Obs. [Com. Teut.: OE. ęllen (gen. ęlnes) corresponds to OS. ellen, ellien, OHG. ellan, ellen, ellin, Goth. aljan str. neut.; ON. eljan, eljun str. fem. (Icel. elja wk. fem.):—OTeut. types *aljano(m, *aljanâ.]
Strength, courage (also, in OE., zeal); in Theol. strength vouchsafed, comfort, grace.
Beowulf, 602. Ac ic him ʓeata sceal Eafoð and ellen unʓeara nu guþe ʓebeodan.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxvii. § 2 (Bosw.). Feower cræftas, þara is an wærscipe, oðer metʓung, þridde is ellen.
a. 1000. Guthlac, 264. Wæs Guþlac on elne strong.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 10. Vor ȝe schulden wenen þet God, uor ouwer holi liue, sende ou his grace and his elne.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 27. Ah monnes elne is muche wurð.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 185. We … buggeþ worldles froure . wiþ moni sori teone . and elne of monnes speche. Ibid. Hwa se euer haueð longe wone of gastliche elne.
Hence Ellenlæs a. [see -LESS], powerless.
a. 1000. Juliana, 393 (Gr.). Ic ʓeomor sceal secan oðerne ellenleasran cempan.
c. 1200. Ormin, 10908. Illc meocnesse iss ellenlæs Wiþþutenn herrsummnesse.
