Elfenbein

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See also: elfenbein

Czech[edit]

Etymology[edit]

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation[edit]

Proper noun[edit]

Elfenbein m anim (feminine Elfenbeinová)

  1. a male surname

Declension[edit]

This proper noun needs an inflection-table template.

German[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle High German elfenbein, from Old High German elfantbein, from Proto-West Germanic *elpandabain. Equivalent to Elefant +‎ Bein. The loss of initial h- in early modern German was due to the influence of Latin elephās. Since the 19th century the word has been remotivated, somewhat meaningfully (with regard to the pure white colour of ivory), as Elfe (“elf”) +‎ Bein (“bone”).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈɛl.fənˌbaɪ̯n/, [ˈʔɛl.fm̩ˌbaɪ̯n], [ˈʔɛl.fən-]
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯n

Noun[edit]

Elfenbein n (strong, genitive Elfenbeines or Elfenbeins, plural Elfenbeine)

  1. ivory (material)

Declension[edit]

Declension of Elfenbein [neuter, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Elfenbein die Elfenbeine
genitive eines des Elfenbeines, Elfenbeins der Elfenbeine
dative einem dem Elfenbein, Elfenbeine1 den Elfenbeinen
accusative ein das Elfenbein die Elfenbeine

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • → Danish: elfenben
  • → Norwegian Bokmål: elfenben, elfenbein
  • → Norwegian Nynorsk: elfenbein
  • → Swedish: elfenben

Further reading[edit]

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