Memories of Connor's Adventures

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Sunday 5 July 2020

Linguistic Archaeology: examining Tolkien Elven

Tolkien Elf dictionary
1. Aaye
2. Aiya - Quenya word for the verb 'Hail'.
3. Ada - 'Father', spoken by Arwen to Lord Elrond
4. Adan - 'Father of Man' (Sindarin, from the Quenya Atan, Atani) The Elves' name for those Men who first crossed the Blue Mountains (Ered Luin) during the First Age. Plural is Edain
5. Aelin - 'lake, pool' as in Aelin-uial.
6. Adanedhel - 'elf-man'.
7. Aduial - Eventide, twilight, 'Star-opening' Sindarin, from the Quenya Undomë.
8. Aglarond - 'Halls-of-Glory', the Sindarin name for the Glittering Caves of Helm's Deep.
9. Aha - Quenya word for rage.
10. Ai - Sindarin word for 'Ah'.
11. Aina - 'holy' in Ainur, Ainulindale.
12. Ainu - Quenya Tengwar word meaning 'Holy One'. The plural is Ainur, and refers to the primordial spirits created by Ilúvatar.
13. Aiglos - Sindarin for 'Icicle', also name of Gil-galad's spear
14. Alda - Quenya word for 'Tree'.
15. Aldalómë - Combination of Quenya words meaning 'tree-shadow' used by Treebeard the Ent.
16. Alqua - Sindarin word for 'Swan'.
17. Amandil - Sindarin word for 'Priest'.
18. Amarth - Sindarin word for 'Doom'.
19. Ambarona - Combination of Quenya words meaning 'Worlds-birth' used by Treebeard the Ent.
20. Amon - Sindarin word meaning 'Mountain' or 'Hill'.
21. Ampa - Quenya word for 'Hook'.
22. Amil - word for 'Mother'
23. An - 'long'.
24. Anarya - Quenya meaning 'Sun's-day', the second day of the Elvish week.
25. Anca - Quenya word for 'Jaws'.
26. And - 'long'.
27. Ando - Quenya word for 'Gate'.
28. Andúril - 'Flame-of-the-West' (Quenya), the sword of Aragorn formerly know as 'Narsil'.
29. Andúnë - 'sunset, west'
30. Anga - Quenya word for 'Iron'.
31. Ann-thannath - Combination of Sindarin words meaning 'The-Gift-of-Words'. A mode of verse and song, among the Elves of Beleriand.
32. Anna - Sindarin word for 'Gift'.
33. Anod - 'Ent'. Sindarin word referring to the ancient race of tree guardians
34. Anto - Quenya word for 'Mouth'.
35. Arda - Quenya word for 'Region' or 'Realm'; became the term for the world.
36. Áre - Quenya word for 'Sunlight'.
37. Asca - Means 'Hurry'.
38. Atan
39. Atani - Quenya for 'Father-of-Man. See Adan.
40. Avari - Quenya for "The Unwilling." See page Avari.
41. Áze - See Áre.
42. Balrog - Sindarin word for 'demon of might'.
43. Band - Sindarin word meaning - 'prison, duress'.
44. Bar - Sindarin for 'dwelling'.
45. Barad - Meaning 'tower'.
46. Beleg - Meaning 'mighty'.
47. Bragol - 'Sudden'.
48. Bregalad - 'Quickbeam', also is the nickname of an ent in the Two Towers.
49. Brethil - 'silver birch', also the name of an entwife.
50. Brith - 'gravel'.
51. Calen - Sindarin word for 'green'.
52. Calma - Quenya word for 'Lamp'.
53. Carca - Quenya word for 'fang'.
54. Celeb- Quenya word for 'silver'
55. Certar - Quenya word for 'Runes', referring in particular to the "Alphabet of Daeron".
56. Certhas - Sindarin. See Certar
57. Cirth - Sindarin word referring to the system of runes as a whole. See also Certar.
58. Coirë - The season of the year known in the Elves' calendar system know as 'stirring'. It was the last of the six seasons observed by the Elves, falling between winter (Hrívë) and spring (Tuilë). It is one of the Elven Seasons.
59. Coranar - Quenya word meaning 'Sun-round'. The solar year as recorded by the Elves. Also called a Loa.
60. Cormallen - Sindarin word meaning 'Ring-bearers'.
61. Cormarë - Quenya word meaning 'Ring-day'. The birthday of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins.
62. Coron - 'mound'.
63. Craban
64. Crebain - Sindarin word referring to an unfriendly species of black crows.
65. Cú - 'bow'.
66. Cuivie - 'awaking'.
67. Dae - 'shadow'.
68. Dagor - Sindarin for 'battle'.
69. Daro - Sindarin word meaning 'Descend'.
70. Del - 'horror'.
71. Din - 'silent'.
72. Dina - Means 'Be silent'.
73. Dol - Meaning 'head', often given to hills and mountains.
74. Dôr - Sindarin for 'land'.
75. Draug - 'wolf'.
76. Drego - Sindarin word which means 'Flee'.
77. Dú - Sindarin for 'night, dimness'.
78. Duin - '(long) river'.
79. Dúnadan
80. Dúnedain - Sindarin for 'Man-of-the-West'. Referring to the Men of Westernesse, or Númenor, and their descendents.
81. Dûr - 'dark'.
82. Ëar - Quenya for 'sea'.
83. Echor - 'encircling mountains'.
84. Echuir - Sindarin. See Coirë.
85. Edain - See Adan
86. Edhel - Sindarin for 'elf'.
87. Edhellen - Sindarin for 'of the Elves' or anything Elvish in general.
88. Edro! - Sindarin imperative meaning 'Open!'.
89. Eithel - 'well'. See kell
90. El
91. Elin
92. Elenath - Sindarin word for 'Star' (Elenath is the collective plural).
93. Eldar - 'People-of-the-Stars' (Quenya), The Elves name for themselves.
94. Eldarin - Quenya word referring to the generic name given to languages spoken by the Elves, Quenya and Sindarin.
95. Elear - Sindarin word for 'Visionary'.
96. Elen
97. Eleni
98. Elenion - Quenya word for 'Star' (Elenion is the collective plural).
99. Elenya - 'Stars'-day'. The first day of the Elvish week.
100. Emyn - Sindarin word for 'Hills', plural of Amon.
101. Endari - 'Middle-day', the middle of the year in the Elvish calendar.
102. Endóre - Quenya word for 'Middle-earth'.
103. Ennor - Sindarin word for 'Middle-earth'.
104. Enquië
105. Enquier - 'Week', Quenya word referring to the six day Elvish week.
106. Enyd - 'Ents'. See Anod.
107. Er - 'one, alone'.
108. Erebor - Sindarin for the 'Lonely Mountain'.
109. Ered - Quenya word for 'Mountain'.
110. Ereg - 'thorn, holly
111. Eryn - Sindarin word for 'Wood' or 'Forest'.
112. Esgal - 'screen, hiding'.
113. Esse - Quenya word for 'Name'
114. Estel - Sindarin word for 'Hope'.
115. Estellio - 'trust'
116. Ethuil - 'Spring', the first season of the Elvish year.
117. Falas - 'shore, line of surf'.
118. Faroth - 'hunt, pursue'.
119. Faug - 'gape'.
120. Fëa - 'spirit'.
121. Fin - 'hair'.
122. Firith - Sindarin word for 'Fading', also the fourth season of the Elvish year.
123. Formen - Quenya word for 'North'.
124. Forn - Sindarin word for 'north'.
125. Fuin - 'gloom, darkness'
126. Galad - light
127. Gil - star
128. Gilraen - Sindarin name for Aragorn's mother.
129. Gurth - Death
130. Gaur - Werewolf
131. Gwador - brother-in-all-but-blood. For brother, see Muindor.
132. Gwathel - sister-in-all-but-blood. For sister, see Muinthel.
133. Luin - Sindarin word for 'blue'. Used in "Ered Luin" - "Blue Mountains."
134. Laer - Sindarin word for 'Summer'. (Lairë in Quenya)
135. Mellon - The Elvish word for "Friend." Used by Gandalf to open the gates to the mines of Moria.
136. Minas - Meaning 'Tower'.
137. Mithrin - Sindarin word for 'Grey'. "Ered Mithrin"- is the Grey Mountains.
138. Muindor - Sindarin for 'brother'.
139. Muinthel - Sindarin for 'sister'.
140. Namárië - Quenya word for 'Farewell'.
141. Nan - Sindarin for 'Vale'. For example, Nan Curunir means "Saruman's Vale".
142. Navaer - Sindarin word for 'Farewell'.
143. Ndengina - Sindarin for 'Kill'.
144. Nikerym - Means 'Captain'.
145. Nimrais - Sindarin for 'White Peaks,' as in Ered Nimrais.
146. Nin- way to say 'My' like in 'Mellon Nin', "my friend".
147. Numen - Sindarin for 'West'.
148. Naug
149. Nogoth - Sindarin for 'Dwarf'.
150. Naugrim
151. Negyth - Sindarin for 'Dwarves'
152. Onodrim - Sindarin name for the Ents; singular Onod.
153. Orodruin - Sindarin name of Mount Doom. The name likely consists of orod ("mountain") + ruin ("fiery red").
154. Parma - Quenya for "Book".
155. Pelargir - Sindarin word for 'Garth of Royal Ships'.
156. Peredhel - Sindarin word for half-elvish or half-elf.
157. Palantíri is a Quenyan word that means 'Far seeing'. It is the root of Palantir, or the Seeing-Stones.
158. Parf - Sindarin, See Parma
159. Quendi - Quenya word for "the Speakers."
160. Quel re- Sindarin phrase for "Good day"
161. Silme - Quenya for "Starlight"
162. Tengwa - Quenya word for 'Letter', plural form "Tengwar" means 'Letters'.
163. Tinco - metal
164. Tuilë - Quenya word for "spring"
165. thalias - Bravery
166. Thalin - Dauntless
167. Thang - Oppression
168. Thangail - Sindarin for a sort of shield-fence.
169. Tar - High
170. Taur - Forest
171. Tauriel - Daughter-of-the-Forest
172. Úlairi -  Quenya word for Nazgul or Ringwraith.
173. Ulaer - Sindarin word for Nazgul or Ringwraith.
174. Urulóki - Quenya word for "Heat", "Hot", or "Fire Serpents", also used as a name for Fire-Drakes.
175. Vala - Mighty
176. Valdra - Inferno


Popularity of use
A        %        E         %          I          %          O           %          U            %
106    60%    78       44%     63       35%     38         21%     37           21%

B        %        C         %          D          %          F           %          G            %
14       7%     21       11%     50        28%      10         5%        30         17%

H        %        J         %          K          %          L           %          M            %
26       14%   0          0%       2          1%        63        35%      23           13%

N        %        P         %          Q          %          R           %          S            %
83       47%   1         <1%       5          2%       79          44%     11         6%

T        %        V         %          W          %          X           %          Y            %
34      19%    4         2%       3            1%        0           0%        9            5%

Z        %
1        <1



Popularity of Use
60% A:
47% N, A: (An-nan), An, Nan, Anna,
44% E, R, N, A: Er, ear, are,
35% L, I, E, R, N, A: Ai, El, Elin, nin, laer, elen, eleni, elear, Aina,
         aelin,
28% D, L, I, E, R, N, A: Eldar, Ered, Del, endari, eldarin, edain,
         adan, dina, din, dae, Arda, and, alda, adanedhel, ada,
21% O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: orod-ruin, Ulaer, Ulairi, luin, ennor,
         endore, elenion, Edro!, dur, dunedain, dunadan, duin, du,
         dor, dol, daro, loa, anod, andune, Anduril, ando, Ainu,
         aduial,
19% T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: Tauriel, Taur, Tar, Tuile, Atani, Atan,
         Anto,
17% G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: Gaur, Gil, Gilraen, Naug, Ereg,
         ndengina, galad, drego, draug, dagor, anga, Aglarond,
14% H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: (ered-lithui, ragath-dur),
         Thangail, Thang, Thalin, Nogoth, Elinath, Edhel, gurth,
         elenath, eithel, edhel, edhellen, ann-thannath, Aha,
13% M, H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: Naugrim, Muindor,
        Muinthel, onodrim, numen, namarie, mithrin, mellon, Amil,
        Amon, Amarth, Amandil, aldalome,
11% C, M, H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: Tinco, echuir, echor,
         coron, cormare, cormallen, coranar, coire, cirth, certar,
        celeb, carca, calma, calen, anca,
7% B, C, M, H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: (Barad-dur), Erebor,
      crebain, craban, brethil, brith, bregalad, bragol, beleg, barad,
      bar, band, Balrog, Ambarona,
6% S, B, C, M, H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: (ered nimrais),
       sindarin, Nimrais, Minas, thalias, silme, estellio, estel, esse,
       esgal, certhas, Asca, Narsil, aiglos,
5% F, Y, B, C, M, H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: negyth, Enyd, fuin,
       forn, formen, firith, fin, fea, faug, faroth, falas, eryn, emyn,
       elenya, anarya, aiya, aaye,
2% Q, V, F, Y, B, C, M, H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: Quendi,
       quenya, Valdra, Vala, Avari, quel re, navaer, enquier, enquie,
       cuivie, cu, Alqua,
1% K, W, Q, V, F, Y, B, C, M, H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A: Uruloki,
       Tengwa, nikerym, gwathel, gwador,
<1% P, Z: K, W, Q, V, F, Y, B, C, M, H, G, T, O, U, D, L, I, E, R, N, A:
        Pelargir, Peredhel, palantiri, parma, parf, Aze, Ampa,
0% J, X

Conclusion: at 47% the first three elf words are gift, long, and vale.
Long-vale (a long valley) is their earliest geographic marker. They would have regarded this 'long-vale' as a gift (from the gods?) which means they migrated to it.

Valleys in Middle Earth where elves might originate
Dale: a long valley between the south-western and south-eastern arms of the lonely mountain.
Hidden-vale (Raven-vale): a secret valley that houses a library of the dark knowledge of Sauron located in Mordor at Barad-dur's east.

History of the Eldar and Elves

47% The People of the Stars (Eldar) settle Raven-vale (naming it An-nan or long-vale) having no middle-earth history before it. It is regarded as a gift.

44% for the first time the eldar are alone. They encounter the sea? Sunlight is experienced.


35% eldar see the stars for the first time.


28% They refer to themselves as Eldar suggesting contact with others. The Adan (men) are encountered (an event set in the first age). Adanedhel (elf-man)? Middle of the year determined as 'middle-day'. The World is named 'Arda'.


21% Mount Doom (Orodruin) becomes active. They begin to call the surrounding world 'middle-earth'. Astronomy. A long river is discovered. The term Anduril predates Naril.

19% High Forest is identified.

17% Eldar encounter Dwarves (Naug)- possibly looking for metals (iron) around the active volcano. They encounter a wolf-pack one of which turns out to be a Werewolf. They experience the conflict of Battle for the first time. Thorn and Holly plants encountered (ereg). The glittering caves of Aglarond are discovered.

14% the eldar flee the eruption of mount doom that cause the nearby mountains to be turned to ash (naming them ered-lithui). The ancient map of Mordor (Ragath-dur) is created. Eldar again encounter dwarves (nogoth) having fled the long-vale. An Eldar encounters death for the first time. Verse and song (Ann-thannath).

13% the gray mountains (ered mithrin) are identified.

11% eldar discover metal (silver). The Vale of Sauramon (Nan-curunir) is established. 'Ring-day' declared. The sixth season known as 'the stirring' is seen. The written system of Runes is established. The lamp is invented, the colour 'green' is identified.

7% The Tower of Sauron (Barad-dur) is established (an event said to occur in the Second Age of Middle-earth) overlooking the ancient home of the Eldar (An-nan) to the east. Eldar reach lonely Mountain (Erebor).

6% The Sindarin are considered a seperate group of elves from the Eldar. The remaining elves who are not Sindarin name Star-light (Silme). The white peaks (ered nimrais) are identified. Balrog encountered for the first time. Narsil is forged, Aiglos (spear of gil-galad) is forged.

5% Sindarin encounter Dwarves (negyth). The elves grow hair? Hunting/pursuing, elves encounter ents, elves reach the coastal limit of middle earth for the first time. The fading (fouth season) is experienced. Something in the north draws the attention of all elves. 'Stars-day' declared. 'Sun's-day' declared.

2% The Quenya are those elves who are not Sindarin- a philosophical concept that if we are no longer whole as Eldar, and we are not Sindar, we are Quenya. The Speakers are formailzed as Quenya authority figures. Elves use bows.

1% concept of sister-in-law/brother-in-law introduced differentiating from the previous use of brother and sister to describe siblings of different parental relationships now bound by a shared parental relationship.

<1% Sindarin and Quenya are introduced to 'Books'. The Seeing Stones are crafted/obtained by the Quenyan using far-seeing magic. Interbreeding with humans occurs.

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