S. Gothmog m.
Lord of the Balrogs (S/107) and one of the Nazgûls (LotR/846), this name is a derivation of the roots ᴹ√GOTH “dread” and ᴹ√MBAW “oppress” (Ety/GOS, MBAW).
Conceptual Development: The name G. Gothmog “Strife-and-hatred” dates back to the earliest Lost Tales, where he was the son of Melko(r) (LT2/67). In the Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, N. Gothmog became the Lord of the Balrogs (LR/117), and in The Etymologies his name was given the derivation described above (Ety/GOS, MBAW). At one point Tolkien considered making it an Orc name meaning “Voice of Goth” (LR/406), but there is no indication this was anything other than a transient idea.
References ✧ LBI; LotRI; SI; UTI; WJI
N. Gothmog m. “Voice of Goth”
References ✧ Ety/GOS, MBAW; LR/406; LRI; SMI; WRI
Glosses
Variations
Elements
| ᴹ√GOS | “dread” | ✧ Ety/GOS (GOTH) |
| ᴹ√MBAW | “compel, force, subject, oppress” | ✧ Ety/GOS |
Derivations
Phonetic Developments
| ᴹ✶Gothombauk- > Gothmog | [gotʰombauko] > [gotʰombǭko] > [goθombǭko] > [goθombouko] > [goθombauko] > [goθombauk] > [goθombaug] > [goθmbaug] > [goθmbaug] > [goθmmaug] > [goθmaug] | ✧ Ety/MBAW |
G. Gothmog m. “Strife-and-hatred”
References ✧ LT1A/Kosomot; LT1I; LT2/67, 216; LT2A/Gothmog; LT2I/Gothmog, Kosmoko; PE13/105; PE15/26; PME/48; QL/62
Glosses
Related
Elements
| goth | “war, strife” | ✧ LT1A/Kosomot; LT2/67; LT2A/Gothmog |
| ᴱ√MOKO | “hate” | ✧ LT1A/Kosomot; QL/62 |
| mog- | “to detest, hate” | ✧ LT2/67; LT2A/Gothmog |
| ᴱ√GOÞO | “strive; angry” | ✧ QL/62 (KOSO) |
Cognates