umboth

noun. large pool

A Doriathrin noun meaning “large pool”, apparently an elaboration of moth “pool” (Ety/MBOTH). Either the u- is some kind of prefix, perhaps an intensifier, or the initial [m] of the root became syllabic, both as suggested by Helge Fauskanger (AL-Ilkorin/umboth).

Conceptual Development: Tolkien seems to have coined this word to explain Umboth Muilin “Twilight Meres”, a remnant of earlier G. Umboth-muilin “Pools of Twilight”. The meaning of the Ilkorin elements is reversed from the earlier name: in Gnomish the word G. umboth meant “twilight” (GL/75). In later writings, Tolkien replaced this name with S. Aelin-uial “Meres of Twilight”.

dûm

noun. twilight

A noun for “twilight” developed from primitive ᴹ✶dōmi (Ety/DOMO), where the long [[ilk|[ō] became [ū] before [m]]].

muil

noun. twilight, shadow, vagueness

A Doriathrin noun meaning “twilight, shadow, vagueness” derived from root ᴹ√MUY (Ety/MUY). Its Quenya cognate ᴹQ. muile suggests a primitive form of ✶muı̯lē* [mujlē].

Conceptual Development: Tolkien seems to have coined this word to explain Umboth Muilin “Twilight Meres”, a remnant of earlier G. Umboth-muilin “Pools of Twilight”. The meaning of the Ilkorin elements is reversed from the earlier name: in the Gnomish name muilin “pools” was the plural form of the word G. muil, glossed “tarn” in the Gnomish Lexicon (GL/58) which is an older English word for “(mountain) lake”. In later writings, Tolkien replaced this name with S. Aelin-uial “Meres of Twilight”.