Q. Finwë m.
The first lord of the Noldor (S/52). His name is an ancient compound of uncertain meaning. Its final element is the suffix -wë common in ancient names (PM/340). Its initial element is probably derived from the root √PHIN¹ “clever, skillful” (PE17/17, Ety/PHIN), though it was sometimes affiliated with derivatives of the root √SPIN(ID) “fine thread, filament; hair” (PE17/17, 119) after it developed in Common Eldarin into phin- (PM/340).
His name appears as an element in the Quenya names of many of his children and grandchildren, either incorporated directly or alluded too via the element findë “hair” < √SPIN(ID), as in Findecáno (PM/345). In the Sindarin names of his descendants, the element S. fin also alluded to his name (VT41/10).
Conceptual Development: This name appears in the earliest Lost Tales in exactly the same form, though ᴱQ. Finwe was not at first the father of Feanor (LT1/115, 145). Christopher Tolkien suggested the earliest form of this name was derived from the root ᴱ√FINI “*cunning” (LT1A/Finwë). In The Etymologies, the name ᴹQ. Finwe is given as an ancient combination of the roots ᴹ√PHIN and ᴹ√WEG (Ety/PHIN, WEG), basically the same as its later derivation.
References ✧ MR/217, 230, 258; MRI; PE17/17, 39, 118; PM/340, 343-344, 353, 365; PMI; RSI; SI; UTI; VT41/10; WJI
Related
Elements
| √PHIN¹ | “clever, skillful; neat, fine, delicate; skill, dexterity” | ✧ PE17/17 | |
| -wë | “ancient name suffix (usually but not always masculine)” | ✧ PM/340 | |
| √SPIN(ID) | “fine thread, filament; hair” | ✧ PM/340 (fin-) | |
Element In
Cognates
ᴹQ. Finwe m.
References ✧ Ety/PHIN, WEG; EtyAC/PHIN; LRI/Finwë; PE21/1, 41; PE22/20; SMI/Finwë
Variations
Related
Inflections
| Finwénen | instrumental; prosodic-lengthening | ✧ PE21/41 |
| [Fin]wéva | possessive; prosodic-lengthening | ✧ PE21/41 |
Elements
| ᴹ√PHIN | “nimbleness, skill” | ✧ Ety/PHIN; Ety/WEG | |
| -we² | “abstract suffix” | ✧ Ety/WEG | |
| ᴹ√WEG | “(manly) vigour” | ✧ Ety/PHIN | |
| -we¹ | “masculine suffix” | ✧ PE21/1 | |
Cognates
Derivations
ᴱQ. Finwe m.
References ✧ LBI/Finn, Finwë, Finweg; LT1A/Finwë; LT1I/Finwë; SM/13, 85; SMI/Finn
Related
Elements
| -we² |
Element In
Cognates
Derivations