Postlude
Swells Over Still Waters
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Postlude
Excerpt, ‘A Working List of Words’
As I’ve talked with at least 11 different Hollow Trees, I think most of these words have been confirmed in their meaning as much as can be expected. According to the Hollow Trees, the language is called Vánüm, or the Elder Tongue. It was the language of the Saints, spoken to create Yath and everything in it. Of course, speaking these words now seems to have no effect, however a kind of effect can be seen. I have noted down some of my thoughts on the words and how they have persisted, showing up as holdovers in our language. I also have noted the words that may be combinations of Vánüm words. The language seems to utilize the reversing of words to mean their opposite.
The only downfall of speaking with the Hollow Trees is that I have been left to my own devices for the spelling of these words. Some I know the spelling of, and others I am guessing at and listing possible spellings. I would also like to say that this is in no way an exhaustive list of Vánüm words or words made from Vánüm.
Ail or Ale: crazy, not of right mind
This could be where we get our word ‘ailment’ from, and it may explain where ale got its name from.
Ané: animal, creature
Bāl or Bale or Bail or sometimes Bael: danger, killer
When I heard this word, I immediately thought of the balehorn, which may not be a killer but is definitely dangerous.
Binn or Bin or Bén: feet, foot, legs
Bōl or Bowl or Bole: round, circular
Blís or Bliss: pleasure, happiness
Chen: food, edible
Cit or Kit: fast, quick, speed
This word seems to have shown up in our phrase, “packs a light kit”. It may be a coincidence, but when ‘Kit’ is combined with ‘Chen’ you get ‘Kitchen’ or ‘quick food’.
Cól or Col or Coal: energy, essence
This must be where the black rock ‘coal’ got its name, as it can be burned for heat. It is very interesting to note that in the religion, Véshént, the creation of humanity was with the words ‘Col’ and ‘Gor’, which means ‘flesh’, which consequently sound an awful lot like Coldor when put together.
Delód or Delog: change, shift
There is the obvious tie to Saint Delód, but I also think there could be a tie to the word deluge, which is a sort of unexpected storm.
Dév: build, forge
This is likely where the word develop stems from.
Dín or Deen: dwell
I believe this is where Dintash actually gets its name. This and ‘Tash’, which means ‘ruler’, combine into ‘Dintash’, or ‘dwell ruler’ or ‘dwelling of a ruler’. Again, this is not proven, but speculation.
Dō or Doh: blue, number one
Dōm or Domn or Dome: big, huge, large
Drō or Droh: green
Éb or Ebb: tides, waves
Ēl or Eel: curved, not straight, wavey
Possibly where the ‘eel’ gets its name from.
Ëls or Else: unseen, beyond sight, veiled
This may be where the term ‘Elsewhere’ comes from.
Ént or Ent: opening, entry, enter
It seems redundant, but it seems that ‘Entrance’, ‘Entry’, and ‘Enter’ stem from this. Perhaps also ‘Entire’ which suggests an open view of something.
Fás or Fass: fish
Fā or Fay: undo, unmake, destroy, violence
Stemming from this word, the ‘Fay-Núl Tör’ would then be either the ‘Church of undoing disharmony’ or the ‘Church of violent unbalance’, depending on your views of the ancient group.
Fē or Fee: sweet
There are plenty of easily seen things that use this: lardfee, feepear, and others.
Fóll or Fill: together, combine, number four
Possibly where Filkash gets its name from, and it’s term ‘Fill’ for an island of tower vines.
Gár or Gar: steady, slow, subtle
Using this definition and ‘Hē’ and ‘Drō’, the Floating Forest of ‘Gar Hedron’ likely means ‘steady green growth’. It also seems that ‘garpus’ may be using ‘pás’, which means ‘feet’, to then mean ‘steady feet’ or ‘slow feet’, whichever you like.
Gaw or Gau: tooth, teeth, fang, jaw
Gōr or Goar or Gore: body, blood, flesh
Explains where the term ‘gore’ stems from, both in terms of gruesome displays and being injured by a horn.
Hē or He: increase, more, grow
See ‘Gár’ entry for more information.
Hól or Hole: calm, wise, quiet, soft
This may be where the term ‘holy’ comes from. I also speculate that this and ‘Völ’ make ‘Holvöl’ which sounds quite a bit like ‘Hollow’ and would mean ‘calm plant’ or ‘wise plant’.
Ikt or Ikth: moves, walks
Ilk or Élk: kind, type
This word has persisted mostly in its original state. It is possible that Filkash stems from this too.
Ish or Esh: similar, mostly, partial, almost
This is often attached to words to mean ‘almost’ or ‘similar’ and could also be where we get ‘Dintish’ and ‘Filkish’ from.
Jén or Jen: humor, funny, jest
Jus: to prove, to show
Possibly where ‘justify’ stems from, or ‘justice’.
Ká or Kah: to withhold, number three
Kō or Koh: dual, number two
Many of our words use ‘co’ to mean dual, such as ‘cooperate’.
Kurr or Kerr: barb, hook
Possibly where ‘curve’ stems from.
Lám or Lam: harmless, peaceful
Possibly where the animal name ‘lamb’ stems from, possibly also ‘lament’ to mean peaceful..
Lē or Lee or Liē: string, line, rope, straight
It is notable that this is the reverse of ‘ēl’ which means the opposite of ‘lē’.
Lō or Lo or Low: opposite, inverse, reverse
Lün or Lune: harmony, balance
Mál or Mal: aggressive, prone to fight, angry
Possibly where terms such as ‘malcontent’ or ‘maladroit’ come from. Note that this is the opposite of ‘lám’ which means ‘harmless’.
Már or Mar or Marr: harm, damage, cause pain
The word ‘marr’ has maintained its meaning, but it is interesting to note the word ‘market’ could be seen as ‘quick harm’ and if you have ever visited the Filkish markets, your coin purse may agree.
Más or Mas or Mass: hands
Possibly where the term ‘Mass’ comes from, as a tower vine mass is sort of like many grasping hands.
Míl or Mil: soft, pliable, number five
It is notable that ‘millie’ is ‘soft string’
Mōd or Moad or Mode: small, number zero
Note that ‘mōd’ is the reverse of ‘dōm’ which means ‘big’.
Mün or Mun or Moon: far, distant
Possibly explains where the moon acquired its name.
Mús or Muss: light, illumination
Nī or Nigh: near, face
The word ‘nigh’ has persisted in its original meaning.
Nös or Noos or Noose: hopeless, endless
Possibly where the noose acquired its name.
Núl or Nul or Null: disharmony, unbalance
Note that this is the reverse of ‘lün’ which means ‘harmony’ and ‘balance’.
Nüm or Nume: breath, life, air, sky, near
This thing is often referred to as the ‘cold wind’ and seems to have divine implications most of the time. Note too that this is the reverse of ‘mün’ which means ‘distant’.
Nün or Nune or Noon: mirror, reflection
Oull or Ull or Ewel: bright, shining, white
The obvious use of this word today is the ‘Oullman’ which would mean ‘shining man’.
Pás or Pahs or Pass: feet
The word ‘pass’ from our language frequently involves walking. Also see ‘Gár’ entry for more information.
Pēt or Pet: child, son, daughter
Possibly where our word ‘pet’ stems from, as in an animal kept like a child.
Rāg or Rage: quick, rapid, noticeable
Note that this is the reverse of ‘gár’ which means ‘slow’ or ‘steady’. It is also interesting that ‘rage’, which means a sort of blind anger, sounds like this word.
Rám or Rahm: heal, restore, make better
Note that this is the reverse of ‘már’ which means ‘harm’.
Riłs or Rilsh: ship, shell
This and ‘mōd’ means that ‘rilshmoad’ is the two Vánüm words combined to mean ‘small shell’.
Rū or Rew or Rue: red, fear
This word persists today as ‘rue’ and also ‘rouge’ it would seem.
Rōt or Rote: desert, abandon, leave
Note that this is the reverse of ‘tör’ which can mean ‘follower’. It also persists today as ‘rot’, which occurs when something is abandoned or left for a long time.
Ründ or Rüne or Rune: bend, warp
There is the obvious connection to Saint Ründ, but also the common Fellbin folklore of a rune, which was said to bend the natural laws of the world.
Shá or Shah: fire, burn, hurt
Shín or Shin: shame, disgrace
Possibly where ‘shun’ stems from.
Stēck or Steeck: sharp, pointy, thin
Possibly where ‘steep’ stems from.
So͞on or Soon or Sune: hope, future, wish
This word has persisted as ‘soon’ to mean ‘the future’.
Tag or Tagg: name, distinction
This is likely where the term tag originates.
Tarr or Tar: to cover, go over, on top, hide
The word ‘tarnish’ may be this and ‘is’ which means ‘somewhat’ or ‘partial’, which could refer to a mark being made partially over something, but this is highly speculative.
Tás or Tash: Royal, ruler, king
See ‘dín’ entry for more information.
Tau or Tow: land, ground
Thün or thune: deep
Tör: Church, followers, children (in a spiritual sense)
See ‘fā’ entry for more information.
Väre or Vare: sunken, drown, flooded
The Pits of ‘Vare Doh-Shah’ then are the pits of ‘sunken blue fire’.
Vá or Vah: voice, word, sound
Vésh or Vesh or Ves: end, finish, complete, death
The obvious use is Saint Vésh. Taken with ‘ént’, the ‘Véshént’ religion reads as ‘end entry’
Vöh: earth, rock
Völ: plants
See ‘höl’ entry for more information.
Wín or Win: victory, esteem, glory, revel
This word persists today in the obvious ‘win’ but also in ‘WinBor’ which is an esteemed chef.
Wōan: water
Wōde or Woed or Woe: steal, take, replace
The obvious use is Saint Wōde, but there may be ties to ‘woe’ since grief is often expressed when something is taken from us.
Wōnü: rain
Xón: shadow, number seven
Yō or Yoh: yellow, gold, valuable
Yúl: eyes
Zóll or Zull: meeting point, horizon, number ten
Numbers Listed in Order:
Mōd or Moad or Mode: zero
Dō or Döh: one
Kō or Koh: two
Ká or Kah: three
Fóll: four
Míl or Mil: five
Mün or Mun or Moon: six
Xón: seven
Wōan: eight
Fā or Fay: nine
Zóll or Zull: ten
From ‘Musings on the Vánüm’, written by Captain Chapel in the 147th Reckoned Year
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