Ehwaz: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Runic letter ehwaz.png|framed|Ehwaz]] |
[[Image:Runic letter ehwaz.png|framed|Ehwaz]] |
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'''Ehwaz''' is the reconstructed [[Proto-Germanic]] name of the [[Elder Futhark]] ''e'' |
'''Ehwaz''' is the reconstructed [[Proto-Germanic]] name of the [[Elder Futhark]] ''e'' [[rune]] {{runic|ᛖ}}, meaning "[[horse]]" (cognate to Latin ''[[equus]]'', Sanskrit ''[[ashva|aśva]]'' and [[Old Irish]] ''ech''). In the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] [[Futhorc]], it is continued as {{runic|ᛖ}} ''eh'' (properly ''eoh'', but spelled without the diphthong to avoid confusion with {{runic|ᛇ}} ''[[Eihwaz|ēoh]]'' "yew"). |
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The Anglo-Saxon [[rune poem]] has: |
The Anglo-Saxon [[rune poem]] has: |
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:ᛖ ''Eh byþ for eorlum æþelinga wyn,'' |
:{{runic|ᛖ}} ''Eh byþ for eorlum æþelinga wyn,'' |
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: ''hors hofum wlanc, ðær him hæleþ ymb[e]'' |
: ''hors hofum wlanc, ðær him hæleþ ymb[e]'' |
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: ''welege on wicgum wrixlaþ spræce'' |
: ''welege on wicgum wrixlaþ spræce'' |
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: and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless." |
: and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless." |
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The Proto-Germanic vowel system was asymmetric and unstable |
The Proto-Germanic vowel system was asymmetric and unstable. The difference between the vowels expressed by {{runic|ᛖ}} ''e'' and {{runic|ᛇ}} ''ï'' were lost. The [[Younger Futhark]] continues neither, lacking a letter expressing ''e'' altogether. The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc faithfully preserved all Elder Futhorc staves, but assigned new sound values to the redundant ones, Futhorc ''ēoh'' expressing a diphthong. In the case of the [[Gothic alphabet]], where the names of the runes were re-applied to letters derived from the Greek alphabet, the letter {{unicode|𐌴}} ''e'' was named ''aiƕus'' "horse" as well (note that in Gothic orthography, ''ai'' represents monophthongic /''e''/). |
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Revision as of 09:21, 12 January 2007
Ehwaz is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of the Elder Futhark e rune ᛖ, meaning "horse" (cognate to Latin equus, Sanskrit aśva and Old Irish ech). In the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, it is continued as ᛖ eh (properly eoh, but spelled without the diphthong to avoid confusion with ᛇ ēoh "yew").
The Anglo-Saxon rune poem has:
- ᛖ Eh byþ for eorlum æþelinga wyn,
- hors hofum wlanc, ðær him hæleþ ymb[e]
- welege on wicgum wrixlaþ spræce
- and biþ unstyllum æfre frofur.
- "The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors.
- A steed in the pride of its hoofs,
- when rich men on horseback bandy words about it;
- and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless."
The Proto-Germanic vowel system was asymmetric and unstable. The difference between the vowels expressed by ᛖ e and ᛇ ï were lost. The Younger Futhark continues neither, lacking a letter expressing e altogether. The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc faithfully preserved all Elder Futhorc staves, but assigned new sound values to the redundant ones, Futhorc ēoh expressing a diphthong. In the case of the Gothic alphabet, where the names of the runes were re-applied to letters derived from the Greek alphabet, the letter 𐌴 e was named aiƕus "horse" as well (note that in Gothic orthography, ai represents monophthongic /e/).