Zemblan word meaning: "Uncontrollable fear caused by elves." It first appeared in the Charles Kinbote commentary to John Shade's /Pale Fire/, a 999-line poem of heroic couplets. It is related to the Icelandic word "alfur," meaning "elf."
A darkling forest, silence, then a small flurry of twig snapping, a tiny presence at one's ankle: an icy finger of alfear traced Janice's spine.
by EVAMAT May 1, 2009