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Lore:High Elvish

< Lore: Linguistics

High Elvish[1] (alternatively High Elven[2]:6 or Elvish)[UOL 1] is the language used by the High Elves of the Summerset Isles. It is descended from Aldmeris, and as such is very similar to its relatives like Ayleidoon, Ald Chimeris or the Falmer language. For the longest time, High Elven was the common language used in all legal documentation until it was later replaced by Tamrielic in 1E 2813.[2]:6 The common tongue of the empire, Cyrodilic, is based on the Altmer's speech and writing.[3]:7 To date, there are no known texts written in this language, but some words are known.

PronunciationEdit

In Elvish, there is no soft "c", so when a word begins with "Ce" or "Ci" it is pronounced with a /k/ sound. For example "Cey-Tarn Keep" is pronounced like "Kay-Tarn Keep". Similarly, the letter G is always pronounced /ɡ/, never //.[UOL 2]

Words and PhrasesEdit

AEdit

Abameld
From context, probably "Trespasser" (from Aba, "forbidden", and Meld, "driven")[4]
Adma
[to] Listen (from "Adma'na" and "Admanen", as in Ayleidoon)
Adma'na
Poor listener[5] (cf. Ayleidoon "adma"—"hear")
Admanen
Listening eye[6]
Aednavorith
Genealogy[7]
Aedra
Ancestors[8]
Alaxon
Perfection[9]
Ald
First, Elder, High (in the sense of a tree being high because it is particularly ancient), Old, Ancient, Elderly[UOL 3]
Aldmer
First Folk[10][11], Elder Folk[12], the Ancients[13][14]
Aldmeris
Name of the mythical elven homeland or "Old Ehlnofey"[15][16], sometimes used to refer to the language of the Aldmer[17][18]
Ald Mora
A ruin on Summerset Isle; the name means "old forest" in other Elven languages[19]
Aldveyond Beldaburk
An old name for Sea Keep[20], possibly meaning something like "Keep of the Ancient Gray Sea"
Alt
High, Elder, Tall, Proud, Culturally snobbish[21], Cultured
Altmer
High Elves, the Elder Ones, the High Ones[22], Tall People, Cultured People
Altmora
Elvish name for the continent of Atmora, the "Elder Wood"[15][17], an ancient elvish kingdom[23] lost to men in mythic times[24]
Aprax
Outcast, criminal[25][26]
Apraxic
Social outcast[UOL 4], a shamed outcast[26][27]
Apraxis
Exile, the opposite of Praxis, a condemnation for improper and criminal conduct[27]
Arata
True and noble
Aratagnithir
True and noble change[28]
Arcta[4]
Likely means "acknowledge" as in Ayleidoon
Ata
Father (used in the patronymic part of an Altmer's extended name)[29]
Autak
An interjection (seemingly expresses negative emotions, possibly disgust)[30], possibly an injonction for the person to "vanish", to "disappear", to "leave"
Autameld
An exiled individual (lit. "cloud/vanish-driven" in Ayleidoon)[31]
Avad[4]

BEdit

Barra
Welcome[32]
Bet
Beast
Betmer
Beast Folk, Beast People[33]

CEdit

Calan
Family Clan[27][34][35]
Calian
A praxic talisman, a symbol of a person's membership in the civilized High Elf society[36]
Canvaroth
Scout[37]
Cerum,[38] Ceruval[39]
Unknown, but known usage suggests a polite way to address someone (like "sir" or "madam"); both terms appear to have no gender-specific use
Cey
Likely means "Shadow" as in Ayleidoon (cf. "Cey-Tarn")
Cey-Tarn
Shadow-Portal[19]

DEdit

Daedra
Roughly means "Not our ancestors"[8]
Darre
Likely means "Mercy" as in Falmeric[40]
De'nt
Unknown; usage suggests some form of an insult[41]

EEdit

 
"Eluvein" written in the Altmer script
Eluvein
Another name for the hilas owl, which abandons its eggs after laying them. The term is also used to describe someone who is cold-hearted or aloof[42]
Eld
Likely means "Old" as in Ayleidoon[19]
Ephem
Non-Altmer, outsider[43]
Eye
Unknown but likely related to the concept of "sanctuary", perhaps "isolation"
Eyevea
Sanctuary[UOL 5] (made of the two Ayleidoon words "Eye", unknown meaning, and "Vea", the sea)

FEdit

Fala
Likely means "Cold" as in Ayleidoon[44]

GEdit

Glan'nt
Unknown; usage suggests some form of an insult[45]
Gnithir
Change
Gravia
Likely means "Ugly" as in Ayleidoon[46]
Graxifalas
Disgraceful "on a scale unimaginable"[47]

HEdit

Hame
Lair (from "Tor-Hame-Khard", probably also means Home as in Ayleidoon)
Haelia
Likely means "Terrible" as in Ayleidoon[48]
Halsoriel
Sewer[47]
Hulkynd
Broken child; refers to Altmeri children abandoned by their parents because of their imperfection, such as physical deformity[49] (cf. Ayleidoon "kynd"—"child")

KEdit

Kamlehal
Shrieking terror[50]
Khard
Warlord (from "Tor-Hame-Khard")
Kynd
Child[36]

MEdit

Malatu
Likely means "Truth" as in Ayleidoon[40]
Mer
Folk, People, Elf, Elves

NEdit

Nagaia
Likely means "Death" as in Ayleidoon[4]
Naganwe
Unknow but likely related to "death"; used in the translingual word "revelator-naganwe", meaning "death seer"[51]
Nebarra
Unwelcome (also used as a pejorative reference to outsiders)[41][52]
Nen
Eye (from "Admanen", probably also means Water as in Ayleidoon)

OEdit

Oe
Bad
Oegnithir
Bad change[53]

PEdit

Praxic
Proper, conform to the Praxis, part of Altmer society[36]
Praxis
Customs or established practices[54][55][56], the set of spoken and implicit rules and guidelines of Altmer society[57][58], the act of belonging in Altmer society[27], also sometimes the practical applications of a field of study (when used outside the context of Altmer society)

REdit

Riasen
A critical witness in a criminal investigation[59]
Rielle
Likely "Beauty" as in Ayleidoon[44]

SEdit

Seliffrnsae
Grave and faithful counsel[60]
Shauta
Likely means "[to] Come" as in Ayleidoon[4]
Sila
Likely means "Shining" as in Ayleidoon[61]
Slek
An interjection (seemingly expresses negative emotions),[41] an insult[62]
Sunna
Likely means "Blessed" as in Ayleidoon[63]

TEdit

Tar
Likely means "Wood" as in Ayleidoon[61]
Tarn
Likely means "Portal" as in Ayleidoon (cf. "Cey-Tarn")
Thalmilan
Inspector whose job it is to parse clues and render a verdict during an investigation[42], possibly related to the word "Thalmor"
Tor
Mountain (from "Tor-Hame-Khard", probably also means Hill as in Ayleidoon)
Tor-Hame-Khard
Warlord's Mountain Lair[64] (cf. Ayleidoon "tor"—"hill", "hame"—"home")

VEdit

Vea
Sea (as in Ayleidoon, together with the word "Eye", make the compound word "Eyevea" meaning Sanctuary)
Vey
Likely means "to" (indicating movement), as in Ayleidoon[4]
Veyond
Likely "Gray Sea" (from "Vea"+"Yond", Gray in Ayleidoon)
Veyond Wyte[19]

WEdit

Wel
Likely means "Sky" as in Ayleidoon[63]
Welkynar
The gryphon-riding protectors of Cloudrest; likely related to Ayleidoon "wel"—"sky"[65]
Wyte

YEdit

Yond
Gray (from Veyond, as in Ayleidoon)

Altmer Locations, Settlements and RegionsEdit

Below are the Altmeri names (and their translated meanings, where available) of some known locations, settlements and regions of the Summerset Isles.

Altmer Creature NamesEdit

Below are the Altmeri names (and their translated meanings, where available) of some creatures, tamed or wild, found in the Summerset Isles.

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Pure Language Pearl contraband item in ESO
  2. ^ a b The Daggerfall Chronicles — Ronald Wartow
  3. ^ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Prima Official Game Guide — David Hodgson
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cavern Dwellers' dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  5. ^ Ulliceta gra-Kogg's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  6. ^ Tarnamir's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  7. ^ Monastery of Serene Harmony's loading screen in ESO: Summerset
  8. ^ a b Aedra and Daedra
  9. ^ Olnewil's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  10. ^ Corruption of the BloodA True Son of Aldmeris
  11. ^ Our Dunmer HeritageOathman-Applicant Mornsu Baram, in service of House Redoran, 330th year of the Second Era
  12. ^ Music Box, Blessings of Stone codex entry for the Druidic Music Box Drum by Amalien in ESO
  13. ^ Auridon ExploredFenlil the Wayfarer
  14. ^ Dialogue of the Ancient Spirits of Tanzelwil in ESO
  15. ^ a b Before the Ages of ManAicantar of Shimerene
  16. ^ The Ubiquitous Sinking IsleLailfin, Steward of Histories at the Illumination Academy
  17. ^ a b Mysterious Akavir
  18. ^ Generic dialogue regarding Aldmeris in Morrowind
  19. ^ a b c d Location name in ESO: Summerset
  20. ^ Sea Keep's loading screen in ESO: Summerset
  21. ^ Generic dialogue regarding Altmer in Morrowind
  22. ^ The Annotated Anuad
  23. ^ Varieties of Faith in the EmpireBrother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  24. ^ The Monomyth
  25. ^ Lanarie's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  26. ^ a b Green Serpent TestimonialsMinerva Calo, Associate Chronicler
  27. ^ a b c d The Price of PraxisCeruval Rolumaril
  28. ^ The Truth in Sequence: Volume 10Deldrise Morvayn
  29. ^ Lirendel's Family Shrine
  30. ^ Justice Dialogue in ESO
  31. ^ Regarding Thorn BlackstaffLoremaster Celarus
  32. ^ Tenigwe's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  33. ^ Guide Culast and Captain Tendil's dialogues in ESO
  34. ^ Summerset Antiquities codex entry for the Kinlord's Tree of Aldmeris by Amalien in ESO
  35. ^ Music Box, In Dreams and Memories codex entry for the Aldmeri Golden Embellishments by Gabrielle Benele in ESO
  36. ^ a b c Mother of Rats' dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  37. ^ Lilatha's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  38. ^ Panyra's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  39. ^ Lanarie's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  40. ^ a b Appearance and name of Darremalatu in ESO: Summerset
  41. ^ a b c Various dialogue lines in ESO: Summerset
  42. ^ a b Jurisreeve Lorne's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  43. ^ Felawen's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  44. ^ a b Appearance and name of Falarielle in ESO: Summerset
  45. ^ Lirendel's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  46. ^ Appearance and name of Nagravia in ESO: Summerset
  47. ^ a b Talerion's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  48. ^ Appearance and name of Haeliata in ESO: Summerset
  49. ^ Tableau and Manacar's in ESO: Summerset
  50. ^ Erudil's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  51. ^ Jurisreeve Soravil's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  52. ^ Aldarch Tilcalar's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  53. ^ Loremaster Celarus' dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  54. ^ Ayrenn: The Unforeseen QueenHeadmaster Tanion of the College of Aldmeri Propriety
  55. ^ Crafting Motif 25: Aldmeri Dominion StyleAicantar of Shimmerene, Sapiarch of Indoctrination
  56. ^ Sages of the Crystal TowerNularan, Mages Guild Scribe
  57. ^ Online:Ancestral Honor Garments
  58. ^ Online:Shimmerene Soiree Gown
  59. ^ Calawende's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  60. ^ The Old WaysCelarus the Loremaster
  61. ^ a b Location name in ESO
  62. ^ Captain Telomure's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  63. ^ a b Appearance and name of Sunnawel in ESO: Summerset
  64. ^ Tor-Hame-Khard's loading screen in ESO: Summerset
  65. ^ Charge of the Welkynar

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.