ælf

See also: älf and Ælf

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *albiz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂elbʰós (“white”) (compare Latin albus, Sanskrit ऋभु (ṛbhú, “skillful”)). Cognate with Old Saxon alf, Old High German alb, Old Norse alfr (whence Swedish älva).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ælf/, [æɫf]

Noun

ælf m (nominative plural ylfe, ielfe)

1. elf, sprite, fairy, incubus

   Wið ælfe gnid myrran on win. ― [To protect] against an elf, rub myrrh in wine.

Derived terms

• ælfcynn (“elfin race”)
• ælfādl (“nightmare”)
• ælf-sċīene (“bright as an elf or fairy, beautiful, radiant”)
• ælf-sċīnu (“shining like an elf or fairy, elfin-bright, of elfin beauty”)

• ælfsiden (“elvish influence, nightmare”)
• ælfsogoþa (“hiccup”)
• ælfþone (“nightshade”)
• Ælf (“Alf”)

Related terms

• ælfen, elfen, ielfen, ylfen (“fairy, nymph”)
• ielfig, ylfig (“raving, frantic, mad (affected by elves)”)

Descendants

• Middle English: elf, elfe, helfe
  • English: elf (see there for further descendants)
  • Scots: elf
  • Yola: elf