elda

1. originally adj. "of the stars", but wholly replaced WJ:362 by: 2. noun Elda = one of the people of the Stars, high-elf, an Elf SA:êl, elen, Letters:281, ELED, ÉLED; notice that Tolkien abandoned a former etymology with "depart", chiefly in the pl. Eldar WJ:362, cf. GATH, TELES.The primitive form Tolkien variously cited as ¤eledā/ elenā Letters:281, PE17:152 and ¤eldā WJ:360. Partitive pl. Eldali VT49:8, gen. pl. Eldaron WJ:368, PM:395, 402;dative pl.eldain "for elves", for Eldar FS; possessive sg. Eldava "Elf's" WJ:407; possessive pl. Eldaiva WJ:368, Eldaivë governing a plural word WJ:369. The word Eldar properly refers to the non-Avari Elves only, but since Eldar rarely had any contact with the Avari, it could be used for "elves" in general in LT1:251, Elda is simply glossed "Elf". See also Eldo. – The plural form Eldar should not require any article when the reference is to the entire people; i Eldar refers to a limited group, “all the Elves previously named”; nevertheless, Tolkien in some sources does use the article even where the reference seems to be generic i Eldar or i-Eldar, VT49:8.