Author: lfsaldenbirch

Elf-king

lfsaldenbirch , , , ,

2016.02.04  “Elvenking” is used exclusively in Chapter 9 and onward; “Elf-king” is used only in Chapter 8.  This first reference may have been to a predecessor, the second is definitely Thranduil and “Elvenking” hereafter is exclusively Thranduil.

“Elf-king” is not attested in OED; “Elvenking” is, but in this manner, which gives all the credit to Tolkien:

2. Comb. (referring to a kind of imaginary being in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien).

a. appositive, as elven-kin.

b. attributive, as elven-king, elven-tongue; elven-wise adj.

1937   J. R. R. Tolkien Hobbit xvii. 285   But the Elvenking said: Long will I tarry.

 

  • 08.133 for the elf-king had bargained with them to shape his raw gold
  • 08.133 If the elf-king had a weakness it was for treasure,

“ˈelven, n.” OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2017, http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/60661. Accessed 13 September 2017.

Elf-friend

lfsaldenbirch , , , ,

Yes, this is one of the few “elf-” compounds attested in the OED.  Why?

 elf-friend  n.

1937   J. R. R. Tolkien Hobbit iii. 62   The master of the house was an elf-friend.

I’m giving him full credit for this one.

  • 03.032 The master of the house was an elf-friend –
  • 04.034 “Murderers and elf-friends!”
  • 18.049 And I name you elf-friend
  • 19.038 It is true that for ever after he remained an elf-friend,

“elf, n.1.” OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2017, http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/60431. Accessed 13 September 2017.

Elf

lfsaldenbirch , ,
  • 01.017 Anything from climbing trees to visiting elves –
  • 01.075 For ancient king and elvish lord
  • 01.078 Was sung unheard by men or elves.
  • 01.123 and elves
  • 03.013 “Hmmm! it smells like elves!”
  • 03.018 They were elves of course.
  • 03.018 He loved elves,
  • 03.018 For some elves tease them
  • 03.023 and among the elves,
  • 03.024 “You are a little out of your way,” said the elf:
  • 03.025 Elves know a lot
  • 03.025 Elvish singing is not a thing to miss,
  • 03.026 The elves had brought bright lanterns to the shore,
  • 03.029 and some elves have over merry tongues.
  • 03.032 and the elves
  • 03.032 who had both elves
  • 03.035 very old swords of the High Elves of the West,
  • 03.049 to see the elves dance
  • 04.028 and friends of Elves, not unlikely!
  • 04.033 when the fair elves of Gondolin hunted them
  • 05.005 So it is an elvish blade, too,’
  • 08.071 The elvish folk were passing bowls from hand to hand
  • 08.078 unless they had been made prisoners by the elves
  • 08.115 and Bilbo had his elvish dagger.
  • 08.131 They differed from the High Elves of the West,
  • 08.131 Still elves they were
  • 08.144 Then the elves put thongs on him,
  • 09.002 would have been of no use against the arrows of the elves
  • 09.002 when the elves bound the dwarves
  • 09.003 for the elves were making the dwarves go
  • 09.004 the elves thrust their prisoners,
  • 09.004 in time to scuttle over at the heels of the last elves,
  • 09.011 as they clashed together when the last elf passed;
  • 09.011 He could not keep up with the hunting elves
  • 09.020 the elves cast them through the trapdoors,
  • 09.025 He followed the two elves,
  • 09.037 some elves were under orders to come down
  • 09.039 A number of elves came laughing
  • 09.052 the elves being very merry
  • 09.055 he could hear the elves still singing
  • 09.065 The elves that were standing
  • 09.068 where other elves stood to fend them off with poles,
  • 10.007 he heard the elves speak of
  • 10.007 not a town of elves but of Men,
  • 10.009 while the elves of the raft
  • 10.030 than the raft-men of the elves
  • 10.041 which shows he was a wise elf
  • 12.015 that they learned of elves
  • 13.037 which the elves call mithril,
  • 14.039 to ask the aid of the King of the Elves of the Wood,
  • 14.042 Still elves are lightfooted,
  • 14.043 and many skilled elves;
  • 15.019 Already a host of the elves is on the way,
  • 15.020 and elves
  • 15.028 and the Elves
  • 15.031 and elvish bowmen were among them.
  • 15.035 but their song was not as elvish song,
  • 15.053 first dismiss the elvish host to the woods where it belongs,
  • 16.006 and elves,’
  • 16.017 when up came elves
  • 16.019 and the elves immediately gathered towards the sound.
  • 16.024 my good elves.
  • 16.025 in elvish armour,
  • 16.029 even for elves I imagine.
  • 16.046 and then he said farewell to the elves
  • 17.032 and elves to arms.
  • 17.042 The elves cried out with many voices.
  • 17.044 and upon the other were Elves
  • 17.048 the Elves were set;
  • 17.048 and elves
  • 17.050 The elves were the first to charge.
  • 17.052 the elves charged again with renewed numbers.
  • 17.054 and ears of elves
  • 17.057 Elves
  • 17.058 came many of the spearmen of the elves.
  • 17.059 and many a fair elf
  • 17.059 and elves
  • 17.060 He had taken his stand on Ravenhill among the Elves –
  • 17.061 and the merry elves.
  • 17.065 If the elves could not see him they could hear him.
  • 18.003 he thought he could see elves moving
  • 18.021 and elves
  • 18.032 the elvish sword that had been taken from Thorin
  • 18.050 Then the elves turned towards the Forest,
  • 19.001 Bilbo heard the elves still singing
  • 19.002 And elves are yet singing
  • 19.004 Here elf and elf-maiden
  • 19.005 Then the elves of the valley came out
  • 19.010 Below it many elves were singing loud
  • 19.018 with the elves of the valley.
  • 19.040 and visiting the elves;
  • 19.043 between elves

Egg-shaped

lfsaldenbirch , , ,
  • 08.092 and it did not take him long to find a nice smooth egg-shaped one

Ah, the right tool for the job.  Nothing like it.

This word is, of course, attested in OED. I rather love one of the examples:

1854   J. H. Stocqueler Hand-bk. Brit. India (ed. 3) 370   Ceylon is egg-shaped.

“egg, n.” OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2017, http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/59878. Accessed 13 September 2017.