Elves

Elves
Elf Elf ([e^]lf), n.; pl. {Elves} ([e^]lvz). [AS. [ae]lf, ylf; akin to MHG. alp, G. alp nightmare, incubus, Icel. [=a]lfr elf, Sw. alf, elfva; cf. Skr. [.r]bhu skillful, artful, rabh to grasp. Cf. {Auf}, {Oaf}.] 1. An imaginary supernatural being, commonly a little sprite, much like a fairy; a mythological diminutive spirit, supposed to haunt hills and wild places, and generally represented as delighting in mischievous tricks. [1913 Webster]

Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. A very diminutive person; a dwarf. [1913 Webster]

{Elf arrow}, a flint arrowhead; -- so called by the English rural folk who often find these objects of prehistoric make in the fields and formerly attributed them to fairies; -- called also {elf bolt}, {elf dart}, and {elf shot}.

{Elf child}, a child supposed to be left by elves, in room of one they had stolen. See {Changeling}.

{Elf fire}, the ignis fatuus. --Brewer.

{Elf owl} (Zo["o]l.), a small owl ({Micrathene Whitneyi}) of Southern California and Arizona. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Elves — Elves, n.; pl. of {Elf}. [1913 Webster] Elvish Elv ish, a. 1. Pertaining to elves; implike; mischievous; weird; also, vacant; absent in demeanor. See {Elfish}. [1913 Webster] He seemeth elvish by his countenance. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • elves — [elvz] n the plural of ↑elf …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • elves — the plural of elf …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • elves — [elvz] n. pl. of ELF …   English World dictionary

  • Elves —  / Elf    The Elder Children of Ilúvatar.    The first Elves awoke by Cuiviénen, the Water of Awakening in the far east of Middle earth, long Ages before the Rising of the Sun or Moon. Unlike Men, the Elves were not subject to illness or death,… …   J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth glossary

  • elves — pl. of ELF. * * * plural of elf * * * /elvz/, n. pl. of elf. * * * elves UK US the plural of elf Thesaurus: irregular pluralshyponym * * * elves «ehlvz», noun. plural of …   Useful english dictionary

  • Elves — A slang term for the technical analysts who appeared on the PBS television show Wall Street Week , which aired from 1970 to 2005. The elves attempted to predict the direction of the market in the coming months, and gained popularity due to their… …   Investment dictionary

  • elves —    In Old English, xlf was the general all purpose term for a *fairy; after the Conquest, however, the French fairy partially replaced it, though Chaucer and Shakespeare still used them interchangeably, and elf seems to have faded out of rural… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • Elves —    In Nordic myth the elves were the dwellers in Alfheim, the dwelling place of Freyr. There were also black elves who dwelt in Svartheim, but whether this differentiation was one of actual complexion as between two of the tribes of dwarfs or… …   Who’s Who in non-classical mythology

  • Elves — This unusual name is of Old French, Norman, origin and derives from the female personal name Eloise , introduced into Britain by the Normans in the forms Heluis, Helois . The name is ultimately of Old German origin, from Heilwidis , composed of… …   Surnames reference

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