elvishadj.
/ˈɛlvɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈɛlvɪʃ/ 1. Of or pertaining to elves; having the nature of an elf; supernatural, weird.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > fairy or elf > [adjective]
elvishc1386
elfish1542
fairy1549
elfin1590
elfic1872
elven1937
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > ill-naturedness > [adjective]
stour1303
thwarta1325
elvishc1386
wrawc1386
wrawfulc1386
crabbeda1400
crousea1400
cursedc1400
doggeda1425
currishc1460
disagreeable1474
dour1488
thrawn1488
terne?1507
apirsmarta1522
crustyc1570
incommodious1570
bilious1571
mischievous-stomached1577
thrawn-faced1578
thrawn-mowit1578
wearisha1586
shrewish1596
rhubarbative1600
crabbish1606
ill-tempereda1616
cur-like1627
thrawn-faceda1628
terned1638
cross1639
splenial1641
frumpish1647
wry1649
bad-tempered1671
hot-tempered1673
sidy1673
ugly1687
ornery1692
cankerya1699
ramgunshoch1721
cantankerousc1736
frumpy1746
unhappy1756
grumpy1778
crabby1791
grumpish1797
thraw-gabbit18..
snarlish1813
cranky1821
stuntya1825
ill-natured1825
nattery1825
rantankerous1832
foul-tempered1835
cacochymical1836
as cross as two sticks1842
grumphy1846
knappy1855
carnaptious1858
cussed1858
three-cornered1863
snotty1870
sniffy1871
snorty1893
grouchy1895
scratchy1925
tight1950
stroppy1951
snitty1978
arsey1989
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > characteristics > [adjective] > other characteristics
hoteOE
redeOE
foulOE
elvishc1386
dryc1400
whitec1450
Naples1507
shaking1528
cold1569
exquisite1583
unpure1583
waterish1583
wandering1585
legitimate1615
sulphureous1625
tetrous1637
cagastrical1662
medical1676
ambulatory1684
ebullient1684
frantic1709
animated1721
progressive1736
cagastric1753
vegetative1803
left-handed1804
specific1804
subacute1811
animate1816
gregarious1822
vernal1822
ambilateral1824
subchronic1831
regressive1845
nummular1866
postoperative1872
ambulant1873
non-surgical1888
progredient1891
spodogenous1897
spodogenic19..
non-invasive1932
early-onset1951
adult-onset1957
non-specific1964
c1386 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Prol. & Tale 198 Whan we been there as we shul exercise Oure Eluysshe craft.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 681 Wyth an aluisch mon.
1597 Bp. J. Hall Defiance to Enuy in Virgidemiarum: 1st 3 Bks. sig. A5 Scoure the rusted swords of Eluish knights.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles i. xxi. 29 Wild sparkles..the vessel's sides With elvish lustre lave.
1834 W. Beckford Italy; with Sketches Spain & Portugal II. 77 These oracular little elvish beings.
1834 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pilgrims of Rhine xxx. 323 There was the German fairy..making his..elvish spells.
2. Like an elf in behaviour: †(a) spiteful, cross-grained, peevish; also transferred of diseases, Irritating, troublesome (obsolete); (b) (ow in a milder sense) tricksy, mischievous (cf. elfish adj.).
ΚΠ
c1386 G. Chaucer Sir Thopas Prol. 13 He semeth eluyssh by his contenance.
a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) ii. xiiii. sig. H.iiiv Eygh, what ayleth this gyrle. The eluishe vrchyn weneth I were a deuill I trow.
1549 J. Cheke Hurt of Sedicion sig. B4 Where..pratynge is iuged wysdome, and the eluischest is most mete to rule.
1566 J. Studley tr. Seneca Agamemnon v. iv. sig. G.iv v Thou malipert and witles wench thyne eluysh pratyng staye.
1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 425 He regardeth not our infirmities, though we be oftentimes wayward and eluish.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 258 Sow-bread sodden in water, cureth the eluish & angry kibes..vpon the heels.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 412 The Crowne-scab [in horses]..is an eluish and painful disease.
1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. ii Froward, Eluish.
1678–96 E. Phillips New World of Words Elvish, froward.
1721–1800 in N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict.
Compounds
elvish-marked adj.
ΚΠ
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. iii. 225 Thou eluish markt abortiue rooting hog.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1386