Guild

A Guild (S.Gwaith) is an organised body of persons, an Association, Fellowship or Confraternity (brotherhood).

The Gwaith
Among the Elves and Dúnedain the Guilds were known as the "Gwaith" (literally "People") or sometimes Mellonath (literally "Friends").The best-known guilds in the history of Middle-Earth are the Guild of Weaponsmiths, the  Guild of Jewelsmiths (S.Gwaith-i-Mîrdain) and the  Guild of Venturers (S.Uinendili).At the beginning the guilds were formed preserve their art, but later they evolved into political representations of the Craftsmen and other fellowships and became more and more political interest groups, the Gwaith-i-Mîrdain even rose to the virtual government of Eregion.

Such Fellowships could also be Orders (Q.Heren) or Schools, for example Feanor founded the school of the Lambengolmor or Linguists'', other devoted schools of intellectuals were the Kurivari, Gollorrim or Saironath, the Ingolmor and the Tengwardain.

Associations similar to the Gwaith were the Ndíli, Hildi and Ndúri (S."Friends", Children and "Servants"), confraternities devoted to the service of the Valar, for example the Aulendili or Artanor, Cemenduri or the Yavannildi.These were quasi-religious orders although not strictly Clerical organisations.

Known Guilds

 * Actors
 * Alchemists
 * Apothecaries
 * Armourers
 * Artists
 * Astrologers
 * Atheldain - Herbalists
 * Attorneys
 * Basket-Makers
 * Bassdain - Bakers
 * Bechyr - Peddlars
 * Beggars
 * Bengyr - Traders
 * Blacksmiths
 * Bradadain - Wainwrights
 * Caravanmasters
 * Carpenters or Woodwrights
 * Celerdain - Lampmakers
 * Chandlers or candle-makers
 * Cinnain - Potters
 * Cinyr - Seers
 * Cirdain - Shipwrights
 * Clothwrights or Tailors and Sewers
 * Condirrim - Administrators
 * Cooks
 * Coopers
 * Crist Agarwaen - Butchers
 * Cutlers
 * Doorwardens
 * Dyers
 * Enbalmers
 * Faroth - Hunters
 * Foodmerchants
 * Gelyr - Farmers
 * Glassmakers or Glaziers
 * Goldsmiths
 * Greengrocers
 * Grocers
 * Gydyr - Technicians
 * Habaddain - Shoemakers
 * Habodain - Clothiers
 * Hebedyr - Cobblers
 * Heledain - Glassblowers
 * Hemyr - Chairmakers
 * Hiswadain - Fishermen
 * Hostelers
 * Ingolmor or Sages
 * Ironsmiths
 * Iuldain - Brewers
 * Lainyr - Spinners
 * Leathersmiths, Leatherwrights or Cobblers
 * Lindamel - Sweetsingers
 * Locksmiths
 * Metalsmiths
 * Midwives
 * Millers
 * Milwin - Love Maidens
 * Mirdain - Jewelsmiths and Jewellers
 * Moneylenders
 * Nethyr - Weavers
 * Nistyr - Healers
 * Notaries
 * Ondridain - Masons
 * Orthelyr - Roofers
 * Outfitters
 * Painters
 * Pengdain - Fletchers
 * Pervyr - Librarians
 * Pilots
 * Porters
 * Potters
 * Rachdain - Cartwrights
 * Raphdain - Ropers or Cordwrights
 * Roofwrights or Tillers
 * Rugmakers
 * Saddlers
 * Seamstresses
 * Shippers
 * Skinners
 * Smiths
 * Stonewrights or Masons
 * Street-Traders
 * Tailors
 * Tanners
 * Tauryn - Foresters
 * Telardain - Bricklayers
 * Tengwardain - Scholars or Scribes
 * Theniddain - Lawyers
 * Thevryn - Carpenters
 * Tincociri - Metalworkers
 * Tyrndain - Gravediggers
 * Vechyr or Traders and Mercants
 * Waterwrights
 * Weaponsmiths
 * Weavers
 * Woodcrafters
 * Yrybedain - Guides
 * Ysgeryr - Surgeons