Dictionary Symbols and Abbreviations

/ , ; - ( ) [ ] * { } i ! a. adv. ar. b. conj. f. fam. g. m. n. p. np. pl. rel. tran. an. inan. obj. indecl. fut. pe.

Separates the entry and translation. Separates alternate translations of a single meaning. Separates alternate meanings. All verbs are shown as stems by this mark. It can also show a prefix. In brackets, it shows irregular noun stems and irregular plural endings. Shows optional segments of a word. Ex.: (es)tirne. Either estirne or tirne can be used. In the English-Elvish dictionaries, it can also show common variants of a word. Ex.: gold/malta(malda). malda is considered the variant. In the English-Elvish dictionaries, it displays the 'standard' form of a variant entry. Ex.: malda(malta)/gold. malta is the 'standard' form. Shows irregular grammatical forms. With a noun, it shows the irregular plural unless otherwise marked. With a Quenya verb, the unmarked, bracketed entry represents the irregular past tense. In the Sindarin-English dictionary, it indicates the singular of a plural entry. Ex.: ered/[orod]. ered is the plural of orod. Refer to orod for translation. With a Sindarin verb it represents the third person present unless otherwise marked. In the Elvish-English dictionaries, the bracketed forms refer the reader to the stem. A derived word (usually from adding or removing a word forming affix) which has no example in the literature. Follows a derived word and contains an explanation. Ex.: arasse/deer {--S.aras like S.ras/Q.rasse}. arasse has no example in the literature, but this form is guessed with explanation: from Sindarin aras and compares to Sindarin ras (horn) like Quenya rasse. S refers to a Sindarin cognate and Q refers to a Quenya cognate Translations in italics represent an item that has no equivalent in English. The definition given may be a direct translation of the Elvish or may simply be an invented name that describes the object in question. Ex.: laurinque/hanging-gold(tree). This was a type of tree that had clusters of golden flowers hanging down from the branches. interjection adjective adverb archaic suspected loan or regional dialect conjunction feminine familiar genitive masculine noun(If the type is unmarked, and the type is not obvious from context, then noun is to be assumed.) past tense near past tense plural relative transitive animate inanimate object indeclinable future form is taken from works written before the Etymologies