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dwarf

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also:DWARF

English

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Etymology

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FromMiddle Englishdwergh,dwerw,dwerf,fromOld Englishdweorg,fromProto-West Germanic*dwerg,fromProto-Germanic*dwergaz.

Cognate withScotsdwerch;Old High Germantwerc(GermanZwerg);Old Norsedvergr(Swedishdvärg);Old Frisiandwirg(West Frisiandwerch);Middle Low Germandwerch,dwarch,twerg(German Low GermanDwarg,Dwarch);Middle Dutchdwerch,dworch(Dutchdwerg).

The Modern English noun has undergone complex phonetic changes. The formdwarfis the regular continuation of Old Englishdweorg,but the pluraldweorgaswould have given rise todwarrowsand the oblique stemdweorge-would have led todwery.These forms are sometimes found as the nominative singular in Middle English texts and in English dialects. A parallel case is that of Old Englishburggivingburgh,borough,burrow,bury.

Pronunciation

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Nain assis(Seated Dwarf,19th century), a painting in the style of Spanish artistFrancisco Goya
InSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs,theseven dwarfssing "Heigh-Ho",while walking on a log.

Noun

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dwarf(pluraldwarfsordwarves)

  1. (mythology)Any member of araceof beings from (especiallyScandinavianand otherGermanic)folklore,usually depicted as having some sort of supernatural powers and being skilled incraftingandmetalworking,often as short with long beards, and sometimes as clashing withelves.
    Synonym:dwarrow(rare)
    • 2017,Neil Gaiman,Norse Mythology,Bloomsbury Publishing, page20:
      Nidavellir, which is sometimes called Svartalfheim, where thedwarfs(who are also known as dark elves) live beneath the mountains and build their remarkable creations.
  2. (now sometimesoffensive)A person of shortstature,often one whoselimbsaredisproportionatelysmall in relation to the body as compared with typical adults, usually as the result of ageneticcondition.
    Synonyms:elf,midget,pygmy(imprecise)
    Antonyms:ettin,giant
  3. Ananimal,plantor other thing much smaller than the usual of its sort.
    Synonym:runt
    dwarftree
    dwarfhoneysuckle
  4. (astronomy)Adwarf star.

Usage notes

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At first,dwarfswas the common plural in English, anddwarveswas considered incorrect.[1]AfterJ. R. R. Tolkienuseddwarvesin his works, that form became the standard for the plural of the mythological beings. For a non-mythological dwarf (people withdwarfism,small plants, animals, planets, stars,etc.),dwarfshas remained the preferred plural form. The use ofdwarfto describe people withdwarfismis currently considered to be offensive by some.

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions atWiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Adjective

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dwarf(comparativedwarfer,superlativedwarfest)

  1. (especially inbotany)Miniature.
    The specimen is a verydwarfform of the plant.
    It is possible to grow the plants asdwarfas one desires.

Translations

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Verb

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dwarf(third-person singular simple presentdwarfs,present participledwarfing,simple past and past participledwarfed)

  1. (transitive)Torender(much) smaller,turn intoa dwarf (version).
    Synonyms:miniaturize,shrink
  2. (transitive)To make appear (much) smaller,puny,tiny;to be much larger than.
    The newly-built skyscraperdwarfsall older buildings in the downtown skyline.
    • 1960April, J. P. Wilson, E. N. C. Haywood, “The route through the Peak - Derby to Manchester: Part Two”, inTrains Illustrated,page225:
      The train bursts from Rusher Cutting Tunnel with explosive violence, the engine's exhaust soaring high into the air, butdwarfedby the mighty limestone cliffs on either side.
    • 2013May-June, Kevin Heng, “Why Does Nature Form Exoplanets Easily?”,inAmerican Scientist,volume101,number 3, page184:
      In the past two years, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has located nearly 3,000 exoplanet candidates ranging from sub-Earth-sized minions to gas giants thatdwarfour own Jupiter.
  3. (transitive)To make appearinsignificant.
    Synonyms:eclipse,overshadow,outshadow,outshine,outdo,put to shame,upstage,surpass,outmatch,outstrip
    Bachdwarfsall other composers.
  4. (intransitive)To become (much) smaller.
    Synonym:shrink
  5. To hinder from growing to the natural size; to make or keep small; to stunt.
    • 1710July 3 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “THURSDAY, June 22, 1710”, inThe Spectator,number98;republished inAlexander Chalmers,editor,The Spectator; a New Edition,[…],volume II, New York, N.Y.:D[aniel] Appleton & Company,1853,→OCLC:
      At present the whole sex is in a mannerdwarfedand shrunk - into a race of beauties that seems almost another species
      The spelling has been modernized.
    • 1881,John Campbell Shairp,Aspects of Poetry:
      Even the most common moral ideas and affections[…]would be stunted anddwarfed,if cut off from a spiritual background.

Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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  1. ^Peter Smith (1826)An Analytical System of English Grammar;[…],Edinburgh:[…]Oliver & Boyd,[…];andGeo[rge] B[yrom] Whittaker,London,page17:
    How are the following nouns improperly formed, and what should they be? viz.—Lifes, knifes,dwarves,mischieves—boxs, churchs, dishs, fishs—enemys, flys, skys, spys—louses, mouses, oxes, pennys—arcanums, datums, erratums, phænomenons—bacheloress, benefactoress, governoress—boys books, girls dolls, childs rattle—diligence sake; Jane’s, Margaret’s, and Isabella’s mother; John’s, Peter’s, and Frank’s books.

Further reading

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