CHAPTER I

THE VOWELS

Sec. 2.

MHG. had the following simple vowels and diphthongs:--

Short vowels a, [a:], [e:], e, i, o, u, [o:], [u:]. Long " [a], [ae], [e], [i], [o], [u], [oe], iu. Diphthongs ei, ie, ou, uo, [o:]u (eu), [u:]e.

NOTE.--{[e:]} represents primitive Germanic {e} (= Gr. epsilon, Lat. {e}, as in Gr. +deka+, Lat. {decem}, MHG. {z[e:]hen}, _ten_) and is generally written {[e:]} in Old and Middle High German grammars, in order to distinguish it from the OHG. umlaut-{e} (Sec. 10). The former was an open sound like the {e} in English {bed}, whereas the latter was a close sound like the {['e]} in French {['e]t['e]}. {[a:]} was a very open sound nearly like the {a} in English {hat}, and arose in MHG. from the {i}-umlaut of {a} (Sec. 10). Good MHG. poets do not rhyme Germanic {[e:]} with the umlaut-{e}, and the distinction between the two sounds is still preserved in many NHG. dialects. In like manner the modern Bavarian and Austrian dialects still distinguish between {[a:]} and {[e:]}. In the MHG. period {[a:], [e:]}, and {e} were kept apart in Bavarian, but in Alemanic and Middle German {[a:]} and {[e:]} seem to have fallen together in {[e:]} or possibly {[a:]}, as the two sounds frequently rhyme with each other in good poets. MHG. texts do not always preserve in writing the distinction between the old umlaut-{e} and the MHG. umlaut-{[a:]}, both being often written {e} in the same text.

PRONUNCIATION OF THE VOWELS.

Sec. 3.

The approximate pronunciation of the above vowels and diphthongs was as follows:--

a as in NHG. m_a_nn man, _man_. [a] " " Engl. f_a_ther h[a]t, _has_. [a:] " " " m_a_n m[a:]hte, _powers_. [ae] " " " _ai_r l[ae]re, _empty_. [e:] " " " m_e_n h[e:]lfen, _to help_. e " " Fr. _['e]_t_['e]_ geste, _guests_. [e] " " NHG. r_e_h s[e], _sea_. i " " Engl. b_i_t biten, _to beg_. [i] " " " w_ee_n w[i]n, _wine_. o " " " p_o_t golt, _gold_. [o] " " NHG. t_o_t t[o]t, _dead_. u " " Engl. p_u_t guld[i]n, _golden_. [u] " " " f_oo_l h[u]s, _house_. [o:] " " NHG. l_[o:]_cher l[o:]cher, _holes_. [oe] " " " sch_[o:]_n sch[oe]ne, _beautiful_. [u:] " " " f_[u:]_llen v[u:]llen, _to fill_. iu " " " m_[u:]_de hiuser, _houses_. ei = e + i stein, _stone_. ie = i + e knie, _knee_. ou = o + u ouge, _eye_. [o:]u (eu) = [o:] _or_ e + [u:] dr[o:]uwen, _to threaten_. [u:]e = [u:] + e gr[u:]e[z]en, _to greet_. uo = u + o bruoder, _brother_.

To the above list should be added the MHG. {e} in unaccented syllables, which mostly arose from the weakening of the OHG. full vowels, as OHG. {zunga}, _tongue_, {hirti}, _shepherd_, {namo}, _name_, {fridu}, _peace_ = MHG. {zunge}, {hirte}, {name}, {fride}; OHG. {hab[e]n}, _to have_, {sc[o]n[i]}, _beauty_, {salb[o]n}, _to anoint_, {zung[u]n}, _tongues_ = MHG. {haben}, {sch[oe]ne}, {salben}, {zungen}. The {e} in this position was pronounced like the {-e} in NHG. {zunge}, {name}, {friede}, &c.

PHONETIC SURVEY OF THE MHG. VOWEL-SYSTEM.

Sec. 4.

Palatal { Short [a:], [e:], e, i, [o:], [u:]. { Long [ae], [e], [i], [oe], iu (= [u:]).

Guttural { Short a, o, u. { Long [a], [o], [u].

THE OHG. EQUIVALENTS OF THE MHG. VOWELS.

Sec. 5.

The following are the OHG. equivalents of the MHG. short vowels, long vowels and diphthongs of accented syllables:--

1. The short vowels a, [e:], e, i, o, u = the corresponding OHG. short vowels, as {tac}, _day_, {gast}, _guest_, {bant}, _he bound_, {gap}, _he gave_ = OHG. {tag}, {gast}, {bant}, {gab}.

{w[e:]c}, _way_, {n[e:]men}, _to take_, {z[e:]hen}, _ten_ = OHG. {w[e:]g}, {n[e:]man}, {z[e:]han}.

{geste}, _guests_, {lember}, _lambs_, {vert}, _he goes_ = OHG. {gesti}, {lembir}, {ferit}.

{wi[zz]en}, _to know_, {hilfe}, _I help_, {visch}, _fish_ = OHG. {wi[zz]an}, {hilfu}, {fisk}.

{got}, _God_, {wol}, _well_, {geholfen}, _helped_ = OHG. {got}, {wola}, {giholfan}.

{sun}, _son_, {wurm}, _worm_, {gebunden}, _bound_ = OHG. {sunu}, {wurm}, {gibuntan}.

{[a:]} is the umlaut of {a} before certain consonant combinations which prevented umlaut from taking place in OHG., as {m[a:]hte}, _powers_, {h[a:]ltet}, _he holds_, {w[a:]rmen}, _to warm_ = OHG. {mahti}, {haltit}, {warmen} from {*warmjan} (Sec. 10). It also occurs in derivatives ending in {-l[i]ch} and {-l[i]n}, as {m[a:]nl[i]ch}, _manly_, {t[a:]gel[i]ch}, _daily_, {v[a:]terl[i]n}, dim. of {vater}, _father_; and in words which originally had an {i} in the third syllable, the vowel of the second syllable having become {i} by assimilation, as {m[a:]gede}, _maids_, {z[a:]her(e)}, _tears_ = OHG. {magadi}, {zahari}.

{[o:]} is the umlaut of OHG. {o}, as {l[o:]cher}, _holes_, {m[o:]hte}, _I might_ = OHG. {lohhir}, {mohti}; {g[o:]tinne}, _goddess_, beside {got}, _God_.

{[u:]} is the umlaut of OHG. {u}, as {d[u:]nne}, _thin_, {s[u:]ne}, _sons_, {z[u:]ge}, _I might draw_ = OHG. {dunni}, {suni}, {zugi}.

2. The long vowels [a], [e], [i], [o], [u] = the corresponding OHG. long vowels, as {s[a]t}, _seed_, {sl[a]fen}, _to sleep_, {n[a]men}, _we took_, {d[a]hte}, _he thought_ = OHG. {s[a]t}, {sl[a]fan}, {n[a]mum}, {d[a]hta}.

{s[e]le}, _soul_, {m[e]re}, _more_, {l[e]ren}, _to teach_ = OHG. {s[e]la}, {m[e]ro}, {l[e]ren}.

{w[i]p}, _wife_, {s[i]n}, _his_, {b[i][z]en}, _to bite_ = OHG. {w[i]b}, {s[i]n}, {b[i][z]an}.

{[o]re}, _ear_, {t[o]t}, _death_, {k[o]s}, _I chose_ = OHG. {[o]ra}, {t[o]d}, {k[o]s}.

{h[u]s}, _house_, {t[u]sent}, _thousand_, {d[u]hte}, _it seemed_ = OHG. {h[u]s}, {d[u]sunt}, {d[u]hta}.

{[ae]} is the umlaut of OHG. {[a]}, as {l[ae]re}, _empty_, {n[ae]me}, _thou tookest_ = OHG. {l[a]ri}, {n[a]mi}.

{[oe]} is the umlaut of OHG. {[o]}, as {sch[oe]ne}, _beautiful_, {h[oe]her}, _higher_, {h[oe]ren}, _to hear_ = OHG. {sc[o]ni}, {h[o]hiro}, {h[o]ren} from {*h[o]rjan} older {*hausjan}.

iu = (1) OHG. {iu} (diphthong), as {liute}, _people_, {kiuset}, _he chooses_ = OHG. {liuti}, {kiusit}.

= (2) the umlaut of OHG. {[u]}, as {hiuser}, _houses_, {briute}, _brides_ = OHG. {h[u]sir}, {br[u]ti}.

3. The diphthongs ei, ou, uo = the corresponding OHG. diphthongs, as {bein}, _bone_, {leiten}, _to lead_, {schreip}, _I wrote_ = OHG. {bein}, {leiten}, {screib}.

{ouge}, _eye_, {houbet}, _head_, {bouc}, _I bent_ = OHG. {ouga}, {houbit}, {boug}.

{bruoder}, _brother_, {stuont}, _I stood_, {vuor}, _I went_ = OHG. {bruoder}, {stuont}, {fuor}.

ie = (1) OHG. {ie} (diphthong) older {ia}, {ea, [e]} (Germanic {[e]}), as {hier}, _here_, {miete}, _pay, reward_, {gienc}, _I went_ = OHG. {hier}, {mieta}, {gieng}.

= (2) OHG. {io} (Germanic {eu}), as {bieten}, _to offer_, {liep}, _dear_ = OHG. {biotan}, {liob}.

= (3) the OHG. {io} which occurs in the preterite of the old reduplicated verbs whose presents have {ou}, {[o], uo} (Sec. 87), as inf. {loufen}, _to run_, {st[o][z]en}, _to push_, {ruofen}, _to call_, preterite {lief}, {stie[z]}, {rief} = OHG. {liof}, {stio[z]}, {riof}.

= (4) Upper German {iu} (OHG. {io}) before labials and gutturals, as {liup}, _dear_, {tiuf}, _deep_, {siuch}, _sick_, {liugen}, _to tell a lie_ = {liep}, {tief}, {siech}, {liegen}.

{[o:]u} ({eu}) is the umlaut of OHG. {ou}, as {l[o:]uber}, _leaves_, {l[o:]ufel}, _runner_ = OHG. {loubir}, {loufil}.

{[u:]e} is the umlaut of OHG. {uo}, as {gr[u:]ene}, _green_, {g[u:]ete}, _goodness_, {v[u:]ere}, _thou didst go_ = OHG. {gruoni}, {guot[i]}, {fuori}.

UNACCENTED VOWELS AND UMLAUT.

Sec. 6.

The two most characteristic differences between OHG. and MHG. are: (1) the spread of umlaut (Sec. 10); (2) the weakening and partial loss of vowels in unaccented syllables.

1. THE WEAKENING OF UNACCENTED VOWELS.

Sec. 7.

The short vowels a, i, o, u, and the long vowels [e], [i], [o], [u] were weakened to {e}. This {e} was pronounced like the final {-e} in NHG. {leute}, see Sec. 3. Examples are:--

{g[e:]ba}, _gift_, {h[e:]rza}, _heart_, {zunga}, _tongue_, {taga}, _days_ = MHG. {g[e:]be}, {h[e:]rze}, {zunge}, {tage}; {heilag}, _holy_, neut. {blinda[z]}, _blind_, {n[e:]man}, _to take_ = MHG. {heilec}, {blinde[z]}, {n[e:]men}.

{kunni}, _race, generation_, {gesti}, _guests_ = MHG. {k[u:]nne}, {geste}; {kuning}, _king_, {be[zz]isto}, _best_, dat. pl. {gestim}, _to guests_, gen. pl. {lembiro}, _of lambs_, {nimit}, _he takes_ = MHG. {k[u:]nec}, {be[zz]est} ({beste}), {gesten}, {lember(e)}, {nimet}.

{haso}, _hare_, nom. acc. pl. fem. {blinto}, _blind_, gen. pl. {tago}, _of days_ = MHG. {hase}, {blinde}, {tage}; acc. sing. {hason}, _hare_ = MHG. {hasen}.

{fridu}, _peace_, dat. sing. {g[e:]bu}, _to a gift_, {nimu}, _I take_ = MHG. {fride}, {g[e:]be}, {nime}; dat. pl. {tagum}, _to days_, {n[a]mum}, _we took_ = MHG. {tagen}, {n[a]men}.

Nom. sing. masc. {blint[e]r}, _blind_, {uns[e]r}, _our_, {hab[e]n}, _to have_, {n[e:]m[e]m}, _we may take_ = MHG. {blinder}, {unser}, {haben}, {n[e:]men}.

{sc[o]n[i]}, _beauty_ = MHG. {sch[oe]ne}; {s[a]l[i]g}, _blessed_, {n[a]m[i]m}, _we might take_ = MHG. {s[ae]lec}, {n[ae]men}.

{salb[o]n}, _to anoint_, {suoht[o]s(t)}, _thou soughtest_, dat. pl. {g[e:]b[o]m}, {h[e:]rz[o]m} = MHG. {salben}, {suohtes(t)}, {g[e:]ben}, {h[e:]rzen}.

Gen. dat. acc. sing., nom. acc. pl. {zung[u]n} = MHG. {zungen}.

Sec. 8.

The vowel in suffixal and derivative syllables was generally weakened to {e} just as in the inflexional syllables, but in some suffixal and derivative syllables which had a secondary accent the vowel was not weakened to {e}. This was especially the case with derivatives in {-[ae]re} (denoting nomina agentis), {-inne}, {-inc} ({-ing}), {linc} ({-ling}), diminutives in {-[i]n} and {-l[i]n}, abstract nouns in {-nisse} ({-nusse}, {-n[u:]sse}), {-unge}. In others the vowel fluctuated between the full vowel and {e}, as in {-isch} beside {-esch}; {-ic} (= OHG. {-ag}, and {-[)i]g}) beside {-ec}; superlative of adjectives {-ist} (= OHG. {-ist}) beside {-est} (= OHG. {-[o]st}); {-sal} beside {-sel}. Beside the full forms {-l[i]ch}, {-r[i]ch} occurred the shortened forms {-lich}, {-rich}.

The OHG. endings of the present participle {-anti}, {-enti}, {-[o]nti}, {[e]nti} regularly became {-ende}, but {-ant} occurs in a few old

## participles which had become nouns, as {heilant}, _Saviour_, {w[i]gant},

_warrior_, {v[i]ant} beside {v[i]ent} ({v[i]nt}), _fiend, enemy_. Examples are: {garten[ae]re}, _gardener_, {schepf[ae]re}, _creator_, {schr[i]b[ae]re}, _scribe_.

{k[u:]neginne}, _queen_, {vriundinne}, _female friend_, {wirtinne}, _mistress_.

{edelinc}, _son of a nobleman_, {hendelinc}, _glove_, {vingerlinc}, _ring_; {m[u:]edinc}, _unhappy man_.

{maged[i]n}, _little girl_, {vinger[i]n}, _ring_; {kindel[i]n}, _little child_, {vogel[i]n}, _little bird_.

{hindernisse}, _hindrance_, {verd[e:]rbnisse}, _destruction_, {vinsternisse}, _darkness_, {vancn[u:]sse}, _captivity_.

{be[zz]erunge}, _improvement_, {handelunge}, _action_, {m[e:]ldunge}, _announcement_.

{himelisch}, _heavenly_, {irdisch}, _earthly_, {kindisch}, _childish_, beside {-esch}.

{heilic} (OHG. {heilag}), _holy_, {honic} (OHG. {honag}, {honig}), _honey_, {k[u:]nic} (OHG. {cuning}, {cunig}), _king_, {manic} (OHG. {manag}), _many a_, {s[ae]lic} (OHG. {s[a]l[i]g}), _blessed_, beside {-ec}.

{oberist} beside {oberest}, _highest_.

{kumbersal}, _distress_, {tr[u:]ebsal}, _gloom_, {w[e:]hsal} beside {w[e:]hsel}, _change_.

{bitterl[i]ch}, _bitterly_, {sicherl[i]ch}, _surely_, {w[i]sl[i]ch}, _wisely_, beside {-lich}.

{Dietr[i]ch}, {Heinr[i]ch}, beside {-rich}.

The OHG. pronominal ending of the nom. sing. fem. and the nom. acc. pl. neuter remained unweakened, as OHG. {blintiu} = MHG. {blindiu} (Sec. 55).

2. THE LOSS OF UNACCENTED VOWELS.

Sec. 9.

The weakened {e} regularly disappeared:--

1. After {l} and {r} in dissyllables with short stems, as {ar}, older {are} (OHG. {aro}), _eagle_, acc. gen. dat. {arn}, beside {name}, _name_, {namen}; {wol}, older {wole} (OHG. {wola}), _well_; {gar} (OHG. {garo}), _ready_, {milch} (OHG. {milih}), _milk_, {zal} (OHG. {zala}), _number_; {kil}, _quill_, gen. {kil(e)s}, dat. {kil}, pl. nom. acc. {kil}, dat. {kil(e)n}, beside {tac}, _day_, gen. {tages}, dat. {tage}, pl. nom. acc. {tage}, dat. {tagen}; {b[e:]rn}, _to bear_, {st[e:]ln}, _to steal_, {nern}, _to rescue_, pres. sing. {stil}, {stils(t)}, {stilt}; {ner}, {ners(t)}, {nert}, beside {h[oe]ren}, _to hear_, pres. sing. {h[oe]re}, {h[oe]res(t)}, {h[oe]ret}.

2. After liquids and nasals in trisyllabic and polysyllabic forms with long stems, as {s[ae]lde} (OHG. {s[a]lida}), _blessedness_, {h[e]rsen}, {h[e:]rsen} (OHG. {h[e]ris[o]n}), _to rule_, {zierde} (OHG. {ziarida}), _adornment_, {wandelte} (OHG. {wantal[o]ta}), _I wandered_, {zw[i]feln} (OHG. {zw[i]fal[o]n}), _to doubt_, {wundern} (OHG. {wuntar[o]n}), _to wonder_, {sch[oe]nste} (OHG. {sc[o]nisto}), _most beautiful_, {diente}, {diende} (OHG. {dion[o]ta}), _I served_; {dienest}, _service_, gen. {dienstes}; {engel}, _angel_, gen. {engel(e)s}, dat. {engel(e)}, pl. nom. acc. gen. {engel(e)}, dat. {engel(e)n}, and similarly with words like {acker}, _acre_, {l[u]ter}, _clear_, {buosem}, _bosom_, {heiden}, _heathen_; {gr[oe][z]er} (OHG. {gr[o][z]iro}), _greater_, fem. dat. sing. {gr[oe][z]er} (OHG. {gr[o][z]iru}); dat. sing. {blindem(e)}, _blind_, {guotem(e)}, _good_ = OHG. {blintemu}, {guotemu}; gen. pl. {blinder(e)} = OHG. {blintero}. After the analogy of forms with long stems it was also dropped in forms with short stems, as pl. {nagel}, _nails_, {vogel}, _birds_, beside {nagele}, {vogele}; {wider} beside {widere} (OHG. {widaro}), _wether_, dat. sing. {disem(e)}, _this_, {vadem(e)}, _thread_, gen. {vadem(e)s}.

There was however a strong tendency in MHG. for the medial vowel to disappear in trisyllabic forms with long stems irrespectively as to whether they contained a liquid or a nasal, as {market}, _market_, gen. {marktes}; {r[i]chsen} (OHG. {r[i]chis[o]n}), _to rule_, {ahte} (OHG. {aht[o]ta}), _he observed_, {wartte}, {warte} (OHG. {wart[e]ta}), _he waited_, {vr[a]gte} beside {vr[a]gete} (OHG. {fr[a]g[e]ta}), _he asked_, {dancte} beside {dankete} (OHG. {dank[o]ta}), _he thanked_. See Sec. 92.

3. In the medial syllable of trisyllabic forms with long stems having liquids or nasals in successive syllables, as {d[i]me} beside {d[i]neme} (OHG. {d[i]nemu}), dat. of {d[i]n}, _thy_; {eime} beside {ein(e)me} (OHG. {einemu}), dat. of {ein}, _one_; {h[e]rre}, {h[e:]rre} (OHG. {h[e]riro}), _master_; {minre} beside {minner(e)} (OHG. {minniro}), _less_; {tiurre} (OHG. {tiuriro}), _dearer_.

4. Finally after a nasal, and medially after a nasal before a following {t}, in forms with short stems, as {han(e)}, _cock_, {nam(e)}, _name_, {sun} (OHG. {sun}, {sunu}), _son_, {won(e)}, _I dwell_; {man(e)t}, _he admonishes_, {won(e)t}, _he dwells_, {scham(e)t}, _he shames_, {nim(e)t}, _he takes_, {n[e:]m(e)t}, _ye take_; pret. {won(e)te}, {scham(e)te}. In these and similar forms the {e} was often restored through the influence of forms which regularly preserved the {e}.

NOTE.--The {e}, when not preceded by a nasal, was sometimes dropped in verbal forms ending in {t}. This was especially the case in {wirst}, {wirt} older {wirdes(t)}, {wirdet}; {siht}, _he sees_, {s[e:]ht}, _ye see_, older {sihet}, {s[e:]het}; and often in forms like {gilt}, {vint}, {spricht}, {sticht} beside {giltet}, {vindet}, {sprichet}, {stichet}.

5. The superlative of adjectives often has double forms, the one with the loss of the medial {e}, and the other with the loss of the final {e}, as {beste}, _best_, {[e]rste}, _first_, {gr[oe]ste}, _greatest_, {leste}, _last_, {min(ne)ste}, _least_, {wir(se)ste}, _worst_, beside {be[zz]est(e)}, {[e]rest(e)}, {gr[oe][z]est(e)}, {le[zz]est(e)}, {minnest(e)}, {wirsest(e)}, OHG. {be[zz]isto}, {[e]risto}, {gr[o][z]isto}, {le[zz]isto}, {minnisto}, {wirsisto}.

6. In the unstressed forms of dissyllables, as adv. {ane}, {abe}, {mite}, {obe} beside the prepositions {an}, _on_, {ab}, _of_, {mit}, _with_, {ob}, _over_; dat. sing. {d[e:]me}, {w[e:]me}, {ime}, beside {d[e:]m}, {w[e:]m}, {im}; {unde}, _and_, {wande}, _for_, _because_, beside {und} ({unt}), {wan(d)}; {h[e:]rre}, {vrouwe}, beside {h[e:]r}, {vrou} before proper names and titles.

7. The {e} in the unaccented verbal prefixes {be-}, {ge-} often disappeared before {l, n, r}, as {bl[i]ben}, _to remain_, {gl[i]ch}, _like_, {glit}, _member_, {glouben}, _to believe_, {gn[a]de}, _favour_, {gnanne}, _namesake_, {gnuoge}, _many_, {grade}, _quick_, {gr[e:]ch}, _straight_, beside {bel[i]ben}, {gel[i]ch}, {gelit}, {gelouben}, {gen[a]de}, {genanne}, {genuoge}, {gerade}, {ger[e:]ch}; it disappeared before vowels during the OHG. period, as {bange}, _anxious_: {ange}, _anxiously_, {g[e:][zz]an} p.p. of {[e:][zz]an}, _to eat_, {gunnan}, MHG. {gunnen}, {g[u:]nnen}, _to grant_.

3. UMLAUT.

Sec. 10.

By umlaut is meant the modification (palatalization) of an accented vowel through the influence of an {[)i]} or {j} which originally stood in the following syllable. The only vowel which underwent this change in OHG. was {a}, which became close {e} (Sec. 2, note).

The change is first met with in OHG. monuments about the middle of the eighth century. In the ninth century the process was practically complete except when the {a} was followed by certain consonant combinations which prevented umlaut from taking place. These consonant combinations were:--

1. {ht}, {hs}, or consonant + {w}, as {maht}, _power_, pl. {mahti; wahsit}, _he grows_, inf. {wahsan}; {bi-scatwen} from {*-scatwjan}, _to shade_.

2. In Upper German before {l} + consonant, before {hh}, {ch} (= Germanic {k}), and often before {r} + consonant, and before {h} (= Germanic {h}), as Upper German {haltit} beside Upper Franconian {heltit}, _he holds_, inf. {haltan}; UG. {altiro} beside UF. {eltiro}, _older_; UG. {sachit} beside UF. {sehhit}, _he quarrels_, inf. {sachan}, Goth. {sakan}; UG. {warmen} beside {wermen}, Goth. {warmjan}, _to warm_; UG. {slahit} beside {slehit}, _he strikes_, inf. OHG. {slahan}, Goth. {slahan}.

3. In words ending in {-nissi}, {-nissa}, or {-l[i]h}, as {firstantnissi}, _understanding_; {infancnissa}, _assumption_; {kraftl[i]h}, _strong_; {tagal[i]h}, _daily_.

Umlaut must have taken place earlier in the spoken language than it is expressed in late OHG. and early MHG. manuscripts, because the {[)i]} which caused the umlaut was weakened to {e} in MHG. (Sec. 7) and {j} had disappeared except between vowels. The vowels and diphthongs which underwent umlaut in MHG. are a, o, u, [a], [o], [u], ou, uo. The umlaut of all these sounds was completed by about the year 1200.

a > e: {gast}, _guest_, pl. {geste} (OHG. {gesti}); {lamp}, _lamb_, pl. {lember} (OHG. {lembir}); inf. {graben}, _to dig_, pres. second and third pers. sing. {grebes(t)}, {grebet} (OHG. {grebis}, {grebit}); {lanc}, _long_, beside {lenge} (OHG. {leng[i]}), _length_; {brennen}, Goth. {brannjan}, _to burn_; {bette} (OHG. {betti}), _bed_.

a > [a:]: From the twelfth century onwards the umlaut of {a} also occurs--often beside forms without umlaut--in words containing the consonant combinations which prevented umlaut from taking place in OHG., as pl. {m[a:]hte} (OHG. {mahti}), _powers_; {gesl[a:]hte} (OHG. {gislahti}), _race_, _generation_; {w[a:]hset} (OHG. {wahsit}), _he grows_; {w[a:]rmen} (OHG. {warmen}, older {*warmjan}), _to warm_; Upper German {[a:]lter} (OHG. {altiro}), _older_; {k[a:]lte} (OHG. {kalt[i]}), _coldness_; {h[a:]ltet} (OHG. {haltit}), _he holds_; {[a:]her} (OHG. {ahir}), _ear of corn_; {sl[a:]het} (OHG. {slahit}), _he strikes_. It also occurs in derivatives ending in {-l[i]ch}, {-l[i]n}, as {m[a:]nl[i]ch}, _manly_, {sch[a:]mel[i]ch}, _shameful_, {t[a:]gel[i]ch}, _daily_, {v[a:]terl[i]ch}, _fatherly_, {v[a:]terl[i]n}, dim. of {vater}, _father_. It is likewise met with in MHG. words which originally had an {i} in the third syllable, the vowel of the second syllable having become {i} by assimilation, as {fr[a:]vele} (OHG. {frafali}), _bold_, pl. {m[a:]gede} (OHG. {magadi}), _maids_, pl. {z[a:]her(e)} (OHG. {zahari}), _tears_. See Sec. 2, Note.

o > [o:]: Although {[o:]}, the umlaut of {o}, is common in MHG. and still commoner in NHG., yet all words containing this umlaut are really new formations due to levelling or analogy, because primitive Germanic {u} (Sec. 15) did not become {o} in OHG. when followed by an {[)i]} or {j} in the next syllable. Examples are: {boc}, _he-goat_, beside dim. {b[o:]ckl[i]n} (OHG. {pochil[i]}); {dorf}, _village_, beside pl. {d[o:]rfer}; {got}, _God_, beside {g[o:]tinne}, _goddess_; {hof}, _court_, beside {h[o:]vesch}, _courtly_; {loch} (OHG. {loh}), _hole_, beside pl. {l[o:]cher} (OHG. {lohhir}); {tohter}, _daughter_, beside dim. {t[o:]hterl[i]n}; pret. subj. {m[o:]hte} (OHG. {mohti}), _I might_; {t[o:]rste} (OHG. {torsti}), _I might dare_.

u > [u:]: {d[u:]nne} (OHG. {dunni}), _thin_; {k[u:]nne} (OHG. {kunni}), _race_, _generation_; pl. {s[u:]ne} (OHG. {suni}), _sons_; {t[u:]r} (OHG. {turi}), _door_; pret. subj. {z[u:]ge} (OHG. {zugi}), inf. {ziehen}, _to draw_.

NOTE.--In Upper German certain consonant combinations often prevented umlaut from taking place where it might be expected. Of these the principal are:--

1. Before a liquid + consonant, as {hulde} (OHG. {huld[i]}), _favour_; {schuldec} (OHG. {sculd[i]g}), _guilty_; {gedultec} (OHG. {gidult[i]g}), _indulgent_; {burge} (OHG. {burgi}), dat. of {burc}, _city_; {sturbe} (OHG. {sturbi}), pret. subj. of {st[e:]rben}, _to die_; {wurfe} (OHG. {wurfi}), pret. subj. of {w[e:]rfen}, _to throw_, cp. 2 above.

2. {u} fluctuates with {[u:]} when followed by a nasal + consonant, as {dunken}, _to seem_, {umbe}, _about_, {wunne}, _joy_, beside {d[u:]nken}, {[u:]mbe} (OHG. {umbi}), {w[u:]nne}. This fluctuation is especially common in the pret. subjunctive, as {bunde}, {sunge}, beside {b[u:]nde}, {s[u:]nge}, inf. {binden}, _to bind_, {singen}, _to sing_.

3. {u} fluctuates with {[u:]} when followed by {gg}, {ck}, {pf}, {tz}, {[zz]}, {st}, {ch}, and {g}, as {brugge}, {br[u:]gge}, {brucke}, {br[u:]cke}, _bridge_; {mugge}, {m[u:]gge}, {mucke}, {m[u:]cke}, _midge_; {drucken}, {dr[u:]cken}, _to press_; {hupfen}, {h[u:]pfen}, _to hop_; {schupfen}, {sch[u:]pfen}, _to push_; {nutzen}, {n[u:]tzen}, _to use_; pret. subj. {flu[zz]e}, {fl[u:][zz]e}; {schu[zz]e}, {sch[u:][zz]e}, inf. {flie[z]en}, _to flow_, {schie[z]en}, _to shoot_; pl. {bruste}, {br[u:]ste}, _breasts_; {kuchen}, {k[u:]chen}, _kitchen_; pret. subj. {fluge}, {fl[u:]ge}, inf. {fliegen}, _to fly_.

[a] > [ae]: {l[ae]re} (OHG. {l[a]ri}), _empty_; {m[ae]re} (OHG. {m[a]ri}), _renowned_; {s[ae]jen} (OHG. {s[a]jan}), _to sow_; pret. subj. {n[ae]me} (OHG. {n[a]mi}), pl. {n[ae]men} (OHG. {n[a]m[i]m}), inf. {n[e:]men}, _to take_.

[o] > [oe]: {h[oe]her} (OHG. {h[o]hiro}), _higher_; {h[oe]hest} (OHG. {h[o]histo}), _highest_; {h[oe]ren} (OHG. {h[o]ren}, from older {*h[o]rjan}), _to hear_; {sch[oe]ne} (OHG. {sc[o]ni}), _beautiful_.

[u] > iu: pl. {briute} (OHG. {br[u]ti}), _brides_; {hiuser} (OHG. {h[u]sir}), _houses_.

Traces of the umlaut of {[u]}, written {iu} (= {[=u:]}), occur in late OHG. monuments of the tenth century. It is common in the writings of Notker (d. 1022), as {hiute} older {h[u]ti}, _skins_; {chriuter} older {chr[u]tir}, _herbs_. In other writings of the tenth to the twelfth century the umlaut of {[u]} is seldom found. Umlaut did not take place in Upper German before a following {m}, as {r[u]men} from {*r[u]mjan}, _to make room_; {s[u]men} from {*s[u]mjan}, _to tarry_.

ou > [o:]u, often written {eu}, rarely {oi}, {[o:]i}: {l[o:]ufel} (OHG. {loufil}), _runner_; {l[o:]uber} (OHG. {loubir}), _leaves_.

Umlaut of {ou} did not take place in the combination {ouw} = OHG. {ouw}, {auw}, West Germanic {aww}, primitive Germanic {awj}, as {frouwe} (OHG. {frouwa}, prim. Germanic {*frawj[o]-}), _woman_; {ouwe} (OHG. {ouwa}, {auwia}, prim. Germanic {*a([zh])wj[o]-}), _meadow_; {frouwen} (OHG. {frouwen}, prim. Germanic {*frawjan}), _to rejoice_, and similarly {douwen}, _to digest_, {drouwen}, _to threaten_, {strouwen}, _to strew_. Forms like {fr[o:]uwen}, {d[o:]uwen}, {dr[o:]uwen}, {str[o:]uwen} were analogical formations due to the influence of the pres. second and third pers. singular and the preterite which regularly had umlaut; see the Author's Historical German Grammar, Sec. 232.

Umlaut of {ou} did not take place in Upper German before labials and {g}, as {erlouben}, _to allow_, {gelouben}, _to believe_, {houbet}, _head_, {koufen}, _to buy_, {troumen}, _to dream_, {toufen}, _to baptize_, {bougen}, _to bend_, {ougen}, _to show_, beside Middle German {erl[o:]uben}, {gel[o:]uben}, {h[o:]ubet}, {k[o:]ufen}, {tr[o:]umen}, {t[o:]ufen}, {b[o:]ugen}, {[o:]ugen}.

uo > [u:]e: {gr[u:]ene} (OHG. {gruoni}), _green_; {g[u:]ete} (OHG. {guot[i]}), _goodness_; {v[u:]e[z]e} (OHG. {fuo[z]i}), _feet_; pret. pl. subj. {v[u:]eren} (OHG. {fuor[i]m}), _we might go_, inf. {varn}, _to fare_, _go_; {buoch}, _book_, dim. {b[u:]echl[i]n}; {muoter}, _mother_, dim. {m[u:]eterl[i]n}.

THE MHG. EQUIVALENTS OF THE OHG. VOWELS.

Sec. 11.

OHG. had the following short vowels, long vowels, and diphthongs:--

Short Vowels a, e, [e:], i, o, u. Long " [a], [e], [i], [o], [u]. Diphthongs ei, ie (ia, ea), ou (au), uo. io (eo), iu.

The following are the MHG. equivalents of the above simple vowels and diphthongs in accented syllables:--

1. The short vowels: Apart from the changes caused by umlaut, viz. {a} to {[a:], o} to {[o:], u} to {[u:]} (Sec. 10), and of {[e:]} to {e} before certain consonants, the OHG. short vowels remained in MHG., as

a = (1) MHG. a, as OHG. {fater}, _father_, {tag}, _day_, {faran}, _to go_ = MHG. {vater}, {tac}, {varn}.

= (2) MHG. [a:], in words containing the consonant combinations which prevented umlaut from taking place in OHG., as OHG. {mahti}, _powers_, {kalt[i]}, _coldness_, {ahir}, _ear of corn_, {warmen}, _to warm_ = MHG. {m[a:]hte}, {k[a:]lte}, {[a:]her}, {w[a:]rmen}, see Sec. 10.

e = MHG. e, as OHG. {gesti}, _guests_, {lembir}, _lambs_, {brennen}, _to burn_ = MHG. {geste}, {lember}, {brennen}.

[e:] = (1) MHG. [e:], as OHG. {w[e:]g}, _way_, {h[e:]lfan}, _to help_, {st[e:]lan}, _to steal_ = MHG. {w[e:]c}, {h[e:]lfen}, {st[e:]ln}.

= (2) MHG. e, before {st}, {sch}, and palatal {g}, as OHG. {n[e:]st}, _nest_, {sw[e:]ster}, _sister_ = MHG. {nest}, {swester}; and similarly, {gestern}, _yesterday_, {deste}, _all the more_, {weste}, _I knew_, {dreschen}, _to thrash_, {leschen}, _to go out_, {degen}, _warrior_; and also in a few words before a following {l}, as {helm}, _helmet_, {vels}, _rock_, {welch}, _which_, &c.

i = MHG. i, as OHG. {fisk}, _fish_, {nimu}, _I take_, {wi[zz]an}, _to know_ = MHG. {visch}, {nime}, {wi[zz]en}.

o = (1) MHG. o, as OHG. {got}, _God_, p.p. {giholfan}, _helped_, {tohter}, _daughter_ = MHG. {got}, {geholfen}, {tohter}. = (2) MHG. [o:], as OHG. {lohhir}, _holes_, {mohti}, _I might_ = MHG. {l[o:]cher}, {m[o:]hte}.

u = (1) MHG. u, as OHG. {sunu}, {sun}, _son_, {butum}, _we offered_, {buntum}, _we bound_ = MHG. {sun}, {buten}, {bunden}. = (2) MHG. [u:], as OHG. {dunni}, _thin_, {suni}, _sons_ = MHG. {d[u:]nne}, {s[u:]ne}.

2. The long vowels: Apart from the changes caused by umlaut, viz. {[a]} to {[ae], [o]} to {[oe]}, and {[u]} to {iu} (Sec. 10), the OHG. long vowels remained in MHG., as

[a] = (1) MHG. [a], as OHG. {s[a]t}, _seed_, {sl[a]fan}, _to sleep_, {d[a]hta}, _I thought_ = MHG. {s[a]t}, {sl[a]fen}, {d[a]hte}. = (2) MHG. [ae], as OHG {l[a]ri}, _empty_, {n[a]mi}, _I might take_ = MHG. {l[ae]re}, {n[ae]me}.

[e] = MHG. [e], as OHG. {[e]ra}, _honour_, {l[e]ren}, _to teach_, {s[e]la}, _soul_ = MHG. {[e]re}, {l[e]ren}, {s[e]le}.

[i] = MHG. [i], as OHG. {s[i]n}, _his_, {w[i]b}, _woman_, {sn[i]dan}, _to cut_ = MHG. {s[i]n}, {w[i]p}, {sn[i]den}.

[o] = (1) MHG. [o], as OHG. {[o]ra}, _ear_, {t[o]d}, _death_, {k[o]s}, _I chose_ = MHG. {[o]re}, {t[o]t}, {k[o]s}. = (2) MHG. [oe], as OHG. {h[o]hiro}, _higher_, {h[o]ren}, _to hear_, {sc[o]ni}, _beautiful_ = MHG. {h[oe]her}, {h[oe]ren}, {sch[oe]ne}.

[u] = (1) MHG. [u], as OHG. {h[u]s}, _house_, {r[u]m}, _room_, {d[u]hta}, _it seemed_ = MHG. {h[u]s}, {r[u]m}, {d[u]hte}.

= (2) MHG. iu, as OHG. {h[u]sir}, _houses_, {br[u]ti}, _brides_ = MHG. {hiuser}, {briute}.

3. The diphthongs:

ei = MHG. ei, as OHG. {bein}, _bone_, {leiten}, _to lead_, {sneid}, _I cut_ = MHG. {bein}, {leiten}, {sneit}.

ie (older ia, ea = Germanic [e]) = MHG. ie, as OHG. {hier}, _here_, {mieta}, _reward_, {hielt}, _I held_, {hie[z]}, _I called_, {slief}, _I slept_ = MHG. {hier}, {miete}, {hielt}, {hie[z]}, {slief}.

io (eo) = Germanic eu (Sec. 16), and the io (eo) in the preterites of the old reduplicated verbs whose presents have ou, [o], uo (Sec. 87). = MHG. ie, as OHG. {liob}, _dear_, {biotan}, _to offer_ = MHG. {liep}, {bieten}; OHG. {liof}, _I ran_, {stio[z]}, _I pushed_, {riof}, _I called_ = MHG. {lief}, {stie[z]}, {rief}.

iu = MHG. [-u:] written iu, as OHG. {liuti}, _people_, {kiusit}, _he chooses_ = MHG. {liute}, {kiuset}.

ou (older au) = (1) MHG. ou, as OHG. {ouga}, _eye_, {boug}, _I bent_, {loufan}, _to run_ = MHG. {ouge}, {bouc}, {loufen}. = (2) MHG. [o:]u (eu), as OHG. {loubir}, _leaves_, {loufil}, _runner_ = MHG. {l[o:]uber}, {l[o:]ufel}.

uo = (1) MHG. uo, as OHG. {bruoder}, _brother_, {muoter}, _mother_, {stuont}, _I stood_ = MHG. {bruoder}, {muoter}, {stuont}. = (2) MHG. [u:]e, as OHG. {gruoni}, _green_, {fuo[z]i}, _feet_, = MHG. {gr[u:]ene}, {v[u:]e[z]e}.

ABLAUT (VOWEL GRADATION).

Sec. 12.

By ablaut is meant the gradation of vowels both in stem and suffix, which was chiefly caused by the primitive Indo-Germanic system of accentuation. See the Author's Historical German Grammar, Sec. 23.

The vowels vary within certain series of related vowels, called ablaut-series. In MHG. there are six such series, which appear most clearly in the stem-forms of strong verbs. Four stem-forms are to be distinguished in a MHG. strong verb which has vowel gradation as the characteristic mark of its different stems:--(1) the present stem, to which belong all the forms of the present, (2) the stem of the first or third person of the preterite singular, (3) the stem of the preterite plural, to which belong the second person of the preterite singular and the whole of the preterite subjunctive, (4) the stem of the past

## participle.

By arranging the vowels according to these four stems we arrive at the following system:--

i. ii. iii. iv.

I. [i] ei, [e] i i II. ie ou, [o] u o III. i, [e:] a u u, o IV. [e:] a [a] o V. [e:] a [a] [e:] VI. a uo uo a

NOTE.--1. On the difference between {ei} and {[e]}, see Sec. 17; {ou} and {[o]}, Sec. 18; and in Series III {i} and {[e:]}, Sec. 14; {u} and {o}, Sec. 15.

2. Strong verbs belonging to Series II have {iu} in the indicative pres. singular; and strong verbs belonging to Series III-V with {[e:]} in the infinitive have {i} in the indicative pres. singular (Secs. 14, 16).

EXAMPLES.

I. sn[i]den, _to cut_ sn[i]de sneit sniten gesniten; l[i]hen, _to lend_ l[i]he l[e]ch lihen gelihen. II. biegen, _to bend_ biuge bouc bugen gebogen; sieden, _to seethe_ siude s[o]t suten gesoten. III. binden, _to bind_ binde bant bunden gebunden; h[e:]lfen, _to help_ hilfe half hulfen geholfen. IV. n[e:]men, _to take_ nime nam n[a]men genomen. V. g[e:]ben, _to give_ gibe gap g[a]ben geg[e:]ben. VI. graben, _to dig_ grabe gruop gruoben gegraben.

For further examples see the various classes of strong verbs Secs. 76-86. Class VII of strong verbs embracing the old reduplicated verbs (Sec. 87) has been omitted from the ablaut-series, because the exact relation in which the vowel of the present stands to that of the preterite has not yet been satisfactorily explained.

OTHER VOWEL CHANGES.

Sec. 13.

Most of the following vowel changes took place in prehistoric times; but as they play an important part in the verbs and word-formation, &c., we shall give them here.

Sec. 14.

[e:] (= Indo-Germanic e) became i in the prehistoric period of all the Germanic languages:--

1. Before a nasal + consonant, as OE. {wind}, OHG. MHG. {wint}, Lat. {ventus}, _wind_; OHG. {fimf}, {finf}, Gr. +pente+, _five_. This explains why verbs like MHG. {binden}, _to bind_, {rinnen}, _to run_, {singen}, _to sing_, belong to the same ablaut-series as {h[e:]lfen}, _to help_, {w[e:]rden}, _to become_.

2. Before other consonants when followed by an {[)i]} or {j} in the next syllable, and further in OHG. when followed by an {u} in the next syllable, as OHG. MHG. {ist}, Gr. +esti+, _is_; OHG. {fihu}, Lat. {pecu}, _cattle_; {[e:]rde} (OHG. {[e:]rda}), _earth_, but {ird[i]n}, _earthen_; {ligen} (OHG. {liggen} from {*ligjan}), _to lie down_, {sitzen} (OHG. {sitzen} from {*sitjan}), _to sit_, but p.p. {gel[e:]gen} (OHG. {gil[e:]gan}), {ges[e:][zz]en} (OHG. {gis[e:][zz]an}). This explains why strong verbs belonging to the fourth (Secs. 12, 82) and fifth (Secs. 12, 83) ablaut-series have {i} throughout the present singular, and similarly in verbs belonging to the third (Secs. 12, 81) series with {[e:]} in the infinitive, as

OHG. n[e:]man, _to take_, three persons sing. nimu, nimis(t), nimit. MHG. n[e:]men, " " " " nime, nimes(t), nimet. OHG. g[e:]ban, _to give_, " " " gibu, gibis(t), gibit. MHG. g[e:]ben, " " " " gibe, gibes(t), gibet. OHG. h[e:]lfan, _to help_, " " " hilfu, hilfis(t), hilfit. MHG. h[e:]lfen, " " " " hilfe, hilfes(t), hilfet.

Sec. 15.

{u}, followed originally by an {[)a]}, {[)o]}, or {[e]} in the next syllable, became {o} when not protected by a nasal + consonant or an intervening {[)i]} or {j}; hence the interchange between {u} and {o} in the preterite plural and past participle of verbs belonging to the second ablaut-series (Secs. 12, 78), as {bugen} (OHG. {bugum}), _we bent_, p.p. {gebogen} (OHG. {gibogan}); in the p.p. of verbs belonging to the third ablaut-series (Secs. 12, 81), as {gebunden} (OHG. {gibuntan}), but {geholfen} (OHG. {giholfan}); in weak verbs as {f[u:]rhten} (OHG. {furhten} from {*furhtjan}), _to fear_, beside pret. {vorhte} (OHG. {forhta}); {h[u:]gen} (OHG. {huggen} from {*hugjan}) beside {hogen} (OHG. {hog[e]n}), _to think_; in preterite presents like {durfen} (OHG. {durfum}), _we dare_, beside pret. {dorfte} (OHG. {dorfta}); in many nouns and adjectives, as {wolle} (OHG. {wolla}), _wool_, beside {w[u:]ll[i]n}, {wull[i]n}, _woollen_; {wolf} (stem {*wulfo-}), _wolf_, beside {w[u:]lpinne}, _she-wolf_; {vol}, _full_, beside {v[u:]lle} (OHG. {full[i]}), _fulness_; {golt}, _gold_, beside {guld[i]n}, _golden_.

Sec. 16.

From primitive Germanic {eu} were developed two different diphthongs in OHG., viz. {eu} became {eo} (cp. Sec. 15), later {io}, when originally followed by an {[)a]}, {[)o]}, or {[e]} in the next syllable, and this {io} was regularly developed to {ie} in MHG.; whereas {eu} became {iu} in OHG. when originally followed by an {[)i], j} or {u} in the next syllable, and this {iu} became {[-u:]} (written {iu}) in MHG., even after the {[)i], j} or {u} had been weakened to {e}. This law explains the difference between the diphthong {ie} in the infinitive and the simple vowel {iu} (= {[-u:]}) in the three persons singular of the present indicative of verbs belonging to the second ablaut-series (Secs. 12, 78), as

OHG. biogan, _to bend_, pres. sing. biugu, biugis(t), biugit; MHG. biegen, " " " biuge, biuges(t), biuget.

Cp. further {tief} (OHG. {tiof}), _deep_, beside OHG. {tiuf[i]}, _depth_; {lieht} (OHG. {lioht}), _a light_, beside {liuhten} (OHG. {liuhten} from {*liuhtjan}), _to light_.

NOTE.--The {iu} in the above and similar examples must not be confounded with the {iu} in the OHG. and MHG. combination {iuw} which arose from prim. Germanic {eww} (= {euw}), and {ewj}, as {triuwe} (OHG. {triuwi}, Goth. {triggws}), _true_; {triuwen}, {tr[u]wen}, _to trust_, pret. {triuete}, {triute}, {tr[u]te}; {riuwe} (OHG. {riuwa}), _regret_, {bliuwen} (OHG. {bliuwan}, Goth. {bliggwan}), _to strike_, and similarly, {briuwen}, _to brew_, {kiuwen}, _to chew_, {riuwen}, _to regret_; {niuwe} (OHG. {niuwi}, Goth. {niujis}, prim. Germanic stem-form {*newja-}), _new_. This {iu} before {w} never interchanged with MHG. {ie} from prim. Germanic {eu}, and explains why the strong verbs {bliuwen}, &c. have {iu} in all forms of the present.

Sec. 17.

Accented primitive Germanic {ai} (= Goth. {['a]i}) became {[e]} in OHG. before {r, w}, Germanic {h} (cp. Sec. 23, 1), and finally; in MHG. it appears also as {[e]} before the same consonants and finally, as {m[e]re}, {m[e]r} (OHG. {m[e]ro}, Goth. {m['a]iza}), _more_, {l[e]ren} (OHG. {l[e]ren}, Goth. {l['a]isjan}), _to teach_; {s[e]le} (OHG. {s[e]la}, older {s[e]ula}, Goth. {s['a]iwala}), _soul_; {sn[e]} (OHG. {sn[e]o}, Goth. {sn['a]iws}), _snow_, gen. OHG. and MHG. {sn[e]wes}; {sp[i]wen}, _to spit_, pret. {sp[e]} (OHG. {sp[e]o}, Goth. {sp['a]iw}); {d[i]hen}, _to thrive_, pret. {d[e]ch} (OHG. {d[e]h}, Goth. {d['a]ih}); {w[e]} (OHG. {w[e]}, Goth. {w['a]i}), _woe!_; in all other cases {ai} became {ei} in both OHG. and MHG., as {stein} (Goth. {st['a]ins}), _stone_, {hei[z]en} (OHG. {hei[z]an}, Goth. {h['a]itan}), _to call_; {sn[i]den}, _to cut_, pret. {sneit} (OHG. {sneid}, Goth. {sn['a]i[th]}). This accounts for the difference between the {ei} and {[e]} in the preterite singular of strong verbs belonging to the first ablaut-series (Secs. 12, 76).

Sec. 18.

Primitive Germanic {au} became {[o]} in OHG. before the consonants {d, t}, {[z], s}, {n, r, l}, and Germanic {h} (cp. 23, 1). Before other consonants and finally {au} became {ou} in the ninth century. Hence the difference between {[o]} and {ou} in the preterite singular of strong verbs belonging to the second ablaut-series (Secs. 12, 78), as:--

Infinitive bieten, _to offer_, pret. sing. b[o]t " sieden, _to seethe_, " " s[o]t " kiesen, _to choose_, " " k[o]s " die[z]en, _to roar_, " " d[o][z] " vliehen, _to flee_, " " vl[o]ch (OHG. fl[o]h); but " biegen, _to bend_, " " bouc " klieben, _to cleave_ " " kloup.

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