Eldamo : Primitive Elvish : MIK

√MIK root. “pierce”

√MIK root. “pierce”: ᴱ√VḶKḶ “‽”

This root appeared in a late etymology of the name S. Maeglin (“Sharp Glance”) as √MIK “pierce”, along with several other derivatives including the word Q. hendumaika “sharp-eye[d]” (WJ/337). In earlier versions of the tales, the name was given as G. Meglin, but this form of the name was not given a derivation until the 1930s, when N. meglin appeared in The Etymologies as an adjectival form of N. megli “bear” (Ety/LIS). The form of this name became Maeglin in Silmarillion drafts from the 1950s and 60s (WJ/122 note §119), though when Tolkien devised its new derivation isn’t clear. The (unglossed) Quenya word Q. maica appeared in the second version Tengwesta Qenderinwa (TQ2) from around 1950, and it may be related to √MIK “pierce”, but without a translation it is hard to be sure.

Reference ✧ WJ/337 ✧ mik “pierce”

Derivatives

> ✶maikā¹ “sharp, penetrating, going deep in” ✧ WJ/337
- ⇒ Q. hendumaica “sharp-eye[d]” ✧ WJ/337
- > Q. maica¹ “sharp, piercing”
  - ⇒ ᴺQ. !maicata- “to sharpen”
    - ⇒ ᴺQ. !almaicata- “to blunt, make or become less sharp”
  - ⇒ Q. hendumaica “sharp-eye[d]”
- > S. maeg “sharp, piercing” ✧ WJ/337
  - ⇒ ᴺS. !maegra- “to sharpen”
  - ⇒ S. maecheneb “sharp-eye[d]” ✧ WJ/337
  - ⇒ S. Maeglin “Sharp Glance” ✧ SA/maeg
- ⇒ S. Maeglin “Sharp Glance” ✧ WJ/337
> ✶mikrā “sharp-pointed” ✧ WJ/337
- > Q. *mixa “sharp-pointed” ✧ WJ/337
- > S. †megr “sharp-pointed” ✧ WJ/337