NID
NID is a Primitive Quendian root meaning "press, thrust, force (in a given direction)".
Development in Primitive Quendian
From NID was possibly derived inidō, which meant "the mind in its purposing faculty, the will". This may have been a compound with IN ("mind", "inner self") and the genitive suffix "-ō". In this origin, inidō would loosely translate to "(the directive) force of the inner self".
Inidō shifted into in'dō, and then indo with a verbal form indu-.
Development in Quenya
Through the Noldorin Quenya phonetic development of (d > ř > r), NID became the basic verb nír with the same meaning.
Nír had very broad application, and could refer to any type of pressure including physical pressure exerted by or against inanimate objects. In the case of force by a rational will (a faculty of the fëa and Ainur), the more specific indu- was used.
| Word | Meaning | Affix |
|---|---|---|
| avanir | “unwill”; in the sense of resisting force | ava- ("negation") |
| nira | "an individual 'will' (or potential)", "'will' as a potential or faculty" | -a (adjectival noun suffix) |
| nírë | "force (in general)" | -rë (generic abstract noun) |
| nirin | "I press, thrust, force (in a given direction)" | -n(yë) (aorist 1st person singular) |
| nírítë | "forceful, exerting great thrust or pressure, driving" | -itë (verbal suffix meaning "capable of doing, generally (and naturally) doing") |
| nirmë | "exercise of will, an act of will"; in the sense of an exertion of force or pressure | -më (eventitive abstract noun) |
| nirnen | "through the use of force" | -nen (instrumental) |
Development in Sindarin
In Sindarin NID shifted phonologically to nîð, and narrowed in meaning to only rational purpose or will.
Indu shifted phonologically (indu > ind > inn), and inn came to mean some particular purpose or intention of an individual.
| Word | Meaning | Affix |
|---|---|---|
| innas | "will" | -as (abstract/gerundial suffix) |
| níða | "determined to"; exertion of strong will in major purposes | -a (genitive suffix) |
| niðin | "intend to"; weaker exertion of will or not in a major purpose |
Development in Telerin
In Telerin nīde had the same meaning as S. nîð, and indo had the same meaning as S. inn. The verb nid- had the same meaning as Q. nir.
Referencias
1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 28/05/2026.
