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elven

elven

14 8.6
A person or thing that looks small, delicate, and graceful in a magical way
  • adjective
  • /ˈɛlvən/
  • Literature
translation icon : élfico
  • In the fantasy story, the hero discovered an elven village hidden in the enchanted forest.
  • elven magic
  • elven blood
  • elven soldiers

Examples

  • "Perhaps we could land safely if we had an escort... an elven escort!"

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The two knights, a human man and an elven woman, were engaged in serious discussion.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • We will take the Elven Road.

  • We have seen a great many changes take place in the life of the Elven people.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The Elven people do not require spells to work with magic.

  • Alicia stood beside the elven woman and shared her sense of awe.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The inns of Pryan hung out signs of welcome in human, elven, and dwarven.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The water was placid, except for the graceful disturbance caused by the array of elven archers.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Two blue-coated elven warriors, each carrying a silver-bladed halberd, rushed forward from a palace guardpost.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The graceful elven dancer moved with such fluidity that everyone watched in awe.

Synonyms

elvish
vselven
4 8.1

Playful and slightly naughty in a quick, happy way

leans toward delicate graceful or otherworldly qualities rather than playful mischief
elfin
vselven
  • Literature
3 7.7

Being small and delicate in a charming, fairy-like way

highlights otherworldly graceful traits rather than chiefly playful character
elfish
vselven
1 6.8

Playful and slightly naughty in a cheerful, harmless way

emphasizes delicate graceful or otherworldly traits rather than playful behaviour
elflike
vselven
7.6

Small and delicate with graceful pointed features

focuses more on otherworldly or graceful qualities beyond mere appearance

Antonyms

80 4.3

Ordinary daily things or events that are not special and often feel boring

How Elvish

otherworldly
  • Literature
36 7.8
ethereal
  • Literature
22 8.8
elven
  • Literature
14 8.6
elflike
7.6

Surface Forms

elven positive

Morphology

elven = elf (transparent) = elf + en

Formed by a regular adjective suffix '-en' meaning 'relating to' or 'characteristic of' elves; the f→v spelling change is orthographic but the meaning is direct.

Etymology

Elven comes from the old English word elf, which means 'a small magical being'. So elven describes people or things that seem like elves, meaning small, delicate, graceful, or a little magical.