[varialectio]

Hello. I am just wondering if anyone knows anything about Grima Wormtongue's childhood. I've heard that in Old English, 'Grima' means 'Mask' (symbolic of his duplicitous nature), and 'Galmod' (Grima's father) means 'Lewd', or something like that. In light of what Grima's name signifies, what does Galmod's name mean? Is Tolkien saying that Grima's father was a man of little morals (possibly a sexual pervert, or profligate)? What about Grima's mother? Is there anything in Tolkien's writing about Grima's childhood, family life, or ancestors and ancestry?

Thanks for any help.

[Lorien]

I'd never seen "lewd" used as a translation of Galmod. Most often I've seen words that conveyed he was a dour type of person, perhaps not all that kind.

But honestly, Grima's lineage doesn't go beyond his father's name, so it's completely open for invention.