Pronunciation: ' dwo ̇ rf
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural dwarfs \ ' dwo ̇ rfs \ also dwarves \ ' dwo ̇ rvz \
Usage: often attrib
Etymology: Middle English dwerg, dwerf, from Old English dweorg, dweorh; akin to Old High German twerg dwarf
Date: before 12th century
1 a : a person of unusually small stature especially : one whose bodily proportions are abnormal b : an insignificant person <a literary dwarf >
2 : an animal or plant much below normal size
3 : a small legendary manlike being who is usually misshapen and ugly and skilled as a craftsman
4 : a star (as the sun) of ordinary or low luminosity and relatively small mass and size
– dwarf · ish \ ' dwo ̇ r-fish \ adjective
– dwarf · ish · ly adverb
– dwarf · ish · ness noun
– dwarf · like \ ' dwo ̇ rf- ˌ l ī k \ adjective
– dwarf · ness \ ' dwo ̇ rf-n ə s \ noun