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What is the difference between dwarf and elf?

dwarf | elf |

As nouns the difference between dwarf and elf

is that dwarf is any member of a race of beings from (especially Scandinavian and other Germanic) folklore, usually depicted as having some sort of supernatural powers and being skilled in crafting and metalworking, often depicted as short, and sometimes depicted as clashing with elves while elf is a luminous spirit presiding over nature and fertility and dwelling in the world of Álfheim (Elfland). Compare angel, nymph, fairy.

As an adjective dwarf

is miniature.

As a verb dwarf

is to render (much) smaller, turn into a dwarf (version).

As an initialism ELF is

initialism of w:Earth Liberation Front|Earth Liberation Front|lang=en a radical environmentalism group.

dwarf

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (mythology) Any member of a race of beings from (especially Scandinavian and other Germanic) folklore, usually depicted as having some sort of supernatural powers and being skilled in crafting and metalworking, often depicted as short, and sometimes depicted as clashing with elves.
  • A person of short stature, often one whose limbs are disproportionately small in relation to the body as compared with normal adults, usually as the result of a genetic condition.
  • An animal, plant or other thing much smaller than the usual of its sort.
  • dwarf''' tree; '''dwarf honeysuckle
  • (star) A star of relatively small size.
  • Usage notes

    At first, dwarfs'' was the more common plural in English. After used ''dwarves'', it began to rise in popularity, and is now about as common as ''dwarfs .

    Synonyms

    * (person) midget, pygmy (imprecise)

    Antonyms

    * giant * ettin

    Derived terms

    (term derived from dwarf) * dwarf star * black dwarf * brown dwarf * red dwarf * white dwarf * dwarfen, dwarven * dwarfess * dwarfify * dwarfism * dwarfish, dwarvish * dwarfling * dwarfness

    Adjective

    (-)
  • .
  • The specimen is a very dwarf form of the plant.
    It is possible to grow the plants as dwarf as one desires.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To render (much) smaller, turn into a dwarf (version).
  • To make appear (much) smaller, puny, tiny.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author=Kevin Heng
  • , title= Why Does Nature Form Exoplanets Easily? , volume=101, issue=3, page=184, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=In the past two years, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has located nearly 3,000 exoplanet candidates ranging from sub-Earth-sized minions to gas giants that dwarf our own Jupiter.}}
  • To make appear insignificant.
  • To become (much) smaller.
  • To hinder from growing to the natural size; to make or keep small; to stunt.
  • (Addison)
  • * J. C. Shairp
  • Even the most common moral ideas and affections would be stunted and dwarfed , if cut off from a spiritual background.

    Synonyms

    * (make much smaller) miniaturize, shrink * (become much smaller) shrink

    elf

    English

    Noun

    (elves) (wikipedia elf)
  • (Norse mythology) A luminous spirit presiding over nature and fertility and dwelling in the world of (Elfland). Compare angel, nymph, fairy.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Every elf , and fairy sprite, / Hop as light as bird from brier.
  • Any from a race of mythical, supernatural beings resembling but seen as distinct from human beings. Usually skilled in magic or spellcrafting; sometimes depicted as clashing with dwarves, especially in modern fantasy literature.
  • (fantasy) Any of the magical, typically forest-guarding races bearing some similarities to the Norse (through Tolkien's Eldar)
  • A very diminutive person; a dwarf.
  • Derived terms

    * elfin * elfinwood * elfish * Elfland * elflock * elven * elvish * light elves * dark elves

    See also

    * fay * fairy * brownie * dwarf * hobbit

    References

    * Marshall Jones Company (1930). Mythology of All Races'' Series, Volume 2 ''Eddic , Great Britain: Marshall Jones Company, 1930, pp. 220-221.