Tolkien vocabulary I (serious)

[Mister Underhill]

Lostgariel, I think Sharkey means in essence that 'fey' is worth being examined in context, and also in comparison to other uses which are also in context -- many examples of which he has so kindly provided for our edification.

Squatter, I get frustrated with the deficiencies of my dictionary too! Maybe the problem is that you're using the "Concise" rather than the "Unabridged" Oxford Dictionary. I presume that the "Unabridged" would have the fuller definition, but I cannot say since they want you to pay money to look things up in their online version. I guess you can get away with that if you're the best (or at least have managed to foster that perception!). Among the things I desire to own one of these days is one of those gigantic Unabridged Oxford Dictionaries that requires its own table.

KayQy, the prof does get his money's worth out of "doom", doesn't he? Tolkien may be the first place I encountered that word used to mean "a decision or judgment, especially an official condemnation to a severe penalty" (Webster's), as when the Valar punish Fëanor:

Therefore this doom is now made: for twelve years thou shall leave Tirion where this threat was uttered.

I've always loved the way Tolkien uses the language to evoke the overwhelming evil and otherworldly power of his villains, as in the confrontation between Éowyn and the Witch-king. Biblical "lo!" and "behold!" make his descent seem like the coming of the Angel of Death. His otherworldy steed stinks of death, and we learn that the Dark Lord nursed it with "fell" meats. "Lord of carrion" and "dwimmerlaik", Éowyn names him. I love that latter word, though I've never been able to find a suitable definition.

Estelyn, neat thread!