Plural of dwarf; people or creatures that are much smaller than the average size, or in fantasy, mythical humanoid beings known for their strength and craftsmanship.
From Old English 'dweorg' (dwarf). The regular plural would be 'dwarfs,' but 'dwarves' became popular through J.R.R. Tolkien's works and high fantasy literature, making it an acceptable alternative plural.
Tolkien actually invented 'dwarves' as the plural for his fictional races—the normal English plural is 'dwarfs'—but his version was so culturally powerful that it's now equally accepted, showing how one author's creative choice can reshape a language.
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