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Elf vs Oaf - What's the difference?

elf | oaf |

As nouns the difference between elf and oaf

is that elf is a luminous spirit presiding over nature and fertility and dwelling in the world of Álfheim (Elfland). Compare angel, nymph, fairy while oaf is an elf's child; a changeling left by fairies or goblins, hence, a deformed or foolish child.

As an initialism ELF

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

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.

    Anagrams

    * English nouns with irregular plurals ----

    oaf

    English

    Alternative forms

    * auf

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An elf's child; a changeling left by fairies or goblins, hence, a deformed or foolish child.
  • (pejorative) A person, especially a large male, who is clumsy or a simpleton; an idiot.
    • Ouch! You dropped that box on my feet, you lumbering oaf !

    Synonyms

    * (clumsy or idiotic person ): dummy, galoot, imbecile, lout, moron, fool

    Derived terms

    * oafish

    References

    Anagrams

    * *