Elf-a supernatural being of Teutonic mythology; sometimes thought of as a mountain fay or, usually, a small sprite; mischievous elves are thought to bring evil, especially bad dreams.
Compton's Encyclopedia, 1984 edition
Elf-a tiny, often mischievous fairy. Webster's New World Dictionary, 1995
Elves of different languages: from Teutonus
Old English: Aelf, elf, ylf, pl. ylfe.
Middle Low German: Alf
French: Aulfe
Old French: Aufin
Late Latin: Alfinus
Arabic: Al-fin
Persian: Peri
Following are variations of the above spellings:
Aelb, Al, Ale, Alf, Alp, Alph, Alb, Elve, Alf, Olph, Orf and Orph.
Elves are generally one species of the Fae, often characterized as being either as tall as humans, or tiny little beings. One is a race, intelligent and often vain in nature, and the other are trickster faeries lacking wings. The latter is popular in cartoons, children's books and Disney movies. But concerning the wings, Wil Huygen's book, The Complete Gnomes describes elves as "an airy spirit of nature, who loves carefree dancing and playing stringed instruments" and that "most of them have wings." He also says they live underground, in or on top of water (springs), in the air or branches of high trees. They can also "take on an animal image." Regarding the gender of an elf, he states that "there are male, female and sexless elves."
"Originally, they were small, mischievous beings that shot miniature arrows at humans, which didn't really hurt but were quite bothersome, prickling the feet of peasants as they walked across fields and pastures. They would also tie hairs of people and the tails of horses in knots as they slept."
from Mythical Creatures
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The Elves
Elves are no smaller
than men, and walk
as men do, in this world,
but with more grace than most,
and are not immortal.
Their beauty sets them aside
from other men and from women
unless a woman has that cold fire in her
called poet: with that
she may see them and by its light
they know her and are not afraid
and silver tongues of love
flicker between them.
Denise Levertov
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