elve
[ elv ]
/ ɛlv /
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noun
an extremely dim, flattened, expanding, reddish glow briefly seen over a thunderstorm, due to electromagnetic pulses from intense lightning.
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Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of elve
First recorded in 1990–95; e(mission of) l(ight and) v(ery low-frequency perturbations from) e(lectromagnetic pulse sources)
Words nearby elve
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for elve
Elve in French means up aloft, and elve means frequently transported with excitement.
Archaic England|Harold BayleyElve le corbeau, il te crvera les yeux—Bring 25 up a raven, he will pick out your eyes.
The Danish peasantry give the following account of their Ellefolk or Elve-people.
The Fairy Mythology|Thomas KeightleyThe appearance of the Wood-woman (Skogsfru) or Elve-woman, is equally unlucky for hunters.
The Fairy Mythology|Thomas Keightley
Scientific definitions for elve
elve
[ ĕlv ]
An extremely dim, short-lived, expanding disk of reddish light above thunderstorms, believed to be caused by electromagnetic pulses from intense lightning in the lower ionosphere. Elves last less than a second and can be as wide as 500 km (310 mi) in diameter.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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