S. Melian f. “Dear Gift”
The Maia who married Thingol and ruled Doriath with him (S/55-6), her name was translated “Dear Gift”, a combination of mell “dear” and ann¹ “gift”, or more accurately derived from the ancient form ✶Melyanna (SA/anna, mel).
Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, her name was given as G. Gwedheling along with numerous variations (LT2/50), but in later revisions was changed to G. Melian (LT2/51), the form of her name in the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (LB/12). Her name remained Melian in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s (SM/13, LR/220), though at this stage her name was likely Ilkorin like that of her husband, Ilk. Thingol.
References ✧ LotRI; LT1I/Melian, Wendelin; MRI; NM/21; PMI; SA/anna, mel; SI; UTI; WJ/228; WJI
Glosses
Elements
| mell | “dear, beloved” | ||
| ann¹ | “gift” | ||
| ✶annā | “gift” | ✧ SA/anna (anna) | |
Element In
Cognates
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ✶Melyanna > Melian | [meljanna] > [melianna] > [meliann] > [melian] | ✧ SA/mel |
G. Melian f.
References ✧ LT2/51, 244; LT2A/Melian; LT2I/Gwenethlin, Melian, Tindriel, Wendelin; WJI/Gwendelin
Elements
| mel- | “to love” | ✧ LT1A/Nessa |
G. Gwedheling f.
References ✧ GL/45; LBI/Gwendeling, Gwenethlin; LT1A/Wendelin; LT2/49-51, 119, 244; LT2A/Gwedheling; LT2I/Gwedheling, Gwendeling, Gwenethlin, Gwenniel; SMI/Gwedheling, Gwendelin; WJI/Gwendelin
Variations
Changes
Elements
| ᴱ√GWENE¹ | “*maiden; woman” | ✧ LT1A/Urwen |
Cognates
Derivations