Eldamo : Primitive Elvish : MITH

√MITH root. “grey”

√MITH root. “grey”

Tolkien introduced the root ᴹ√MITH in The Etymologies of the 1930s as a blending of ᴹ√MIS² “*wet” and ᴹ√KHITH “mist, fog”, with the derivative N. mith “white fog, wet mist” as in N. Mithrim “*Mist Lake” (Ety/MITH, RINGI; EtyAC/MITH). As a later addition to this entry Tolkien wrote the adjective N. mith “grey”, and that was the more common use of this word in Tolkien’s later writings. In a 1955 letter to David Masson Tolkien specified that “usage suggests that MIÞ- is paler and whiter, a luminous grey” (PE17/72).

Reference ✧ PE17/72 ✧ MIÞ “grey”

Derivatives

> ✶mītha “*grey”
- > S. Mîth “*Sinda, Grey-Elf” ✧ PE17/140
  - ⇒ S. Mithres “*Grey-Elf (f.)” ✧ PE17/140; PE17/140
  - ⇒ S. Mithron “*Grey-Elf (m.)” ✧ PE17/140
> Q. mísë “(light) grey”
> Q. mista “grey”
- ⇒ Q. Lassemista “Leaf-Grey” ✧ PE17/83
> S. mith “grey, light grey, pale grey”
- ⇒ 7 compounds

ᴹ√MITH root. “*mist, grey”

See √MITH for discussion.

References ✧ Ety/MITH, MIZD

Derivatives

> N. mith¹ “grey” ✧ Ety/MITH
- ⇒ N. Mitheithel “Hoarwell”
- ⇒ N. Mithlond “?Grey Havens, Grey Gulf”
- ⇒ N. Mithrandir “Grey Wanderer/Pilgrim”
> N. mith² “white fog, wet mist” ✧ Ety/MITH
- ⇒ N. Mithrim “*Mist Lake” ✧ Ety/MITH
⇒ N. Nenvithim “Hoardales”