Edhil (sing. Edhel) is a Sindarin word referring to the Elves who set out on the Great Journey, a direct equivalent of the common form, Eldar.[1]
There was also a class-plural form Eldrim or Elrim (where ll-r was in secondary contact > ldr, later again simplified), as well as the masculine and feminine singular forms Ellon and Elleth, respectively.[2]
The Sindar, who remained behind in Beleriand and thus did not complete the Journey, applied this name to themselves as a description of their people as a whole. In contrast, those Elves, who eventually completed the Journey and at last settled in the Blessed Realm, were called Ódhil (sing. Ódhel).[2]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", entry êl, elen
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: A. The principal linguistic elements concerned", p. 364
| 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) |
|---|---|
| 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) |
| Generations: | Eru-begotten · First-begotten · Third Elves · Younger Elves · further Generations |
| See also: | Awakening of the Elves · Finding by Oromë · Sundering of the Elves · Embassy · Great Journey · Dark Years of the Avari |