n. In Germanic folklore, a spirit or creature that dwells in the forest and captures people, carrying them off to their deaths. [Partial translation of German Erlkönig, alteration and partial translation of earlier Danish elverkonge, ellekonge, elf-king (taken by Johann Gottfried von Herder in his translation of a Danish ballad as "alder-king," influenced by German Erle, alder, since the alder is associated with the supernatural in Germanic myth and folklore) : elv, elf; see albho- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + konge, king.] |
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