S. Nimrodel f. “Lady of the White Cave”

S. Nimrodel, f. “Lady of the White Cave”

An Elf-maiden, the beloved of Amroth, as well as the name of the stream by which she dwelled (LotR/339). According to Tolkien, this name was of Silvan (Nandorin) origin adapted to Sindarin (LotR/1127). It is translated “Lady of the White Cave” (RC/302) and is a combination of nim “white”, the suffixal form -rod of grod “cave” and the feminine suffix -iel¹ (SA/groth, PE17/49).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this river was first named N. Linglor and the maiden N. Linglorel (TI/222-3), both revised to N. Nimladel >> Nimlorel >> Nimlothel (TI/223, 238-9 note #17, the last of these used only for the maiden). Later still both were changed to their final form Nimrodel (TI/223, 239). In later notes from the 1950s, Tolkien considered interpreting the final element as either “lofty star” or “high lady” (S. rodel) from raud¹ “lofty, noble” (PE17/49).

References ✧ LotR/1127; LotRI; PE17/49; PM/36; PMI; RC/302; SA/groth; UT/257; UTI

Glosses

Variations

Elements

nim “white”
groth “large excavation, delving, underground dwelling” ✧ PE17/49 (-roth/rod); SA/groth (grod)
-iel¹ “daughter; feminine suffix”
AT. nimbi “white” ✧ PE17/49
rodel “lady, high lady” ✧ PE17/49

N. Nimlothel f.

See S. Nimrodel for discussion.

References ✧ TI/223; TII/Nimladel, Nimrodel; WRI/Nimrodel

Variations

Changes