Monday, February 15, 2010

Seven Dwarfs or Dwarves?

1994 "5 Dwarfs" Serigraph Cel - Limited Edition 7500.


In a recent post on the Snow White fanpop site, a reader asked the following question, and contributor IsisRain offered this response...

Q: If the plural for dwarf is dwarves, then why is the fairytale called Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?

A: Dwarfs was actually the original plural for dwarf. It's one of those irregular plurals like roofs.

J. R. R. Tolkien popularized dwarves. He intended the changed spelling to differentiate the "dwarf" fantasy race in his novels from the cuter and simpler beings common in fairy tales, but his usage has since spread.

Multiple astronomical dwarf stars and multiple non-mythological short human beings, however, remain dwarfs.


Dwarves at Bilbo's House by Edarlein

 
J.R.R. Tolkien,Houghton Mifflin

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