elvish, a.
(ˈɛlvɪʃ)
Also 4 alvisch, elvisch, -yssh, 6 -yshe. See also elfish.
[f. elf + -ish.]
1. Of or pertaining to elves; having the nature of an elf; supernatural, weird.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 681 Wyth an aluisch mon. c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 198 Whan we been there as we shul exercise Oure Eluysshe craft. 1597 Bp. Hall Sat., Defiance Envie 49 Scour the rusted swords of elvish knights. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles i. xxi, Wild sparkles..the vessel's side With elvish lustre lave. 1834 Beckford Italy II. 77 These oracular little elvish beings. 1840 Lytton Pilgr. Rhine xxx, Elvish spells. |
2. Like an elf in behaviour: † a. Spiteful, cross-grained, peevish; also transf. of diseases, Irritating, troublesome (obs.). b. Now in a milder sense: Tricksy, mischievous (cf. elfish).
| c 1386 Chaucer Sir Thopas Prol. 13 He semeth eluyssh by his contenance. 1529 More Comf. agst. Trib. ii. Wks. 1182/2 Eye, what eyleth this gyrle? that eluish vrchin weneth I wer a diuell I trow. 1549 Cheke Hurt. Sedit. (1641) 14 Where..prating is judged wisdome, and the elvishest is most meet to rule. 1566 J. Studley Seneca's Agam. (1581) A b, Thou malipert and witlesse wench, thyne elvishe prating stay. 1601 Dent Pathw. Heaven 389 Hee regardeth not our infirmities, though we be often times waiward and eluish. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 258 Sow-bread sodden in water, cureth the eluish & angry kibes..vpon the heels. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 321 The crown-scab [in horses]..is an elvish and painful disease. 1623 Cockeram, ii, Froward, Eluish. 1678–96 Phillips, Elvish, froward. 1721–1800 in Bailey. |
3. Comb., as elvish-marked.
| 1597 Shakes. Rich. III, i. iii. 228 Thou eluish mark'd, abortiue rooting Hogge. |