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Lore:Ehlnofex

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Ehlnofex is the ancient language of Nirn, spoken by the Ehlnofey. It is used in magical incantations[1] in uppercase letters. Several Elder Scrolls were named after Ehlnofex words.[nb 1]

Usage, Language Family, and Genetic RelationshipEdit

According to legend, before the creation of Mundus, the Ehlnofey and the Umbrielans of the realm of the Hist lived alongside each other in the twelve worlds of Creation.[2] Ehlnofex was related to Umbrielic, with speakers of the two tongues being able to converse with one another.[3]:67 The tongue was introduced to Nirn in the prehistoric, non-linear days of the Dawn Era.[UOL 1] The original Ehlnofex has been described as a dangerous language with characters that constantly distort as one looks at them.[UOL 2]

It was passed on to the mortal races, eventually evolving into Aldmeris and every subsequent Elvish tongue.[UOL 3] It influenced Atmoran - with the two tongues sharing the word "Talos" - and the subsequent tongues of Men,[4] such as Nordic.[5]

Ehlnofex and the Dawn Era magics of the Ehlnofey were preserved by the early Ayleids in the Middle Merethic Era, when they separated from the Altmer, allowing them to retain ancient runes and magic which the other elves had began to forget.[6][7] However, even their preservation eventually evolved into a new tongue known as Ayleidoon.[8] By the Fourth Era, the language, while still studied, was considered dead.[3]:47

Ehlnofex DictionaryEdit

AEdit

Ada 
Spirit[9][10]
Ae 
Living, Is[11][12][UOL 1]
Aedra 
Ancestors[9]
Aka 
Dragon[UOL 4]
Alma 
Mother[UOL 1]
Altadoon 
Weapon[11][12][nb 1]

BEdit

Beratu 
Half[13]

CEdit

Chim 
High Splendor, Royalty, Starlight[11][UOL 2][nb 1]

DEdit

Daedra 
Ancestors[9]

EEdit

Ehlnofey 
Earth Bone[14][UOL 1]
Ehlnokhan[UOL 5] 
Earth King
Elhnodidan[UOL 6] 
Unknown
et'[15][9] 
Original[9]
et'Ada[15] 
Original Spirits[9]
et'Adans[15] 
the people of et'Ada

GEdit

Ghartok 
Weapon Hand[11][UOL 1][nb 1]

JEdit

Jode 
Masser[UOL 7]
Jone 
Secunda[UOL 7]

NEdit

Nir[16] 
Unknown
Nirn[16] 
Gray Maybe[16]

TEdit

Talos 
Stormcrown[4]

NotesEdit

See AlsoEdit

  • For the speculative origin chart, see the General article.

ReferencesEdit