Eldamo : Quenya : mírë

Q. mírë (míri-) n. and adj. “jewel, gem, precious thing, treasure; precious” (Category: Gem, Jewel)

Q. mírë (míri-), n. and adj. “jewel, gem, precious thing, treasure; precious” (Category: Gem, Jewel): ᴱQ. sinquë “jewel, gem”; ᴱQ. sinc “mineral, gem, metal”

A word first appearing with the gloss “jewel, precious thing, treasure” in The Etymologies of the 1930s under the root ᴹ√MIR (Ety/MIR). It appeared regularly in Tolkien’s later writings with the same etymology and glosses like “gem”, “jewel” and “precious thing”, and it was a common element in names. In one place Tolkien said it could also be used as an adjective “precious” (PE17/165).

References ✧ LotR/377; PE17/24, 37, 73, 165; PE19/96; RGEO/58-59; SA/mîr

Glosses

“a beautiful (precious) thing” ✧ PE17/165 (mīre)
“a treasure, precious thing” ✧ PE17/37
“gem” ✧ PE19/96
“jewel” ✧ PE17/24; PE17/73; SA/mîr
“precious, precious thing” ✧ PE17/165

Variations

míre ✧ PE17/24; PE17/37; PE17/73; PE17/165; PE19/96; SA/mîr
mīre ✧ PE17/165

Inflections

míri	plural	“jewels”	✧ LotR/377
míri	plural	“gems”	✧ PE17/24
mīri	plural		✧ PE17/73
mīri	plural	“jewels”	✧ RGEO/59
mī́ri	plural	“jewels”	✧ RGEO/58

Element In

ᴺQ. !culmírë “sardius, carneol [carnelian], (lit.) orange-jewel”
ᴺQ. !laicelumir “malachite (lit.) green-flowing-jewel”
ᴺQ. !lairemírë “daisy, (lit.) meadow-jewel *(or summer-jewel)”
ᴺQ. !linquemir “hyacinth [jewel]”
ᴺQ. !míritsettë “dragonfly, (lit.) jewel-fly”
ᴺQ. !mirumírë “amethyst, (lit.) wine-jewel”
ᴺQ. !nambírë “jasper”
ᴺQ. !omírë “jewelry (collectively)”
ᴺQ. !orvamir “chrysoprase, (lit.) apple-jewel”
ᴺQ. !ostimmir “agate, (lit.) blend-jewel”
ᴺQ. !tinwírë “diamond, (lit.) sparkling gem”
Q. Aldamir “*Tree Jewel”
Q. Ardamir “*World-jewel”
Q. Ardamírë “Jewel of the World”
Q. ar hísië untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë “and mist covers the jewels of Calacirya forever” ✧ LotR/377; RGEO/58
Q. Artamir “*Noble Jewel”
Q. atamir “heirloom” ✧ PE17/165
Q. Atanamir “*Man Jewel” ✧ PE17/24; SA/mîr
Q. Castamir
Q. Elemmírë “Elven-gem, Star-gem” ✧ PE19/96; SA/mîr
Q. Elendilmir “Star of Elendil”
Q. Hostamir “*Many Jewels”
Q. mírëa “jewelled”
Q. Míriel “*Jewel-daughter” ✧ PE17/24 (Tar-Míriel); SA/mîr
Q. Vardamir “*Varda-jewel”
Q. yavannamírë “Jewel of Yavanna”
Q. ar hísië untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë² “and mist covers (lit. down-roofs) Calacirya’s jewels forever” ✧ RGEO/59
Q. mimírima “very beautiful” ✧ PE17/165 (mimíre)
Q. mírima “very valuable, very precious, very lovely” ✧ PE17/165

Cognates

S. mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ PE17/24; PE17/37; PE17/73; PE17/165; SA/mîr

Derivations

< √MIR “precious; esteem, value” ✧ PE17/37; PE17/165
< ✶mīrĭ “precious, precious thing” ✧ PE17/165
- < √MIR “precious; esteem, value” ✧ PE17/165 (MĬR)

Phonetic Developments

√MIR > mírë	[mīre]	✧ PE17/37
✶mīrĭ > míre	[mīri] > [mīre]	✧ PE17/165
√MIR > mīre	[mīre]	✧ PE17/165

ᴹQ. míre n. “jewel, precious thing, treasure” (Category: Gem, Jewel)

See Q. mírë for discussion.

Reference ✧ Ety/MIR ✧ “jewel, precious thing, treasure”

Element In

ᴹQ. Eldamir “Elfstone”
ᴹQ. Ilumíre “Silmaril”
ᴹQ. Noldomír(e) “Silmaril”

Cognates

N. mîr “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ Ety/MIR
ON. mīre “jewel, precious thing, treasure” ✧ Ety/MIR (mîre)

Derivations

< ᴹ√MIR “*precious” ✧ Ety/MIR

Phonetic Developments

ᴹ√MIR > míre

[mīre]

✧ Ety/MIR