a. Sc. Forms: 6 elrich(e, elritch(e, -risch(e, -rish, elraige, -rage, alriche, 8–9 eldrich, (9 eltrich), 8– eldritch, See also ELPHRISH. [Of obscure origin; connection with ELF, conjectured by Jamieson, would be suitable for the sense, and is supported by the form ELPHRISH, app. the same word.]
Weird, ghostly, unnatural, frightful, hideous.
1508. Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 125. Thare was Pluto the elrich incubus.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. 108. Vgsum to heir was hir wyld elriche screik.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 636. Thair cleithing quhilk wes of elritche hew.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot., I. 217. Mony haly and relligious men … fled in desertis and elraige placis.
1585. Jas. I., Ess. Poesie (Arb.), 68. The king of Fary … With many elrage Incubus rydant.
1598. J. Melvill, Diary, 25 Feb., 320. The amazfull, ugly alriche darkness.
1789. Burns, On Capt. Grose. Ye’ll find him snug in Some eldritch part.
1834. Pringle, Afr. Sk., ii. 144. Loud bursts of wild and eldrich laughter.
1850. Hawthorne, Scarlet Letter, vii. 127. Pearl, in utter scorn of her mother’s attempt to quiet her, gave an eldritch scream.
1860. Ld. Lytton, Lucile, I. iii. § 1. 87. Truth is appalling and eltrich, as seen By this world’s artificial lamplights.
1866. Howells, Venet. Life, iii. 40. Joy that had something eldritch and unearthly in it.
