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'''''elen''''' (pl. '''eleni''' or '''eldi''') means "star" in [[Quenya]].  
'''''elen''''' (pl. '''eleni''' or '''eldi''') means "star" in [[Quenya]].<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, ''elen''</ref>
 
The [[Edain]], however, equated ''elen'' and ''[[elda]]'' ("[[Elves|Elf]]"), so in some situations ''elen'' translates as "Elf".


The [[Edain]], however, equated ''elen'' and ''[[elda]]'' ("[[Elf]]"), so in some situations ''elen'' translates as "Elf".
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
[[PQ]] [[root]] [[EL]].  
[[PQ]] [[Sundocarmë|Root]] [[EL]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, '''EL'''</ref>


It is said traditionally to come from the exclamation ''[[ele]]''! "behold" being the first word the first Elves spoke at [[Cuiviénen]], when they saw the stars.
It is said traditionally to come from the exclamation ''[[ele]]''! "behold" being the first word the first Elves spoke at [[Cuiviénen]], when they saw the stars.
==Other forms==
==Other forms==
*[[elenna]] "to a star": allative, also a name for [[Númenor]].<ref>{{HM|UT}}, [[Cirion and Eorl]]</ref>
*''[[elenna]]'' "to a star": allative, also a name for [[Númenor]].<ref>{{HM|UT}}, [[Cirion and Eorl]]</ref>
*elelli "stars": partitive plural<ref>[[Parma Eldalamberon 17]] p.127</ref>
*''elelli'' "stars": partitive plural<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 127</ref>
*elenion "of stars": pl. genitive<ref>{{HM|L}}, [[Letter 385]]</ref>
*''elenion'' "of stars": pl. genitive<ref>{{L|297}}, p. 385</ref>
*elenillor "from stars": pl. ablative<ref>[[The Monsters and the Critics]], [[Markirya]]</ref>
*''elenillor'' "from stars": pl. ablative<ref>[[The Monsters and the Critics]], [[Markirya]]</ref>


==Seen in==
==Seen in==
*[[Elemmíre]]
*''[[Elemmírë]]''
*[[Elendur]]
*''[[Elendur (son of Isildur)|Elendur]]''
*[[Eldar]]
*''[[Eldar]]''
* [[Elenna]] = "Star-wards"
*''[[Elenna]]'' = "Star-wards"
*[[Elentári]]
*''[[Elentári]]''
*[[Elenwe]]
*''[[Elenwe]]''
*[[Elerrína]]
*''[[Elerrína]]''
*''[[elenya]]''


*[[elenya]]
===With the meaning "Elf"===
*''[[Elendil]]'' = "Friend of the Elves"
*''[[Aragorn|Elessar]]'' = "Elf-stone"
*''[[Elesser]]'' = "[[Elfwine]]"
 
==Examples==
*"'''''Elen''' [[Sil|síla]] [[lúme|lúmenn']] [[omentie|omentielvo]]''" ("'''a star''' shines on the hour of our meeting")<ref>{{FR|Three}}</ref>


===With the meaning "Elf"===
* [[Elendil]] = "Friend of the Elves"
*[[Elessar]] = "Elf-stone"
*[[Elesser]] = "[[Elfwine]]"
==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
''El'' means "deity" in some Semitic languages, and is a common element in many Hebrew names, as happens with [[Elvish]] names.
''El'' means "deity" in some Semitic languages, and is a common element in many Hebrew names, as happens with [[Elvish]] names. Dante Alighieri in his ''De vulgari eloquentia'' suggests that the word ''El'' was the first sound emitted by Adam: While the first utterance of humans after birth is a cry of pain, Dante assumed that Adam could only have made an exclamation of joy, which at the same time was addressing his Creator.{{fact}}<!-- How do we know Tolkien was inspired by this, or which scholar has suggested it, even if it's an interesting theory? Source needed! -->


Dante Alighieri in his ''De vulgari eloquentia'' suggests that the word ''El'' was the first sound emitted by Adam: While the first utterance of humans after birth is a cry of pain, Dante assumed that Adam could only have made an exclamation of joy, which at the same time was addressing his Creator.
{{references}}
{{references}}
* ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'' by [[Ruth S. Noel]]
* ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'' by [[Ruth S. Noel]]
* [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/qlist.htm Quenya Corpus Wordlist] edited by [[Helge Kåre Fauskanger]]
* [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/qlist.htm Quenya Corpus Wordlist] edited by [[Helge Fauskanger]]


{{title|lowercase}}
[[Category: Quenya nouns]]
[[Category: Quenya nouns]]

Revision as of 22:49, 21 October 2012

elen (pl. eleni or eldi) means "star" in Quenya.[1]

The Edain, however, equated elen and elda ("Elf"), so in some situations elen translates as "Elf".

Etymology

PQ Root EL.[2]

It is said traditionally to come from the exclamation ele! "behold" being the first word the first Elves spoke at Cuiviénen, when they saw the stars.

Other forms

  • elenna "to a star": allative, also a name for Númenor.[3]
  • elelli "stars": partitive plural[4]
  • elenion "of stars": pl. genitive[5]
  • elenillor "from stars": pl. ablative[6]

Seen in

With the meaning "Elf"

Examples

Inspiration

El means "deity" in some Semitic languages, and is a common element in many Hebrew names, as happens with Elvish names. Dante Alighieri in his De vulgari eloquentia suggests that the word El was the first sound emitted by Adam: While the first utterance of humans after birth is a cry of pain, Dante assumed that Adam could only have made an exclamation of joy, which at the same time was addressing his Creator.[source?]

References