different between nymph vs elfe

English

Alternative forms

• nymphe (rare or archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English nimphe, from French nimphe, from Latin nympha (“nymph, bride”), from Ancient Greek ????? (númph?, “bride”). Doublet of nympha.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?n?mf/

Noun

nymph (plural nymphs or nymphæ)

1. (Greek, Roman) Any female nature spirit associated with water, forests, grotto, wind, etc.
2. A young girl, especially one who is attractive, beautiful or graceful.

   Synonyms: lolita, nymphet, nymphette

3. (entomology) The larva of certain insects.

   Synonyms: instar, naiad

4. (entomology) Any of various butterflies of the family Nymphalidae.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• alseid, auloniad, crinaeae, limnade, meliae, napaeae, oceanids, oreads, pegaeae
• dryads, hamadryads, naiads, nereids
• Hesperides

English

Etymology

From Middle English elfe, from Old English ielfen, feminine of ielf (“elf”).

Noun

elfe (plural elfen or elfene)

1. (obsolete) A female elf, a fairy, nymph

   • Scho was so faire & so fresche, as faucon hire semed, An elfe out of an-othire erde, or ellis an Aungell. — The Wars of Alexander, 1450

   (She was so fair and happy and seemed elegant, an elfe from another world or else an angel.)

   • He was takyn with an elfe ... When the clok stroke twelf was he forshapyn. — The Towneley Plays, 1500

References

1. MED, elf, elve(n)

Anagrams

• feel, fele, flee, leef

Esperanto

Etymology

elfo (“elf”) +? -e (“adverb”)

Adverb

elfe

1. in an elfin manner, elvishly
2. in Elvish (language)

Related terms

• elfa (“elfen”)
• elfo (“elf”)

French

Etymology

Swedish älf, from Old Norse alfr, compare Old English ælf. Originated from Indo-European Proto-Indo-European *h?elb?ós (“brilliant, shining white”) via Proto-Germanic *albiz (“elf”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?lf/
• Homophone: elfes

Noun

elfe m (plural elfes)

1. elf

Derived terms

• elfique

Further reading

• “elfe” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• fêle, fêlé

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English ælf.

Noun

elfe

1. Alternative form of elf

Etymology 2

From Old English ælfen.

Noun

elfe

1. Alternative form of elven