ᴹ√ALAT root. “large, great in size”
A root in The Etymologies of the 1930s glossed “large, great in size” with only two derivatives: the adjective ᴹQ. alta of the same meaning, and ᴹQ. Alataire “Great Sea” (Ety/ÁLAT), the Quenya equivalent (but not direct cognate) of S./N. Belegaer/Belegoer. The Quenya name appears nowhere else other than The Etymologies. There are quite a few words in Tolkien’s later writings that also mean “great, large”, but there is nothing that directly contradicts the continued validity of this root either.
References ✧ Ety/ÁLAT, AY
Glosses
Variations
Related
Derivatives