Vala

1 noun "Power, God, angelic power", pl. Valar or Vali BAL, Appendix E, LT2:348, described as “angelic governors” or “angelic guardians” Letters:354, 407. The Valar are a group of immensely powerful spirits guarding the world on behalf of its Creator; they are sometimes called Gods as when Valacirca, q.v., is translated “Sickle of the Gods”, but this is strictly wrong according to Christian terminology: the Valar were created beings. The noun vala is also the name of tengwa \#22 Appendix E. Genitive plural Valion "of the Valar" FS, MR:18; this form shows the pl. Vali, irregular alternative to Valar the straightforward gen. pl. Valaron is also attested, PE17:175. Pl. allative valannar *"to/on the Valar" LR:47, 56; SD:246. Feminine form Valië Silm, in Tolkien’s earlier material also Valdë; his early writings also list Valon or Valmo q.v. as specifically masc. forms. The gender-specific forms are not obligatory; thus in PE17:22 Varda is called a Vala not a Valië, likewise Yavanna in PE17:93. –Vala is properly or originally a verb "has power" sc. over the matter of Eä, the universe, also used as a noun "a Power" WJ:403. The verb vala- "rule, order", exclusively used with reference to the Valar, is only attested in the sentences á vala Manwë! "may Manwë order it!" and Valar valuvar "the will of the Valar will be done" WJ:404. However, Tolkien did not originally intend the word Valar to signify "powers"; in his early conception it apparently meant "the happy ones", cf. valto, vald- LT2:348. – For various compounds including the word Valar, see below.