| 释义 |
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.
a1100Ags. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 189 Oreades, muntælfen. Dryades, wuduelfen. Moides, feldelfen. Hamadryades, wylde elfen. Naiades, sæelfen. Castalides, dunelfen. c1205Lay 21998 Alfene [1275 aluene] hine dulfen. 1297R. Glouc. 130 Þer beþ in þe eir an hey..wyȝtes..þat men clepuþ eluene. c1314Guy 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.
1937J. 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. |