White, in my words (revised)

aluth : white

The Illunse word for the color white (dull or matte) is aluth. Aluth is a rare last name. Aluth likely means new in Sinhalese (transliterated).

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for white which is albus, and the Old English word for white which is hwit.

My previous word for white was alith. This is a minor change, a vowel change.

This month I'm revisiting some of my Illunse words on Twitter, starting with colors. This is a step towards restarting my work on Illunse and this blog.

Here's a link to White, in J.R.R Tolkien's words.

Violet, in my words (revised)

hywin : violet

The Illunse word for the color violet is hywin. Hywin is unusual last name.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for violet (or a purplish blue) which is hyacinthinus and the Old English word for a dark color which can be violet hǽwen (blue, azure, purple), which I transliterate to haewen.

It's perhaps a bit of a stretch to construct this word for violet. The Latin and Old English words that I'm using are not all that common.

My previous word for violet was hacwin.

I didn't use the Latin word purpura, which is like our word purple, because that word is for Tyrian purple - also known as royal purple or imperial purple - which is actually more of a dark red or maroon color.

I didn't find any words for the color violet in Sindarin or Quenya.

Black, in my words (revised)

nibel : black

The Illunse word for the color black is nibel. Nibel is a unusual last name. Nibel is unusual masculine name, variant of Nibal. In Romansch (Sursilvan) nibel means cloud.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for black (black, dark-colored, blackening) which is niger, and the Old English word for black (black, dark; ink) which is blæc (blaec), which is close to the Modern English word black.

My previous Illunse word for black was nabel.

Here's a link to Black, in Tolkien's words.

All, in my words

omal : all

The Illunse word for all is omal.  The Omal is a relaxed Greek dance which is danced hand by hand.  Omal is an uncommon last name.  Omal is the name of a place in Belgium.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for all eall  (all, every, entire, whole, universal), and the Latin word for all omnis (all; the whole of; each, every, every one (of a number)).

Near, in my words

narp : near

The Illunse word for near is narp. Narp is an unusual last name. NARP is an acronym for National Association of Railroad Passengers. Narp is the name of cities in Germany, France and Iran.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for near néah (near, nigh, close) and the Latin word for near prope.

Far, in my words

fron : far

The Illunse word for far (distant) is fron. Fron is a last name. Nord-Fron and Sør-Fron are towns in Norway.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for far feorr (or feor) and the Latin word for far longe.

Bright, in my words

luciht : bright

The Illunse word for bright is luciht. Luciht is similar to Lucite which is a brand of transparent plastic sometimes called acrylic glass. Luciht is also similar to Lucifer which means "light-bearer".

This word is a mixture of the Old English word beorht (bright, shining, brilliant, light, clear), and the Latin word lucidus (bright, full of light, shining, clear).

In Illunse bright star would be luciht strela.

Second, in my words

stend : second

The Illunse word for second is stend. Stend is an uncommon last name. Stend means stand in Icelandic. Stend is the name of a city in Norway.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for second óðer (one of two; second; other; something else, alternate, next) which I transliterate to other, and the Latin word for second secundus (next, following; second; secondary / inferior; subordinate).

My word looks more like, and takes more letters from the Latin word.

First, in my words

pryst : first

The Illunse word for first is pryst. Pryst is an unusual last name. In Bulgarian (transliterated) pryst means finger.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for first fyrst (first; foremost, principal, chief), and the Latin word for first primus (first, foremost / best, chief, principal; nearest / next).

Note there is an another Old English word for first, forma (the first, earliest).

Full, in my words

plell : full

The Illunse word for full is plell. Plell is a unusual last name.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word full (full, filled, complete, entire), and the Latin word plenus (full, plump; satisfied).

Empty, in my words

vactig : empty

The Illunse word for empty is vactig.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word æmtig (empty, vacant, barren; unoccupied, without employment, free, idle), and the Latin word vacuus (empty, vacant, unoccupied; devoid of, free of).

I seem to be doing a lot of unpleasant adjectives this month. Sweet was nice; but sharp, bitter, sour and empty?

Sweet, in my words

sulwe : sweet

The Illunse word for sweet is sulwe. Sulwe means star in Luo which is a language of Kenya and Tanzania. Sulwe is a unusual last name that is usually African.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word swéte (sweet, pure, fragrant, pleasant, agreeable; beloved, dear; fresh (not salt)), and the Latin word dulcis (pleasant, charming; sweet; kind, dear; soft, flattering, delightful).

Sour, in my words

scud : sour

The Illunse word for sour is scud. Scud is a ballistic missile developed by the Soviet Union. In English scud means to race along swiftly (especially used of clouds). Scud: The Disposable Assassin is a science fiction comic and video game.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word súr (sour, tart, acid; made sour, fermented), and the Latin word acidus (acid / sour / bitter / tart; sour-smelling; soaked in vinegar).

I don't tend to use words that mean something in English, but I'll do it here.

I couldn't find words for sour in either Quenya or Sindarin.

Bitter, in my words

amiter : bitter

The Illunse word for bitter is amiter. Amiter is a rare last name. Amiter is a bad misspelling of amateur.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word biter (bitter, sharp, cutting; stinging), and the Latin word amarus (bitter, brackish, pungent; harsh, shrill).

Sharp, in my words

ascear : sharp

The Illunse word for sharp is ascear.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word scearp (sharp, having a fine edge or point, pointed, prickly; sharp to the taste, pungent, biting), and the Latin word acer (sharp, bitter, pointed, piercing, shrill).

Shining white, in my words (revised)

wicand : shining white

The Illunse word for the color shining white is wicand. Wicand is a rare last name.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for shining white which is candidus, and the Old English word for white which is hwit. I'll admit it's a mixture with more letters from the Latin word.

I made this word purposely to be somewhat similar to the Modern English word incandescent, which is derived from Latin.

My previous word for shining white was icand.


This word does not replace abith as my word for white. This is a another, a second word, for white. Latin has two words for white -- albus and candidus.

In Latin candidus donotes a bright, shining, pure, clean, even transparent, white. The Latin word albus is white, but white without lustre, pale, even colorless, but it's also a favorable or fortunate color.

Here's a link to White, in J.R.R Tolkien's words. It appears that Tolkien had words for shining white.

Blue, in my words (revised)

cealu : blue

The Illunse word for the color blue is cealu. Cealu is possibly a rare last name.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for blue which can be bleó (bleó also means color, appearance, form) or the Middle English word for blue blewe, and the Latin word for blue caeruleus.

My previous word for blue was berl. After much thought, I decided to change this word.

Here's a link to Blue, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

Yellow, in my words (revised)

faego : yellow

The Illunse word for the color yellow is faego. Faego is an unusual word, it's sometimes a misspelling of Fargo.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for yellow which is geolu (or geolo), and the Latin word for yellow flavus (gold colored, yellow).

I know that I just revised yellow last week. Sorry, but I've changed my mind again. My previous word for yellow was feolu.

Here's a link to Yellow, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

That's enough with colors.

Gloomy black, in my words

trase : gloomy black

The Illunse word for the color gloomy black is trase. Trase is a last name. In Albanian trase means track. In Creole trase means trace, sketch. In Croatian trase means route. In Latvian means circuit or track.

Trase does not replace my previous word for black, nelc. This is another, a second word, for black. Both Old English and Latin have two separate words for black. I wouldn't have thought to make this up!

This word for gloomy black is a mixture of the Latin word for black (black, dark; coal-black; gloomy; malicious) which is ater, and the Old English word for black (swarthy, black, dark; gloomy; evil) which is sweart.

By the way, my other word for black is a mixture of the Latin word niger and the Old English word blæc.

Gloomy black is a more sinister color than mere black.

An 19th century Latin synonym dictionary I found on the web described the difference between the two Latin words like this: niger is the darkest color and makes a positive, imposing and beautiful impression; ater is a negation of color and makes a dismal and dark impression.

Violet, in my words

hacwin : violet

The Illunse word for the color violet is hacwin.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for violet (or a purplish blue) which is hyacinthinus and the Old English word for a dark color which can be violet hǽwen (blue, azure, purple), which I transliterate to haewen.

It's perhaps a bit of a stretch to construct this word for violet. The Latin and Old English words that I'm using are not all that common.

I didn't use the Latin word purpura, which is like our word purple, because that word is for Tyrian purple - also known as royal purple or imperial purple - which is actually more of a dark red or maroon color.

I didn't find any words for the color violet in Sindarin or Quenya.