atar

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atar (pl. atari) is a Quenya word meaning "father".[1]

Etymology

Other forms

  • atarinya "my father"[3]
  • ataremma "Our father"
  • ataren (dative) "To father"[4]

See also

Cognates

Inspiration

Atar can be compared to Greek/Latin pater.

In Gothic and Celtic branches the Indoeuropean initial p- was lost thence we have forms similar to atar, like Irish athair (from Proto-Celtic *ɸatīr) and Gothic atta.

Note also Turkish atto.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", atar
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", ATA
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, p. 70
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, "'Words of Joy': Five Catholic Prayers in Quenya — Part One" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne, Arden R. Smith, and Carl F. Hostetter), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 43, January 2002, p. 8