DWARF

I. noun (plural ~s; also dwarves) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English dwerg, dwerf, from Old English dweorg, dweorh; akin to Old High German twerg ~ Date: before 12th century 1. a person of unusually small stature, an insignificant person , an animal or plant much below normal size, a small legendary manlike being who is usually misshapen and ugly and skilled as a craftsman, a star (as the sun) of ordinary or low luminosity and relatively small mass and size, ~ish adjective ~ishly adverb ~ishness noun ~like adjective ~ness noun II. verb Date: circa 1626 transitive verb to restrict the growth of ; stunt , to cause to appear smaller or to seem inferior , intransitive verb to become smaller, III. adjective Date: 1597 low-growing in habit