S. Moria loc. “Black Chasm, Black Pit”

S. Moria, loc. “Black Chasm, Black Pit”

Sindarin name for Khazad-dûm after the Dwarves were driven out by the Balrog, translated “Black Pit” (LotR/283, PE17/35) or “Black Chasm” (Let/382, PE17/40). It is a combination of morn “black” and “chasm, pit” (PE17/35; SA/mor, iâ).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Moria “Black Gulf” (RS/429). Its translation was later revised to “Black Pit” (TI/166). It also appeared in The Etymologies with essentially the same derivation as given above (Ety/YAG).

References ✧ LBI; Let/178, 382, 384; LotR/283, 305; LotRI; LRI; LT2I; PE17/35, 40; PM/45; PMI/Dwarrowdelf, Moria; SA/iâ, mor; SI; UTI; WJI

Glosses

Variations

Elements

morn “black, dark; night” ✧ PE17/35 (mor(n)-)
“chasm, pit; void, abyss” ✧ Let/383; PE17/35; SA/iâ
MOR “black, dark, darkness” ✧ Let/382; Let/384; SA/mor

Element In

Derivations


N. Moria loc. “Black Gulf”

See S. Moria for discussion.

References ✧ Ety/YAG; RS/429, 437; RSI; SDI1/Moria; TI/166, 182; TII; WRI

Glosses

Variations

Inflections

Vória soft-mutation; m-mutation ✧ TI/182

Elements

morn “black”
ia “gulf” ✧ Ety/YAG; RS/437

Element In