Rohirric

One of Tolkien's languages, produced for his middle-earth stories and spoken by the Rohirrim. Little is known of this language of Men, except that it was probably descended from Adûnaic and may be related to Hobbitish. Tolkien transcribed the sounds of Rohirric by using letters and formations from Old English, including the ð and other accented characters. His apparent intent was to indicate that Rohirric is to Common Speech as Old English is to Modern English, although the former is simply a historic, archaic change while the latter is a development of the language.

Only a few actual Rohirric words are known. Trahan is the word for "burrow," and is related to the Hobbitish word trân, itself meaning smial (the Hobbits' term for their burrows). The Rohirric word kastu is related to the Hobbitish word kast, meaning mathom. The word "hobbit" is itself an indirect translation of the Hobbitish word kuduk, which is tied to the Rohirric word kûd-dûkan ("hole-dweller"). The latter was rendered by Tolkien as holbytla, but Appendix F of Lord of the Rings, from which these words have come, does tell the original Rohirric phrase of kûd-dûkan.

To hear what Rohirric sounds like according to Peter Jackson (including Éowyn's Dirge), visit:
http://www.theargonath.cc/sounds/rohirric/rohirric.html
There is also an online name generator styled after Rohirric:
http://www.meduseld.btinternet.co.uk/rohannamegen.htm

Sources
http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/m2.htm
http://quettar.vanimar.net/l-rohirric.html
http://www.elvish.org/gwaith/movie.htm

A glossary of Anglo-Saxon found in The Lord of the Rings.

I thought it would be fun to provide a list of definitions for the assorted names and things found in the text. I'm pretty sure I've missed some words, as I paged through the book fairly quickly in my search. What is here are most of the more common names and elements. Most of the Hobbit names are not included as Tolkien's translation metaphor was particularly complicated there. However, if there's a word I missed that you'd like to see here, let me know.

This all began when a friend asked me what Théodred meant, and I discovered a large Anglo-Saxon/Modern English dictionary in my school library. What amazes me the most is that Tolkien chose words and names which are more than appropriate, they often play as much with meaning and subtext as his Mod.E. usages. And he did this in an aspect of his text which very very few of his readers would find fully accessible. I imagine him chuckling over his word-play and inside jokes, and delighting in yet another joining of his love of philology and his writing. He took exquisite care over the details of his stories, and this is just one more bit of evidence to prove it.

As Old English is to Modern English, what Rohirric is to Westron, you may notice a lot of things that sound vaguely familiar (another aspect of his choices, I'm sure). I've left the words in their original Anglo-Saxon, rather than defining Tolkien's usages, as several appear more than once. I also think it's more fun this way. The definitions are arranged roughly alphabetically by word or fragment. I've thrown in a few extra words for comparison; mostly for homophones or near homophones.

Names and words which can be found in this list: Aldor, Arod, Brego, Brytta, Déagol, deep, Déor, Déorwine, Dernhelm, Dúnhere, Dunland, Dunlending, Dwimmerlaik, Dwimorberg, Dwimordene, Eadig, Ednew, Edoras, Elfhelm, Elfwine, Ent, Éomer, Éomund, éored, Eorl, Éothain, Éothéod, Éowyn, Erkenbrand, Farthing, Fastred, fax, Felarof, Fengel, Folca, fold, Fram, Fréalaf, Fréawine, Freca, Frumgar, Gamling, Garulf, Gléowine, Goldwine, Gram, hame, Gríma, Grimbold, Guthláf, Guthwine, Haleth, Hama, Hamfast, Harding, Hasufel, Helm, Herefara, Herubrand, Herugrim (Théoden's sword), Hild, holbytla(n), holdwine, Holman, Hornburg, lathspell, Folcwine, Léod, Léofa, mark, mathom, mearas, Meduseld, Michel Delving, Mundburg, Quickbeam, Samwise, Scatha, simbelmynë, Sméagol, smial, Stybba (Merry's pony), Swerting, thain, Thengel, Théoden, Théodred, Théodwyn, Walda, warg, Widfara, Windfola, Wulf.

A very cool online searchable dictionary which I didn't use for this project, but can see coming in handy in the future: http://home.comcast.net/~modean52/oeme_dictionaries.htm

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Source: Bosworth, Joseph. ed. T. Northcote Toller. An Anglo-Saxon dictionary. Oxford UP, London, 1898.

( ) = here usually marks the plural ending.

þ = thorn, the 'th' letter, and the cause of Ye Olde Shoppe syndrome, where the letter y is mistakenly used instead of the þ. The ð (eth) is used interchangeably in AS notation. Thank you Gritchka!

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-a = affixed to words, denotes a person, agent, actor

ælf = elf, incubus, genius

aldor (es) =

I. an elder, parent, author

II. a chief, prince

n. = I. live, vital parts of the body

II. age, in the expressions

arod =

n. a species of herb

adj. quick, swift, ready, prepared

árod = honored; mark of honor/badge of office

bald = bold, audacious, adventurous, confident

-bald, -bold = as the terminating syllable of proper names, denotes bold, courageous, honorable

beam = tree

beorn, biorn = poetic form of

I. man

II. prince, nobleman, chief, general, warrior, soldier

(note the sideways joke here, with bjorn, with regards to Beorn)

beran, beoran =

I. to bear, carry, bring, bear or carry a sacrifice, offer, bear off, carry out, extend, wear, support, endure, suffer

II. to bear, produce, bring forth

bere (es) = barley

beren (es) = n. a barley place, a barn

beren = adj. barley, made of barley

beren, byren, biren = adj. ursine, belonging to a bear (bera = bear)

bere (an) = a female bear

bére, bér = a bed

berg = a hill, mountain

beorg =

I. a hill

II. an artificial mound

beorg, beorh, biorg, biorh =

I. a hill, mountain

II. a heap, burrow or barrow, heap of stones, place of burial

beorg-, burg- = a hill, in some compound words

berg, bearg = a swine

beór (es) =

I. beer

II. mead (hydromel)

beora (an) = a grove

beorg, berg = a protection, refuge

beorg = protection

berge = protection, antidote

bold (es) =

I. a building, dwelling, house

II. a superior house, hall, castle, palace, temple

brand, brond (es) =

I. a brand (fire-brand), torch

II. a burning, flame, fire

III. metaphorically from its shining, a sword

brego, bregu, brega, breogo = (poetic term) leader, governor, ruler, prince, king, Lord.

Bryt- = a Welshman, used in compounds

Brytas, Bryttas, Brittas = the Britons

brýt (e) = a nymph, bride

bryta (an) = a lord

burcg = a city

burga = cities

burg (e) = a city

burh =

I. a castle for defense, fortress, walled town, dwelling surrounded by a wall or rampart of earth.

II. a fortress or castle necessary for the protection of those dwelling together in cities or towns.

byld = constancy, boldness

bylda(n) = a builder

býtla(n) = hammerer, builder

býtlian = to build

cwic, cwyc, cwuc, cuc = alive, quick

cwic-beám (es) = the quickbeam, a sort of poplar

deágol = secret

deáglenes = solitariness

deágollíce, deágolíce = secretly

dégle = secret, hidden

dégol = obscurity, mystery, secret, unknown

delf (es) = a delving, the act of digging

delfan = to dig, dig out, delve

delfing (es) = a delving, digging, laying bare, exposing

dene (an); dene (es) = a valley

Dene = the Danes

deóp, dióp = deep, profound, stern, powerful, solemn

deóp, dýp, dióp (es); dýpe (an) = depth, the deep, abyss

deópe

= deeply, profoundly

deór, diór (es) = an animal, any sort of wild beast, deer

deór, diór, dýr =

I. brave, bold (as an animal)

II. heavy, severe, dire, vehement

derne = secret, hidden

dun = adj. brown/black color, dun

dún = a mountain, hill, down

dún-lendisc = adj. of hilly, mountainous land

dwimor, dwimer, dwymer (es) = an illusion, delusion

dwimor-líc = adj. visionary

eádi- = happy

eádig, eadeg = happy, blessed, prosperous, fortunate, rich, perfect

ed- = prefix denoting anew, again

-ed = pp. termination

éd = (eád = happiness) safety, security, happiness

éd, ád = a funeral pile

ed-neowe = renewed

ed-niwan, ed-niwe = anew, again

-el, -ol = an ending denoting persons or inanimate objects

-en = forms a few masculine noun endings and many feminine noun endings, also an adjectival ending

ent (es) = a giant

entisc = belonging to or made by a giant, giant

eodor, eoder, eodur, edor, eder (-es) = hedge, fence, enclosure, dwelling, house

eoh = war horse (pl. eohes = eoes = eós)

eóh = yew tree

eóred, eórod = cavalry, legion, troop

eorl = a high ranking nobleman

erk (e) = ark

fára = gen. pl. of hostile

fara (an) = a farer, traveller

faran = a word expressing every kind of going from one place to another

I. to go, proceed, travel, march, sail

II. to fare, happen, to be in any state

fast, fæst = fast (as in steadfast, or fasten), firm

feax, fex (es) = hair of the head

fela, fæla, feala, feola =

I. many, much

II. many things, much, very

III. so many __ as __

fel, felo, fæle = adj. fell, cruel, savage

fel, fell = n. skin, hide

feng =

I. a grasp, span, hug, embrace

II. what is taken, booty

fengel = a prince

feorþ (es) = the soul, spirit, life

feórþa, feówerþa = fourth

feórþling (es); feórþung (e) = a 4th part of a thing, farthing

féorð-a = fourth

féorðing, féorðung = farthing

fola (an) = a foal, colt

folc (es) = collective noun for the folk, people, common people, multitude, tribe, family

folde (an) =

I. the earth, dry land

II. a land, country, district, region, territory

III. the ground, soil

IV. earth, clay

fram = from

fram = valiant, stout, firm

freá (freaha), freó = a lord, master, The Lord

freá-, frǽ- = before, in greater degree, very, exceedingly

frec, fræc = desirous, greedy, gluttonous, audacious, bold

freca (an) = a bold man, warrior, hero

frum (fruma) = original, primative, first

frum-gár; frum-gára (an) = (gár = spear) first spear; A chieftan, leader, prince

gamel, gamol = old, aged

gá (es) = a dart, javelin, spear, shaft, arrow, weapon, arms

gleó- = glee, music

gleów, gleó, gliw, glig (es) = glee, joy, music, musical accompaniment to a song, mirth, jesting, sport

gleowian, gliowian, gliwian, glywian = to play on an instrument, sing, joke, jest, act the gleeman or buffoon

gold (es) = gold

gram, grom = furious, fierce, wroth, angry, offended, incensed, hostile, troublesome

grama (an) = anger, rage, fury, indignation, wrath, trouble

grim = sharp, bitter, severe, fell, fierce, dire, savage, cruel, grim, horrible

gríma (an) =

I. a mask, visor, helmet

II. a spectre

gúþ (e) = (poetic) war, battle, fight

gúþ-leóþ (es) = a war song

hál = whole, hale, well, in good health, sound, safe, without fraud, honest

hæleþ, heleþ (es) = (poetic only, but common in poetry) a man, warrior, hero

ham, hom (es) = a covering, garment, shirt

hama, homa = a covering

ham, hom, hamm (e) = the ham, the inner or hind part of the knee

ham, hama = home

ham (es) = home, house, abode, dwelling, residence, habitation, land, estate, property

-ham = general assemblage of homes

hám-fæst = resident, dwelling at home

háma = a cricket

hasu, heasu = adj. grey, ash colored

heard, hard = hard, harsh, austere, severe, rigorous, stern, stubborn, firm, hardy, brave

hearding (es) = a brave man, warrior, hero

helm =

I. helm

II. crown (of a tree)

III. covering

IV. poetic usage for God, Christ, and earthly rulers

hér = here, in this world, at this time

hér, hǽr = hair

hér = noble, excellent, holy, honorable, sublime

héra (an) = One who obeys another, a servant, follower

heoro, heoru, hioro = (poetic) a sword (Old Saxon heru used in compounds only)

heoru-grim = very fierce or cruel, savage

here = an army, a host, multitude, large predatory band

hére (e) = dignity, majesty, greatness

hild, hyld = grace

hild(e) = (poetic) war, battle

hol = hole, hollow, cavern, den

hold = a Danish (?) title; a carcass or body

adj. = kind, friendly, pleasant, favorable, gracious (of a prince to his subject)

adj. = faithful, loyal, elevated, liege (of a subject to his prince)

hold-áþ = an oath of fealty

holm = a mound, hill, rising ground; (poetic use) a wave, water, the sea

horn (es) = a horn, drinking horn, cupping horn, trumpet, horn shaped projection on the gable-end of a house, a pinnacle

hors = horse

-ing =

suffix for feminine nouns denoting action

a patronymic suffix (many changes in form can occur)

láf (e) =

I. what is left, remnant, remains, relic, remainder, rest

II. used in poetry of weapons, ex.: ''I am the leaving of foes, or fire, and of file''

III. what is left as an inheritance, legacy, kingdom

IV. a relict, widow

land = land

láð (es) = that which is hateful, harmful; harm, evil, injury, hurt, trouble, grief, pain, annoyance, enmity

láð =

I. causing hate, evil, injury, annoyance; hateful, hated, loathed, loth, displeasing, injurious, grievous

II. bearing hate to another, hostile, malign, inimical

láð-spell (es) = a painful, grievous story

leód (es) = a man; (poetic) a prince.

leód (e) = a people, nation, race, district occupied by a people

leód (es) = fine for slaying a man

leóda (an) = a man, one of a people or country

leóf = a form of address to one or many = ''dear sir''

leóf = lief, desirable, pleasant, acceptable, loved, beloved, dear

líc (es) = a body (living or dead), usually dead

-líc = forms -ly adjectival ending

ge-líc = likeness, similitude, like, alike

ge-líca (an) = an equal

ge-lícan = to liken, imitate

lobbe (an) = a spider

mǽre =

n. a boundary, limit, confines, border.

adj. (of persons or things) great, excellent, distinguished, sublime, splendid, celebrated, famous, widely known

máðum, máðm, mádm, máððum (es) = a precious or valuable thing, often refers to gifts; a treasure, jewel, ornament

mearc (e) =

I. a mark, sign (made upon a thing)

II. a mark, ensign

mearc (e) =

I. a limit, bound, term (of time)

IIa. a limit, boundary (of a place)

IIb. a boundary, particularly of an estate

IIc. a boundary, confine of a district, border

III. the territory within its boundaries

mearh (mearas) = horse, steed

méd = meed, reward

medu, meodu = mead

medu-seld = mead-house, feasting-house

mene, myne (es) = a necklace, ornament

mere, mære = the sea, a mere

mere, myre = a mare

micel = mickle, great

I. of size

II. of quantity - much, many

III. great in a metaphorical sense

mín = mine, my

mine (es) = a minnow

mund =

I. a hand

II. a hand (the measurement)

III. a) protection; b) (technical sense) guardianship; c) (personal sense) protector, guardian

IV. legal term a) protection, guardianship extended by the king to the subject, by the head of a family to its members. b) the fine paid for violation of mund

myne (es) =

I. the mind

II. mind (to have a mind for)

III. love

rád = riding

rǽd =

I. council, advice

II. counsel, prudence, intelligence

III. counsel, plan, deliberate course of action, decree

IV. what is advisable

V. a council

VI. as part of proper names, generally réd (red?)

rǽde = adj. mounted

read = red

róf = (poetic only) valiant, stout, strong

sam = conj. whether, or

sam- = prefix denoting agreement, combination

sám- = half, prefix denoting imperfection

sceaþa (an) = scathe, harm, injury

sceaþa, sceáþ = a nail

scír (e) =

I. office, charge, business, administration, government

Ia. where the term refers to an English official

II. a district, province, as an ecclesiatical term - diocese, parish

IIa. the people of a district, a tribe

III. as a technical English term, a shire

IIIa. the people of a shire, the community inhabiting a shire

IV. as an ecclesiatical term - the district in the charge of an ecclesiastic; diocese, parish

scír = clear, bright

I. of living creatures = bright, brilliant, splendid, resplendant

Ia. of a quality

II. of inanimate things: a) vegetation - bright, brilliant, white; b) of metals, stones, etc. - bright, lustrous, glittering, brilliant; c) of glass - clear, translucent; d) of water - clear, limpid; e) of wine - bright, clear, pure, neat; f) of light and light giving things - bright, clear, brilliant; ... i) of the voice - clear

seld =

I. a seat, throne

II. a seat, residence, mansion, hall

simbel, symbel, simel = continual, perpetual, only adverbial or in compounds

simble, symble, simle, siemle, semle, symle = ever, always

I. continually, without intermission

II. on every occasion or opportunity without missing, in unbroken succession

smeáh, smeóh; =

I. creeping in, penetrating

II. subtle, crafty

smeágan, smeán

I (III). to consider, ponder, examine, inquire into, discuss, search

II (IIIa). to seek an opportunity

III (IV). to accept as the result of inquiry, to suppose

smeágelegen (e) = a syllogism

smeágend-líc = meditative

smeágendlíce = searchingly, exactly

smeágung, smeáwung, smeáung, sméung, smeáng (e) =

I. search, inquiry, investigation where something is lost

II. inquiry carried on by the mind, inquiry, consideration, meditation, discussion, deliberation

smeá-líc =

I. searching, penetrating

II. that goes to the root or heart of the matter, profound

smygel, smygels (es) = a burrow, place to creep into

stybb, stubb, stebb (es) = a stub, stump of a tree

sweart =

I. of color; swart, swarthy, black, dark

II. of absence of light or brightness; dark, black, gloomy

III. of absence of good; black (crime), dark, dismal

þegen, þegn, þeng, þén (es) =

I. a servant, one who does service for another

II. where the service is of a public or official character, an officer or minister

IIa. figurative

III. where the service is military, a soldier

IV. a follower of a great man, a retainer

IVa. figurative

V. a follower of a teacher, a disciple

Va. in poetry, borrowing the terms of war

VI. one engaged in a king or queen's service, a thane (whether in the household or in the country). Also a class of persons, with degrees.

VIa. a thane who served a bishop

VIb. one engaged in the service of a republic

VII. a person or rank, one of a class higher than the ordinary freeman (ceorl)

VIII. a brave man, noble man, good warrior

VIIIa. in poetry, used like eorl as a complimentary term for man, warrior.

þengel = a prince (from Icelandic þengill = prince, poetic only)

þeód = a people, nation

þeóden = almost an exclusively poetic use

I. the chief of a þeód; a prince, king

II. a great man, lord, chief

IIa. (can be used for other than men)

III. referring to the Deity

tunge (an) =

I. a tongue

II. tongue 1) as representing a person who speaks with the tongue; 2) representing the words expressed by the tongue (words, speech, language)

III. a tongue shaped thing

wáse (an) = ooze, mud, slime

wæsc = washing

wæsce (an) = a washing place

wæd (es) = a ford, shallow water

wǽd (e)

I. referring to the dress of human beings, widow's weeds

II. of other covering, equipment, or dressing

weald (es) = high land covered with woods

weald = power

weald = found as the 2nd part of proper names.

wealda (an) = a ruler, as a proper name

wealdan = to have power over

wearg[h] = n. (from Icelandic vargr = wolf)

I. if human = a villain, felon, scoundrel

II. if animal = a monster, malignant being, evil spirit

adj. evil, vile, malignant, accursed

wíd

I. in reference to dimensions of an object; wide, of a width

II. where there is a considerable distance between the extremities or sides of an object; wide, of great width, broad

III. of great surface, wide, vast, spacious, broad, ample

IIIa. of that which is spread over a wide surface

IV. wide, having no limit near, open

V. figuratively not confined within narrow limits, of far reaching power

VI. of travel, that traverses many lands, distant, far and wide

VII. of the duration of time, long lasting; in phrases, equivalent to ever, always

win(n) = a pasture

wind (es) =

I. wind, air in motion

II. wind, flatulence

III. wind, breath

wine = a friend

wín = wine

wis = certain

wís, wíse = a manner

wís =

I. wise, discreet, judicious

Ia. in a bad sense, cunning

II. wise, learned, skilled, expert

III. known

wíse (an), wís (e) =

I. a wise way, manner, mode, fashion.

II. state, condition

III. an arrangement, instruction, a disposition, direction, condition

IV. a thing

IVa. a cause, reason

wísa (an) = a leader, director, captain

wíse (an) = a sprout, stalk

wulf = wolf

wyn(n) =

I. delight, pleasure

II. a delight which causes pleasure

IIa. used as an epithet for persons

III. the best (of a class), the pride (of its kind)

wyrm, wurm, weorm (es) =

I. a reptile, serpent

II. a creeping insect, a worm

wyrms (es) = corrupt matter

worms, worsm, wurms, wursm (es) = corrupt matter