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ofthe Father8
Senior Member
Registered: 07-2004
Posts: 216
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Re: Did you know...?
An elf is a nightmare?
Webster's World College Dictionary--
elf (elf) n., pl. elves (elvz) {ME< OE aelf, akin to OHG alb (Ger, nightmare), prob., IE base *albho-, white> L albus, white: prob. basic sense "whitish figure" (in the mist) 1 Folklore a tiny, often prankish imaginary being in human form, supposedly exercising magic powers and haunting woods and hills, sprite 2. a small child or being, esp. a mischievous one--elf'like' adj.
Or that a nightmare is an evil spirit?
Webster's World College Dictionary--
nightmare (nit'mer')n. {ME nihtmare: see Night & mare3} 1 orig, an evil spirit believed to haunt and suffocate sleeping people 2 a frightening dream, often accompanied by a sensation of oppression and helplessness 3 any experience like a nightmare in its frightening or oppressing aspects --night'mar'ish adj.
Or that Santa Claus was called a jolly ole elf?
Webster's World College Dictionary--
Mare3 (mar, mer) n. {ME< OE, akin to Ger dial. mahr, ON mar< IE "mora, incubus < base *mer-, to rub, seize> Gr marainein, to quench, OIr meirb, lifeless, OE mearu, soft} {Obs.} an evil spirit once thought to produce nightmares
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16/Oct/04, 19:45
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C Berenice
Moderator
Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 1100
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Re: Did you know...?
F8... shame on you! Didn't I ask you not to mess with my Santa or you and I would meet at the punching rig?
...
Seriously though, I do have a few points to make concerning your research in the dictionary!
1. Santa: I can't believe that you haven't heard that, in the European tradition, Santa Clause (St. Nickolas) was a faithful and charitable man who divided his fortune among the poor. The story about St. Nick's poor neighbour's daughters, who had hang their stockings out to dry and each found a ball of gold in it the next day, is renowned
(this is a very short version of course).
So, what Santa represents for us is the spirit of kindeness, charity and love. The little tales woven around Santa depending on each country's folklor are not anything more than that. Folklore.
2. I am sure you must realise, when reading a dictionary, that all the explanations of the words contained in there are taken from what the people, in the country of the word's origin, meant by it. So when -to use a simple example- you read: Santa=old elf, it only means that SOME people in SOME cultures call him that! It does NOT mean that he actually IS an elf. Old or otherwise!...
Using another example of the words you mentioned the dictionary says that a <night mare> was BELIEVED to be an evil spirit; it does not say it WAS one! And so on...
So yes, a dictionary is useful but one has to be careful how one uses it. Because it can leed you astray! Right?
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17/Oct/04, 21:23
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Ahlyssah
Senior Member
Registered: 07-2004
Location: Lost in a dream of mirrors
Posts: 830
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Re: Did you know...?
ofthe Father8 wrote:
An elf is a nightmare?
Webster's World College Dictionary--
elf (elf) n., pl. elves (elvz) {ME< OE aelf, akin to OHG alb (Ger, nightmare), prob., IE base *albho-, white> L albus, white: prob. basic sense "whitish figure" (in the mist) 1 Folklore a tiny, often prankish imaginary being in human form, supposedly exercising magic powers and haunting woods and hills, sprite 2. a small child or being, esp. a mischievous one--elf'like' adj.
It really depends on the location. Most western Europe cultures describe elves as nature spirits who become vengeful if provoked or if nature is screwed around with, but other than that keep to themselves. In some societies, yes, they are malevolent toward humans. Mostly, however, they're just mischevious and annoying.
Most people don't even know what makes an elf different from all the other faeries, and for that reason they tend to get them confused, or substitute the title for another branch which remains unclassified to them. However, as per the craziness of the English language in its ever-changing state, the dictionary has to put ALL the meanings of the words in print. However, you missed something when you read this entry: the word "aelf" is akin to the German alb, meaning "nightmare". That doesn't mean that an aelf IS a nightmare, merely that the two words are related.
--- There are things which Man can not understand. For everything else, there's a lie.
Let's see if we can't get to the truth of the matter, hmm?
'Lyssa was here . . . and she'll be back
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18/Oct/04, 1:32
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Firlefanz
Senior Member
Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 560
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Re: Did you know...?
Ahlyssah wrote:
However, you missed something when you read this entry: the word "aelf" is akin to the German alb, meaning "nightmare". That doesn't mean that an aelf IS a nightmare, merely that the two words are related.
Exactly! This just describes the possible origins of the word, going back to medieval or even older times. It doesn't say a lot about the meaning given to it today.
--- - Firlefanz
Reading: Anthology Stories
Rewriting: "The Cloth-Merchant's Daughter", 2nd Lar Elien book
My board - Schreiberlinge unter sich
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18/Oct/04, 9:48
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Firlefanz
Senior Member
Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 560
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Re: Did you know...?
... that taking St. John's wort can have unexpected side effects?
Using St. John's wort can lead to a surprise pregnancy
St. John's wort is a common name for an herb called Hypericum perforatum. In folk medicine, St. John's wort has been used to treat wounds, as well as kidney and lung problems. Today, some people believe St. John's wort can help treat depression. But doctors say there is some evidence that St. John's wort interacts with estrogens and oral contraceptives and that the combination may be associated with intermenstrual bleeding. A health agency in Sweden, similar to the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, reports two women became pregnant while taking St. John's wort while on oral contraceptives.
Source
--- - Firlefanz
Reading: Anthology Stories
Rewriting: "The Cloth-Merchant's Daughter", 2nd Lar Elien book
My board - Schreiberlinge unter sich
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18/Oct/04, 13:01
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gkapitso
Senior Member
Registered: 09-2004
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 138
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Re: Did you know...?
Most vehemently, my dear
You know, i read last week a nice editorial about how most women always keep bitcin that "there aren't any true men left"... Well, the writer of the editorial had a splendid idea: To take some of those anorgasmic, neurotic old maids with him on a soccer stadium on a Sunday, and present them to about 30,000 screaming, yelling men, asking for "volunteers", if you get my meaning That should make for a very fast attitude adjustment
--- Once there was The People--Terror gave it birth;
Once there was The People and it made a Hell of Earth
Earth arose and crushed it. Listen, 0 ye slain!
Once there was The People--it shall never be again!
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7/Mar/05, 12:48
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