Q. ilu n. “everything, all, the whole” (Category: Universe)
A term for everything that is, thus referring to the entire universe and everything in existence, which Tolkien clarified as being:
... more than ëa, which is all “nature”, but was not held to include [souls?] and spirits. ilu includes God, all souls and spirits as well as ëa (VT39/20 note #20).
It is derived from the root √IL “all”.
Conceptual Development: The first mention of the term ᴱQ. ilu was in the Qenya Lexicon of the 1910s where it was glossed “ether, the slender airs among the stars”, and serving as an element in the ᴱQ. Ilúvatar (QL/42), in this document translated as “Heavenly Father” rather than “All-father” as it was later. Thus the early conception of ᴱQ. ilu seems closer to “sky” or “heaven” than “universe”. In The Etymologies of the 1930s, ᴹQ. ilu was glossed “universe” beside variant ᴹQ. ilúve and given as a derivative of ᴹ√IL “all” (Ety/IL). The word ilu was glossed “world” in various iterations of the ᴹQ. Lament of Atalante in the 1930s and 40s (LR/047; LR/56), though in the 1940s versions it was replaced by {eru >>} ᴹQ. Arda (SD/310). In an addendum to the 1959-60 Quendi and Eldar essay, its meaning was restricted to “everything, all, the whole” referring to the entirety of existence including God and the divine realm, as indicated by the quote above (VT39/20 note #20).
Reference ✧ VT39/20 ✧ “everything, all, the whole”
Element In
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ✶ilū- > ilu | [ilū] > [ilu] | ✧ VT39/20 |
ᴹQ. ilu n. “universe, world” (Category: Universe)
References ✧ Ety/IL; LR/47, 56, 72; LRI/Ilu; MRI/Ilu; SD/310, 401; SDI2/Ilu; SM/241; SMI/Ilu
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Element In
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Phonetic Developments
| ᴹ√ILU > ilu | [ilu] | ✧ Ety/IL |
ᴱQ. ilu n. “ether” (Category: Air, Ether)
References ✧ LT1A/Ilwë, Vilna; LT2A/Teld Quing Ilon; PE15/68; PME/42; QL/42
Glosses
Variations
Related
Element In
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴱ√ILU > ILU | [ilū] > [ilu] | ✧ QL/42 |