An Elf of Gondolin who guided Tuor to that secret realm (S/239). This name was also the sobriquet of Mardil, the first ruling steward of Gondor, where it was translated “The Steadfast” (LotR/1039). This name could simply be the noun voronwë “steadfastness” used as a name (PE17/189), but it is likelier that its final element is the suffix -wë common in ancient names (PM/340), in which case its initial element is probably some form of the root ᴹ√BOR(ON) “endure” (Ety/BORÓN).
Conceptual Development: The name ᴱQ. Voronwe dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, where it was translated “Faithful” (LT2/156) and derived from the root ᴱ√VORO (QL/102). The name ᴹQ. Voronwe appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s as a combination of the roots ᴹ√BOR(ON) “endure” and ᴹ√WEG (Ety/BORÓN). In the unfinished “Notion Club Papers” story from the 1940s, it was used as the name of a companion of Elendil, where it was translated “Steadfast, Faithful” (SD/290).
voronwë noun "steadfastness, loyalty, faithfulness" (CO), also as masc. name Voronwë "the Faithful" (PM:340, BORÓN, LT1:250)