Eldar
Eldar (singular Elda) was the name given to the Elves (and the term West Elves may also apply to these kindred) by the Vala Oromë when he first found them wandering in the starlight of Cuiviénen. At first, the name was applied to all Elves, but after the summons of the Valar, it came to be used only of the peoples who followed the summons and began the Great Journey.
The Three Kindreds of the Eldar were the Vanyar, the Noldor and the Teleri. All of the Vanyar and Noldor went to Aman, though many of the Noldor later returned to Middle-earth with Fëanor.
Many of the Teleri also journeyed to Valinor, but twice a host of this people turned away from the Journey in Middle-earth; these two kindreds are called Úmanyar, the Eldar not of Aman. The first of these were the Nandor, who turned aside east of the Misty Mountains, and travelled down the River Anduin. The second, the Sindar, tarried in Beleriand seeking their lord, Elwë Singollo.
Etymology
The word comes from Common Eldarin eldâ, an adjectival formation meaning "connected or concerned with the stars" (root EL)[1] Itself coming from an earlier Eledâ[2][3]
Cognates
Inspiration
Eldar is both a common Hebrew name meaning "god resides" and a rare Norse first name meaning "Fire Warrior" (Eld+Harjar))
Tolkien notes the accidental similarity to the word "Elder" (as in 'Elder Folk' or 'Elder Days') and that it is unrelated to English and therefore should not be any attempt to translate.[4]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar" p.360
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 281, (dated 15 December 1965)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies"
- ↑ Nomenclature
External links
Elves (Quendi · People of the Stars · Firstborn · Elder Kindred) | |
Three Kindreds: (Eldar · Eldalië · Edhil) |
Vanyar (Fair-elves · Minyar) · Noldor (Deep-elves · Tatyar) · Teleri (Lindar · Nelyar) |
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Calaquendi: (High-elves · Amanyar) |
Vanyar · Noldor · Falmari |
Úmanyar: | Sindar (Grey-elves · Eglath · Falathrim) · Nandor (Green-elves · Silvan Elves) |
Moriquendi: | Úmanyar · Avari (Cuind · Hwenti · Kindi · Kinn-lai · Penni · Windan) |
See also: | Awakening of the Elves · Sundering of the Elves · Great Journey |