Middle-earth Glossary

Few things are more mystifying than Tolkien’s Middle-earth terminology. To aid in your understanding, this glossary gives you the lowdown on the main terms used in this book (a mere fraction of the terms Tolkien uses in The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings).

If the entry is a foreign term, either in a real language or one Tolkien made up, the entry identifies the language with a letter abbreviation and gives an English translation. Following that is a brief definition and description.

The following letter abbreviations denote the origin of the languages (some of which are Tolkien’s characteristics blend of ancient “real” language with fantasy:

Click the following links to jump to entries beginning with different letters in the glossary:

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  Y

Aglarond (S. “Glittering Cavern”) Place: Middle-earth, Rohan. The caverns in the mountain behind Helm’s Deep. See also Helm’s Deep.

Ainur (Q. “The Holy Ones,” singular Ainu) Characters: Divine. The beings created from the thoughts of the One All-father, Eru Ilúvatar; singers of the music by which the world was created. See also Valar and Maiar.

Alqualondë (Q. “Haven of Swans”) Place: Aman, Eldamar. Port city and harbor of the Teleri Elves on the Bay of Eldamar. See Map of Aman.

Aman (Q. “Blessed” or “Free from Evil”) Place. Also known as the Blessed Realm, the Undying Lands, and the Uttermost West. Western continent, home to the immortal Valar, Maiar, and Elves. See Map of Aman.

Amon Sûl (S. “Hill of the Wind”) See Weathertop .

Anárion (Q. “Lord of the Sun”) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Younger son of Elendil and first King of Gondor.

Anduin (“Long River”) Place: Middle-earth, River. The great river east of the Misty Mountains that runs north/south from the Grey Mountains in the north to the delta at the Bay of Belfalas in Gondor in the south. See Map of Middle-earth of the Third Age.

Andûnië (S. “West”) Place: Númenor. Port city on the western end of the island of Númenor. See Map of Númenor.

Andúril (Q. “Flame of the West”) Thing: Sword. Aragorn’s sword reforged from the shards of King Elendil’s sword, Narsil. See also Narsil.

Angband (S. “Iron Prison”) Place: Beleriand. Underground fortress and dungeon of Morgoth in northern Beleriand. See Map of Middle-earth of the First Age (Beleriand).

Angerthas Daeron (S. “Daeron’s Runes”) Thing: Alphabet. The Cirth (runes) and their arrangement into long rows by Daeron, minstrel to Thingol in Beleriand.

Angmar (S. “Iron Home”) Place: Middle-earth, Eriador. The Witch-king’s realm in Eriador west of the Misty Mountains. See Map of Eriador.

Angrist (S. “Iron-cleaver”) Thing: Knife. Knife Beren used to cut the Silmaril from Morgoth’s iron crown.

Annatar (S. “Lord of Gifts”) Character: Maia. Sauron’s alias when he appeared in fair form to the Eregion Elves to trick them into forging the Rings of Power.

Annúminas (S. “Tower of the West”) Place: Middle-earth, Eriador. Royal city of Arnor on the shores of Lake Evendim. See Map of Eriador.

Aragorn (S. “Lord of the Trees”) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Son of Arathorn and Gilraen; raised by Elrond in Rivendell; married to Arwen Undomiel, daughter of Elrond; crowned King of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor. Also known as Strider, Elessar (S. “Elfstone”), Evinyatar (S. “the Renewer”), and Telcontar (S. “Strider”).

Araman (S. “Outside Aman”) Place: Aman. Wasteland in northern Aman between the Pelóri Mountains and the sea, extending northward to the Helcaraxë. See Map of Aman.

Aratar (S. “The Exalted”) Characters: Valar. Eight most powerful Valar of Aman: Manwë, Varda, Aulë, Yavanna, Mandos, Nienna, Oromë, and Ulmo.

Arda (Q. “The Realm”) Place. The earth, created by Eru Ilúvatar and ruled over by his chief Vala, Manwë. See also Eä.

Aredhel (S. “Noble Elf”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Sister of King Turgon of Gondolin; wed to the dark-elf Eöl and mother of Maeglin, who betrayed the location of the Hidden Kingdom of Gondolin to Morgoth.

Argeleb II (S. “Silver King”) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Seventh King of Arthedain in Eriador who granted the land rights of the Shire to the hobbits.

Argonath (S. “Royal Stones”) Thing: Stone Pillars. Two pillars on either side of the Anduin River marking the northern boundary of Gondor; these pillars were carved into massive statues of King Anárion and Isildur.

Armenelos (S. “Heavenly Fortress”) Place: Númenor. Royal city of Númenor on the slopes of Mount Meneltarma. See Map of Númenor.

Arnor (S. “Land of the King”) Place: Middle-earth, Eriador. Northern kingdom in Middle-earth founded by King Elendil. See Map of Eriador.

Ar-Pharazôn (A. “The Golden”) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Last king of Númenor who attacked Aman and caused the downfall and sinking of Númenor.

Arwen Undomiel (S. “Royal Maiden,” “Daughter of Twilight”) Character: Elf, Sindarin. Also known as Arwen Evenstar; daughter of Elrond Half-elven; wed to King Aragorn Elessar for whom she chose a mortal life and with whom she ruled as Queen of the Reunited Kingdom.

Atani (Q. “The Second People”) Characters: Human. Elven name for the race of Men.

Athelas (from OE. aeđel meaning “noble” and S. las meaning “leaf”) Thing: Plant. Name of Aragorn’s healing herb. Also known as kingsfoil.

Aulë Character: Vala. Vala known as the Master Smith; spouse of Yavanna; lord of all substances and crafts in Arda and the father of the Dwarves.

Avari (S. “The Unwilling” or “The Refusers”) Characters: Elves. Group of Elves who refused the Valars’ summons to leave Cuiviénen and live in Aman.

Avathar (S. “The Shadows”) Place: Aman. Desolate southern region below the Bay of Eldamar between the Pelóri Mountains and the sea where Melkor met Ungoliant. See Map of Aman.

Bag End Place: Middle-earth, Shire. Hobbit hole home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins on the Hill above the village of Hobbiton. See Map of the Shire.

Balrog (S. “Demon of Might”) Character: Maiar. Huge demons of fire who served Morgoth and carried fiery whips.

Barad-dûr (S. “Dark Tower”) Place: Middle-earth, Mordor. Sauron’s dark tower in Mordor. See Map of Mordor.

Barahir (S. “Tower Lord”) Character: Human, Edain. Beren’s father who saved King Finrod Felagund at the Battle of Sudden Flame.

Baranduin (S. “The Brown River”) See Brandywine River.

Barrow-downs Place: Middle-earth, Eriador. Ancient burial mounds located between the Old Forest and the village of Bree. See Map of Eriador.

Barrow-wights Characters: Demons. Evil spirits that inhabited the Barrow-downs; attacked Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry on their way to Bree.

Belegaer (S. “The Great Sea”) Place: Sea. Western sea separating Middle-earth from Aman. See Map of Middle-earth West Coast.

Belegost (S. “Great Fortress”) Place: East Beleriand, Blue Mountains. More northern of the two underground cities of the Dwarves in the Blue Mountains of Beleriand above the River Ascar. See Map 4 in Appendix B.

Beleriand Place: Middle-earth of the First Age. Western region of Middle-earth during the First Age; at the end of the First Age, all but a small part of Beleriand was submerged beneath the sea. See Map of Middle-earth of the First Age (Beleriand).

Bëor (C. “Vassal”) Character: Human, Edain. Leader of the first Men to come west into Beleriand; progenitor of the House of Bëor and vassal of the Elven King Finrod Felagund.

Beorn (OE. “Man” and “Hero”) Character: Skin-changer. Chieftain of the Beornings of the Anduin Valley; able to take human or animal form; aids Bilbo and the Dwarves in their adventure to the Lonely Mountain in The Hobbit.

Beren Character: Human, Edain. Son of Barahir and husband of the Elven princess Lúthien Tinuviel; recovered a Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown as the bride-price set by Lúthien’s father, King Thingol.

Bilbo Baggins Character: Hobbit. Master of Bag End in the Shire; burglar for the Dwarves in the quest to the Lonely Mountain; found Sauron’s One Ring of Power; adopted Frodo Baggins as his only heir and then passed the Ring on to him when he left the Shire on his 111th birthday.

Black Gate (of Mordor) Place: Middle-earth, Mordor. Called Morannon (S. “Black Gate”) in Elvish. Huge gate built at Cirith Gorgor, the Haunted Pass, where the Ash Mountains (Ered Lithui) meet the Mountains of Shadow (Ephel Dúath). See Map of Mordor.

Black Riders Characters: Ringwraiths. The nine Ringwraiths when they come to the Shire disguised as riders in black. See also Ringwraiths.

Blessed Realm See Aman.

Blue Mountains Place: Mountain Range. Called Ered Luin in Elvish. Mountain range that in the First Age divided Beleriand from central Middle-earth. In the Third Age, only a small part of the Blue Mountains remained above water in Forlindon and Harlindon in the northwest part of Eriador. See Map of Middle-earth West Coast.

Boromir (S. “Jeweled Hand”) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Elder son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor; member of the Fellowship of the Ring; killed by the Orc Grishnákh in Parth Galen near the Falls of Rauros while defending the hobbits Merry and Pippin.

Brandywine River Place: Middle-earth, River. Hobbit name for the river that runs south out of Lake Evendim down to the Great Sea bordering the east end of the Shire. See Map of the Shire.

Bywater Place: Middle-earth, Shire. West Farthing village opposite Bywater Pool in The Water that was site of the last battle of the War of the Ring. See Map of the Shire.

Calacirya (Q. “Cleft of Light”) Place: Aman, Bay of Eldamar. The pass created in the Pelóri Mountains to enable the Two Trees to shine on Tol Erresëa, isle of the Teleri Elves in Bay of Eldamar. See Map of Aman.

Calaquendi (Q. “Elves of Light”) Characters: Elves. Elves who’ve seen the light of the Two Trees in Aman. See also Moriquendi.

Caradhras (S. “Redhorn”) Place: Middle-earth, Misty Mountains. Mountain peak directly over the mines of Moria where Gandalf defeated the Balrog of Moria before dying and returning as Gandalf the White.

Caras Galadon Place: Middle-earth, Lothlórien. Chief city built in the trees in the center of Lothlórien and ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn.

Celeborn (S. “Silver Tree”) Character: Elf, Teleri. Lord of Lothlórien and husband of Galadriel; originally a prince in Doriath and kinsman of King Thingol; lord of East Lórien after the departure of Galadriel to Aman.

Celebrimbor (S. “Hand of Silver”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Son of Curufin and grandson of Fëanor; lord of the Elves in Eregion; forged Rings of Power.

Círdan (S. “Shipwright”) Character: Elf, Teleri. Original Lord of the Falas (northwest coast) and later of the Bay of Balar in Beleriand during the First Age; master of the Grey Havens in Middle-earth during Second and Third Ages.

Cirith Ungol (S. “Spider Pass”) Place: Middle-earth, Mordor. The pass in the Mountains of Shadow near Shelob’s lair that leads into Mordor. See Map of Mordor.

Cirth (S. “Runes”) Thing: Alphabet. Runic alphabet devised by Daeron for making inscriptions on wood and stone.

Crack of Doom Place: Middle-earth, Mordor. Called “Sammath Naur” (“Chambers of Fire”) in Elvish; entrance and fissure within Mount Doom where Sauron forged the One Ring and the only place it could be destroyed.

Cuiviénen (Q. “Water of Awakening”) Place: Middle-earth. Place in eastern Middle-earth where Ilúvatar awoke the Elves.

Curufinwë (Q. “Finwë’s Skill”) See Fëanor.

Dagorlad (S. “The Battle Plain”) Place: Middle-earth, Mordor. Plain north of the Black Gate of Mordor where the Last Alliance of Men and Elves defeated Sauron’s forces at the end of the Second Age. See Map of Mordor.

Dark Elves See Moriquendi.

Dark Lord, The See Melkor and Sauron.

Déagol (OE. “Secret”) Character: Hobbit, Stoors. Hobbit who found the One Ring of Power in a tributary of the Anduin River; was then murdered for it by Sméagol, later known as Gollum.

Denethor II (S. “Water Torrent”) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Twenty-sixth and last Steward of Gondor; father of Boromir and Faramir; committed suicide by immolating himself during the Battle of Pelennor Fields.

Dernhelm (OE. “Secret Helmet”) Character: Human, Rohirrim. Alias of Éowyn when she fought as a man at the Battle of Pelennor Fields. See also Éowyn.

Dior Character: Elf, Sindar. Also known as Eluchíl (S. “Elu’s Heir). Son of Beren and Lúthien; father of Elwing, the mother of Elrond Half-elven; ruled in Doriath after the death of King Thingol; received the Silmaril after the death of Beren and Lúthien; murdered by the sons of Fëanor.

Dol Guldur (S. “Hill of Sorcery”) Place: Middle-earth, Mirkwood Forest. Underground fortress of Sauron at the southwestern end of Mirkwood Forest. See Map of Rhovanion.

Doriath (S. “Land of the Fence”) Place: Beleriand. Kingdom of King Thingol and Queen Melian in the forest of Neldoreth with its capital at Menegroth; protected by the Girdle of Melian. See Map of Middle-earth of the First Age (Beleriand).

Dor-lómin (S. “Land of Echoes”) Place: Beleriand. Region ruled by Fingon and home to the mortal house of Hador. See Map of Middle-earth of the First Age (Beleriand).

Dúnedain (S. “Men of the West”) Characters: Human. Númenóreans who came to Middle-earth after its fall near the end of the Second Age.

Dwarves Characters. Called the Naugrim (S. “The Stunted People”) and Gonnhirrim (S. “Masters of Stone”) by the Elves, and the Khazâd in their own language; mortal children fashioned by Aulë as a hardy race to withstand Morgoth’s evil; dwell in caves; excel in mining, metalworking, stone carving.

Eä (Q. “It is” or “Let it be”) Place. Entire world or universe, created by Eru Ilúvatar from the Music of Creation sung by his Ainur; includes Arda, the earth.

Eärendil (Q. “Lover of the Sea”) Character: Human/Elf. Son of the mortal Tuor and Elf-princess Idril; wedded to the Elf-princess Elwing, daughter of Dior; sailed in his ship Vingilot to Aman to plead for the Valar to intervene against Morgoth in the War of the Silmarils; now sails the skies in Vingilot bearing the Silmaril recovered by Beren and Lúthien on his brow as the Star of Hope.

Edoras (OE. “Dwellings”) Place: Middle-earth, Rohan. Capital city of Rohan at the foot of the White Mountains; contains Meduseld, the Golden Hall of King Théoden. See Map of Rohan.

Elbereth Gilthoniel (S. “Star Queen,” “Star Kindler”) Character: Vala. Called Elentári (Q. “Star Queen”) in High Elvish; the Vala Varda, hailed by the Sindarin Elves in their hymns and prayers.

Eldamar (Q. “Elvenhome”) Place: Aman. Region of Aman where the Elves came to dwell, primarily around the Bay of Eldamar and on Tol Erresëa. See Map of Aman.

Eldar (Q. “People of the Stars”) See Elves.

Elendil (Q. “Elf-friend” or “Star-lover) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Last lord in Númenor descended from Eärendil and Elwing; father of Anárion and Isildur; leader of the Faithful who escaped the sinking of Númenor and settled in Middle-earth; first King of Arnor; slain by Sauron at the end of the Second Age. See also Anárion and Isildur.

Elessar (S. “Elf-stone”) See Aragorn.

Elrond (S. “Star Dome”) Character: Elf, Sindarin. Son of the mortal Eärendil and Elf-princess Elwing; chose the immortal life of his mother’s kin; master of Rivendell; father of Arwen Undomiel; foster-father to Aragorn.

Elros (S. “Star Foam”) Character: Human, Edain. Son of the mortal Eärendil and Elf-princess Elwing; chose mortal life of his father’s kin; ruled as the first king of Númenor under the name Tar-Minyatur (“First Master”).

Elwë Thingol (S. “Elwë Greymantle”) Character: Elf, Teleri. Originally named Elu and surnamed Singollo (Q. “Greymantle). Brother of Olwë and leader of the Teleri Elves; married the Maia Melian and became Lord of the Sindar in Doriath; forbade High Elvish dialect of Quenya in Doriath in retaliation for Kinslaying of the Teleri; received a Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown from Beren as the bride-price for his daughter Lúthien; slain in Menegroth by the Dwarves of Belegost in a struggle over the Nauglamír, the necklace in which the Silmaril jewel was set.

Elves Characters. Also known as the Eldar (Q. “People of the Stars”) and the Quendi (Q. “Speakers”). The immortal, Firstborn children of Eru Ilúvatar awakened in east Middle-earth at Cuiviénen. See also Avari, Calaquendi, Laiquendi, Moriquendi, Nandor, Noldor, Sindar, Teleri, Úmanyar, Vanyar.

Elu Singollo (Q. “Elu Greymantle”) See Elwë Thingol.

Elwing (S. “Star-spray”) Character: Elf, Sindarin. Daughter of Dior and Nimloth; granddaughter of Beren and Lúthien; wed to the mortal Eärendil the Mariner; in Aman, chose the immortal life of her mother’s kin.

Ents (OE. “Giants”) Characters. Called the Enyd by the Elves. Children of Yavanna who act as the guardians of the forests of Middle-earth; also known as tree-herds and shepherds of the trees. See also Treebeard.

Entwood Place: Middle-earth, Forest. Called Fangorn Forest (“Treebeard’s Forest”) by the Elves. Forest home of the Ents; located east of the Misty Mountains, north of Isengard and Rohan. See Map of Rohan.

Éomer (OE. “Horse Mare”) Character: Human, Rohirrim. Nephew of Théoden, King of Rohan; succeeded Théoden upon his death at the Battle of Pelennor Fields.

Éowyn (OE. “Horse Friend”) Character: Human, Rohirrim. Also known as the Shield Maiden of Rohan. Niece of Théoden, King of Rohan; fought as a man under the guise of Dernhelm in the Battle of Pelennor Fields; after the War of the Ring, wed Faramir and dwelt with him in Ithilien.

Erebor (S. “Lonely Mountain”) Place: Middle-earth, Rhovanion. Dwarf kingdom under the mountain of the same name in the northern section of Rhovanion near the Iron Hills and northeastern edge of Mirkwood Forest. See Map of Rhovanion.

Erech Place: Middle-earth, West Gondor. Hill in west Gondor where the black stone of Isildur stood and where Aragorn calls on the spirits of the Oathbreakers to help commandeer the black ships of the Corsairs of Umbar. See Map of Gondor.

Eregion (S. “Land of Holly”) Place: Middle-earth, Eriador. Region west of the Misty Mountains just south of Caradhras and Moria where Noldorin Elves led by Celebrimbor fashioned the Rings of Power. See Map of Eriador.

Eriador Place: Middle-earth. Region between the Blue Mountains and the Misty Mountains; where Arnor and the Shire are located. See Map of Eriador.

Eru Ilúvatar (Q. “One,” “All-father”) Character: Divine. Divinity who created the Ainur, Eä, Arda, and its creatures; father of the Elves, his Firstborn, and Men, his younger children.

Ezellohar Place: Aman, Valinor. Called Corollairë (Q. “Mound of Summer”) in High Elvish. Green hill outside the golden gate of the city of Valmar upon which the Two Trees grew. See Map of Aman.

Fangorn Forest See Entwood.

Fangorn See Treebeard.

Faramir (S. “Jeweled Hunter”) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Younger son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor; ranger of Ithilien; after the War of the Ring, wed to Éowyn.

Fëanor (Q. “Spirit of Fire”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Also known as Curufinwë (Q. “Finwë’s Skill”). Elder son of Finwë and Míriel and half-brother of Fingolfin and Finarfin; creator of the script of Tengwar, the palantíri, and the Silmarils; leader of the Noldorin rebellion against the Valar; responsible for the Kinslaying of the Teleri at Alqualondë and the burning of the White Ships at Losgar; mortally wounded by the Balrog Gorthmog; died in Mithrim in Beleriand. See also Kinslaying.

Fellowship of the Ring Characters. Also called the Company of the Ring and the Nine Walkers. Group (Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Frodo) charged with destroying Sauron’s One Ring of Power at Mount Doom; numbered nine to counter the Nine Ringwraiths.

Finarfin (Q. “Royal [Golden] Hair”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Younger son of Finwë and Indis of the Vanyar (from whom he inherited golden hair); turned back during the Exile of the Noldorin rebels and became the leader of the remaining Noldor at Tirion on Túna in Aman.

Fingolfin (Q. “Cloak of Hair”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Elder son of Finwë and Indis of the Vanyar; High King of the Noldor in Hithlum in Beleriand; slain in hand-to-hand combat with Morgoth.

Finrod Felagund (Q. “Champion of [Golden] Hair,” “Lord of the Caves”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Also called Finrod the Faithful. Eldest son of Finarfin; founder and King of Nargothrond; rescued by Barahir in the Battle of Sudden Flame; aided Beren in recovering the Silmaril; slain by a werewolf defending Beren in Sauron’s dungeon in Tol Sirion.

Finwë (Q. “Hairy One”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Father of Fëanor and his half-brothers Fingolfin and Finarfin; leader of the Noldor from Cuiviénen to Aman; High King of Noldor in Tirion on Túna; slain by Morgoth during the theft of the Silmarils at Formenos.

Formenos (Q. “Northern Fortress”) Place: Aman. Fëanor’s northern fortress in Aman. See Map of Aman.

Frodo Baggins (OE. frōd “wise,” “experienced”) Character: Hobbit. Heir of Bilbo Baggins at Bag End; Ring-bearer who undertakes quest to destroy Sauron’s One Ring of Power.

Galadriel (S. “Maiden Crowned with a Radiant Garland”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Daughter of Finarfin and sister of Finrod Felagund; wed to Celeborn of Doriath and ruled Lothlórien in Middle-earth as his queen; keeper of Nenya, the Elven-Ring of Water; after the War of the Ring, sailed to Aman with the other Ring-bearers (Gandalf, Elrond, Bilbo, and Frodo).

Gandalf (ON. “Staff Elf”) Character: Maia, Wizard. Also known as Olórin in Aman, Mithrandir (S. “Grey Pilgrim”) among the Elves, and Gandalf the Grey among the hobbits. Maia sent as a wizard to Middle-earth to aid in the struggle against Sauron in the Third Age; leader of Fellowship of the Ring; slain by the Balrog of Moria; returns as Gandalf the White; keeper of Narya, the Ring of Fire.

Gil-Estel (S. “Star of Hope”) Thing. Eärendil as he appears as the celestial mariner in Vingilot with the Silmaril on his brow. See also Eärendil.

Gil-galad (S. “Star of Radiance”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Son of Fingon and grandson of Fingolfin; last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth and ruler of Lindon; formed the Last Alliance of Men and Elves with Elendil against Sauron; slain by Sauron in Mordor.

Gimli (ON. “Lee of Heaven”) Character: Dwarf. Son of Glóin of Erebor; member of the Fellowship of the Ring; after the War of the Ring, leads the Dwarves of Erebor and preserves Aglarond; sails with Legolas to Aman.

Glaurung Character: Dragon. Also known as “Worm of Morgoth” and “Father of Dragons.” Dragon who led the sack of Nargothrond; slain by Túrin Turambar.

Goldberry Character: Nature Spirit. Daughter of the River-woman of the Withywindle River in Old Forest; wed to Tom Bombadil.

Gollum Character: Ghoul/Hobbit, Stoors. Name given to the hobbit Sméagol after he murdered to gain the One Ring of Power and hid beneath the Misty Mountains; leads Frodo and Sam into Mordor; betrays them to Shelob; attacks Frodo at the Crack of Doom, then dies in the fires of the mountain.

Gondolin (Q. “Hidden Rock”) Place: Beleriand. Secret city of King Turgon hidden within the Encircling Mountains. See Map of Middle-earth of the First Age (Beleriand).

Gondor (S. “Stone Land”) Place: Middle-earth. Southern kingdom in Middle-earth established by Anárion and Isildur after the sinking of Númenor near the end of the Second Age. See Map of Gondor.

Great Sea See Belegaer.

Grey Havens Place: Middle-earth. Also known as Mithlond. Harbor on the Gulf of Lune where Círdan the Shipwright dwells and where Elven White Ships depart for the Blessed Realm of Aman. See Map of Middle-earth of the Third Age.

Gríma Wormtongue (OE. grim “fierce,” “cruel” and wormtongue “serpent tongue”) Character: Human, Rohirrim. Treacherous counselor to King Théoden of Rohan; joins Saruman at Isengard after Gandalf exposes his treason; murders Saruman while being expelled from the Shire.

Halfling See Hobbits.

Halls of Mandos (S. mbando “prison” and os “fortress”) Place: Aman. Also known as House of the Dead and Halls of Awaiting. Mansions on far western side of Aman, presided over by the Vala Námo (also known as Mandos); where Elves and Dwarves (but not Men) remain after death. See Map of Aman.

Helcaraxë (S. “Ice Jaws”) Place: Aman/Beleriand. Icy isthmus that connected northern Aman with northern Beleriand until end of First Age. See Map of Aman.

Helm’s Deep Place: Middle-earth, Rohan. Rohirrim fortification built into the White Mountains as a refuge, atop which sits tower of the Hornburg and behind which lies the caves of Aglarond; also name of battle fought against Saruman’s forces during the War of the Ring. See Map of Rohan.

Hithlum Place: Beleriand. Region in northwest Beleriand where Kingdom of Dor-lómin is located. See Map of Middle-earth of the First Age (Beleriand).

Hobbits Characters: Human. Also known as halflings. Humanlike creatures between two and four feet tall whose feet have tough leathery soles and are covered with hair; they are part of three distinct clans or breeds: harfoots, stoors, and fallohides.

Hobbiton Place: Middle-earth, Shire. Village in the West Farthing of the Shire just below the Hill in which Bag End, the hobbit-hole of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, is located. See Map of the Shire.

Huorns Characters: Trees. Name of old trees of the forests of Middle-earth who are becoming mobile like the Ents. See also Ents.

Iarwain Ben-adar (S. “Old Fatherless One”) See Tom Bombadil.

Idril Celebrindal (Q. “Sparkling,” “Silver-foot”) Character: Elf, Noldor. Daughter of Turgon, King of Gondolin; wed to the mortal Tuor; mother of Eärendil, the Celestial Mariner; fled with Tuor and Eärendil at the fall of Gondolin to the mouth of the Sirion; sailed west with Tuor and was never heard from again.

Illuin (Q. “Blue Star”) Thing: Lamp. Northern lamp that lit Middle-earth during the Spring of Arda before being destroyed by Melkor.

Ilúvatar (Q. “All-father) See Eru Ilúvatar.

Imladris (S “Deep Dale of the Clef”) See Rivendell.

Isengard (OE. “Iron yard”) Place: Middle-earth. Also known as Angrenost (S. “Iron Fortress”) by the Elves. Saruman’s natural fortress at southern end of Misty Mountains near the Gap of Rohan and the Isen River; contains tower of Orthanc. See Map of Rohan.

Isildur (Q. “Lover of the Moon”) Character: Human, Dúnedain. Elder son of Elendil; saved the White Tree from extinction in Númenor; cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand with the hilt-shard of Narsil; claimed the One Ring as weregild for his father and brother; slain by Orcs in the River Anduin when One Ring abandoned him (giving rise to Ring’s name of Isildur’s bane).

Ithilien (S. “Moonland”) Place: Middle-earth. Narrow strip of land between Gondor and Mordor; originally ruled by Isildur from Minas Ithil.

Khazad (K. “Dwarves”) See Dwarves.

Khazad-dûm (K. “Mansions of the Dwarves”) Place: Middle-earth, Eriador. Also known as Moria. The Dwarf delving under Mount Caradhras in the Misty Mountains; closed after Sauron made war on the Elves of Eregion; hiding place of the last Balrog who challenged Gandalf on Durin’s Bridge.

Kinslaying, The Thing. The slaying of the Teleri Elves at the harbor of Alqualondë by the Noldorin rebels under Fëanor for the purpose of commandeering their White Ships to pursue Morgoth to Middle-earth.

Laiquendi (Q. “Green Elves”) Characters: Elves. The Green Elves of East Ossiriand in Beleriand and the Elves who dwelt in Mirkwood Forest.

Laurelin (Q. “Song of Gold”) Thing: Tree of Light. Younger of the Two Trees of light that grew in Aman; bore golden fruit; her light waxed and waned during the last half of the Valarian Day. See also Telperion .

Legolas Character: Elf, Green. Son of Thranduil, king of the Woodland Realm in Mirkwood Forest; member of the Fellowship of the Ring; accompanied the Dwarf Gimli to Aman after death of King Aragorn Elessar.

Light Elves See Calaquendi.

Lindon (S. “Lofty Song”) Place: Ossiriand/Western Middle-earth. Name of Ossiriand in the First Age; also refers to the narrow strip of land west of the Blue Mountains divided into Forlindon (North Lindon) and Harlindon (South Lindon) that remained above water after that age and that was ruled by Gil-galad, last Lord of the High Elves. See  Map of Middle-earth West Coast.

Lonely Mountain See Erebor.

Losgar (S. “Red Snow”) Place: Beleriand, Firth of Drengist. Place where Fëanor ordered the Teleri’s White Ships burned rather than have them rescue the Noldor abandoned in Araman in Aman; known as Losgar because fire burning the White Ships appeared like “red snow.” See Map of Middle-earth of the First Age (Beleriand).

Lothlórien (S. “Golden Flower”) Place: Middle-earth, Rhovanion. Also known as Lórien. Forest kingdom ruled by Celeborn and Galadriel, located mostly north of the River Celebrant on the east side of the Misty Mountains opposite Dol Guldur in Mirkwood Forest. See Map of Rhovanion.

Lúthien Tinuviel (S. “Blossom,” “Nightingale”) Character: Elf, Teleri. Only child of the Maia Melian and Teleri prince Thingol; wed to the mortal Beren whom she aided in recovering the Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown and saved from the Halls of Mandos after his death; in Valinor, chose to become mortal like her husband; dwelt with him in Tol Galen in Beleriand until their deaths.

Máhanaxar (S. “The Ring of Doom”) Place, Aman, Valimar. Circle of thrones placed right outside the gates of the city of Valmar in Aman on which the Vala sat when they came together as a council of judgment. See Map of Aman.

Maiar (singular, Maia) Characters: Ainur. Name given to the lesser powers among the Ainur; servants to Valar. See also Gandalf, Melian, Valar, and Wizards.

Mallorn (S. “Gold Tree”) Things: Trees. Golden trees of Lothlórien.

Mandos (S. mbando “prison” and os “fortress) Character: Vala. Also known as Námo the Judge. Keeper of the Houses of the Awaiting (Mandos) who summons the dead and issues judgments (dooms) at the command of Manwë.

Manwë (“Blessed”) Character: Vala. Also known as Súlimo (S. “The Breather” or “Lord of the Breath of Arda”); King of Valar who rules Aman with his Queen Varda from his mansion atop Mount Taniquetil.

Melian (S. “Dear Gift”) Character: Maia. Maia who left Valinor and came to Beleriand; wed Thingol, Lord of the Teleri; ruled as Queen of the Kingdom of Doriath, protecting it with the enchantment called the Girdle of Melian.

Melkor (Q. “He Who Arises in Might”) Most powerful and evil of the Ainur; brother of Manwë; destroyer of the Two Lamps of Middle-earth and the Two Trees of Aman; cast out of the physical realm by other Valar during the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age. See also Morgoth.

Menegroth (S. “Thousand Caves”) Place: Beleriand, Doriath. Underground fortress where Melian and Thingol ruled Doriath. See Map of Middle-earth of the First Age (Beleriand).

Meneltarma (S. “Pillar of Heaven”) Place: Númenor. Central and sacred mountain at the center of the Island of Númenor. See Map of Númenor.

Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry) Character: Hobbit. Close friend of Frodo Baggins; from Buckland in the Shire; member of the Fellowship of the Ring; after escape from Orcs with Pippin, convinced the Ents to attack Isengard; as squire to King Théoden, slew the Lord of the Ringwraiths at the Battle of Pelennor Fields; after War of the Ring became the Mayor of Buckland. See also Peregrin Took (Pippin) and Witch-king of Angmar.

Middle-earth Place: Arda. Also known as Endor (S. “Middle Land”). Region surrounded by the Great Sea on the west, Rhûn on the east, deserts of Harad in the south, and the frozen wastes in the north. See Map of Middle-earth of the Third Age.

Minas Anor (S. “Tower of the [Setting] Sun”) See