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'''''essë''''' is a noun meaning "name" in [[Quenya]]. Compare with ''[[eneth]]'' in [[Sindarin]].
'''''essë''''' (pl. ''essi'') is a noun meaning "name" in [[Quenya]].<ref name="Names">{{App|Letters}}, Note, ''The names of the letters''</ref> Compare with ''[[eneth]]'' in [[Sindarin]].


== Elvish Naming ==
==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).  
According to the naming traditions of [[High Elves]], an Elf can have four types of names, acquired at various times of their lives. The three first names are called the '''''anessi''''' ("given-names"): the ''[[father-name]]''<ref group="note">There is no attested Quenya term for this name, but we can conjecture it is ''ataressë''.</ref>, the ''[[amilessë]]'' ("mother-name"), and the ''[[epessë]]'' ("after-name" or honorary title). The last type of name is called the '''''[[kilmessë]]''''': the ''chosen-name'' ("self-name").<ref>{{MR|P3II3a}}, pp. 214-7</ref>


* [[Essi]]: chosen by the father and often based on the father's own name or derived from old legends. Given at or near birth.
====Anessi====
* [[Amilessë]]: chosen by the mother and often prophetic in nature. Given at or near birth.
* [[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.
* [[Epessë]]: often chosen by the Elf him- or herself as an honorific later in life.
* [[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.


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. In ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', when an Elf does not yet have an epessë, the Sindarin version of his mother- or father-name is used instead.
====Kilmessë====
* [[Kilmessë]]: a name chosen by an Elf for him- or herself as a disguise or to refer to deeds, talents and personal history.


=== Examples ===
The ''father-name'' and the ''amilessë'' were the Elf's 'true names' and were public names. The ''father-name'' is the name an Elf used in public until an ''epessë'' was chosen.<ref>{{PM|Mother}}, 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 essi ''[[Canafinwë]]'' ("Strong-voiced [of] Finwë"). His amilessë was ''[[Makalaurë]]'' ("Forging Gold" in a poetic sense). The name Maglor is the [[Sindarin]] version of his mother-name.


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


* '''[[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]]). 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 ''essë [[Gil-galad|Ereinion]]'' ("Scion of Kings").<ref>{{PM|Gil-galad}}, p. 350</ref> His ''epessë'' was ''[[Gil]]-[[galad]]'' ("Star of Radiance") given to him because his armour and shield were overlaid with silver and set with a device of white stars, shone from afar like a star in sunlight or moonlight and could be seen by Elvish eyes at a great distance if he stood upon a height.<ref name="Descendant">{{PM|Finwe}}, p. 347</ref>


* '''[[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. 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.
* '''[[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]]''': The son of [[Finarfin]] was given the ''essë'' of ''[[Finrod|Findaráto]]'' ("Golden-haired Champion"). His amilessë was ''[[Ingoldo]]'' ("The Noldo", singular for [[Noldor]]).<ref name="Descend">{{PM|Finwe}}, p. 346</ref> He is usually referred to as ''[[Felagund]]'' ("Hewer of Caves"),<ref>{{PM|Felagund}}, p. 351-2</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 essi ''[[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 ''essë'' 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"/>
 
* '''[[Amras]]''': The last son of the House of Finwë was given the ''essë'' ''[[Telufinwë]]'', ("Last [of] Finwë"). His first ''amilessë'' was ''[[Ambarussa]]'' ("Top-russet" referring to his hair), his twin-brother [[Amrod]] had the same ''amilessë''. To distinguish the two Amrod was given a second ''amilessë'': ''[[Umbarto]]'' ("The Fated").<ref name="Sons"/> His mother's choice was prophetic, because Amrod 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==
==Tengwa==
[[Image:Essë.gif]]''Essë'' is also the name of the thirty-first letter of the [[Tengwar]] alphabet.
[[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"/>
 
The original name of the letter ''Essë'' was '''''[[Áre|Árë]]'''''. The word ''árë'' was first pronounced ''"ázë"'', but over time the phonemes for "z" and "r" merged and the letter ''Árë'' became superfluous. ''Árë'' was then renamed ''Essë'' and obtained the value ''ss''.


{{references}}
<!-- An extra blank line is needed to prevent the "See Also" section title from indenting. -->
* ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'' by [[Ruth S. Noel]]
==See also==
* [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]]


{{references|Notes}}
{{title|lowercase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esse}}
[[Category:Essi| ]]
[[Category:Quenya nouns]]
[[Category:Quenya nouns]]
[[Category:Tengwar letters]]
[[Category:Tengwar letters]]
[[de:Namensgebung]]
[[fr:langues/textes/noms-elfes]]
[[fi:Eldarin nimenantotavat]]

Latest revision as of 15:34, 8 October 2023

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

Elvish Naming[edit | edit source]

According to the naming traditions of High Elves, an Elf can have four types of names, acquired at various times of their lives. The three first names are called the anessi ("given-names"): the father-name[note 1], the amilessë ("mother-name"), and the epessë ("after-name" or honorary title). The last type of name is called the kilmessë: the chosen-name ("self-name").[2]

Anessi[edit | edit source]

  • 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.
  • 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.

Kilmessë[edit | edit source]

  • Kilmessë: a name chosen by an Elf for him- or herself as a disguise or to refer to deeds, talents and personal history.

The father-name and the amilessë were the Elf's 'true names' and were public names. The father-name is the name an Elf used in public until an epessë was chosen.[3] 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[edit | edit source]

  • Ereinion Gil-galad: The son of Orodreth was given the essë Ereinion ("Scion of Kings").[5] His epessë was Gil-galad ("Star of Radiance") given to him because his armour and shield were overlaid with silver and set with a device of white stars, shone from afar like a star in sunlight or moonlight and could be seen by Elvish eyes at a great distance if he stood upon a height.[6]
  • Finrod Felagund: The son of Finarfin was given the essë of Findaráto ("Golden-haired Champion"). His amilessë was Ingoldo ("The Noldo", singular for Noldor).[7] He is usually referred to as Felagund ("Hewer of Caves"),[8] 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 essë of Artanis ("Noble Woman") and the amilessë of Nerwen ("Man-maiden") because of her height and strength.[7] 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.[6]
  • Amras: The last son of the House of Finwë was given the essë Telufinwë, ("Last [of] Finwë"). His first amilessë was Ambarussa ("Top-russet" referring to his hair), his twin-brother Amrod had the same amilessë. To distinguish the two Amrod was given a second amilessë: Umbarto ("The Fated").[4] His mother's choice was prophetic, because Amrod 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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Notes

  1. There is no attested Quenya term for this name, but we can conjecture it is ataressë.

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.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (II) The Second Phase: Laws and Customs among the Eldar, Of Naming", pp. 214-7
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "Note on Mother-names", p. 339
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of the Sons of Fëanor", p. 353
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The parentage of Gil-galad", p. 350
  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. 347
  7. 7.0 7.1 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
  8. 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. 351-2