14.61 Week
- G. ochlad n. “week”
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The word for “week” in Gnomish Lexicon of the 1910s was G. ochlad. It is related to the word G. odin “seven” and derived from ᴱ✶ot·g’lāta (GL/62), though its exact phonetic development is obscure. Roman Rausch speculated (HPG/2.6) that the [tgl] somehow became [ɣl] (ʒl) and then [ɣl] > [xl] (chl).
Conceptual Development: In a very early list of weekday names, this word appeared as G. oglad (PE14/16, 21), but it was altered to ochlad in the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s (GL/62).
Neo-Sindarin: There are no later words for a seven-day week in Noldorin or Sindarin. The closest we come is N. lhevnar for the Valarin five-day week, but this is inappropriate since it is based on the root ᴹ√LEPEN “five”.
The later Sindarin word for “seven” was odog from the root √OTOK. It is difficult but not impossible to produce initial och- from this root. Such a form appeared in S. ochui, a variant of othui “seventh”. This word probably developed from *✶ot’kō-yā > okkōyā > okkhuia > ochui, similar to the development of ✶etkat- > S. echad-. Perhaps ᴺS. ochlad could be derived from primitive *✶ot’k-galáta > okkh’lata > ochlad (“seven shining?”). However, the combination chl is rare in later Sindarin.
The earlier (replaced) form oglad “week” is more phonetically plausible in Sindarin, since the gl does occur medially. However, this word probably reflects the Gnomish phonetic rule that [dl] became [gl], a rule Tolkien retained in Noldorin but abandoned in Sindarin. So perhaps a more appropriate revised form would be ᴺS. odlad, from *ot(ok)-g’lata > otlata > odlad, analogous to the revision of N. eglenn “exiled” >> S. edlen(n).
14.62 Sunday
- S. Oranor n. “*(lit.) Sun-day, Sunday”
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The Sindarin word for “Sunday”, a combination of or- “day” and Anor “Sun” (LotR/1110).
Conceptual Development: Drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices had Aranor with the earlier prefix ar- (PM/130).
14.63 Monday
- S. Orithil n. “*Moon-day, Monday”
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The Sindarin word for “Moonday” [Monday], a combination of or- “day” and Ithil “Moon” (LotR/1110).
Conceptual Development: Drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices had Arithil with the earlier prefix ar- (PM/130).
14.64 Tuesday
- S. Orgaladh n. “Day of the Tree, *Tuesday”
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Alternate Númenórean name of Orgaladhad “Day of the Two Trees”, a combination of or- “day” and singular galadh “tree”, hence referring to the White Tree of Númenor rather than the two trees of Valinor (LotR/1110).The lack of mutation in the second element of this name is surprising, but Elaran suggested it may be a “false compound”, originally a juxtapositional genitive Aur Galadh.
Conceptual Development: Drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices had Argalad with the earlier prefix ar- (PM/130).
- S. Orgaladhad n. “Day of the Two Trees, *Tuesday”
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The Sindarin word for “Day of the Two Trees”, a combination of or- “day” and galadhad “pair of trees” as the archaic dual of galadh “tree” (LotR/1110). By aligning the Númenórean seven-day week with the modern English week, this is the equivalent of “*Tuesday”. The lack of mutation in the second element of this name is surprising, but Elaran suggested it may be a “false compound”, originally a juxtapositional genitive Aur Galadhad.
Conceptual Development: Drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices had {Argelaid >>} Argaladath with the earlier prefix ar- (PM/130).
14.65 Wednesday
- S. Ormenel n. “*Heavens-day, Wednesday”
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The Sindarin word for “*Heavens-day”, a combination of or- “day” and menel “the heavens” (LotR/1110). By aligning the Númenórean seven-day week with the modern English week, this is the equivalent of “*Wednesday”. The lack of mutation in the second element of this name is surprising but Elaran suggested it may be a “false compound”, originally a juxtapositional genitive Aur Menel.
Conceptual Development: Drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices had Arvenel with the earlier prefix ar- (PM/130).
14.66 Thursday
- S. Oraeron n. “Sea-day, *Thursday”
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The Sindarin word for “Sea-day”, a combination of or- “day” and the (g)aearon “sea” (LotR/1110). By aligning the Númenórean seven-day week with the modern English week, this is the equivalent of “*Thursday”.
Conceptual Development: Drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices had Aroeren with the earlier prefix ar- (PM/130).
14.67 Friday
- S. Orbelain n. “*Day of the Valar, Friday”
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The Sindarin word for “*Day of the Valar”, a combination of or- “day” and belain the plural of Balan “Vala” (LotR/1110). Tolkien said it was actually a phonological translation of Q. Valanya (Let/427). By aligning the Númenórean seven-day week with the modern English week, this is the equivalent of “*Friday”.
Conceptual Development: Drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices had Orebelain (PM/138) and Arvelain with the earlier prefix ar- (PM/130).
- S. Rodyn n. “alternate name of the last day of the Eldarin six-day week”
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Alternate name for the last day of the week, a plural of Rodon “Vala” (LotR/1110).
Conceptual Development: Drafts of The Lord of the Rings appendices had Ardórin, a combination of the earlier prefix ar- “day” and (probably) the mutated plural dórin of taur³ “king” (PM/130), so “*Day of Kings”.