Elen

See also: Appendix:Variations of "elen"

Dutch

Etymology

First attested as hellini in 1150. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈeː.lə(n)/

• Audio

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• Hyphenation: Elen
• Rhymes: -eːlən

Proper noun

Elen n

1. A village and former municipality of Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium.

Derived terms

• Elenaar
• Elens

German

Alternative forms

• Elend (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle High German eln, elent (mid-13th c.). Usually derived from Old Lithuanian elenis (“deer”, modern élnias), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁el-. This derivation is supported by the fact that the el(e)n form appears during a time when the elk was gradually dying out in the German-speaking lands. However, it must be noted that the Lithuanian word does not refer to the elk specifically. Even more importantly, elen (from elhen by regular loss of prevocalic h in Central and Low German dialects) can represent a generalised oblique case or plural of Proto-Germanic *elhô, weak-stem variant of *elhaz. This would make it a mere byform of Elch.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈeːlən/

Noun

Elen n or m (strong, genitive Elens, plural Elen)

1. (archaic) moose, Eurasian elk (Alces alces)

   Synonym: Elch

Declension

Declension of Elen [neuter // masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das, der	Elen	die	Elen
genitive	eines	des	Elens	der	Elen
dative	einem	dem	Elen	den	Elen
accusative	ein, einen	das, den	Elen	die	Elen

Derived terms

• Elenantilope
• Elentier

Related terms

• Elendshaut
• Elendskoller

Further reading

• “Elen” in Duden online