-il

-il is a little-attested ending in the Sindarin language, used sometimes to denote feminine gender. Its masculine counterpart is -on.

Its presence causes i-affection to the vowels of the stem (cf. brannon and brennil).

Etymology

Possibly it derives from a Common Eldarin ending *-illê. This is supported by several Quenya words which end in -illë with Sindarin cognates in -il; most notably compare the Quenya amille "mother" and the Sindarin emil.

Examples

• emil "mother"
• odhril "parent (referring to mother)"
• melethril "lover"
• brennil "lady"
• hiril "lady"
• Thuringwethil "secret-shadow woman"

In at least one case, -il is said to be a diminutive ending; compare how the masculine ending -on can sometimes refer to "great" things.

• niphredil "little pallor" (niphred)
• ernil "prince" (perhaps understood as *"little noble"; arn)