Kelvar: Difference between revisions

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Other words for "animal" (names which in general only referred to "four-footed beasts, and never to reptiles or birds") were [[Quenya]] ''laman'' (pl. ''lamni'' or ''lamani''), and [[Sindarin]] ''lavan'' (pl. ''levain'').<ref>{{WJ|Author}}, p. 416 (note 33)</ref>
Other words for "animal" (names which in general only referred to "four-footed beasts, and never to reptiles or birds") were [[Quenya]] ''laman'' (pl. ''lamni'' or ''lamani''), and [[Sindarin]] ''lavan'' (pl. ''levain'').<ref>{{WJ|Author}}, p. 416 (note 33)</ref>


In [[Noldorin|Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] language, the word for "living creature, animal" is ''cuid''. The word ''meg'' is glossed as "any small animal, especially mole").<ref>{{PE|11}}, pp. 27, 56</ref>
In [[Noldorin|Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] language, the word for "living creature, animal" is ''cuid''. The word ''meg'' is glossed as "any small animal, especially mole".<ref>{{PE|11}}, pp. 27, 56</ref>
   
   
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[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Animals]]

Revision as of 11:22, 21 March 2011

Kelvar was a name used by the Vala Yavanna to refer to that part of her natural realm capable of moving or escaping, as opposed to the olvar which were rooted in place. The terms kelvar and olvar, then, refer respectively to animal and plant life, and are essentially equivalent in meaning to fauna and flora.[1]

After the awakening of the Elves, some of the kelvar were said to have been inhabited by powerful spirits. Most famous among these were the great Eagles that overlooked events in Middle-earth from their mountainous eyries.[1]

Etymology

Kelvar is an Elvish word meaning "animals, living things that move",[2] probably derived from the stem KEL-, meaning "go" or "run".[3] It has been suggested that kelvar is a Quenya word, and that the (unattested) singular form would likely be kelva.[4]

Other words for "animal" (names which in general only referred to "four-footed beasts, and never to reptiles or birds") were Quenya laman (pl. lamni or lamani), and Sindarin lavan (pl. levain).[5]

In Gnomish, one of Tolkien's early conceptions of an Elven language, the word for "living creature, animal" is cuid. The word meg is glossed as "any small animal, especially mole".[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Aulë and Yavanna"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 363
  4. Helge Kåre Fauskanger, "Quenya Corpus Wordlist" (accessed 15 March 2011)
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Author's Notes to Quendi and Eldar", p. 416 (note 33)
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), pp. 27, 56