Dwarf (?), n.; pl. Dwarfs (#). [OE. dwergh, dwerf, dwarf, AS. dweorg, dweorh; akin to D. dwerg, MHG. twerc, G. zwerg, Icel. dvergr, Sw. & Dan. dverg; of unknown origin.] An animal or plant which is much below the ordinary size of its species or kind; especially, a diminutive human being.

&fist; During the Middle Ages dwarfs as well as fools shared the favor of courts and the nobility.

Dwarf is used adjectively in reference to anything much below the usual or normal size; as, dwarf tree; dwarf honeysuckle.

Dwarf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dwarfed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dwarfing.] To hinder from growing to the natural size; to make or keep small; to stunt. Addison.

Even the most common moral ideas and affections . . . would be stunted and dwarfed, if cut off from a spiritual background.

Dwarf, v. i. To become small; to diminish in size.

Strange power of the world that, the moment we enter it, our great conceptions dwarf.

• A person with short stature, often one whose limbs are disproportionately small in relation to the body as compared with normal adults, usually as the result of a genetic condition.
  
• An animal, plant or other thing much smaller than the usual of its sort.
  
• A creature from folklore, usually depicted as having mystical powers and being skilled at crafts such as woodwork and metalworking. Especially often found in Scandinavian folklore.
  
• miniature
  
• to make (to appear) much smaller; to render puny or tiny
       The newly-built skyscraper dwarfs the older buildings that make up the rest of downtown.
       Bach dwarfs all other composers.