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Select Elvish Words 1.722-1.723: Storm, Breeze

1.722 Storm

Q. raumo n. “(noise of a) storm”
A word for “storm” in the version of the Markirya poem from the 1960s (MC/222), more accurately “(noise of a) storm” (MC/223). It may be related to the root ᴹ√RAW “*roar”.

Conceptual Development: In the ᴱQ. Oilima Markirya poem from circa 1930, the word was ᴱQ. húro instead (MC/214), possibly related to ᴱN. huiriaith “gale” from the early root ᴱ√SURU (PE13/148). ᴱQ. laume “storm, overcast sky” from Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s is another possible precursor.

Q. vangwë n. “storm; ⚠️blow”
A word for “storm” in notes from around 1957, derived from primitive ✶wagmē based on the root √ as the “echoic” representation of the sound of wind (NM/237). In Quenya Notes (QN) from around the same time, Tolkien had vangwe (of the same basic derivation) with the gloss “blow” (PE17/34).

Conceptual Development: A likely precursor is ᴱQ. ’wanwa “great gale” the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s, a derivative of the early root ᴱ√GWĀ (QL/102).

Neo-Quenya: For purposes of Neo-Quenya, I think the sense “storm” is more useful than “blow”.

N. alagos n. “storm (of wind)”
A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “storm of wind”, an elaboration of N. alag “rushing” so perhaps “*(lit.) rushing (of winds)” (Ety/ÁLAK). A similar (masculinized?) form appeared in the name N. Ancalagon “Biting-Storm” (Ety/NAK). Tolkien continued to use this name in later writings, but it was untranslated.
S. gwaew n. “storm; ⚠️blow”
A Sindarin word in notes from around 1957, derived from primitive ✶wagmē, the equivalent of Q. vangwë “storm” (NM/237). It is not entirely clear whether Tolkien intended the Sindarin word to have the same meaning, as elsewhere gwaew was typically glossed “wind”. But in the same paragraph, gwae also appeared (likewise unglossed), which is the more usual Sindarin word for “wind”, so I think gwaew = “storm” is a reasonable assumption. The same form and derivation of gwaew < ✶wagme appeared in Quenya Notes also from 1957, but there its Quenya equivalent (also vangwe) was glossed “blow”.

1.723 Breeze

Q. hwesta n. “breeze; [ᴹQ.] breath, puff of air”
A noun in Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings glossed “breeze”, the name of tengwa #12 [c] (LotR/1123).

Conceptual Development: ᴹQ. hwesta “breath, breeze, puff of air” appeared in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a derivative of the root ᴹ√SWES “noise of blowing or breathing” (Ety/SWES).

ᴱQ. víle n. “gentle breeze”
A noun in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s glossed “breeze – gentle”, derived from the early root ᴱ√VILI (QL/101).

Neo-Quenya: Since similar words like Q. vilya “air, sky” appear in Tolkien’s later writings (LotR/1123), I think ᴺQ. vílë “gentle breeze” can be salvaged for purposes of Neo-Eldarin as a derivative of the later root ᴹ√WIL.

N. chwest n. “puff, breath, breeze”
A noun in The Etymologies of the 1930s appearing as N. chwest “puff, breath, breeze” (ON. hwesta) from the root ᴹ√SWES “noise of blowing or breathing” (Ety/SWES).

Neo-Sindarin: If adapted to Neo-Sindarin, this word would be ᴺS. hwest as suggested in Hiswelókë’s Sindarin Dictionary (HSD). Its Quenya cognate Q. hwesta “breeze” appeared in The Lord of the Rings Appendix E (LotR/1123), indicating this word’s ongoing validity.

S. hwaewar n. “breeze[?]”
A noun in Quenya Notes (QN) from 1957 appearing as whaewar “breeze”, though the gloss is unclear (PE17/34). A more typical Sindarin spelling would be hwaewar. Some similar forms appeared nearby, including gwāw and hwâ, possibly of the same meaning. Two such forms, and wáwa, were marked Sindarin but probably were actually primitive or archaic forms.

Neo-Sindarin: Of these forms, I prefer hwaewar “breeze” for purposes of Neo-Sindarin.

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