Obs. Forms: 1 ælfen, elfen, 3 pl. alfene, alvene, elvene. [OE. ælfen, ęlfen, repr. a WGer. type *alƀinnja fem., f. *albi-z ELF.
Although the OE. word glosses plural sbs. in the Latin, it is grammatically necessary to regard it as a fem. sing.]
Originally, a female elf, but in later use applied to both sexes.
a. 1100. Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 189. Oreades, muntælfen. Dryades, wuduelfen. Moides, feldelfen. Hamadryades, wylde elfen. Naiades, sæelfen. Castalides, dunelfen.
c. 1205. Lay., 21998. Alfene [1275 aluene] hine dulfen.
1297. R. Glouc., 130. Þer beþ in þe eir an hey … wyȝtes … þat men clepuþ eluene.
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (A.), 3862. A brond þat was y-made in Eluene lond.
