Elf-friends: Difference between revisions

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The '''Elf-friends''' were those, usually among [[Men]], who were recognised by the [[Elves]] as providing special aid or alliance to their efforts. The [[Quenya]] terms were technically ''Eldandil'' ("Devoted to the [[Eldar]]"), or ''Quendil'' ("Devoted to the [[Quendi]]"). However, among the [[Edain]] and [[Dúnedain]], the Elvish words for "Elf" and "[[stars|star]]" were often confused, since they sounded similar. Thus [[Elendil]] was used by them to mean "Elf-friend", though it actually signifies "Devoted to the Stars" in Quenya. The plural form of this word, ''Elendili'', was one of the names for the [[Faithful]] [[Númenóreans]].  The Sindarin term for "Elf-friend" is ''[[Elvellon]]'' (with the plural form being ''Elvellyn'').
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The '''Elf-friends''' were those, usually among [[Men]], who were recognised by the [[Elves]] as providing special aid or alliance to their efforts. The [[Quenya]] terms were technically ''Eldandil'' ("Devoted to the [[Eldar]]"), or ''Quendil'' ("Devoted to the [[Quendi]]"). However, among the [[Edain]] and [[Dúnedain]], the Elvish words for "Elf" and "[[stars|star]]" were often confused, since they sounded similar. Thus [[Elendil]] was used by them to mean "Elf-friend", though it actually signifies "Devoted to the Stars" in Quenya. The plural form of this word, ''Elendili'', was one of the names for the [[Faithful]] [[Númenóreans]].  The Sindarin term for "Elf-friend" was ''[[Elvellon]]'' (with the plural form being ''Elvellyn'').
== Notable Elf-friends ==
== Notable Elf-friends ==
* [[Beren Erchamion]]
* [[Beren Erchamion]]

Revision as of 07:26, 10 October 2009

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The Elf-friends were those, usually among Men, who were recognised by the Elves as providing special aid or alliance to their efforts. The Quenya terms were technically Eldandil ("Devoted to the Eldar"), or Quendil ("Devoted to the Quendi"). However, among the Edain and Dúnedain, the Elvish words for "Elf" and "star" were often confused, since they sounded similar. Thus Elendil was used by them to mean "Elf-friend", though it actually signifies "Devoted to the Stars" in Quenya. The plural form of this word, Elendili, was one of the names for the Faithful Númenóreans. The Sindarin term for "Elf-friend" was Elvellon (with the plural form being Elvellyn).

Notable Elf-friends

Inspiration

The concept of the "Elf-friend" is recurrent in Tolkien's legendarium, both in meaning and in name. The name Ælfwine/Elfwine is an actual Old English personal name that means "Elf-friend" and has survived as Alwin/Elwin. This word has been the basis for several characters and terms: