elf:

(plural – ‘elves‘)

an elf stealing a child’s Christmas present

{in fairy tales and old stories (folklore)} a kind of fairy; a small (smaller than a dwarf) funny-looking creature with magical powers which likes to play tricks on people, often harming innocent people;

a playful or mischievous child;

a mischievous or spiteful person  (mischievous = playing slightly harmful tricks; spiteful = being angry or being with an intention of slightly harming others),

an elf (a naughty/troublesome child)

e.g.

There were times when people believed in a real elf coming and helping them out with their problems.

Jessica’s younger son is a real elf who makes you go mad in seconds with his intolerable antics.

There have been elves being mentioned in almost all the religious scriptures with different characteristics.

The story about how the children’s book ‘The Elf on the Shelf’ becoming a great success in the States and elsewhere is very interesting to know.

Dwarfs are annoyed when normal people call them elves, and they go great lengths, including kicking on the shines of their adversaries to prove that they are not elves.

an elf (an angry/spiteful person)

For an article that describes what an elf is, please click here. For a blog post that explains the difference between an elf, a goblin and a dwarf, please click here. For an article that shows us how this word is used, as an acronym in this case, in the computer world, please click here. And for an amusing story of elves in people’s homes during X-mas season, please click here.
Compare: gnome
Note: There is another creature in the fairy tales and folklore which is like an elf but ugly and harmful and more mischievous than an elf called ‘goblin’. ‘Goblins’ are known to take human and animal forms and attack people, often killing and eating the flesh of dead people and children. For an article that tells us about the origin of a goblin, please click here.

Return to “leprechaun“.  Return to “brownie“.

About the Author:BC Kumar

BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.

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