S. Rhovanion loc. “Wilderland”
The wild lands of the East (LotR/1046), translated “Wilderland” (RC/779, PE17/78), a combination of rhovan “wilderness” and -ion² “-land” (PE17/78).
Conceptual Development: A possible precursor to this name, rhofannor “Wilderness” appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s (EtyAC/RAB), but with its final element being dôr; its gloss was capitalized, but the name was not. In draft maps for the Lord of the Rings from the 1940s, this name was N. Rhovanion (TI/296) and Rhovannion with two n’s (TI/318). At one point in the drafts of the Lord of the Rings appendices, it appeared as Róvannion with an initial R- instead of Rh- and a long ó (PM/214). In later writings, the form Rhóvannion with two n’s reappeared in Tolkien’s “Unfinished Index” of The Lord of the Rings (RC/14).
References ✧ LotRI; PE17/78, 99; PMI/Rhovan(n)ion; RC/14, 779; SI; UTI
Glosses
Variations
Changes
Elements
| rhovan | “wilderness; wild beast” | ✧ PE17/78; PE17/99 |
| -ion² | “-region, -land” |
Derivations
N. Rhovanion loc. “Wilderland”
References ✧ TII; WRI
Glosses
Variations
Elements
| rhofan | “wilderness” |
| *-ion² | “-region, -land” |