small, delicate, and spritely, with a mysterious or magical quality; relating to elves.
From elf plus -in (a diminutive suffix). This word evolved from Old English ælfsciene and Scandinavian roots, gaining romantic associations in the 18th century.
Elfin beauty became an ideal in Romantic poetry—think delicate features, a slight frame, and an otherworldly grace that made people seem almost magical.
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