The word Edain is the Sindarin form of the Quenya word, Atani, which means 'Second People'. It is the word used by the Elves for the race of Men, but it was most often used to describe the Men of the three houses who made the journey over the Blue Mountains into Beleriand.

These Men allied themselves with the Elves and fought with them in the Battles of Beleriand against Morgoth. In return for their loyalty and faithfulness to the Eldar and the Valar, they were rewarded with the land of Númenor. The Edain who then journeyed to that fair island were renamed the Dúnedain, meaning 'Men of the West'.

There were three houses of the Edain and to read more about them please see their entries in the Encyclopedia or our Middle-earth articles which there are links to in the Related Links at the top of this entry.

Encyclopedia entry originally written by Nienna-of-the-Valar