light elf

/ˈlaɪt ɛlf/

noun

A member of the race of Ljósalfar, daylight dwelling elves or nature spirits (as opposed to the underground dwelling dark elves or dwarves).

OriginOld Norse ljósalfar →
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Meanings

nounlight elf (plural light elves)

plural light elves

  1. Norsehuman sciencesA member of the race of Ljósalfar, daylight dwelling elves or nature spirits (as opposed to the underground dwelling dark elves or dwarves).

    Alfheim, where the light elves live. The light elves are as beautiful as the sun or the stars.

    2017, Neil Gaiman, Norse Mythology, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 20
  2. fantasyOne of a race of elves who live above ground and are radiant.

Origin

  1. Old Norseljósalfar
  2. Englishlight elf

Back-formation from light elves, a calque of Old Norse ljósalfar.

More words from Old Norse

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Lichtelben
  • Lichtelbenlight elves (plural)
Cite this entry
APA

light elf. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20elf

MLA

“light elf.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20elf. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “light elf,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20elf.

Source: light elf on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.