elen

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elen (pl. eleni or eldi) means "star" in Quenya.[1]

The Edain, however, equated elen and elda ("Elf"), so in some situations elen translates as "Elf".

Etymology

PQ Root EL.[2]

It is said traditionally to come from the exclamation ele! "behold" being the first word the first Elves spoke at Cuiviénen, when they saw the stars.[3]

Other forms

  • elenna "to a star": allative, also a name for Númenor.[4]
  • elelli "stars": partitive plural[5]
  • elenion "of stars": pl. genitive[6]
  • elenillor "from stars": pl. ablative[7]

Seen in

With the meaning "Elf"

Examples

Inspiration

El means "deity" in some Semitic languages, and is a common element in many Hebrew names, as happens with Elvish names. Dante Alighieri in his De vulgari eloquentia suggests that the word El was the first sound emitted by Adam: While the first utterance of humans after birth is a cry of pain, Dante assumed that Adam could only have made an exclamation of joy, which at the same time was addressing his Creator.[source?]

References