(pl. lámátyaver) Noldorin term for the “individual pleasure in the sounds and forms of words”. Ever since their awakening, Elves delighted in giving names to everything surrounding them, and the lámatyávë was held a mark of individuality that was more important than stature, color, or face features. The Noldor were the swiftest in its mastery and were said to be able to accomplish it by the age of seven. This occasioned – around the age of ten for most Elves – the ceremony of Essecilmë or “name-choosing".

**Note : This information comes from the HoMe series of books, which means that it is considered to be from J.R.R. Tolkien's earlier, unrevised writings. Therefore, this information cannot necessarily be considered canonical.**
Encyclopedia entry originally written by Nenya_Ring