Eldamo : Quenya : silma

Q. silma n. and adj. “crystal (white)” (Category: Glass)

Q. silma, n. and adj. “crystal (white); [ᴹQ.] silver, shining white” (Category: Glass): ᴱQ. silma “ray of moonlight”; ᴱQ. sintl “crystal”; ᴱQ. †tilwínëa “shining”

A word for “crystal (white)” (PE17/23) and “silver, shining white” (Ety/SIL) based on the root √SIL “shine (white or silver)”. It seems to function as both an adjective and a noun, and is related to silima, the substance Feanor used to craft the Silmarils. Given this word’s strong association with the Silmarils, it probably could no longer be used for other kinds of crystals.

Reference ✧ PE17/23 ✧ “crystal (white)”

Cognates

S. silef “crystal (white)” ✧ PE17/23

Derivations

< ✶silimā “crystal (white)” ✧ PE17/23
- < √SIL “shine (white or silver)”

Phonetic Developments

✶silimā > silma

[silimā] > [silmā] > [silma]

✧ PE17/23

ᴹQ. silma adj. “silver, shining white” (Category: to Shine, Glisten)

See Q. silma for discussion.

Reference ✧ Ety/SIL ✧ “silver, shining white”

Element In

Q. Silmarien
ᴹQ. Silmaril ✧ Ety/SIL

Cognates

N. silef “silver, shining white” ✧ Ety/SIL

Derivations

< ᴹ✶silimā “silver, shining white” ✧ Ety/SIL
- < ᴹ√SIL “shine silver” ✧ Ety/SIL

Phonetic Developments

ᴹ✶silimā > silma

[silimā] > [silmā] > [silma]

✧ Ety/SIL