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A title of the [[Lord of the Nazgûl]], granted him in defiance by [[Éowyn]] in her guise as [[Dernhelm]] during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. It means 'phantom', and is derived from the Old English word gedwimer, 'sorcery'.
'''Dwimmerlaik''' was a name given to [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] by [[Éowyn]] (as [[Dernhelm]]) when she confronted him during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref>


[[Category:Characters]]
By extension, it is possible that ''Dwimmerlaik'' is how the [[Rohirrim]] called the [[Wraiths]] or rumors of the [[Nazgûl]] in general.<ref>[[David Day]], ''[[A Tolkien Bestiary]]''</ref>
==Etymology==
 
The word ''dwimmerlaik'' is said to mean "work of necromancy, [[spectres|spectre]]" in the [[Rohirric|language of Rohan]].<ref>{{HM|LRI}}</ref>
 
[[Christina Scull]] and [[Wayne G. Hammond]] have suggested that ''dwimmerlaik'' derives from [[Middle English]] ''dweomer'', [[Old English]] ''[[Wiktionary:gedwimor|(gwe)dwimor]]'', ''-er''  ("illusion, phantom") + Middle English ''-layk'', ''-laik'' ("play").<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 562</ref> See also ''[[Dwimordene]]'', ''[[Dwimorberg]]''.
 
It is not clear if the word refers to a generic creature of the Rohanese folklore (like the [[holbytla|holbytlan]]), specifically a [[phantoms|phantom]]; therefore when Éowyn confronted the Witch-King she likely rather identified him with one, than coining the word on that moment.
 
[[David Day]] in ''[[A Tolkien Bestiary]]'' considered that a Dwimmerlaik is any creature of Rohanese superstitious folklore that includes [[Elves]] and [[Ents]]. However, other than the appearance of the root ''dwimor-'' to describe [[Lothlórien]], there is no indication in Tolkien's writings that the word pre-existed or that it was used for other races.<ref>http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/DayBooks.html</ref>
==See also==
*[[Dwimordene]]
*[[Dwimorberg]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Epithets]]
[[Category:Nazgûl]]
[[Category:Undead]]
[[fi:Dwimordene#Nimestä]]

Revision as of 09:26, 22 October 2013

Dwimmerlaik was a name given to Lord of the Nazgûl by Éowyn (as Dernhelm) when she confronted him during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.[1]

By extension, it is possible that Dwimmerlaik is how the Rohirrim called the Wraiths or rumors of the Nazgûl in general.[2]

Etymology

The word dwimmerlaik is said to mean "work of necromancy, spectre" in the language of Rohan.[3]

Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond have suggested that dwimmerlaik derives from Middle English dweomer, Old English (gwe)dwimor, -er ("illusion, phantom") + Middle English -layk, -laik ("play").[4] See also Dwimordene, Dwimorberg.

It is not clear if the word refers to a generic creature of the Rohanese folklore (like the holbytlan), specifically a phantom; therefore when Éowyn confronted the Witch-King she likely rather identified him with one, than coining the word on that moment.

David Day in A Tolkien Bestiary considered that a Dwimmerlaik is any creature of Rohanese superstitious folklore that includes Elves and Ents. However, other than the appearance of the root dwimor- to describe Lothlórien, there is no indication in Tolkien's writings that the word pre-existed or that it was used for other races.[5]

See also

References