A Tolkien English Glossary: A Guide to Old Uncommon and Achaic Words Used in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (1) Read online

  A Tolkien English Glossary

  A Guide to Old, Uncommon and Archaic Words

  Used in

  The Hobbit

  And

  The Lord of the Rings

  By Oliver Loo

  Copyright © 2004-2009 by Oliver Loo

  ISBN 9780557255788

  Contents

  Introduction. 4

  The Hobbit

  Words in order of first appearance 9

  Word in alphabetical order 57

  The Lord of the Rings

  Words in order of first appearance 103

  Word in alphabetical order 282

  Introduction

  The book is intended to be a quick reference guide for the reader of The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings, where old, uncommon and archaic words can be quickly looked up and their meaning made clear, either during the reading of the text or ahead of time, chapter by chapter without the cumbersome task looking up each word and finding the correct meaning as one comes across it.

  The idea for the book came about while reading The Lord of the Rings. I had read it many times before when I was younger, but this time, I wanted to slowly savor the text. What I found was that I had to keep stopping because I ran across old, uncommon and archaic words that I did not fully understand, interrupting the flow of the text. In looking up the words, I could not just use any pocket dictionary, as most of the words I was looking for were nowhere to be found in a little book like this. I finally settled on an old, three-volume dictionary published in the 20’s that contained the words I was looking for, together with their correct (I presume) meanings as used in The Lord of the Rings. Still, I was wishing that I could find a complete list of all of the archaic and, uncommon words already available, easy to look up, chapter by chapter. Unfortunately, I found none to my liking. Those I found, had such short, non-descriptive definitions, that they left me wanting. Other words, I could not find at all. I also found out that even though a word was used again later in the text, its meaning may not be the same as the previous occurrence. Take draught, for example. It occurs 35 times in the text with at least 5 different meanings. It means current of air in one sentence, drinking, or a drink or potion in another, one who is drafted into service in another, to draw or to pull in another and finally the depth a vessel sinks in the water. One needs to know all of the meanings in order to fully understand the text.

  The selection of the words is subjective. They are words I did not fully know the definitions of or words where I thought to myself ‘I should like to know more about that.“ How often does one tarry at the hythe? I purposely used an old dictionary, one in use before the books were written, as definitions and meanings change over the course of time and I wanted to get the older definitions, as Tolkien intended them. In newer dictionaries, the first definition of rent is payment … but rent as used in The Lord of the Rings has a completely different meaning. It usually means a tear. I have also included words in common use today, but whose meaning as used in The Lord of the Rings is completely different than the one we usually associate it with. We all know what essays are, but when used as: “The lesser rings were only essays in the craft before it was full-grown, and to the Elven-smiths they were but trifles…” - is that not much richer, more meaningful use of the word, one that we do not normally associate it with? An essay being a testing or experiment as opposed to a short literary composition.

  While others have written extensively on the words and languages Tolkien created, few have written about the old, archaic and unusual English words Tolkien used in The Lord of the Rings. The books can, of course, be read without any knowledge or the full understanding of the unusual words he uses, many meanings can be guessed at from the context of the text they are set in, but only in the understanding of the words, will an additional rich layer of the text be revealed. In guessing, one may guess correctly, but more often than not, my guesses turned out to be wrong.

  In this book, I have listed the old, archaic or unusual word followed by the page of it’s first use in the 2002 Houghton-Mifflin Alan Lee Illustrated edition, along with it’s meaning as used in The Lord of the Rings and the sentence it is first used in. Since the Harper-Collins 2002 Alan Lee Illustrated edition has the same pagination as the Houghton-Mifflin edition, the page numbers are the same for both editions. The words are sorted by first appearance and later words may be listed more than once if the meaning in the later use is different. The first section for each book can be read if one wants to read the definitions of a few words at once, (like all those words in a chapter) without having to read the whole dictionary. In the last section for each book, the words are arranged alphabetically for ease of finding a particular word without regard to where it is used. As when the books or chapters are read out-of-order and/or one comes across the second or third use of a word. I have also included the sentence where the word is used to provide the reader with the contextual setting of the word in the sentence it is used in as an aid to understand the meaning. The sentence from the book can, can of course be read first; the meaning guessed at and then the definition read by those so inclined. It does make for an interesting game.

  Definitions

  I have attempted to provide definitions that are clear and concise. Many Tolkien readers will know that this is not always possible. Not all dictionaries agree on the meanings of words. Many words are difficult, even today to define. Tolkien, maybe more than anyone else, was aware of the problems with words and their meanings. The Oxford English Dictionary for example, does not have a good definition for wraith. Is a wraith alive or dead? One can not tell from the definition. In cases like this, going back to the text may be the best solution, because Tolkien often created a definition simply by using the word in a particular way.

  There are other instances where the definitions exist, but the meaning in the context of the text may still be unclear or debatable. The sentence on pg.145 reads: For each of the hobbits he chose a dagger, long, leaf-shaped, and keen, of marvellous workmanship, damasked with serpent-forms in red and gold. What does keen mean in this context? At first, it looks to mean sharp, but keen also means: to wail in lamentation for the dead; to mourn with wailing, as one dead; a wailing lament for the dead. In the next sentence, the blades are referred to as sharp, but a little later, Tolkien also writes:

  …that these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Westernesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dûm in the Land of Angmar.

  'Few now remember them,' Tom murmured, 'yet still some go wandering, sons of forgotten kings walking in loneliness, guarding from evil things folk that are heedless.' The hobbits did not understand his words, but as he spoke they had a vision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them, like a vast shadowy plain over which there strode shapes of Men, tall and grim with bright swords, and last came one with a star on his brow. Then the vision faded, and they were back in the sunlit world.

  Could keen not also mean mourning here? The use certainly implies sharp, but mourning could also be applicable.

  Words Not Included

  I have deliberately not included non-English words with roots in English like Carrock, Beorn, Warg, etc., because one does not necessarily need to know the meaning of these words in order to understand the text (on one level at least). Not knowing the English meaning or origin of the word Beorn does not take away from the understand
ing of the text on a pure reading level. Knowing the meaning of Beorn, certainly adds to understanding the text, but this understanding is a deeper, more intricate level of language and of Tolkien himself. It does not mean that words like this are unimportant, it is just that they are beyond the scope of this book.

  Useage

  The words from the book are listed exactly as they appear in the text, in the same tense. The definitions are given for the word in singular form. For example, the text contains the word tossocky (plural) on pg. 75, the definition listed is for tossock (singular).

  Definitions for words ending in ing (and some other endings), are defined without the ending. For example, erring is err, slavering is slaver unless such words are defined with the ending.

  Occasionally, when a word is used in the negative sense, the definition may be for the positive sense.

  Definitions also contain other relevant information that may be of ancillary interest, not necessarily only the meaning of the word as used in the context to the book. For example, a phial is a small vessel for liquids, but it can also be a store or accumulation (of wrath, indignation, etc.) poured out upon an offender, victim, or other object (from the seven golden vials full of the wrath of God mentioned in Revelations 15. This second meaning is not necessarily what is meant, but is still of interest.

  In some instances, the spelling of the word used in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is different than that of the definition described. In such cases, the new spelling is listed in the definition (as of 1920).

  Page numbers refer to the page a word is first used, not the page where the sentence starts. For example, a sentence can start on a particular page, but the word listed is actually found on the following page.

  If a definition contains other unusual words, the definition for that word is also given in the same text in parenthesis.

  The meanings of common words used in a context easily understandable to today’s reader are not defined. The first unusual, old, or archaic meaning is defined. For example, when mere is used as meaning a small lake or pond, it is defined. When it is used as ‘only’ it is not defined as it is generally a common understanding.

  An old, unusual or archaic word may have been used at an earlier point in the text, but only the first use of the old, unusual or archaic meaning is listed. For example, fell is used several times, but the unusual use appears on pg. 84. Therefore, its first use is listed here. The word may be used subsequently with different meaning.

  First uses are based on the first occurrence in the text of the book itself. The sections titled ‘Note on text’ and ‘Forward to the Second Edition” are not included. Pages included begin from 1 (prologue) and end at 1146.

  The definitions are written in American English while the text is British English. In a few circumstances where the Oxford English Dictionary was used for reference, the definition may be written in British English.

  Abbreviations Used

  Esp. - Especially

  Etc. - Et cetera

  Fig. - Figurative

  Orig: - Originally

  Specif. – Specifically

  Preterit: Bygone; past; expressing past time; esp. denoting past action or state simply, without the implication as to continuance; the verb form in this tense.

  Book & Page Numbers

  The Hobbit. 1966. Houghton Mifflin Company Boston. 10th Impression H.

  The Lord of the Rings. 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company, Alan Lee Illustrated. 1st impression. The Harper-Collins 2002 Alan Lee edition has the same pagination as the HM edition; therefore the page numbers are the same for both editions.

  Dictionary: The New Century Dictionary of the English Language, Copyright, 1927, 1929, 1931, by The Century Co.

  The Hobbit

  Word

  Page 1st Used

  Meaning as used in The Hobbit

  Context of use, sentence used in

  The Hobbit

  Chapter 1

  An Unexpected Party

  runes

  8

  Any of the letters or characters of an alphabet (in varying forms) used by the ancient Teutonic peoples, esp., the Scandinavians; hence, something written or inscribed in such characters.

  Runes were old letters originally used for cutting or scratching...and so were thin and angular.

  well-to-do

  9

  Having a sufficiency of means for comfortable living, well off, or prosperous.

  This hobbit was a very well-to-do hobbit….

  queer

  11

  Strange, odd, peculiar, eccentric, in appearance or character.

  Still it is probable that Bilbo.... got something a bit queer in his makeup from the Took side....

  ages

  12

  A period of the earth's history.

  He had not been down that way under The Hill for ages and ages….

  braces

  13

  Suspenders.

  I can’t think what anybody sees in them," said our Mr. Baggins, and stuck one thumb behind his brace….

  studs

  13

  A small button or fastener, commonly of metal, bone, or the like and in the form of a small knob and a disk connected by a stem, used (when passing through small button holes or the like) for holding together parts of dress or for ornament. Cufflinks.

  Not the wandering wizard that gave Old Took a pair of magic diamond studs that fastened themselves and never came undone….

  snapdragons

  13

  A plant of the scrophulariaceous genus Antirrhinum, esp. A. Majus, an herb long cultivated for its spikes of showy flowers, of various colors, with a corolla that has been supposed to look like the mouth of a dragon.

  They used to go up like great lilies and snapdragons...and hang in the twilight all evening!"

  laburnums

  13

  A small leguminous tree, Laburnum laburnum, having pendulous racemens of yellow flowers.

  They used to go up like great...laburnums of fire and hang in the twilight all evening!"

  prosy

  14

  Given to discoursing in a commonplace, dull, or wearisome manner.

  ...Mr. Baggins was not quite so prosy as he liked to believe….

  scuttled

  14

  To run with quick, hurried steps.

  With that the hobbit turned and scuttled inside his round green door….

  cake

  14

  A mass of dough or batter baked or otherwise cooked in a definite form; a flat, comparatively thin mass of bread, esp., unleavened bread; an oat-cake. Not what is commonly understood in the US as a cake, i.e. not a "sweet," "birthday" cake.

  ...he thought a cake or two and a drink of something would do him good after his fright.

  pray

  15

  To entreat (ask earnestly for) or beseech (a person, etc.) for something; make earnest petition to (a person, etc.) as to do something, or that something may be.

  ...he added: "I am just about to take tea; pray come and have some with me."

  flustered

  15

  Confused, disconcerted.

  Yesterday he had been too flustered to do anything….

  morsel

  16

  A bite, mouthful, or small portion of food, or the like; a bit or dish of food of specified character.

  ….he found himself scuttling off, too, to the cellar to fill a pint beer-mug, and to the pantry to fetch two beautiful round seed-cakes which he had baked that afternoon for his after-supper morsel.

  plumped

  16

  To drop heavily or suddenly and directly; with a heavy or sudden fall or drop.

  Bilbo plumped down the beer and the cake in front of them….

  puffed

  16

  To breathe quick and hard.

  Gandalf for certain this time, he thought as he puffed along….

  throng

  17
>
  A great number of things crowded or considered together; also to fill or occupy with as with a crowd.

  …join the throng!

  wits

  17

  Understanding, intelligence.

  I really must sit down for a minute and collect my wits….

  depredations

  17

  A praying upon or plundering; robbery; ravage, waste.

  ...the four dwarves sat around the table, and talked about mines and gold and troubles with the goblins, and the depredations of dragons.…

  hearth

  18

  The part of the floor of the room on which the fire is made or above which is a grate or the like for fire; the floor of a fireplace.

  A big jug of coffee bad just been set in the hearth….

  bewildered

  18

  To confuse completely as to direction or course; render utterly confused in mind, perplex completely; daze.

  Bilbo rushed along the passage, very angry, and altogether bewildered and bewuthered-this was the most awkward Wednesday….

  bewuthered

  18

  From whither. An attack of illness. .

  See text above for bewildered.

  haughty

  19

  Exalted, lofty, noble; also having or showing a feeling of lofty dignity, disdainfully proud, arrogant.

  Thorin indeed was very haughty, and said nothing about service….