-il: Difference between revisions
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'''-il''' is a little-attested ending in the [[Sindarin]] language,<ref>Some of the examples refer to [[Noldorin]] as well</ref> used sometimes to denote feminine gender. Its masculine counterpart is ''[[-on]]''. | '''-il''' is a little-attested ending in the [[Sindarin]] language,<ref group="note">Some of the examples refer to [[Noldorin]] as well</ref> used sometimes to denote feminine gender. Its masculine counterpart is ''[[-on]]''. | ||
Its presence causes [[i-affection]] to the vowels of the stem (cf. ''[[brannon]]'' and ''[[brennil|br'''e'''nn'''i'''l]]''). | Its presence causes [[i-affection]] to the vowels of the stem (cf. ''[[brannon]]'' and ''[[brennil|br'''e'''nn'''i'''l]]''). | ||
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*''[[niphredil]]'' "little pallor" ([[niphred]])<ref name="E"/> | *''[[niphredil]]'' "little pallor" ([[niphred]])<ref name="E"/> | ||
*''[[ernil]]'' "prince" (perhaps understood as *"little noble"; [[arn]]) | *''[[ernil]]'' "prince" (perhaps understood as *"little noble"; [[arn]]) | ||
{{references}} | {{references|Note}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Il}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Il}} | ||
[[Category:Sindarin | [[Category:Sindarin suffixes]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:40, 15 August 2015
-il is a little-attested ending in the Sindarin language,[note 1] used sometimes to denote feminine gender. Its masculine counterpart is -on.
Its presence causes i-affection to the vowels of the stem (cf. brannon and brennil).
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Possibly it derives from a Common Eldarin ending *-illê. This is supported by several Quenya words which end in -illë with Sindarin cognates in -il; most notably compare the Quenya amille "mother" and the Sindarin emil.
Examples[edit | edit source]
- emil "mother"[1]
- odhril "parent (referring to mother)"
- melethril "lover"[2]
- brennil "lady"[2]
- hiril "lady"[2]
- Thuringwethil "secret-shadow woman"[3]
In at least one case, -il is said to be a diminutive ending; compare how the masculine ending -on can sometimes refer to "great" things.
Notes
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies — Part One" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 45, November 2003 p.5
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, The Etymologies
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
