ielfen

== Old English == === Alternative forms === ælfen === Etymology === Feminine of ielf, equivalent to ielf +‎ -en. Cognate with or a parallel formation to Middle High German elbinne. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈi͜yl.fen/, [ˈi͜yɫ.ven] === Noun === ielfen f female elf manuscript early 9th century, Leiden, Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Voccius Lat. 4o 106, f. 10r Nimphae . aelfinni eadem . & muse | Nymphae: "female elves"; also musae. Oreades duun . aelfinni . | Oreades: "female mountain-elf." Driades . uudu . aelfinne | Dryades: "female wood-elf." Amadriades ua&er . aelfinñ | Hamadryades: "female water-elf." Maides feld . aelfinne | Maiades: "female field-elf." Naides sáe . aelfinne | Naiades: "female sea-elf." manuscript c. 930s, First Cleopatra Glossary manuscript earlier eleventh century, Antwerp-London Glossary, f. 21r ==== Usage notes ==== Ielfen is only attested in textually-related glosses to Isidore of Seville's Etymologiae, I 8.11.97, where it answers Latin nympha. This does not imply ielfen meant "nymph," exactly, only that Old English had no precise word for nymphs, and the glossators thought female elves would make a useful approximation. This tradition of glossing nympha with ielfen appears to have originated in the seventh or eighth century, though the surviving manuscripts are later. ==== Declension ==== Strong ō-stem: ==== Derived terms ==== muntælfen ==== Descendants ==== Middle English: elve, elven English: elfin, elven === References ===