Word |
Page 1st Used |
Meaning as used in The Lord of the Rings |
Context of use, sentence used in |
abashed |
228 |
To embarrass with awe or shame; confuse with a sense of inferiority, error, etc. |
Such loveliness in living thing Frodo had never seen before nor imagined in his mind; and he was
both surprised and abashed to find that he had a seat at Elrond's table among all these folk so high and fair. |
abed |
972 |
In or to bed. |
'But the healers would have me lie abed seven days yet,' she said. |
abide |
264 |
To endure; tolerate. |
"I can't abide
changes," said he, "not at my time of life, and least of all changes for the worst." |
abreast |
75 |
Side by side, equally advanced. |
They went abreast and in step, to keep up their spirits. |
abroad |
43 |
Away from home; in foreign lands; at large. |
Trolls were abroad, no longer dull-witted, but cunning and armed with dreadful weapons.
|
adamant |
234 |
In ancient times, some impenetrably hard substance: variously identified later, esp. as the
diamond or loadstone. In modern use it is only a poetical or rhetorical name for the embodiment of surpassing hardness; that which is impregnable to any applicatio |
of adamant his helmet tall, |
adamant |
601 |
Unconquerable. In ancient times, some impenetrably hard substance: variously identified later,
esp. as the diamond or loadstone. Impenetrably hard, unyielding. |
How long, I wonder, has he been constrained to come often to his glass for inspection and
instruction, and the Orthanc-stone so bent towards Barad-dûr that, if any save a will of adamant now looks into it, it will bear his mind and sight swiftly thither? |
affray |
326 |
An attack, an assault. |
The affray was sharp, but the orcs were dismayed by the fierceness of the defence.
|
aforetime |
350 |
In time past; formerly. |
Yet I do not believe that the world about us will ever again be as it was of old, or the light of
the Sun as it was aforetime. |
aghast |
688 |
Struck with horror and amazement; filled with consternation. |
`Sam! ' cried Frodo aghast. |
agin |
22 oed |
Against. In an opposite position, direction, or course to; opposite to; facing. |
'And no wonder they're so queer,' put in Daddy Twofoot (the Gaffer's next-door neighbour), 'if
they live on the wrong side of the Brandwine River, and right agin the Old Forest. |
alighted |
985 |
To get down as from a horse or a vehicle; descend; come to rest. |
Then the King welcomed his guests, and they alighted; and Elrond surrendered the
sceptre, and laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King, and together they went up to the High City, and all the stars flowered in the sky. |
all and sundry |
26 |
All, both collectively and individually. Literally - to one and all. |
He gave away presents to all and sundry
- the latter were those who went out again by a back way and came in again by the gate. |
amends |
349 |
Reparation, as for wrong or injury; atonement; satisfaction, compensation. |
`I shall claim full amends
for every fall and stubbed toe, if you do not lead us well,' said Gimli as they bound a cloth about his eyes. |
amidmost |
642 |
In the very middle, or center. |
But as these ranges approached one another, being indeed but parts of one great wall about the
mournful plains of Lithlad and of Gorgoroth, and the bitter inland sea of Núrnen amidmost, they swung out long arms northward; and between these arms there was |
amiss |
163 |
At fault; wrong; at variance with right, propriety, one's wishes, etc. A fault or wrong. |
I hope that you'll not take it amiss. |
anigh |
740 |
Nigh; near. |
Rest you quite till I come; and may no foul creature come anigh you! |
apace |
1034 |
At a quick pace; rapidly; fast. |
Meanwhile the labour of repair went on apace, and Sam was kept very busy. |
argent |
977 |
Bright, white; silver or something resembling it. |
And when the sun rose in the clear morning above the mountains in the East, upon which shadows lay
no more, then all the bells rang, and all the banners broke and flowed in the wind; and upon the White Tower of the citadel the standard of the Stewards, br |
aright |
192 |
Rightly, correctly, properly. |
'I will tell you the tale of Tinúviel,' said Strider, 'in brief - for it is a long tale of which
the end is not known; and there are none now, except Elrond, that remember it aright as it was told of old. |
array |
419 |
To set in due order; also, to prepare. |
They combed his long dark hair and arrayed it upon his shoulders. |
array |
817 |
To deck out; to adorn with dress; attire; dress. |
In some other time and place Pippin might have been pleased with his new array, but
he knew now that he was taking part in no play; he was in deadly earnest the servant of a grim master in the greatest peril. |
arrayed |
351 |
To set in due order; orderly arrangement; ordered state of things. |
Upon it, as a double crown, grew two circles of trees: the outer had bark of snowy white, and were
leafless but beautiful in their shapely nakedness; the inner were mallorn-trees of great height, still arrayed in pale gold. |
arrayed |
526 |
To prepare; also, to deck out; adorn with dress; attire. |
Now men came bearing raiment of war from the king's hoard, and they arrayed
Aragorn and Legolas in shining mail. |
askance |
1058 |
Sidewise; with a side glance; with a glance of disfavor and suspicion (often figurative). |
'For the high men of Gondor already looked askance
at the Northmen among them; and it was a thing unheard of before that the heir of the crown, or any son of the King, should wed one of lesser and alien race. |
asphodel |
657 |
Any of various liliaceous plants of the genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline, native in
southern Europe, with white or yellow flowers; also, a flower or plant, said to be Asphodeline lutea, associated by the ancient Greeks with the dead and the Elysian field |
Primeroles and anemones were awake in the filbert-brakes; and asphodel
and many lily-flowers nodded that half-opened heads in the grass: deep green grass beside the pools, where falling streams halted in cool hollows on their journey down to Anduin. |
assail |
83 |
To set upon with violence; attack; assault; beset. |
I do not know the reason for your flight, and therefore I do not know by what means your pursuers
will assail you. |
assuaged |
368 |
To make milder or less severe; mitigate (pain, wrath, etc.). |
'The love of the Elves for their land and their works is deeper than the depths of the sea, and
their regret is undying and cannot ever wholly be assuaged. |
atone |
899 |
To make amends to; make amends for; make amends or reparation for crime or sin; make up. |
Therefore the King of Gondor demands that he should atone
for his evils, and depart then for ever. |
aught |
134 |
Anything whatever; but also means possession, property. |
'I am no weather-master,' he said; 'nor is aught that goes on two legs.' |
aught |
526 |
Anything whatever; but also means possession, property. |
You have only to name aught that is mine. |
babel |
152 |
A scene of noise and confusion. |
'Half a minute, it you please!' shouted the man over his shoulder, and vanished into a babel
of voices and a cloud of smoke. |
bade |
135 |
Past tense of bid, ask; command. |
They bowed, but with the wave of her arm she bade
them look round; and they looked out from the hill-top over lands under the morning. |
baldric |
241 |
A belt, sometimes richly ornamented, worn diagonally from shoulder to hip, and often supporting a
sword, horn, etc. |
On a baldric
he wore a great horn tipped with silver that was now laid upon his knees. |
bandy |
519 |
To give and take; back and forth; as, blows, words, or compliments; exchange, as blow for blow.
|
I have not passed through fire and death to bandy
crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls.' |
Bane |
244 |
A slayer; something deadly, as poison; a thing that ruins or spoils. |
But soon he was betrayed by it to his death; and so it is named in the North Isildur's Bane
. |
barrow |
139 |
A mound of earth or stones raised over a tomb. |
A great barrow stood there. |
barrow |
365 |
A flat, rectangular frame used by two or more persons for carrying a load, esp. such a frame with
projecting shafts at each end for handles; also a modification of this, generally in the form of a shallow box with flaring sides supported in front by a whe |
See text above for bits. |
barrows |
37 |
A flat, rectangular frame used by two or more persons for carrying a load, esp. such a frame with
projecting shafts at each end for handles; also a modification of this, generally in the form of a shallow box with flaring sides supported in front by a whe |
The road to the gate was blocked with barrows and handcarts. |
base |
901 |
Low in place or position; of low or humble origin, grade, or station; of illegitimate birth;
morally low; also, without dignity of sentiment; mean-spirited, selfish; cowardly; also, befitting or characteristic of an inferior person or thing; abject, unwor |
And if indeed we rated this prisoner so high, what surety have we that Sauron, the Base
master of Treachery, will keep his part? |
bastion |
760 |
A projecting portion of a rampart or fortification, in form an irregular pentagon attached at the
base to the main work, with two faces forming the forward (salient) angle, and with two shorter reëntrant flanks commanding adjacent parts of the work. |
For partly in the primeval shaping of the hill, partly by the mighty craft and labour of old,
there stood up from the rear of the wide court behind the Gate a towering bastion of stone, its edges sharp as a ship-keel facing east. |
battlemented |
910 |
To furnish with battlements. |
About the lowest tier, two hundred feet below where Sam now stood, there was a battlemented
wall enclosing a narrow court. |
bay |
462 |
A stand made by a hunted animal to face or repel pursuers, or, fig. by a person, etc. forced to
face a foe or a difficulty. |
So it was that they did not see the last stand, when Uglúk was overtaken and brought to bay
at the edge of Fangorn. |
baying |
91 |
To bark, esp. with a deep, prolonged sound, as a hound in hunting. |
Suddenly as they drew nearer a terrific baying
and barking broke out, and a loud voice was heard shouting: 'Grip!, Fang! Wolf! Come on, lads!' |
beckon |
712 |
To signal, summon, or direct by a gesture of the head or hand. |
Along this path the hobbits trudged, side by side, unable to see Gollum in front of them, except
when he turned back to beckon them on. |
beckoning |
120 |
To signal, summon, or direct by a gesture of the head or hand. |
With that he picked up his lilies, and then with a beckoning
wave of his hand went hopping and dancing along the path eastward, still singing loudly and nonsensically. |
befallen |
42 |
Happen or occur; to happen to. |
So it went on, until his forties were running out, and his fiftieth birthday was drawing near:
fifty was a number that he felt was somehow significant (or ominous); it was at any rate at that age that adventure had suddenly befallen Bilbo. |
beleaguered |
813 |
To besiege. |
foe-beleaguered, fire-encircled. |
belie |
765 |
To lie about; caluminate; misrepresent; also to show to be false; also, to prove false to; fail to
justify. |
'I see that strange tales are woven about you,' said Denethor, 'and once again it is shown that
looks may belie the man - or the halfling. |
bereft |
732 |
To take away. |
Either she did not see Sam, or she avoided him for the moment as the bearer of the light, and
fixed all her intent upon one prey, upon Frodo, bereft of his Phial, running heedless up the path, unaware yet of his peril. |
beset |
205 |
To set, stud, or surround with something; also to surround as in a siege or attack, hem in; attack
on all sides; assail. |
Whatever danger may beset it, the Road is our only way to the Ford.' |
beset |
439 |
To set, stud, or surround with something; also to surround as in a siege or attack, hem in; attack
on all sides; assail. |
He has taken Orcs into his service, and Wolf-riders, and evil Men, and he has closed the Gap
against us, so that we are likely to be beset both east and west. |
besom |
476 |
A bunch of twigs for sweeping; a broom; anything that sweeps out or cleanses. |
There was a flicker like green fire in his eyes, and his beard stood out stiff as a great
besom. |
besotted |
1049 |
To make sottish; cause to dote; infatuate; stupefy as with drink; one whose mind is dulled by
excessive drinking; to make foolish or stupid. |
At length Ar-Pharazôn listened to this counsel, for he felt the waning of his days and was
besotted by the fear of Death. |
bestirred |
701 |
To stir up; rouse to action. |
Frodo and Sam returned to their beds and lay there in silence resting for a little, while men
bestirred themselves and the business of the day began. |
bestowed |
428 |
To stow or put; store; confer upon a recipient; give. |
'It will be more needed where it is bestowed,' said Aragorn. |
betide |
759 |
To befall; happen; occur. |
Whatever betide, you have come to the end of the Gondor that you have known. |
bid |
167 |
To ask earnestly; wish or say, ask; command; direct. |
'I've come to bid
you good night,' said the landlord, putting the candles on the table. |
bide |
260 |
To wait; remain; continue; dwell; abide. |
We can bide
our time, we can keep our thought in our hearts, deploring maybe evils done by the way, but approving the high and ultimate purpose: Knowledge, Rule, Order; all the things that we have written so far striven in vain to accomplish, hindered rat
|
biers |
131 |
A framework on which a corpse (or the coffin) is laid before burial or carried to the grave. |
Gold was piled on the biers
of dead kings and queens; and the mounds covered them, and the stone doors were shut; and the grass grew over all. |
billows |
128 |
A great wave or surge of the sea; any wave. |
See text above for plumes. |
bits |
365 |
A small piece or quantity of anything. |
They've dug up Bagshot Row, and there's the poor old gaffer going down the Hill with his bits
of things on a barrow. |
bivouac |
530 |
Orig. a night-watch by an entire army to prevent surprise; now, a temporary encampment of soldiers
in the open air without tents; the place of such encampment. |
In a great circle, under the starry sky and the waxing moon, they now made their bivouac.
|
blanch |
699 |
To make white, esp. by depriving of color; also to make pale, as with sickness, fear, cold, etc.
To turn pale. |
If Cirith Ungol is named, old men and masters of lore will blanch and fall silent.
|
blazoned |
515 |
A heraldic shield; armorial bearing; the heraldic description of armorial bearings; description;
display. |
Their golden hair was braided on their shoulders; the sun was blazoned
upon their green shields, their long corslets were burnished bright, and when they rose taller they seemed than mortal men. |
bleary |
71 |
Somewhat blear. Dim from a watery discharge or other superficial affection, as the eyes. To render
the eyes dim, misty or indistinct. |
Sam jumped up, looking rather bleary. |
bleating |
131 |
To cry as a sheep, goat or calf; make a similar sound. The cry of sheep. |
Sheep were bleating in flocks. |
blind |
312 |
Without light, dark. |
He is surer of finding the way home in a blind
night than the cats of Queen Berúthiel.' |
blind |
598 |
Without discernment, understanding, or judgement; not proceeding form or controlled by reason.
|
Several of the Riders cried out, and crouched, holding their arms above their heads, as if to ward
off a blow from above: a blind fear and a deadly cold fell on them. |
blind |
726 |
Without an opening or outlet; closed at one end. |
Presently, groping and fumbling in the dark, they found that the opening on the left was blocked;
either it was a blind, or else some great stone had fallen in the passage. |
board |
523 |
A table, esp. to serve food on. |
Your meat is about to be set on the board. |
boards |
132 |
A table, esp. to serve food on. |
The boards blazed with candles, white and yellow. |
bogey |
109 |
A fearsome specter; a hobgoblin; any object of dread; specif. the devil. An object of terror or
dread |
'If you mean the old bogey-stories Fatty's nurses used to tell him, about goblins
and wolves and things of that sort, I should say no. |
bole |
77 |
The stem or trunk of a tree; something similar to this in shape, as a pillar. |
They had no time to find any hiding-place better than the general darkness under the trees; Sam
and Pippin crouched behind a large tree-bole, while Frodo crept back a few yards towards the lane. |
bollards |
97 |
Nautical. A post on which hawsers (a small cable or large rope used in wrapping, mooring, towing,
etc.) are made fast. |
The white bollards
near the water's edge glimmered in the light of two lamps on high posts. |
bolsters |
179 |
A pillow, esp. a long under-pillow for a bed, a cushion or pad. |
When they saw him they were glad that they had taken his advise: the windows had been forced open
and were swinging, and the curtains were flapping; the beds were tossed about, and the bolsters slashed and flung upon the floor; the brown mat was torn to p |
boon |
248 |
A petition; a favor sought or granted; a great privilege; a blessing. |
'I was not sent to beg any boon, but to seek only the meaning of a riddle,' answered
Boromir proudly. |
booth |
792 |
A temporary structure of boughs (a branch of a tree), canvas, boards, etc., as for shelter. |
But as Aragorn came to the booth
where he was to lodge with Legolas and Gimli, and his companions had gone in, there came the Lady Éowyn after him and called to him. |
booty |
895 |
Spoil taken, as in war or robbery; plunder; a prize. |
Some were strengthening the ferries and boat-bridges that the enemy had made and in part destroyed
when they fled; some gathered stores and booty; and others on the eastern side across the River were throwing up hasty works of defence. |
borne |
9 |
Past participle of bear. Have (a name, aspect, etc.) as one's or its own. |
It is true that the Took family had long been pre-eminent; for the office of Thain had passed to
them (from the Oldbucks) some centuries before, and the chief Took had borne that title ever since. |
borne |
81 |
Past participle of bear. To hold or support; carry. |
After a while Pippin fell fast asleep, and was lifted up and borne away to a
bower under the trees; there was laid upon a soft bed and slept the rest of the night away. |
boughs |
80 |
A branch of a tree, esp. one of the larger or main branches. |
There the green floor ran on into the wood, and formed a wide space like a hall, roofed by the
boughs of trees. |
bower |
81 |
A dwelling, esp. a rustic abode (poetic); a leafy shelter or recess. |
See text above for borne. |
bracken |
474 |
A large fern or brake, esp., Pteris aquilina; also, such ferns collectively. |
On the right side of the bay there was a great bed on low legs; not more than a couple of feet
high, covered deep in dried grass and bracken. |
brag |
585 |
To speak vaingloriously; boast; vaunt. Vainglorious: inordinately proud or boastful. |
You give me brag and abuse. |
brakes |
80 |
A place overgrown with bushes, shrubs, or brambles, or with cane; a thicket. |
The woods on either side became denser; the trees were now younger and thicker; and as the lane
went lower, running down into a fold of the hills, there were many deep brakes of hazel on the rising slopes at either hand. |
brambles |
88 |
Any rough, prickly shrub. |
When they had struggled to the bottom of the bank, they found a stream running down form the hills
behind in a deeply dug bed with steep slippery sides overhung with brambles. |
brand |
828 |
A sword. |
For I can still wield a brand.' |
brands |
224 |
A burning or partly burned piece of wood. |
The moment the flood appeared, he rushed out, followed by Aragorn and the others with flaming
brands. |
brat |
900 |
A child: now used only on contempt. |
Still, I thank him, for it is plain that this brat
at least has seen these tokens before, and it would be vain for you to deny them now. |
braying |
811 |
To utter a loud, harsh cry; make any loud, harsh sound. |
Dull they seemed and harsh in the heavy air, braying ominously. |
brazen |
537 |
Of or as of brass; like brass, in sound, color, strength, impenetrability, etc. |
Brazen
trumpets sounded. |
brazier |
820 |
A metal receptacle for burning charcoal or other fuel, as for heating a room. |
There deep seats were set about a brazier
of charcoal; and wine was brought; and there Pippin, hardly noticed, stood behind the chair of Denethor and felt his weariness little, so eagerly did he listen to all that was said. |
breast |
140 |
The front of the thorax of either sex; the chest. |
He dared not move, but lay as he found himself: flat on his back upon a cold stone with his hands
on his breast. |
breastwork |
535 |
A defensive work of moderate height, hastily thrown up; also a parapet as of a building. |
Gimli stood leaning against the breastwork upon the wall. |
breeches |
48 |
A bifurcated garment worn by men (and by women for riding, etc.) covering the hips and thighs;
also, trousers (colloq.). |
Frodo took it from his breeches-pocket, where it was clasped to a chain that hung
from his belt. |
brethren |
784 |
Plural of brother. |
'That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren
Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war. |
briar |
87 |
A prickly plant or shrub. |
'Then if we are to toil through bog and briar, let's go now!' |
briars |
394 |
Brier. A prickly plant or shrub; esp. the sweetbrier or the greenbrier. |
Then with little further hindrance, save from sprawling briars
and many fallen stones, they moved forward all together. |
brigands |
449 |
An irregular foot soldier; also a plundering marauder; a bandit; esp., one of a gang of robbers in
mountain or forest regions. |
These lands are dangerous: full of foul rebels and brigands.' |
brink |
355 |
The edge or margin of a steep place or of land bordering the water; the verge or extreme edge of
anything. |
See text above for fosse. |
broached |
682 |
To pierce as with a spit; tap (a cask, etc.); draw (liquor, etc.) as by tapping; break into for
the purpose of taking out something. |
A cask of wine was broached. |
broods |
701 |
Rest fixedly; meditate with morbid persistence (on or over). |
A waiting silence broods above the Nameless Land. |
broods |
898 |
A family of offspring or young; a number of young creatures produced or hatched at one time. |
See text above for teeming. |
brooks |
845 |
To use, possess; also, to bear, suffer, or tolerate (now used only in negative constructions).
|
'Need brooks no delay, yet late is better than never,' said Éomer. |
broom |
656 |
Any of the shrubby fabaceous plants of the genus Cytisus, common in western Europe, which grows on
uncultivated ground and has long, slender branches bearing yellow flowers. |
See text above for ling. |
Buckler |
317 |
A small, round shield, generally clasped by the hand only; any means of defense, protection. |
Buckler
and corslet, axe and sword, |
bulwark |
246 |
Any powerful defense or safeguard. |
By our valour the wild folk of the East are still restrained, and the terror of Morgul kept at
bay; and thus alone are peace and freedom maintained in the lands behind us, bulwark of the West. |
burg |
535 |
A fortress or fortified town of early and medieval times. |
There they were welcomed again with joy and renewed hope; for now there were men enough to man
both the burg and the barrier wall. |
burnished |
375 |
To make metal smooth and bright. |
Its beak shone like burnished gold, and its eyes glinted like jet
set in yellow stones; its huge white wings were half lifted. |
butteries |
770 |
A room or apartment in which the wines, liquors, and provisions of a household are kept. |
See text above for mere. |
bygone |
699 |
Past; former; departed; that which is past. |
Of them we know only old report and the rumour of bygone days. |
byre |
758 |
A cowhouse. |
See text above for tilth. |
cairn |
187 |
Any of a certain monumental pile of stones erected by early inhabitants of Great Britain. A heap
of stones set up as a landmark. |
But in the centre a cairn of broken stones had been piled. |
call |
1024 |
A command or request to come; summon; a summons or signal sounded upon a bugle, etc. |
But we need a call. |
campaigner |
769 |
To serve in or go on a campaign. The military operations of an army in the field during one season
or enterprise, any course of aggressive operations. |
'An old campaigner, I see,' he said. |
caper |
623 |
To leap or skip about in a springly manner; prance. A frolicsome leap or spring. |
He would crackle with laughter and caper, if any jest was made, or even if Frodo
spoke kindly to him, and weep if Frodo rebuked him. |
caperings |
132 |
To leap or skip about in a sprightly manner; prance. |
Then Tom and Goldberry set the table; and the hobbits sat half in wonder and half in laughter: so
fair was the grace of Goldberry and so merry and odd the caperings of Tom. |
capitals |
762 |
The head, or uppermost part, of a column, pillar, etc. |
Monoliths of black marble, they rose to great capitals
carved in many strange figures of beasts and leaves; and far above in shadow the wide vaulting gleamed with dull gold, inset with flowering traceries of many colours. |
carcanet |
235 |
An ornamental collar or necklace, as of gold or jewels; also, a similar ornamental circlet or band
worn on the head. |
the fire upon her carcanet. |
carcases |
437 |
The dead body of an animal. |
We counted all the slain and despoiled them, and then we piled the carcases
and burned them, as is our custom. |
carven |
230 |
Carved; fashioned or ornamented by carving. |
In it were no tables, but a bright fire was burning in a great hearth between the carven
pillars upon either side. |
casket |
978 |
A small chest or box, as for jewels. |
Then forth form the Gate went Faramir with Húrin of the Keys, and no others, save that behind them
walked four men in the high helms and armour of the Citadel, and they bore a great casket of black lebethron bound with silver. |
cataracts |
376 |
A descent of water over a steeply falling surface; a waterfall, esp. one of considerable size;
hence any furious rush or downpour of water. |
There it casts its arms about the steep shores of the isle, and falls then with a great noise and
smoke over the cataracts of Rauros down into the Nindalf, the Wetwang as it is called in your tongue. |
cauldron |
561 |
Caldron. Serving to heat; a large kettle or boiler. |
The ring beyond was filled with steaming water: a bubbling cauldron,
in which there heaved and floated wreckage of beams and spars, chests and casks and broken gear. |
cavalcade |
1015 |
A procession of persons on horseback. |
It was a rather comic cavalcade
that left the village, though the few folk that came out to stare at the 'get-up' of the travellers did not seem quite sure whether laughing was allowed. |
chafes |
441 |
To fret of with irritation. Fret: see fretting. Fume: an irritable or angry mood.
|
'My company chafes to be away, and every hour lessens your hope. |
chamberlain |
865 |
One who attends a king or nobleman in his bedchamber, or in his private apartments (sometimes a
title conferred as an honor, as to indicate close relationship); also, an important officer charged, among other duties, with the direction and management of a |
I will not step down to be the dotard chamberlain of an upstart. |
champ |
159 |
To crush with the teeth and chew vigorously or noisily; munch; also to bite upon, esp.
impatiently, as a horse its bit. |
See text above for neigh. |
charnel |
711 |
A common repository for dead bodies; a charnel-house. Of, like, or used for a charnel. A house or
place in which the bodies or bones of the dead are deposited. |
Luminous these were too, beautiful and yet horrible of shape, like the demented forms in an uneasy
dream; and they gave forth a faint sickening charnel-smell; an odour of rottenness filled the air. |
chattels |
222 |
A slave. |
Not all his servants and chattels are wraiths! |
cheek |
238 |
To address or confront with impudence or effrontery. |
Otherwise he obviously thought the whole thing rather above my head, and he said that if I had the
cheek to make verses about Eärendil in the house of Elrond, it was my affair. |
chink |
117 |
A crack, cleft or fissure; a narrow opening. |
The crack by which he had laid himself had closed together, so that not a chink
could be seen. |
circlets |
140 |
A ring; a ring-shaped ornament for the head. |
On their heads were circlets, gold chains were about their waists, and on their
fingers were many rings. |
circuit |
544 |
To go or move around. |
Taking his leave, he returned to the walls, and passed round all their circuit,
enheartening the men, and lending aid wherever the assault was hot. |
citadel |
245 |
A fortress commanding a city, serving as protection and final point of defense; ant strongly
fortified place. |
Their chief city was Osgiliath, Citadel
of the Stars, through the midst of which the River flowed. |
clambered |
114 |
To climb, using both feet and hands; climb with effort or difficulty. |
Each time they clambered
out, the trees seemed deeper and darker; and always to the left and upwards it was most difficult to find a way, and they were forced to the right and downwards. |
clamouring |
453 |
A loud outcry; vociferation; hence, a vehement expression of desire or dissatisfaction; also, any
loud and continued noises,. |
Dimly he became aware of voices clamouring: it seemed that many of the Orcs were
demanding a halt. |
clang |
109 |
To give out a loud resonant sound, as when metal is struck. |
It shut with a clang, and the lock clicked. |
cleave |
216 |
To stick or adhere; cling or hold fast. |
He felt his tongue cleave to his mouth, and his heart labouring. |
cleave |
1072 |
To be attached or faithful. |
But neither, lady, is the Twilight for me; for I am a mortal, and if you will cleave
to me, Evenstar, then the Twilight you must also renounce." |
clefts |
185 |
A space or opening made by cleavage; a fissure; a crevice; a split or crack. |
They made an undulating ridge, often rising almost to a thousand feet, and here and there falling
again to low clefts or passes leading into the eastern land beyond. |
clippety-clippely- clip. |
211 |
The sound made by a horse's hoofs, or a noise resembling this. |
They were going fast, with a light clippety-clippely-clip. |
clippety-clippely- clip. |
211 |
|
They were going fast, with a light clippety-clippely-clip. |
close |
101 |
To shut in or surround on all sides. |
'Cousin Frodo has been very close,' said Pippin. |
closer |
593 |
To become closed; shut; hidden or secret; practicing secrecy. |
'Well, if Gandalf has changed at all, then he's closer
than ever that's all,' Pippin argued. |
closeting |
776 |
To shut up in a private apartment, as for a conference or interview. |
There had already been much talk in the citadel about Mithrandir's companion and his long
closeting with the Lord; and rumour declared that a Prince of the Halflings had come out of the North to offer allegiance to Gondor and five thousand swords. |
cloven |
70 |
Cleft; split; divided: as, cloven feet or hoofs (characteristic of oxen and other ruminants).
Split to a certain depth, so as to give a double extremity. |
After a while they plunged into a deeply cloven
track between tall trees that rustled their dry leaves in the night. |
Cock-a-whoop |
1018 |
Cock-a-hoop. Original in phrase to set cock a (or on) hoop, to set liquor
flowing freely, cast off restraint. In a state of unrestrained joy or exultation. |
See text above for Swagger. |
Cock-robin |
1014 |
The male of the robin |
'Look here, Cock-robin!' said Sam. |
cold-drake |
1083 |
Drake = Dragon. A Fire-Drake is a fire breathing dragon so a Cold-Drake is presumably a dragon
that does not breathe fire. |
At last Dáin I, together with Frór his second son, was slain at the door of his hall by a great
cold-drake. |
comely |
2 |
Pleasing in appearance; fair; handsome. |
Thus, the only craft little practised among them was shoe-making; but they had long and skilful
fingers and could make many other useful and comely things. |
commons |
185 |
Food provided at a common table; as in colleges; hence food or provisions in general. Short
commons -small meals. Of things: not coming up to some standard of measure or amount; inadequate in quantity; insufficient rations, scant fare. |
Already they were getting used to much walking on short commons
- shorter at any rate than what in the Shire they would have thought barely enough to keep them on their legs. |
conclave |
485 |
Place that may be locked. A private room; any private meeting, esp. one of an ecclesiastical
nature. |
The voices of the Ents were still rising and falling in their conclave.
|
concourse |
803 |
A running or coming together, as of things or people; a throng, an assemblage of people. |
On all the level spaces there was great concourse of men. |
concourse |
886 |
A running or coming together, as of things or people; a confluence. |
Then he let sound a great concourse
of trumpets taken from the enemy; and the Shadow Host withdrew to the shore. |
coneys |
660 |
Cony. A rabbit. |
If I can get these coneys cooked, I'm going to wake him up.' |
confines |
195 |
A border or frontier; a region; a place of confinement. |
But she chose mortality, and to die from the world, so that she might follow him; and it is sung
that they met again beyond the Sundering Seas, and after a brief time walking alive once more in the green woods, together they passed, long ago, beyond the c |
connexions |
28 |
Connection; association; relationship; a person related to another or others, esp. by marriage or
distant consanguinity (of the same blood). |
There were many Bagginses and Boffins, and also many Tooks and Brandybucks; there were various
Grubbs (relations of Bilbo Baggins' grandmother), and various Chubbs (connexions of his Took grandfather); and a selection of Burrowses, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, |
converse |
600 |
To talk informally with another; interchange by thoughts or speech. |
To see far off, and to converse in thought with one another,' said Gandalf. |
coomb |
532 |
Comb. A narrow valley or deep hollow, esp. one inclosed on all sides but one. |
Still some miles away, on the far side of the Westfold Vale, lay a green coomb, a
great bay in the mountains, out of which a gorge opened in the hills. |
copper |
100 |
A vessel made of copper, esp. a large boiler as for cooking on shipboard. |
In that room were three tubs, and a copper full of boiling water. |
coppices |
69 |
A wood or thicket of small trees or bushes; esp. one grown for periodical cutting. |
They went in single file along hedgerows and the borders of coppices,
and night fell dark about them. |
corairs |
773 |
Hostile excursion; one engaged in privateering, also, the vessel employed by a privateer. |
There is a great fleet drawing near to the mouths of Anduin, manned by the corsairs
of Umbar in the South. |
cornel |
656 |
Any of the trees or shrubs, or rarely herbs, constituting the genus Cornus, as C. Sanguinea, the
European dogwood, or C. florida, the flowering dogwood of America. |
See text above for ling. |
corslet |
317 |
Armor for the body, esp. the breastplate and the piece for the back taken together. |
See text above for Buckler. |
cot |
515 |
A small or humble dwelling-house; a cottage; also a small erection for shelter or protection. Also
a light beadstead; a light portable bed, as one of canvas or the like stretched on a frame; a small bed or crib for a child. |
And I would do as the master of the house bade me, were this only a woodman's cot,
if I bore now any sword but Andúril.' |
countenance |
583 |
Demeanor; restraint; bearing; behavior; also, aspect or appearance. |
But you, Théoden Lord of the Mark of Rohan, are declared by your noble devices, and still more by
the fair countenance of the House of Erol. |
coverlets |
835 |
The outer covering of a bed; a beadspread. |
But in a quiet voice Denethor bade them lay warm coverlets
on Faramir's bed and take it up. |
covert |
706 |
A covering or cover; shelter; a hiding-place; a thicket giving shelter to wild animals or game.
|
There they lay for a while, too tired yet to eat; and peering out through the holes in the
covert they watched for the slow growth of day. |
covets |
318 |
To wish for, esp. eagerly; usually, to desire inordinately, or without due regard to the rights of
others; desire wrongfully; eager to posses that to which one has no right. |
Of what they brought to light the Orcs have gathered nearly all, and given it in tribute to
Sauron, who covets it. |
cow |
911 |
To depress with fear; dispirit; intimidate; overawe (to restrain or subdue by inspiring awe; cow).
|
'He'd spot me and cow me, before I could so much as shout out. |
cowered |
395 |
To bend with knees and back; stand or squat in a bent position; esp. to crouch in fear or shame.
|
Awe and fear fell upon Frodo, and he cowered
down, shutting his eyes and not daring to look up as the boat drew near. |
cracker |
25 |
A firecracker; a small paper roll containing an explosive. |
See text above for squib. |
cracker-paper |
36 |
(In full cracker bon-bon.) A bon-bon, or small parcel of sweets, etc., containing a fulminant,
which explodes when pulled sharply at both ends. |
People came and began (by orders) to clear away the pavilions and the tables and the chairs, and
the spoons and knives and bottles and plates, and the lanterns, and the flowering shrubs in boxes, and the crumbs and cracker-paper, the forgotten bags and gl |
crags |
895 |
A steep, rugged rock; a rough, broken, projecting part of a rock. |
See text above for ghylls. |
craning |
635 |
To stretch the neck as a crane does; also, to stop and look before a dangerous leap in hunting;
hence, to hesitate at danger, difficulty, etc. |
He went on again, but his uneasiness grew, and every now and again he stood up to his full height,
craning his neck eastward and southward. |
craven |
439 |
Vanquished or defeated, to acknowledge one's self beaten, or surrender. Crush, overthrow. |
It is true that we are not yet at open war with the Black-Land, and there are some, close to the
king's ear, that speak craven counsels; but war is coming. |
crocks |
162 |
An earthen pot, jar or other vessel; earthenware. |
Frightening my customers and breaking up my crocks with your acrobatics!' |
cudgel |
1003 |
A short, thick stick used as a weapon; a club. |
When they had called many times, at last the Gate-keeper came out, and they saw that he carried a
great cudgel. |
cur |
623 |
Dog; a snarling, worthless, or outcast dog; hence a low, despicable fellow. |
At once Gollum got up and began prancing about, like a whipped cur
whose master had patted it. |
dainty |
566 |
Something esteemed or choice. Also, a delicacy, pleasing to the palate; a choice viand; a
delicacy. Viand: an article of food, now usually of a choice or delicate kind. |
Saruman kept this dainty to himself, it seems. |
dainty |
626 |
Overnice, or too particular. |
Not too dainty
to try what hobbit tastes like, if there ain't no fish, I'll wager - supposing as he could catch us napping. |
dais |
227 |
A high or principal table in a hall, as for distinguished persons at a feast; also a raised
platform at the end of a room. |
Elrond, as was his custom, sat in a great chair at the end of the long table upon the dais
; and next to him on the one side sat Glorfindel, on the other side sat Gandalf. |
dales |
203 |
A vale or valley. |
As long as they could they avoided climbing for Frodo's sake, and because it was in fact difficult
to find any way up out of the narrow dales. |
damasked |
145 |
To ornament, or form designs on (metal, as steel), as by inlaying with gold, etc., or by etching;
also, to produce a wavy or variegated pattern on steel, like that of the sword-blades of Damascus steel. To damascene by inlaying, to adorn with elaborate si |
See text above for keen. |
dank |
696 |
Wet; oozy; unpleasantly moist or humid; damp. |
A very miserable creature, he looked, dripping and dank, smelling of fish (he still
clutched one in his hand); his sparse locks were hanging like rank weed over his bony brows, his nose was snivelling. |
dappling |
665 |
A spot or small blotch of coloring; mottled marking, as of an animal's skin or coat. |
Close by, just under the dappling
shadow of the dark bay-trees, two men remained on guard. |
darkling |
195 |
In the dark; in darkness. Being or occurring in the dark; dark; darksome; obscure. |
Through halls of iron and darkling door, |
dash |
1037 |
Spirited action; vigor in action or style; also, an ostentatious display. |
The two young Travellers cut a great dash
in the Shire with their songs and their tales and their finery, and their wonderful parties. |
dashed |
21 |
To ruin or frustrate (hopes, plans, etc.); also, to depress or dispirit; confound or abash. |
When Bilbo was ninety-nine he adopted Frodo as his heir, and brought him to live at Bag End; and
the hopes of the Sackville-Bagginses were finally dashed. |
daunt |
5 |
To subdue; also, to overcome with fear; intimidate; hence, to abate the courage of; discourage;
dispirit. |
They were, if it came to it, difficult to daunt
or to kill; and they were, perhaps, so unwearyingly fond of good things not least because they could, when put to it, do without them… |
dawdle |
1015 |
To idle; waste time; trifle; loiter. |
Don't dawdle on the way!' |
dawdling |
1030 |
To idle; waste time; trifle; loiter. |
But you must go dangling after him, dawdling
and talking, and riding round twice as far as you need. |
daymeal |
770 |
|
See text above for nuncheon. |
Dearth |
5 |
Scarcity and dearness of food; famine; hence, scarcity of scanty supply of anything; want or lack.
|
Many thousands then perished, but the Days of Dearth
(1158-60) were at the time of this tale long past and the Hobbits had again become accustomed to plenty. |
declaim |
260 |
To speak aloud rhetorically; make a formal speech or oration. |
'He drew himself up then he began to declaim, as if he were making a speech long
rehearsed. |
deem |
243 |
To form or have an opinion; judge; think; believe; consider. |
That is the doom that we must deem. |
defile |
642 |
A narrow passage through which troops can pass only in narrow columns; any narrow passage, as
between mountains. |
See text above for amidmost. |
defiled |
525 |
To make foul, dirty, or unclean, either physically or morally; pollute; taint; violate; desecrate
or profane; make ceremonially unclean. |
With it he washed clean the stones that Wormtongue had defiled. |
dell |
76 |
A deep, natural hollow in land, often with wooded slopes; a small valley; a vale. |
Sand and stone and pool and dell, |
deluded |
549 |
To mislead the mind or judgement of; deceive. |
For you have been deluded by Saruman. |
delved |
242 |
To dig. |
Too deep we delved there, and woke the nameless fear. |
Dernhelm |
814 |
Dern
- hidden or secret; dark; somber; dreary. Helm
- to cover, hide. A name Tolkien gives to Éowyn's alter-ego, a name which happens to describe how she feels and the action which she is about to undertake. A complete relevant definition of 'dern' and '
|
'Then call me Dernhelm.' |
descry |
558 |
To make out by looking; to discover by observation; see; perceive; detect. |
Dimly through the mists they could descry
the long arm of the mountains rising on their left. |
despoiled |
417 |
To strip of possessions; also to undress. |
Doubtless the orcs despoiled
them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells of the bane of Mordor. |
device |
60 |
Something artistically designed; a decorative figure or design; a fanciful or ingenious writing or
expression. |
It now appeared plain and smooth, without mark or device that he could see. |
devices |
258 |
Command or order; will; desire; opinion; judgement; also, the act of planning; also, a plan or
scheme for effecting a purpose. |
It was by the devices of Saruman that we drove him from Dol Guldur. |
dig |
561 |
To make a thrust or stab into; prod. |
Meriadock, son of Saradoc is my name; and my companion, who alas! is overcome with weariness' -
here he gave the other a dig with his foot-'is Peregrin, son of Paladin, of the house of Took. |
din |
31 |
A loud, confused noise; a continued loud or tumultuous sound; noisy clamor. |
He walked briskly back to his hole, and stood for a moment listening with a smile to the din
in the pavilion and to the sounds of merrymaking in other parts of the field. |
dinning |
667 |
A loud, confused noise; a continued loud or tumultuous sound; noisy clamor. |
And then a great thudding and bumping, like huge rams dinning on the ground. |
dint |
60 |
A depression made by a blow. |
Even if you took it and struck it with a heavy sledge-hammer, it would make no dint
in it. |
discomfiting |
855 |
To overcome completely in battle; defeat utterly; rout; also, to frustrate the plans of; thwart;
foil; also to throw into perplexity (confused condition) and dejection (downcast, low-spirited). |
The great wrath of his onset had utterly overthrown the front of his enemies, and great wedges of
his Riders had passed clear through the ranks of the Southrons, discomfiting their horsemen and riding their footmen to ruin. |
dishevelled |
68 |
Disordered, ruffled, disorderly, untidy. |
Bag End seemed sad and gloomy and dishevelled. |
dissemble |
689 |
To conceal the real nature of; to let pass unnoticed; to give a false impression; conceal one's
motives. Etc., under some pretense. |
He could dissemble and resist no longer. |
divers |
677 |
Different in kind, character, etc.; unlike; also, of various kinds of forms; multiform. |
See text above to writ. |
dogged |
83 |
To follow or track like a dog; esp. with hostile intent. |
My plan was to leave the Shire secretly, and make my way to Rivendell; but now my footsteps are
dogged, before ever I get to Buckland.' |
doggrel |
876 |
Doggerel - of verse, comic or burlesque, and usually loose or irregular in measure; hence, more
generally, rude, crude, or poor. |
It is but doggrel, I fear, garbled in the memory of old wives. |
doled |
815 |
To deal out in portions; also to give out in small quantities, or in a sparing or niggardly manner.
|
Food is now doled out by order.' |
dolven |
316 |
Delve. Make or obtain by digging. |
All about them as they lay hung the darkness, hollow and immense, and they were oppressed by the
loneliness and vastness of the dolven halls and endlessly branching stairs and passages. |
dominion |
789 |
Lordship, ownership; control or influence; rule or sway. |
'But he wields great dominion, nonetheless,' said Gimli; 'and now he will strike
more swiftly.' |
doomed |
49 |
To destine or consign to some adverse fate or lot; also sometimes in neutral sense, to any fate,
good or ill. For Tolkien, Death is a gift, so doom is a 'good fate.' |
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, |
doorwards |
307 |
A watchman, warder, keeper; also, a body of persons, as soldiers, whose duty it is to keep guard.
|
They usually stood open and the doorwards sat here. |
dotage |
684 |
The condition of one who dotes; feebleness of mind, esp. resulting form old age; senility. |
Yet even so it was in Gondor that brought about its own decay, falling by degrees info dotage
, and thinking that the enemy was asleep, who was only banished not destroyed. |
dotard |
585 |
One who is weak minded, esp. from old age. |
Dotard
! |
doth |
420 |
Third person singular present indicative of do: now only used in poetic or solemn use.
|
'Ask not of me where he doth dwell-so many bones there lie |
doughty |
6 |
Capable; strong; stout; hardy; valiant. |
Though slow to quarrel, and for sport killing nothing that lived, they were doughty
at bay, and at need could still handle arms. |
dour |
858 |
Hard; severe; stern; sullen; obstinate. |
There came Legolas, and Gimli wielding his axe, and Harlbarad with the standard, and Elladan and
Elrohir with stars on their brow, and the dour-handed Dúnedain, Rangers of the North, leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs |
downs |
136 |
A bare, level highland. An open expanse of elevated land; spec., in pl., the treeless undulating
chalk uplands of the south and south-east of England, serving chiefly for pasturage. |
Northward beyond the dwindling downs
the land ran away in flats and swellings of grey and green and pale earth-colours, until it faded into a featureless and shadowy distance. |
draggled |
394 |
To hang trailing; become draggled; also, to follow slowly. |
Slowly the sky above grew lighter, and then suddenly the clouds broke, and their draggled
fringes trailed away northward up the River. |
draggled |
577 |
To soil by dragging over damp ground or in the mud; make limp and soiled as with wet and dirt.
|
"I saw him crawling up the steps like a draggled rat. |
draught |
26 |
The withdrawing, detachment, or selection of certain persons, animals, or things from a larger
body for some special duty or purpose; the party so drawn off or selected; spec. in military use. |
A draught
of cooks, from every inn and eating-house for miles around, arrived to supplement the dwarves and other odd folk that were quartered at Bag End. |
draught |
81 |
Drinking, or a drink or potion. |
But he remembered that there was bread, surpassing the savor of a fair white loaf to one who is
starving; and fruits sweet as wildberries and richer than the tended fruits of gardens; he drained a cup that was filled with a fragrant draught, cool as a cle |
draught |
132 |
Old form of draft. A current of air. |
She held a candle, shielding its flame from the draught
with her hand; and the light flowed through it, like sunlight through a white shell. |
draught |
136 |
To draw or pull. |
They took a deep draught
of the air, and felt that a skip and a few stout strides would bear them wherever they wished. |
draught |
179 |
Pulling; draft; a pull or haul. |
As for other animals, horses or ponies for draught
or what not, there are very few of them in Bree, and they won't be for sale. |
draught |
857 |
The depth a vessel sinks in the water. |
See text above for dromunds. |
drear |
353 |
Shortened form of dreary. |
Beyond the river the land appeared flat and empty, formless and vague, until far away it rose
again like a wall, dark and drear. |
dregs |
822 |
The sediment of liquors; lees; grounds; and waste of worthless residue; refuse; a small remnant;
any small quantity, a drop. |
Have I not tasted it now many nights upon my tongue, foreboding that worse may yet lay in the
dregs? |
dromunds |
857 |
A large, fast-sailing vessel of the middle ages. |
And looking thither they cried in dismay; for black against the glittering stream they beheld a
fleet borne up on the wind: dromunds, and ships of great draught with many oars, and with black sails bellying in the breeze. |
drowsed |
945 |
To become heavy with sleepiness. |
At times by night, as they cowered or drowsed
uneasily in some hiding beside the road, they heard cries and the noise of many feet or the swift passing of some cruelly ridden steed. |
dry |
627 |
Without mortar. |
It was not much more than a tall man's height now, and at its base there were wide flat shelves of
dry stone; the water ran in a channel on the other side. |
dryad |
657 |
A wood-nymph; a nymph supposed to reside in a tree; also, a forest-tree, a denizen (an inhabitant)
of the woods; also, a plant or animal believed to have been originally introduced by human agency into a country or district, but which now maintains itself |
Ithilien, the garden of Gondor now desolate kept still a dishevelled dryad
loveliness. |
dry-nurse |
794 |
A nurse who takes care of a child but does not suckle it. |
'But am I not of the House of Erol, a shieldmaiden and not a dry-nurse? |
dun |
707 |
Of a dull or grayish brown; also, dark, gloomy. |
Looking out from the covert he could see only a dun, shadowless world, fading slowly
into a featureless, colourless gloom. |
durstn't |
196 |
Dare not. |
I durstn't
go outside this dell for any money; I felt that something was creeping up the slope.' |
dwimmer-crafty |
439 |
Dwimer ( or Dweomer) - Illusion, sorcery, necromancy. |
'It is ill dealing with such a foe: he is a wizard both cunning and dwimmer-crafty, having
many guises. |
