Also yúcalë. Cf. yúyal.

yúcalë

twilight

yúcalë ("k")noun "twilight" (KAL, VT45:13). Also yualë.

yúyal

twilight

yúyal noun "twilight" (PE17:169); cf. yualë, yúcalë, q.v.

yúyal

noun. twilight

él

star

†él noun "star", pl. éli given (WJ:362, EL)

ílë

star

ílë noun "star" (LT1:269; rather elen, él in LotR-style Quenya.)

úyalë

noun. twilight

liltë

noun. dance

nassëa

adjective. spiked, pointed, barbed

Tinnúviel

noun. nightingale

nightingale

tinc

noun. metal

A word for “metal” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√TINKŌ of the same meaning (Ety/TINKŌ).

Conceptual Development: A possible precursor is G. sinc “metal” from the Gnomish Lexicon (GL/67), a cognate of ᴱQ. sink “mineral, gem, metal” under the early root ᴱ√SINI “pale blue” in the contemporaneous Qenya Lexicon (QL/83). For purposes of Neo-Sindarin, I prefer to use ᴺS. sinc for “✱mineral”.

tinna-

verb. to glint

tinnu

noun. (starry) twilight, dusk, early night (without moon)

tint

noun. spark

tinc

noun. metal

tindu

noun. dusk, twilight, early night (without Moon)

tindu

noun. starry twilight

tinna-

verb. to glint

tinnu

noun. dusk, twilight, early night (without Moon)

tinnu

noun. starry twilight

tint

noun. spark

tinw

noun. spark, small star

pigen

adjective. tiny

pigen

adjective. tiny

merilin(n)

noun. nightingale

A noun for “nightingale” in The Etymologies of the 1930s, adapted from Ilkorin myrilind “since mori did not = ‘night’ in N” (Ety/TIN). S. dúlin “nightingale” is better attested.

dúlin(n)

noun. nightingale

mîw

adjective. small, tiny, frail

tithen

adjective. little, tiny

celebdil

place name. Silvertine

duilin

noun. nightingale

dúlin

noun. nightingale

dúlind

noun. nightingale

dúlinn

noun. nightingale

merilin

noun. nightingale

mîw

adjective. small, tiny, frail

mœrilind

noun. nightingale

tithen

adjective. little, tiny

lhaes

noun. babe

A noun appearing as N. lhaes “babe” in The Etymologies of the 1930s derived from the root ᴹ√LAP (Ety/KEM).

Neo-Sindarin: This word is sometimes adapted to Neo-Sindarin as ᴺS. laes, for example in HSD (HSD). This updated form is the usual revision of the voiceless initial lh of Noldorin to voiced l in Sindarin. However, this is not the only phonological difficulty in this word. For example, there is some evidence that in Sindarin, the vocalization of spirantalized p is to u rather than i, suggesting ᴺS. ✱laus. There is also evidence that voiceless stops didn’t vocalize before s in Sindarin, but rather became simple spirants, as in ach “neck” < aks, suggesting instead ✱laph. In this case, I think it is best to avoid all these complexities and just use the 1968 word S. gwinig for “baby”.

caraes

noun. jagged hedge of spikes

carag

noun. spike, tooth of rock

ecthel

noun. point (of spear)

egnas

noun. sharp point

egnas

noun. peak

egthel

noun. point (of spear)

el

noun. star

geil

noun. star, bright spark

geil

noun. star

gildin

noun. silver spark

giliath

noun. all the host of stars

glaer

noun. long lay, narrative poem

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

gwîn

noun. evening

gwîn

adjective. young

ista-

verb. to have knowledge

lhaes

noun. babe

ment

noun. point

ment

noun. point

mithren

adjective. small

nartha-

verb. to kindle

nartha-

verb. to kindle, to kindle, *ignite, inflame, set fire to

A verb in The Etymologies of the 1930s for “kindle” given in the Noldorin-style infinitive form nartho and derived from the root ᴹ√NARTA of the same meaning (EtyAC/NARTA). This root is probably just a causative verb formation from ᴹ√NAR “flame, fire”, and thus more literally “✱make fire”. Hence I think this verb can be used in the general sense of “✱ignite, inflame, set fire to”, etc.

nass

noun. point, (sharp) end

nass

noun. angle or corner

neth

adjective. young

neth

adjective. young

irregular, compare: tathor @@@

rhaud

noun. metal

rhaud

noun. metal

thela

noun. point (of spear)

thîn

noun. evening

thîn

noun. evening

uial

noun. twilight

uial

noun. twilight

tini

noun. spark

tin²

root. silence

nik

root. small

One of various roots for “small” Tolkien used in his later writings. The root √NIK “small” first appeared in notes on Eldarin Hands, Fingers and Numerals from the late 1960s (VT47/26; VT48/18), but was connected to the diminutive suffix ✶-i(n)ki which had a much longer conceptual history. One of the earliest known diminutive suffix was ᴱQ. -íne(a) in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s from the root ᴱ√INI “small” (QL/42), which might be a precursor to √NIK; these suffixes reappeared in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s (PE14/49, 81). In the Gnomish Grammar of the 1910s, the word G. inc “small” was used as the basis for the “diminutive superlative” -inci (PE11/16).

In the Qenya Lexicon, Tolkien connected ᴱ√INI “small” to the root ᴱ√MINI of similar meaning (QL/42, 61). There are no signs of ᴱ√MINI “small” in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon, but the word G. migin “little” (GL/57) hints at a (hypothetical) variant root ✱ᴱ√MIKI. Further support for ✱ᴱ√MIKI can be found in other diminutive forms in the Early Qenya Grammar of the 1920s such as prefixal diminutive ᴱQ. mike- along adverbial ᴱQ. mike “little” (QL/48, 81), the latter appearing with the gloss “a bit” in the English-Qenya Dictionary from this period (PE15/70) along with other similar words in both the dictionary and the grammar. This ✱ᴱ√MIKI might be another precursor to √NIK. An early hint at √NIK itself might appear in the word ᴹQ. nikse “minnow, little fish” from the Declension of Nouns from the early 1930s (PE21/27).

In Noldorin and Sindarin, the primary diminutive suffix became -eg, which was connected to the Common Eldarin suffix -iki elsewhere in notes on hands and fingers (VT47/14 note #21). In the notes where √NIK “small” appeared in the late 1960s, Tolkien gave the primitive diminutive as -inkĭ along with variants ikki, -iksi, -si, -ensi, -ki.

One of the main competing roots for “small” was ᴹ√PIK [see the entry for √PI(N)], itself with a lengthy conceptual history. The shift of pitya >> nitya “little” in the father name of Amrod from the late 1960s may represent a replacement of √PIK by √NIK (PM/365), but I think it is likelier the two roots coexisted with slightly different meanings, as was the case for their earlier precursors. In the notes from the late 1960s, √NIK was also contrasted with √NIP “small (usually with connotation of weakness)” (VT48/18), from which the word S. niben “petty” was derived, as in S. Nogoth Niben (WJ/388).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I would assume √NIK meant “small” in a neutral sense, √PIK “tiny” (along with variants √PĪ and √PIN) and √NIP “small and weak”. I would use these as the major Eldarin roots for “small” words, along with a number of other more specialized roots.

din Reconstructed

root. silence

A hypothetical root serving as the basis for Sindarin words like dîn “silence” and dínen “silent” (PE17/95, 98) and ᴹQ. lína- “be silent”. Tolkien’s use of the Sindarin words in The Lord of the Rings is rather inconsistent, reflecting shifting rules on the circumstances in which words mutated in Sindarin. In his Unfinished Index of The Lord of the Rings, he said these words were tîn and tínen (RC/551). Given the conflict this would have with the root √TIN “spark”, for purposes of Neo-Eldarin I think it is best to assume this root is √DIN.

pi(n) Reconstructed

root. little

Tolkien used a variety of roots for Elvish words for “small”. One early root was ᴱ√PIKI with variants ᴱ√PINI and ᴱ√PĪ from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, unglossed but with derivatives like ᴱQ. pínea “small” and ᴱQ. pinqe “slender, thin” (QL/73). It also had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as G. pinig “tiny, little” and G. pibin “small berry, haw” (GL/64).

The root reappeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as unglossed {ᴹ√PEK >>} ᴹ√PIK with derivatives like N. pigen “tiny” and N. peg “small spot, dot” (Ety/PIK; EtyAC/PIK). Further evidence for this root can be seen in later words like Q. piki- or pitya “petty” (WJ/389) and Q. pic- “lessen, dwindle” (MC/223). A variant root √PEY appeared in a list of roots having to do with “large and small” from the late 1960s with a single derivative Q. pia “little” [< ✱peya], but it was immediately followed by the forms pikina, pinke, pitya which point back to √PIK (PE/117).

Further evidence of early forms ᴱ√PINI and ᴱ√PĪ can also be seen in Tolkien’s later writings. There is S. ✱pîn “little” in S. Cûl Bîn “Little Load” (RC/536), ✶pī {“small bird” >>} “small insect” (VT47/35), and T. pinke “little-one, baby” (VT48/6), though the last of these might be from √PIK. In any case it seems Tolkien continued to use all of √PI, √PIK and √PIN to form words for little things into the late 1960s.

In The Shibboleth of Fëanor from the late 1960s, Tolkien changed pitya to Q. nitya in the name Q. Nityafinwë “Little Finwë” (PM/353, 365 note #59), which may indicate a replacement of √PIK by √NIK, another root used regularly in Tolkien’s later writings for “small”. But I believe √PIK and √NIK may coexist with slightly different meanings: “tiny” vs. “small”; see the entry on √NIK for further discussion.

elen

noun. star

khin

root. child

A root appearing in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957 with the gloss “child” (PE17/157), and again in the Quendi and Eldar essay of 1959-60 with the same gloss (WJ/403). It was the basis for the words Q. hína and S. hên “child”, which were probably inspired by the Adûnaic patronymic suffix -hin that Tolkien introduced in the 1940s as part of Êruhin “Child of God” (SD/358), originally an Adûnaic word but later on used in Sindarin (Let/345; MR/330). This root might be a later iteration of the early root ᴱ√HILI from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s whose derivatives had to do with children (QL/40). As evidence of this, the Adûnaic word was first given as Eruhil (SD/341).

khīnā

noun. child

kin

root. *small

kit

root. *small

Tolkien gave the roots √KIN and √KIT with the gloss “small” in Notes on Names (NN) from 1957; given Sindarin derivative S. cidinn, √KIT is the likelier of the two possibilities (PE17/157).

Neo-Eldarin: For purposes of Neo-Eldarin, I recommend against using the Quenya derivative of this root, as there are other better-known Quenya words for “small”. In Sindarin, however, we have fewer options, and I think it is worth retaining this root for that branch of the Eldarin languages.

nimpĭ

adjective. small

ninkĭ

adjective. small

us(u)kwē

noun. dusk

win

root. young, young, [ᴹ√] new, fresh

Tolkien used a similar set of Elvish roots for “youth” and “freshness” for many years. The earliest of these was primitive guı̯u̯ or gu̯iu̯ [ᴱ√GWIWI] in the Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like G. gui “just, just now, only just, already”, G. guin “recent, fresh”, and G. gwioth “youth” (GL/42). This root reappeared as ᴹ√WIR “new, fresh, young” in The Etymologies of the 1930s with variants ᴹ√WĪ and ᴹ√WIN and derivatives ᴹQ. vírie “youth” and ᴹQ. virya “fresh” (EtyAC/WIR). The ᴹ√WIN variant had derivatives ᴹQ. vinya/N. gwîn “young”. Tolkien considered, but rejected, deriving these from strengthened ᴹ√GWIN instead, producing (also rejected) ᴹQ. winya/N. bîn (EtyAC/GWIN).

Q. vinya appeared in quite a few later names with the gloss “young” or “new”, but the Sindarin form became S. gwain as in S. Narwain “January, ✱(lit.) New Fire” (LotR/1110) and S. Iarwain “Old-young” (LotR/1114; RC/128). In Definitive Linguistic Notes (DLN) from 1959, both were given as derivatives of √WIN “young” along with Q. víne/S. gwîn “youth”, though the Sindarin word for “young” was given as (archaic?) gwein (PE17/191). Also related are various words for “baby” from 1968 notes such Q. †wine/S. gwinig “little-one, baby” (VT48/6). In these notes primitive wini was glossed “little” but this was deleted (VT47/26), making it likely that the earlier senses “young, new” were restored for √WIN.

As for the 1930s root ᴹ√WIR, it might have survived as an element in the month names Q. Víressë/S. Gwirith “April” (LotR/1110), perhaps meaning “✱freshness”.

yuyuñal

noun. twilight

ēl

noun. star

zirak

noun. spike

sil-

verb. to shine

él

noun. star

elen

noun. star

tithilla-

verb. twinkle

nazg

noun. ring

nazg

noun. (finger-)ring

>> Nazgûl 'Ringwraiths'

snǣs

noun. spear-head, point, gore, triangle

Original form not entirely clear; the stem is SNAS/SNAT (LR:387), not defined but evidently to be understood as a strengthened form of NAS "point, sharp end" (LR:374). A primitive plural form natsai is mentioned under SNAS/SNAT; snǣs may derive from something like snatsâ via snats, *snas. The shift of original a to long ǣ (presumably the same vowel as in English cat, but longer) is found in this word only, but there are several examples of e from a, see spenna, scella. Perhaps a became ǣ in stressed monosyllables where there was no following consonant cluster (as in nand).

nitir- Reconstructed

verb. to kindle

A verb attested only as an agental-formation in the names Gimilnitîr “Star-kindler” and gimlu-nitîr “kindler of a (particular) star” (SD/428). Thorsten Renk suggested (NBA/32) the base verb is nitir-, and this seems to me to be the likeliest possibility. Andreas Moehn instead suggested (EotAL/NIT’Y) that the verb stem may be nit-, and that the -îr is some kind of feminine agental suffix.