Dutch

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Etymology

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First attested as hellini in 1150. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈeː.lə(n)/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Elen
  • Rhymes: -eːlən

Proper noun

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Elen n

  1. A village and former municipality of Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium

Derived terms

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German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle High German eln, elent (mid-13th c.). Usually derived from Old Lithuanian elenis (“deer”, modern élnias), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁el-. This derivation is supported by the fact that the el(e)n form appears during a time when the elk was gradually dying out in the German-speaking lands. However, it must be noted that the Lithuanian word does not refer to the elk specifically. Even more importantly, elen (from elhen by regular loss of prevocalic h in Central and Low German dialects) can represent a generalised oblique case or plural of Proto-Germanic *elhô, weak-stem variant of *elhaz. This would make it a mere byform of Elch.[1]

Pronunciation

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Noun

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Elen n or m (strong, genitive Elens, plural Elen)

  1. (archaic) moose, Eurasian elk (Alces alces)
    Synonym: Elch

Declension

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ Philippa, Marlies, Debrabandere, Frans, Quak, Arend, Schoonheim, Tanneke, van der Sijs, Nicoline (2003–2009) “eland”, in Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands[1] (in Dutch), Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press

Further reading

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  • Elen” in Duden online