√UÑG “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
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: Ū-UMU
√Ū “denial of fact, privation, negative element, [ᴱ√] not” A negative root first mentioned as ᴱ√Ū² “not” in Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with various derivatives in Qenya and Gnomish (QL/96, 98; GL/73). In The Etymologies of the 1930s it became {ᴹ√ƷŪ >>} ᴹ√GŪ or ᴹ√MŪ “no, not”, and in
Conceptual History of Mae Govannen “Well Met”
The phrase mae govannen “well met” is the best known Sindarin greeting, used by Glorfindel when greeting Aragorn west of Rivendell. For the meaning of the elements of this name, see the discussion below. Conceptual Development: This phrase appeared in Lord of the Rings drafts as N. mai govannen “well
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TUN-TYUL
ᴹ√TUN “*tall; mound” An unglossed root in The Etymologies of the mid-1930s with derivatives like ᴹQ. tunda/N. tonn “tall” and ᴹQ. tundo/N. tunn “hill, mound”; its most notable use was as the basis for the name ᴹQ. Túna (Ety/TUN), which continued to appear in later writings as the name of
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TUAKK-TUMPU
ᴱ√TUAKK “*axe” The root ᴱ√TUAKK appeared in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s as the basis for ᴱQ. tuakka “axe” (QL/95). The majority of axe words from this period seem to be derived from an unattested root *ᴱ√PELEK, including ᴱQ. pelekko/G. peleg “axe” and ᴱQ. pelekta-/G. pelectha- “hew” (QL/73; GL/64).
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TOK-TOW
√TOK “non-resonant sounds” The roots √TOK and √NOK appeared in a list of sound roots from 1959-60 as root for “non-resonant sounds”, but with no derivatives (PE17/138). They are similar to earlier roots, such as ᴱ√OTO “knock” from the the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like the verb
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TIL-TIW
√TIL “point, horn” The root √TIL was used for “pointy thing” for much of Tolkien’s life, most notably as the final element in the name Q. Taniquetil “High White (or Snow) Peak”. Its earliest appearance was as unglossed ᴱ√TILI⁽²⁾ or ᴱ√T͡YILI (probably the true form) in the Qenya Lexicon of
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: THIL-THUR
√THIL “shine silver” Tolkien frequently used the root √THIL as the basis for “moon” words in Elvish. The first appearance of this root was ᴱ√ÞILI a variant of ᴱ√SILI “*gleam” from the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s (QL/83). The normal “moon” words in this period were ᴱQ. Sil and G.
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: THĀ-THER
ᴱ√THĀ/ATHA “ease, comfort, heal; be helpful; be willing to assist (in any work, etc.), agree, consent; [ᴹ√] forward” Tolkien introduced the root ᴹ√THA in Quendian & Common Eldarin Verbal Structure (EVS1) of the 1930s to serve as the basis for the (Old) Noldorin future suffix -thā. Tolkien said: “This thā
Select Primitive Elvish Roots: TEFE-TELES
ᴱ√TEFE “*hate, dislike” An unglossed root in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s with derivatives like ᴱQ. tempe “hate” and ᴱQ. teve- “hate, dislike” (QL/90), where the -v- was because intervocalic voiceless spirants became voiced in Early Qenya (PE12/17-19). It also had derivatives in the contemporaneous Gnomish Lexicon such as