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'''Essë''' is the [[Quenya]] word for "name", as well as the 31st [[tengwar|tengwa]] letter. In [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien's]] [[legendarium]], [[High Elves]] are given three names in their lives, the '''[[father-name]]''', the '''[[amilessë]]''' (''mother-name''), and the '''[[epessë]]''' (nickname or honorary title).  
__NOTOC__
'''''essë''''' is a noun meaning "name" in [[Quenya]].<ref name="Names">{{App|Letters}}, Note, ''The names of the letters''</ref> Compare with ''[[eneth]]'' in [[Sindarin]].


* [[Father-name]]: chosen by the father and often based on the father's own name or derived from old legends. Given at or near birth.
==Elvish Naming==
* [[Amilessë]]: chosen by the mother and often prophetic in nature. Given at or near birth.
[[High Elves]] have a naming tradition, the '''''essë''''', which gives an Elf three different names at various times of the lives. They are the '''[[essi]]''' ("father-name"), the '''[[amilessë]]''' ("mother-name"), and the '''[[epessë]]''' ("after-name" or honorary title). On a few occasions an Elf might choose a '''[[Kilmessi]]''' or "self-name".
* [[Epessë]]: often chosen by the Elf himself or herself as an honorific later in life.


The father-name and amilessë were private names used only by family and close friends. The epessë is the name an Elf uses in public. In ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', when an Elf does not yet have an epessë, the Sindarin version of his mother- or father-name is used.
* [[Essi]]: chosen by the father and often based on the father's own name or derived from old legends. Given at or near birth.
* [[Amilessë]]: chosen by the mother and often prophetic in nature. Given sometimes at or near birth but often bestowed years later.
* [[Epessë]]: often acquired by an Elf as an honorific later in life.
* [[Kilmessi]]: sometimes chosen by an Elf as a disguise or to refer to deeds and personal history.


=== Examples ===
The ''amilessë'' was a private name used by family and close friends. The ''essi'' is the name an Elf used in public until an ''epessë'' was chosen.<ref>{{PM|Shibboleth}}, ''Note on Mother-names'', p. 339</ref> In ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', when an Elf does not yet have an ''epessë'', the Sindarin version of his mother- or father-name is used instead.
*'''[[Maglor]]''': The son of [[Fëanor]] of the [[House of Finwë]], was given the father-name ''Canafinwë'' ("Strong-voiced [of] Finwë"). His amilessë was ''Makalaurë'' ("Forging Gold" in the poetic sense). The name Maglor is the [[Sindarin]] version of his amilessë.


* '''[[Ereinion Gil-galad]]''': The son of [[Orodreth of Nargothrond|Orodreth]] was given the father-name ''Rodnor''. His amilessë was ''Gil-galad'' ("Star of Radiance"). As [[High King of the Noldor]], his epessë was ''Ereinion'' ("Scion of Kings").
===Examples===
* '''[[Maglor]]''': The son of [[Fëanor]] of the [[House of Finwë]], was given the ''essi'' ''Kanafinwë'' ("Strong-voiced [of] Finwë"). His amilessë was ''[[Makalaurë]]'' ("Forging Gold" in a poetic sense).<ref name="Sons">{{PM|Shibboleth}}, ''The names of the Sons of Fëanor with the legend of the fate of Amrod'', p. 353</ref> The name Maglor is the [[Sindarin]] version of his mother-name.


*'''[[Finrod Felagund]]''': The son of [[Finarfin]] was given the father-name of ''Findaráto'' ("Hair-champion"). He is usually referred to as ''Felagund'' ("Hewer of Caves"), originally a derogatory nickname given to him because of his dwelling at [[Nargothrond]]. Finrod adopted the name as his epessë and made it a title of honour. The name Finrod is the Sindarin version of his father-name.
* '''[[Gil-galad|Ereinion Gil-galad]]''': The son of [[Orodreth]] was given the ''essi'' ''[[Gil-galad|Rodnor]]''.<ref>{{PM|Shibboleth}}, ''The parentage of Gil-galad'', p. 350</ref> His ''amilessë'' was ''[[Gil]]-[[galad]]'' ("Star of Radiance"). As [[High King of the Noldor]], his ''epessë'' was ''[[Gil-galad|Ereinion]]'' ("Scion of Kings").<ref name="Descendant">{{PM|Shibboleth}}, ''The names of Finwë's descendants'', p. 347</ref>


*'''[[Galadriel]]''': The only daughter of Finarfin was given the father-name of ''Artanis'' ("Noble Woman") and the amilessë of ''Nerwen'' ("Man-maiden"). Her epessë, ''Alatáriel'' ("Maiden Crowned with Radiant Garland"), was given to her by her husband, [[Celeborn, Lord of Lórien|Celeborn]]. The name Galadriel is the Sindarin version of her epessë.
* '''[[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]]''': The son of [[Finarfin]] was given the ''essi'' of ''[[Finrod|Findaráto]]'' ("Golden-haired Champion"). His amilessë was ''[[Ingoldo]]'' ("The Noldo", singular for [[Noldor]]).<ref name="Descend">{{PM|Shibboleth}}, ''The names of Finwë's descendants'', p. 346</ref> He is usually referred to as ''[[Felagund]]'' ("Hewer of Caves"),<ref>{{PM|Shibboleth}}, ''The Dwarvish origin of the name Felagund'', p. 351</ref> originally a derogatory nickname given to him because of his dwelling at [[Nargothrond]]. Finrod adopted the name as his ''epessë'' and made it a title of honour. The name Finrod is the Sindarin version of his father-name.


*'''[[Amras]]''': The last son of the House of Finwë was given the father-name ''Telufinwë'', ("Last [of] Finwë"). His amilessë was ''Umbarto'' ("The Fated"). His mother's choice was prophetic, because Amras was the first of the [[sons of Fëanor]] to die, accidentally killed in the swan ships of the Teleri when his father ordered them to be burnt at [[Losgar]]. The name Amras is the Sindarin version of his father-name.
* '''[[Galadriel]]''': The only daughter of Finarfin was given the ''essi'' of ''[[Artanis]]'' ("Noble Woman") and the ''amilessë'' of ''[[Nerwen]]'' ("Man-maiden") because of her height and strength.<ref name="Descend"/> Her ''epessë'', ''[[Alatáriel]]'' ("Maiden Crowned with Radiant Garland"), was given to her by her husband, [[Celeborn]]. The name Galadriel is the Sindarin version of her ''epessë''.<ref name="Descendant"/>


[[Category:Elves]]
* '''[[Amras]]''': The last son of the House of Finwë was given the ''essi'' ''[[Telufinwë]]'', ("Last [of] Finwë"). His first ''amilessë'' was ''[[Ambarussa]]'' ("Top-russet" referring to his hair), his twin-brother [[Amrod]] hat the same ''amilessë''. To distinguish the two Amras was given a second ''amilessë'': ''[[Umbarto]]'' ("The Fated").<ref name="Sons"/> His mother's choice was prophetic, because Amras was the first of the [[sons of Fëanor]] to die, accidentally killed in the swan ships of the Teleri when his father ordered them to be burnt at [[Losgar]]. The name Amras is the Sindarin version of ''Ambarussa''.
[[Category:Names]]
 
==Tengwa==
[[Image:Essë.gif|left]]''Essë'' is also the name in later Quenya of the thirty-first letter of the [[Tengwar]] alphabet, representing '''SS'''.  The original name of this letter was ''Áze'', but over time the phonemes for "z" and "r" merged and the letter was renamed ''Áre''.  Since ''[[Óre]]'' (letter 21) represents untrilled "r" and ''[[Rómen]]'' (letter 25) represents trilled "r", ''Áre'' became superfluous.  This letter was then renamed ''Essë'' and represents "ss", but only in written Quenya.<ref name="Names"/>
 
<!-- An extra blank line is needed to prevent the "See Also" section title from indenting. -->
==See also==
* [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/qlist.htm Quenya Corpus Wordlist] edited by [[Helge Fauskanger]]
 
{{references}}
{{title|lowercase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esse}}
[[Category:Essi| ]]
[[Category:Quenya nouns]]
[[Category:Tengwar letters]]
[[de:Namensgebung]]
[[fr:langues/textes/noms-elfes]]
[[fi:Eldarin nimenantotavat]]

Revision as of 19:11, 13 February 2013

essë is a noun meaning "name" in Quenya.[1] Compare with eneth in Sindarin.

Elvish Naming

High Elves have a naming tradition, the essë, which gives an Elf three different names at various times of the lives. They are the essi ("father-name"), the amilessë ("mother-name"), and the epessë ("after-name" or honorary title). On a few occasions an Elf might choose a Kilmessi or "self-name".

  • Essi: chosen by the father and often based on the father's own name or derived from old legends. Given at or near birth.
  • Amilessë: chosen by the mother and often prophetic in nature. Given sometimes at or near birth but often bestowed years later.
  • Epessë: often acquired by an Elf as an honorific later in life.
  • Kilmessi: sometimes chosen by an Elf as a disguise or to refer to deeds and personal history.

The amilessë was a private name used by family and close friends. The essi is the name an Elf used in public until an epessë was chosen.[2] In The Silmarillion, when an Elf does not yet have an epessë, the Sindarin version of his mother- or father-name is used instead.

Examples

  • Finrod Felagund: The son of Finarfin was given the essi of Findaráto ("Golden-haired Champion"). His amilessë was Ingoldo ("The Noldo", singular for Noldor).[6] He is usually referred to as Felagund ("Hewer of Caves"),[7] originally a derogatory nickname given to him because of his dwelling at Nargothrond. Finrod adopted the name as his epessë and made it a title of honour. The name Finrod is the Sindarin version of his father-name.
  • Galadriel: The only daughter of Finarfin was given the essi of Artanis ("Noble Woman") and the amilessë of Nerwen ("Man-maiden") because of her height and strength.[6] Her epessë, Alatáriel ("Maiden Crowned with Radiant Garland"), was given to her by her husband, Celeborn. The name Galadriel is the Sindarin version of her epessë.[5]
  • Amras: The last son of the House of Finwë was given the essi Telufinwë, ("Last [of] Finwë"). His first amilessë was Ambarussa ("Top-russet" referring to his hair), his twin-brother Amrod hat the same amilessë. To distinguish the two Amras was given a second amilessë: Umbarto ("The Fated").[3] His mother's choice was prophetic, because Amras was the first of the sons of Fëanor to die, accidentally killed in the swan ships of the Teleri when his father ordered them to be burnt at Losgar. The name Amras is the Sindarin version of Ambarussa.

Tengwa

Essë.gif

Essë is also the name in later Quenya of the thirty-first letter of the Tengwar alphabet, representing SS. The original name of this letter was Áze, but over time the phonemes for "z" and "r" merged and the letter was renamed Áre. Since Óre (letter 21) represents untrilled "r" and Rómen (letter 25) represents trilled "r", Áre became superfluous. This letter was then renamed Essë and represents "ss", but only in written Quenya.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, The names of the letters
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", Note on Mother-names, p. 339
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", The names of the Sons of Fëanor with the legend of the fate of Amrod, p. 353
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", The parentage of Gil-galad, p. 350
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", The names of Finwë's descendants, p. 347
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", The names of Finwë's descendants, p. 346
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", The Dwarvish origin of the name Felagund, p. 351
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