Just Wondering...

[Peri]

Hi all. Here's a question for you. The greatest evil to first inhabit Ea was Melkor. He was supposedly rotten from the beginning, even before Iluvatar created Ea. The thing is though that the root word "mel" means love. Praytell, can anyone explain? smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

The meaning of Melkor was "He who arises in might";

So says the index of the Silmarillion. Melkor had his name before the Elves were even made. Maybe he doesn't have an Elvish name (Although it probably is one.). Anyway, he was not a total "bad Seed". He merely created discord in the great music of the Ainur due to his lingering thoughts of desire for the Imperishable Flame.

Just a thought,
Aylwen

[davem]

Yeah, & Kor means 'round'. So Melkor means 'Love-round'.
(Oh, I don't know - Was all this Elvish a plot by Tolkien to confuse us?)

[Starbreeze]

smilies/biggrin.gif I think it was all a plot by Tolkien to test us - to see if we would delve deep enough into his work to find this. There probably isn't an answer, every language has exceptions to the rules, and Tolkien would have know that for sure, so I wouldn't worry about it, just enjoy what you read. smilies/biggrin.gif