Elf

Quick meaning: Elf is a noun meaning (folklore) A small, magical creature similar to a fairy, often mischievous, playful, or occasionally helpful.

Meaning

(folklore) A small, magical creature similar to a fairy, often mischievous, playful, or occasionally helpful.

More Meanings

1. (by extension) Ellipsis of Christmas elf.
2. (South Africa) Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix).
3. (now rare) To twist into elflocks (of hair); to mat.
4. (fantasy) A member of a race of tall, slender, graceful beings with pointed ears, typically immortal or very long-lived and possessing wisdom and magical abilities.
5. (Germanic mythology) A supernatural being or spirit associated with illness, mischief, and harmful or dangerous magical influence; in later Norse sources, sometimes divided into benevolent light elves (inhabiting Álfheimr) and malevolent dark elves.
6. (obsolete) A very diminutive person; a dwarf.

Example Sentences

Every elf, and fairy sprite, / Hop as light as bird from brier.

This Juno heard; And ſhall ſuch Elfs, ſhe cry’d, / Diſpute my Juſtice, or my Pow’r deride?

[…] I had rather have a Child which my Wife ſhould bring me, though by another man, then to have a Changeling brought me by a company of Fairies, Elfs and Goblins: […]

Their Robbin-good-fellowes, Elfes, Fairies, Hobgoblins of our latter age, which idolatrous former daies and the fantasticall world of Greece ycleaped Fawnes, Satyres, Dryades & Hamadryades, did most of their merry prankes in the Night.

Word Forms

• elfs
• elfing
• elfed

Synonyms for elf

Depending on context, synonyms include goblin, fairy, pixie, hob, gremlin, pixy.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include pixie, pixy, gremlin, hob, imp, brownie.

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