Thuringwethil

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Thuringwethil (perished circa F.A. 465) was a Vampire servant of Sauron during the First Age. She was Sauron's messenger, but was caught in the battle between her master and Lúthien and Huan at Tol-in-Gaurhoth ("Isle of Werewolves"). She was slain either by the Hound of Valinor or in the collapse of Minas Tirith. Lúthien later used her cloak to sneak into Angband during the Quest for the Silmaril.[1]

Because of Thuringwethil's ability to change forms, she may have been a Maia.

Etymology

The name is glossed as "Woman of Secret Shadow"[2] and an early version of the legendarium the name is said to mean "she of hidden shadow".[3]

The above can be analyzed as thurin "secret, hidden", gwath "shadow" and an obscure ending -il which perhaps denotes feminine gender.

Note that -il causes "umlauting" (or "affection") of gwath to gweth.

References