Elfenbein

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See also: elfenbein

Czech

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

Proper noun

Elfenbein m anim (female equivalent Elfenbeinová)

  1. a male surname from German

Declension

Declension of Elfenbein (hard masculine animate)
singular plural
nominative Elfenbein Elfenbeinové
genitive Elfenbeina Elfenbeinů
dative Elfenbeinovi Elfenbeinům
accusative Elfenbeina Elfenbeiny
vocative Elfenbeine Elfenbeinové
locative Elfenbeinovi Elfenbeinech
instrumental Elfenbeinem Elfenbeiny

Further reading

  • “Elfenbein”, in Příjmení.cz (in Czech)

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle High German elfenbein, from Old High German elfantbein, from Proto-West Germanic *elpandabain. Equivalent to Elefant +‎ Bein. The loss of initial h- in early modern German was due to the influence of Latin elephās. Since the 19th century the word has been remotivated, somewhat meaningfully (with regard to the pure white colour of ivory), as Elfe (“elf”) +‎ Bein (“bone”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɛl.fənˌbaɪ̯n/, ,
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯n

Noun

Elfenbein n (strong, genitive Elfenbeines or Elfenbeins, plural Elfenbeine)

  1. ivory (material)

Declension

Declension of Elfenbein
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein das Elfenbein die Elfenbeine
genitive eines des Elfenbeines, Elfenbeins der Elfenbeine
dative einem dem Elfenbein, Elfenbeine1 den Elfenbeinen
accusative ein das Elfenbein die Elfenbeine

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

Descendants

  • → Danish: elfenben
  • → Norwegian Bokmål: elfenben, elfenbein
  • → Norwegian Nynorsk: elfenbein
  • → Swedish: elfenben

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia