ielf

Old English

ielf m

Ielf is the native West Saxon form (ylf in Late West Saxon). However, the Mercian form ælf was borrowed into West Saxon at an early date, and often appears instead of ielf even in West Saxon texts.

Only ælf is used in names. Even Wessex's most famous king used the Mercian form of his name, Ælfrēd. The native form would have been *Ielfrǣd.

Aside from a small group of pluralia tantum mostly consisting of names of peoples (e.g. Engle, Dene), ielf is the only word that retains the inherited nominative/accusative plural of masculine i-stem nouns, ending in -e instead of -as.

Not much is known of how the Anglo-Saxons viewed elves. What is certain is that elves were seen as supernatural beings of striking feminine beauty, either human-like or a special group of humans, who afflicted people with diseases and ailments, including mental illness; most prominently, they used magic to give people irrational thoughts or drive them insane. With their beauty and power to influence the mind, they were probably also thought to seduce and rape people.

Elves are mentioned alongside demons in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon medical texts, but there is evidence that not everyone considered elves completely malevolent. Parents often named their children after elves, with names such as Ælfġiefu ("elf gift") and Ælfwine ("elf friend"). Wayland the Smith, a hero of Germanic legend who is praised several times in the scant remains of Anglo-Saxon poetry, was an elf.

Declension of ielf (strong i-stem)

Middle English: elf, elfe, helfe
- English: elf (see there for further descendants)
- Scots: elf
- Yola: elf