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Lynda Johnson: Glossary

Glossary - February 23, 2009

 

Words From the Old Language of Alluvionne

adere, v., to divide

adia, adj., radiant

alaena, n., whale

alare, v., n., comfort

alarea, n., comforter

aleo, adv., away

aluro, v., to escape by flying

ana, v., come

Anthelion n., one of the children of the Artist who came to earth from the Isle of Sky. He is known for strength, wisdom, kindness, justice, and for his love of music.

ara, n., music

ara nava, adj., to be carried away by music

arane, n., a twining plant or stem; a vine

arare, v., to burn with emotion

aria, n., wind

aria ara, n., music made by the wind

aria nava, v., to travel on the wind

arish, adj., productive, fertile, fruitful

argantu, adj., huge, monstrous

aro, v., n., dream

aru, n., wind instrument

aune, n., dance

Ashila, n., a name for the Artist

aulfe, n., changling

avola, n., a lively dance

belu, n., adj., the color blue. The color of the light of Alluvionne.

berek, v., to exaggerate, or stretch the truth.

Bheezy an aged gnome who lives in the forest surrounding Eianna (Payette Lake). He is a water-bearer, carrying two wooden buckets attached to a pole that he places over his shoulders. He does not speak. It is believed that the water he carries is magical, with powerful healing properties. He keeps a garden deep within the forest, in which he nurtures healing flowers and herbs.

Chaladai, n., the sacred mountain within which the Crown of Alluvionne is hidden. Chaladai is protected by merwyngs, who dwell in the mist at the top of the mountain and are aided from below (in rivers, lakes, streams, and water caves) by their sea-dragon companions. Chaladai is the ancient name for Mount Mazama, which was destroyed in a pyroclastic eruption approximately 11,000 years ago. Before the eruption Mount Mazama reached an altitude of 11,000 to 12,000 feet. The deep caldera that remained after the eruption is located in southern Oregon, and is known as Crater Lake.

deu, n., light.

dona, v., banish.

druen, n., pain. v., to suffer.

e, prep., of or from.

earthspan, n., one year; the time it takes for the earth to orbit around the sun one time.

eave, v., to bring together, or gather; to unite.

eindre, v., to paint.

Eianna, n., currently known as Payette Lake near McCall, Idaho, Eianna is the ancient name for an alpine lake within the magical realm of Alluvionne. Eianna is known for its deep water, jewels, and gold, and for the beauty of the surrounding mountains; also known for the “ildyr magai” (old magic) that is found there. Eianna is one of the most magical places in all of Alluvionne.

eivie, n., mountain bluebird. The first Eivie came from the Isle of Sky.

ela, pron., you

elahane, pron., your

ele, v., choose

eleo, n., way

Elienna the reigning Queen of Alluvionne. In the old language her name means “of water” or “from water." Elianna is an aulfe, or changling, most often taking the form of a white dragon, a woman, or a swan.

eloan, adj., slow

elodian, n., a turtle; a slow, methodical person; someone who is old and wise and takes his time.

ema, n., female

ema ylfe, n., female, small, magical personage

emato, n., sign

embyr, n., the color black

emyr, n., the color grey

Emyria, n., A female sea dragon, Sharlie’s mother. Emyria was born in a deep lake called Tarilla in the Far North, which lies in the center of an island off the coast of Norda. The lake has a water cave at the bottom that leads to the ocean. Emyria’s ancestors from the Far North were the first to pledge fealty to the merwyngs. Emyria served as companion to the merwyng Maravasia. Many sea dragons, including Emyria’s mate, died in a great battle for the North against Muud and his followers, the muudwroths. After the battle Emyria traveled alone to Eianna to give birth to their only offspring, a female sea dragon named Ileisia (Sharlie). Emyria’s name comes from the word embyr (black). Her scales are black except when she is in bright light, when the edges of each scale shine iridescent silver.

emin, v., to direct

eminara, v., to direct the wind

en, v., am

enoro, v., to escape by swimming

erdu, adj., lost

Erindon, n., a young meridelphi (part dolphin) who lived in the kelp forest north of Evergreen Island in the Northern Sea. He was a childhood friend of Merena (Meri), who lived nearby in the Great Hall. After Erindon was orphaned, he was raised by the family of orcas that lived in the surrounding waters.

erno, n., darkness, night, gloom

Estori, n., heaven

eule, v., to rule benevolently

eulea, n., benevolent ruler

fa, definite article, the

fare, v., send

fel, conj., because

Firensa,n., winged horses from Alluvionne. They look and sound like a thundercloud when they fly together through the sky.

frio, adj., cold

fualo, n., flower blossom

Grandmother one of the names for the tree spirit who lived within an ancient willow tree on the shores of the Wide River, near where the river flowed into the ocean. The rain, soil, and air brought her information about everything that happened on the earth and in the sky realm, speaking to her through her roots, leaves, and branches; therefore she was often sought for her wisdom. Since she had come from the Isle of Sky, she was strong in old magic (ildyr magai). Because of this birds, animals, and magical residents of Alluvionne came to her when they needed protection from the muudwroths.

Great Hall, an ancient underwater fortress that lies near a giant kelp forest north of Evergreen Island, in the Northern Sea. Merena (Meri) was abandoned on steps of the Great Hall as an infant, and found by Eldyr, who adopted her as his own. The Great Hall has been used for many generations as a storing place for the ancient records of the mermaid civilization. The records are translated by successive Guardians (such as Eldyr), after which the translations are recorded in the books and scrolls that fill the Hall’s vast library.  

hani, adv., v., please

han, adj., the number one

haun, v., find

hei, v., lift

heren, v., to bear.

herena, n., bearer.

hreva n., grass.

ihara, adv., tomorrow.

hru, v., help

ilo, adv., today

lan, v., sell

lara,, n., home

larone, n., sand

Larrakin, the older brother of Brion. Along with the other children from their village, the two brothers escaped from the war that was raging in their homeland, riding all night on the backs of the Firensa (winged horses) until they reached Eianna, a lake within the borders of Alluvionne.

laubru, adj., heavy

lauvi, n., nail

le, pron., I

leu, n., guide to a solution; clue

lienn, n., water

lienn ara,n., the musical sound of water

lienn herena, n., water bearer

lienna, n., waterer

lo, pron., me

Lothien, n., a place on the Isle of Sky where the first willow trees grew. Grandmother was one of the first of the spirits of the trees to travel from the Isle of Sky to Alluvionne. She chose a spot on the Wide River (currently known as the Columbia River) to live, where she could see the river flowing into the ocean. It reminded her of her home on the Isle of Sky, where a river of light flowed into the Sea of Sky.

lu, prep., to

luaro, v., n., to dream

luhr, adv., when

me, prep., in

magai, n., magic; also used as a name to identify the magical residents of Alluvionne.

maharo, n., sorrow

Maia,

mara, n., mist.

Maravasia, n., “mist spirit”; name of the oldest of the merwyngs, protectors of the Crown of Alluvionne. Companion to the sea serpent Emyria.

meradelphi, n., part dolphin.

minare, v., contemplate

mona deu, n., moonlight

moonspan n., lunar cycle; the number of days it takes for the moon to complete one cycle

morare, v., remember

Muud, n., one of the children of the Artist who came to the world before its creation was complete. He coveted the magical realm of Alluvionne long before there were mountains, rivers, or trees. Once the Artist’s Crown was placed on its throne at Chaladai, shielding Alluvionne from the eyes of all except the guileless and childlike, Muud could no longer see or enter the magical realm.

muudwroth, n., a follower of Muud

naga, adj., evil

nava, n., journey

oco, n., goblin

oehr, prep, through

oen, n., downfall

olor, n., mental pain or suffering

ollo adj., v., empty

oura, prep., behind

lariu, n., peace

raemyn, n., clothing

raya, n., day

ro, v., escape

reihe, n., barrier

rele, v., whirl or swirl

relu, adj., brief

reo, v., send

retha, n., air

ria, n., crystal

rin, n., a lidded box or chest

riv, v., confess

rivan, n., confession

roha, adj., excessive

romo , adj., polluted

romoa, n., one who pollutes or desecrates

rum, n., neck or throat

sunspan, n., one day; the amount of time it takes for the earth to circle the sun one time.

Tulema

ulselo, n., youth

unlocking melody, "alana faella aleia belu." A musical spell in the old language that is used to unlock some of the magical secrets of Alluvionne. Originally sung by merwyngs, but can be used by other magai.

va, v., was

vasia, n., spirit

vel, adj., quick

verus, n., truth

vie, n., sky

ylfe, n., small, magical personage

Suffixes

a, suffix, er

an, suffix, ion

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