from this , far back in the history of 'elvish ' , which was beginning , after many tentative starts in boyhood , to take definite shape at the time of the name 's adoption , arose eventually ( a ) the c [ ommon ] e [ lvish ] stem ( * ) ayar'sea ' , primarily applied to the great sea of the west , lying between middle- earth and aman the blessed realm of the valar ; and ( b ) the element , or verbal base ( n ) dil , 'to love , be devoted to'- describing the attitude of one to a person , thing , cause , or occupation to which one is devoted for its own sake .