[HerenIstarion]

that's the reason of pulling oldies up - the discussion often takes unexpected and interesting new turns.

well. Etymologies:

MITH- N mith white fog, wet mist; cf. Mithrim [RINGI]. [Later addition: mith = grey

Mithrandir may still apply to White Gandalf as well, I believe

possible substitutes:

NIK-W- Q niqe snow; ninqe white (*ninkwi); nieninqe ‘white tear’ = snowdrop [NEI]; ninqita- shine white; ninqitá- whiten; ninqisse whiteness,

Ninqithrandir?

GOLÓS- Q olosse snow, fallen snow; N gloss snow. Cf. Uilos.N gloss also adj. snow-white.

Olothrandir?

PHAY- radiate, send out rays of light. Q faina- emit light; faire radiance; ON phaire. Cf. Phay-anāro ‘radiant sun’ > Q Feanáro, ON Phayanō΄r, N Feanoúr, Féanor. Cf. N foen radiant, white.

Foenrandir?

SIL- variant of THIL; ‘shine silver’. These in Q cannot be distinguished normally, but Q Isil Moon, N †Ithil has th.s- appears in *silimē ‘light of Silpion’, †silver, Q silme (cf. Silmerosse, N Silivros), N *silif. *silimā silver, shining white (adj.): Q .silma, N *silef, cf. Silevril, Q Silmaril (see RIL). In N Belthil (see BAL) s or th may be present. The Q name of the Elder Tree is Silpion (see below).
Cf. Dor istel, istil silver light, applied by the Ilkorins to starlight, probably a Q form learned from Melian. For *silif N has silith, by assimilation to or from influence of †Ithil.

Silithrandir?

SPAN- white. Q fanya, fána cloud. N fein white, faun cloud (*spāna); T spania; Dan. spenna. Cf. Fanyamar upper air; Spanturo ‘lord of cloud’, Q Fantur surname of Mandos (Nurufantur, N Gurfannor ‘lord of Death-cloud’ ) and of his brother Lórien (Olofantur, N Olfannor ‘lord of Dream-cloud’ ): N pl. i-Fennyr or Fennir = Lórien and Mandos [see ÑGUR, OLOS]. (Confused in N with PHAY, q.v.) [The beginning of this entry was first written ‘fanya cloud’; ‘cloud’ was struck through, and fána added, with meanings ‘white’ and ‘cloud’, but it is not clear how they are to be applied.

Fánarandir?

[ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: HerenIstarion ]