-wë
From Tolkien Gateway
-wë is a Quenya suffix used mainly in masculine names more usual in the First Age. It is translated as "man".
It was seen in names of the Elves of Cuiviénen and the Great March: Minwe, Tatwe, Nerwe, Morwe, Nurwe, Ingwe, Finwe, Elwe, Olwe, Nowe, Lenwe.
Perhaps it was seen also in Manwe and Eonwe; and perhaps even Elenwë which is a feminine name.
Etymology
From PQ ending -wego < root WEG[1]
Cognates
The element is seen in names of Quenya form. It didn't seem to survive in other languages, other than the element -u seen only in the name Elu (from Elwe) who was better known as Thingol in Sindarin. The Elf Nowe became better known as Cirdan.
Olwe became Olue in Telerin. Lenwe was known as Denweg.
See also
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies"
- Quenya-English Wordlist compiled by Helge Kåre Fauskanger
