Oh, friends.

This word goes away during the war, and rightly so. But it comes back. It comes back and, I believe significantly, it is one of three anchor concepts in the very last line.

‘Thank goodness!’ said Bilbo laughing, and handed him the tobacco-jar.

19.048

Gratitude, laughter and hospitality. I’m going to repeat what I said when we were discussing food words. I believe that Tolkien expressed what he knew about the effects of combat through Bilbo’s experience — and that the end of that tale is hope.

• 1.004 and laugh deep fruity laughs
• 1.004 and laugh deep fruity laughs
• 1.023 and laughing long but quietly.
• 1.048 and laughing.
• 2.032 and laughed most.
• 3.018 So they laughed
• 3.018 they would only laugh all the more if you told them so.
• 3.018 and laugh at them,
• 4.017 and laughed
• 4.021 While Goblins quaff, and Goblins laugh,
• 4.023 They all laughed
• 6.024 What did I tell you?’ said Gandalf laughing.
• 6.031 he laughed.
• 6.032 All the others laughed too.
• 6.052 You would have laughed
• 6.071 and laughed.
• 7.035 He laughed a great rolling laugh,
• 7.035 He laughed a great rolling laugh,
• 7.069 and burst into a chuckling laugh:
• 7.121 and laughed:
• 7.122 and set them all laughing with his funny stories;
• 7.149 he laughed.
• 8.058 and laughing merrily.
• 8.090 The others laughed.
• 8.106 I am afraid Bilbo actually laughed
• 9.024 laughed the chief of the guards.
• 9.025 and laugh merrily.
• 9.026 and laughing to himself for a while
• 9.039 A number of elves came laughing
• 9.044 and still less at being laughed at.
• 9.051 and have been laughing at him;
• 10.018 and laughed at the greybeards and gammers who said
• 10.018 and laughing by a fire
• 12.066 Ha! Ha! You admit the ‘us” laughed Smaug.
• 12.067 and Smaug laughed aloud.
• 12.069 or were they laughing
• 12.071 Then Smaug really did laugh –
• 12.080 Never laugh at live dragons,
• 13.038 How they would laugh on the Hill at home!
• 13.058 Come, come!’ said Thorin laughing –
• 17.036 Fools!’ laughed Bard,
• 18.043 and he laughed
• 19.048 said Bilbo laughing,