A term for beings who existed partly or entirely within the mysterious domain known as the Wraith-world. It was an ability of at least some of the Rings of Power - and certainly the One Ring - to draw their wearers into the Unseen realm, making them temporarily invisible in the world of the Seen.
For those who were entirely under the power of the Rings, this state was permanent: they were not visible in themselves in the normal world, though they retained some presence in it. These wraiths, as they were known, could (for example) ride horses and wear cloaks, but they themselves could not been seen. At least some of them also had the power to make others Unseen, though they appear to have needed enchanted weapons to achieve this.
The High Elves and perhaps others1 occupied both realms, the Seen and the Unseen, though on the other side they appeared as shining beings of light. As such they had little to fear from the wraiths and their mysterious powers.
Notes
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Gandalf explained to Frodo that the High Elf Glorfindel could be seen as a shining white figure in the world of the Unseen because he was one of '...those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realm' (The Fellowship of the Ring II 1, Many Meetings). This implies that not only the High Elves, but also the Valar and Maiar existed in such a state. As a Wizard, this would include Gandalf himself, but if indeed he occupied such a state, he made no mention of the fact.
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- Updated 2 October 2015
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