formen
formen is a noun meaning "north" in Quenya.[1]
Formen is also the name in Quenya of the tenth letter of the Tengwar alphabet.[1] It is the second letter of the third grade or Tyellë, which contains "voiceless spirants" and it is the third letter in the labial or p-series of consonants, the Parmatéma. In all modes Formen represents F.[2] It was one of the most widely known and used of all the Tengwar since it indicated "north" even in languages that used a very different term.[1] The Westron name for this letter is Fí.[3]
Etymology
In the West-lands of Middle-earth the four cardinal directions were Númen, Hyarmen, Rómen, and Formen, and they were named in this order, beginning with (and facing) west. Hyarmen meant a left-hand region and Formen meant a right-hand region.[1] Thus the word for "north" derives from the Primitive Quendian root PHOR, meaning "right hand", plus MEN indicating direction.[4]
Examples
- Formenos = "Northern Fortress"
See also
- Quenya Corpus Wordlist edited by Helge Fauskanger
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, The names of the letters
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters"
- ↑ See Westron Tengwar
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", PHOR-
