Q. Hildor coll. “Men, Aftercomers, (lit.) Followers”
A name for Men as the second-born children of Ilúvatar, following the elves (S/99). This name is a derivative of the root √KHIL (WJ/386-7) and is related to the word hildë “heir, follower”. This term is only attested in the plural, and it isn’t clear whether the singular term *Hildo can be used for a single Man (normally Atan). This name was sometimes glossed “Aftercomers” (S/99), but its other gloss “Followers” (S/103) is a better translation. The gloss “Aftercomers” probably alludes to Apanónar “After-born”, another name for Men.
Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this term appeared as ᴹQ. Hildi (LR/245). In The Etymologies, the word hildi “followers, mortal men” appeared as a derivative of ᴹ√KHIL (Ety/KHIL), implying a singular form of *hilde.
In The Lord of the Rings, the plural term Q. Hildinyar was translated as “my heirs” (LotR/967). When it was written, Tolkien probably intended it to be the same word as Hildi “Men, Followers” (PE17/101, 103). In Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s, this term was first written Hildi (MR/130) but in the late-50s was changed to Hildor (WJ/219). Perhaps Tolkien split these terms, so that Hildor (singular *Hildo) was the proper name for Men, while hildi (singular *hildë) was the ordinary word for “follower” or “heir”.
References ✧ LRI/Hildi; LT1I; MR/130; MRI/Hildi; PE17/18, 101, 103; S/99, 103; SA/khil; SI/Aftercomers, Followers, Hildor; SMI; WJ/219, 386-387; WJI/Aphadon, Echil, Hildor
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Elements
| #hildë | “heir, follower” |
Element In
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| √KHIL > hildi | [kʰildi] > [xildi] > [hildi] | ✧ PE17/18 |
| √KHIL > hildi | [kʰildi] > [xildi] > [hildi] | ✧ PE17/101 |
| √khil- > Hildor | [kʰildor] > [xildor] > [hildor] | ✧ SA/khil |
| √KHILI > Hildor | [kʰildor] > [xildor] > [hildor] | ✧ WJ/387 |
ᴹQ. Hildi coll. “Mortal Men, (lit.) Followers”
References ✧ Ety/KHIL; EtyAC/TĀ; LR/72, 245; LRI; SD/401; SDI2/Hildi; TII; WJ/219; WJI/Hildor
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Inflections
| hildin | dative plural | “for Men” | ✧ LR/72; LR/72 |
| -hildi | suffix | ✧ Ety/KHIL |
Element In
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴹ√KHIL > hildi | [kʰildi] > [xildi] > [hildi] | ✧ Ety/KHIL |
| ᴹ√KHIL > †χild | [kʰild] > [xild] > [hild] | ✧ EtyAC/TĀ |
ᴱQ. Indi coll. “Men, Earth Dwellers”
A collective term for men appearing in the Qenya Lexicon from the 1910s meaning “Earth Dwellers” (QL/43), a derivative of the root ᴱ√IÐI (written IŘI in QL). It was also given as ᴱQ. ildi from the (rejected) root ᴱ√ḶÐḶ (QL/42), but this form was rejected.
References ✧ GL/50; LT2A/Idril; QL/42-43
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