Middle-earther

English

Alternative forms

• Middle-Earther

Etymology

From Middle-earth +‎ -er.

Noun

Middle-earther (plural Middle-earthers)

1. A fan of Middle-earth.
   • 2002 August 4, Scott Mervis, “8 Days a Week”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, volume 76, number 4, page 2:

     We can’t presume to know all the music tastes of Tolkien fans or the literary pursuits of Rush maniacs, but we could take a pretty good guess that with “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” coming out on video and Rush playing at the Post-Gazette Pavilion, there are some Middle-earthers who would declare this is a holiday.

   • 2003 December 16, Chauncey Mabe, “Rings finale rich and enchanting”, in South Florida Sun-Sentinel, volume 44, number 235, page 2E, column 4:

     Key interludes from the books were rearranged or even deleted to give the film narrative its momentum and depth, and it all works. Not even the most fundamentalist Middle-earther could object.

   • 2012 October 21, “Briefs”, in The News-Press, page 20:

     Middle-earthers gather in New Zealand

   • 2012 December 15, Ann Hornaday, “‘The Hobbit’ Is Long, Feels Even Longer”, in Valley News, volume 61, number 190, page C3, column 4:

     It could turn out that An Unexpected Journey is the weakest of this trilogy, the necessary preamble before less-stultifying action and more engaging character development ensue. But, to paraphrase the sweet and stout-hearted Bilbo himself, this adventure won’t just make you late for dinner. It might make you miss breakfast and lunch, too. Only the most dedicated Middle-earthers will find that the hunger pangs are worth it.

2. An inhabitant of Middle-earth.

   Synonym: Middle-earthian

   • 1988 November 30, Excitement City Unlimited, number 15, page 3:

     "These, Your ineffable Wickedness," said Bilgenest, trying to roll his "R"s properly -- very hard since there weren't any in those words -- "are the humble Middle-earthers who have come in response to your ad about your, uh, grandmother's modest little Ring." Sauron looked at the many assembled creatures.

   • 2001 December 20, Duane Dudek, “‘Rings’ echoes today’s clash of good and evil”, in Press Enterprise, page 24, column 2:

     In “Fellowship,” Frodo, Gandalf and assorted Middle-earthers begin an arduous and dangerous journey through enemy territory to destroy the ring by returning it to the fires where it was forged.

   • 2001 December 30, Jay Boyar, “Hollywood ends with bang after starting with whimper”, in Orlando Sentinel, page F3, column 1:

     Early in the film, a couple of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earthers steal a moment to relax by puffing on pipes.

   • 2003, Tad Williams, “The Happiest Dead Boy in the World”, in Robert Silverberg, editor, Legends II, Voyager, published 2004, →ISBN, page 457:

     All questions were answered when he walked into the main hall and discovered his mother, father and several score elves, dwarves and assorted other Middle-earthers waiting for him.

   • 2009, Steve Walker, The Power of Tolkien's Prose: Middle-earth’s Magical Style, Palgrave Macmillan, →ISBN, page 133:

     Middle-earthers expand our sensitivity because they tend to be more aware of sensory stimuli than we. They see better: Malbeth is a professional “Seer” (1025), Faramir enjoys “long sight” (742), and the primitive Woses “have long ears and long eyes” (814).