elfism

Noun

elfism (countable and uncountable, plural elfisms)

1. The belief in elves as supernatural beings.
   • A writer during the reign of Elizabeth, or soon after, supposed to be no less a personage than the Bishop of Oxford, has, in an ingenious satire, quoted by Sir Walter Scott in his excellent work on Demonology, fixed the period of the decline of elfism - if our readers will tolerate the word — in...1853, J. T. Headley, Friendship's Memorial for 1853, page 189
   • You've demonstrated that theism is more popular than elfism, but that does not mean one is a more valid or reasonable position.1997 October 15, cra...voicenet.com, “What is Atheism Really?”, in talk.religion.misc (Usenet)
2. An elflike saying, based on fictional depictions such as the movie Elf or puns on the word elf.
   • Elves love to tell stories. I'll bet you didn't know that about elves. There's probably a lot of things you didn't know about elves. Another interesting elf-ism: there are only three jobs available to an elf. The first is making shoes at night while, you know, the old cobbler sleeps.2003, opening scene of film, in Elf, spoken by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart)
   • Elfism: If Santa rode a motorcycle, it would be a Holly Davidson.2011 December, Phyllis Benson, “December Almanac”, in Journal Plus, San Luis Obispo, →OCLC, page 46, column 2
3. The quality or state of being elflike; elfishness.
   • "Well, my dears, I have had a passion to express all the Kewpish babyism and elfism in the dolls as well as in the drawings, the wisdom, the kind funniness, the funny kindness."1930, Rowe Wright, C Francis Loomis, Marta Katrina Sironen, Everygirl's Magazine ... - Volumes 18-19, page 30
   • Anne and I gave Jackie some last minute instructions on “Elfdom” (Or, is it “Elfism?”) and how she should act. She took them to heart and her performance that day was incredible.1998, Bob Litak, Christine Hilt Muehlenberg, Reflections of a Small Town Santa, page 57