ˈelven
Forms: 1 ælfen, elfen, 3 pl. alfene, alvene, elvene.
[OE. ælfen, ęlfen, repr. a WGer. type *alƀinnja fem., f. *alƀi-z elf.
Although the OE. word glosses plural ns. in the Latin, it is grammatically necessary to regard it as a fem. sing.]
† 1. Obs. Originally, a female elf, but in later use applied to both sexes.
| a 1100 Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 189 Oreades, muntælfen. Dryades, wuduelfen. Moides, feldelfen. Hamadryades, wylde elfen. Naiades, sæelfen. Castalides, dunelfen. c 1205 Lay 21998 Alfene [1275 aluene] hine dulfen. 1297 R. Glouc. 130 Þer beþ in þe eir an hey..wyȝtes..þat men clepuþ eluene. c 1314 Guy Warw. (A.) 3862 A brond þat was y-made in Eluene lond. |
2. Comb. (referring to a kind of imaginary being in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien). a. appositive, as elven-kin; b. attributive, as elven-king, elven-tongue; elven-wise adj.
| 1937 J. R. R. Tolkien Hobbit xvii. 285 But the Elvenking said: Long will I tarry. 1954 ― Fellowship of Ring i. iii. 88 It was singing in the fair Elven-tongue. Ibid. ii. i. 248 Words unheard were spoken then of folk of Men and Elven-kin. 1955 ― Return of King 341 He was elven-wise. |