What does your screenname mean? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Galin · 01-01-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elmo

Well I'm guessing what my name means. El means star. Ulmo means 'he who pours' so my means 'star pourer'? 'Star water'?

Tolkien noted that (in Quenya) -mo '... often appeared in names or titles, sometimes with an agental significance': Ulmo was interpreted as 'the Pourer' < *UL 'pour out'

So here Quenya -mo does have agental significance 'pour out' > Pourer (one who does 'the meaning of the stem'), though not in all cases, noting Tolkien's 'sometimes'. If El- means 'star' in Elmo my guess would be something like 'Star-person'.

On the other hand, in The Shibboleth of Feanor (1968) Tolkien looks at Elwe, Olwe and the stems el-, ol-, and seems to cast doubt on an intended rendering of Elwe meaning 'Star-person': 'There is nothing known to connect Elwe more closely with the stars than all the other Eldar; and the name seems invented as a pair with Olwe, for which no 'meaning' was suggested'

Elmo · 01-03-2009, 07:05 AM

Interesting cheers. If it does mean star-person it is quite fitting who is studying Physics with Astronomy in University.

Galin · 01-03-2009, 10:47 AM

Also, it (-mo) might be masculine (just to add), so 'Star-(male) person' maybe

01-03-2009, 07:05 AM	#2
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	Interesting cheers. If it does mean star-person it is quite fitting who is studying Physics with Astronomy in University. __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.

01-03-2009, 10:47 AM	#3
Galin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,036	Also, it (-mo) might be masculine (just to add), so 'Star-(male) person' maybe