The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Given to Éomer after his accession to the Kingship of Rohan in III 3019 (Éomer ruled for 65 years until IV 63)
Race
Division
Culture
Family
Settlements
Pronunciation
Approximately 'ai(r)'dee'1
Meaning
'Blessed, happy, fortunate, wealthy'
Title of

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  • Updated 13 February 2017
  • This entry is complete

Éadig

A title of Éomer

"...he wedded Lothíriel daughter of Imrahil of Dol Amroth, and his reign over Rohan was long and blessed, and he was known as Éomer Éadig."
The History of Middle-earth volume XII
The Peoples of Middle-earth
The Tale of Years of the Third Age (draft)

An Old English word usually translated as 'blessed' (but also carrying the meanings 'happy' and 'wealthy'). It was used as a royal surname for Éomer, the successor to Théoden of Rohan after Théoden's fall in the Battle of the Pelennor. After the end of the War of the Ring, Éomer's reign was a long and prosperous one: he ruled over Rohan well into the Fourth Age, reigning for a total of sixty-five years.


Notes

1

The pronunciation of this Old English word is difficult to express in text. The first element éa- is a diphthong equivalent to the vowel sound in English words like 'bear' or 'air'. (The use of 'ai(r)' in the pronunciation guide is an attempt to suggest this - vowel sound of 'air' should be pronounced, but not the final 'r').

The closing -ig is a common Old English ending pronounced as a long 'i' (that is, 'ee'). The final 'g' is not pronounced as consonant. This is actually the historical source of the modern English -y ending for forming adjectives (so for instance the noun 'luck' gives rise to the adjective 'lucky'). This example is in fact directly relevant to the word éadig, since éad was a noun meaning 'good fortune, happiness, wealth', so adding -ig made the adjective éadig 'fortunate, happy, wealthy'.

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About this entry:

  • Updated 13 February 2017
  • This entry is complete

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