a .. [e,]:--mann, _pl._ m[e,]nn; wand (wound _prt._), w[e,]ndan (to turn).
ea (= a) .. ie (= [e,]):--eald (old), ieldra (older); feallan (fall),
fielth (falls).
[=a] .. [=ae]:--bl[=a]wan (to blow), bl[=ae]wth (bloweth); h[=a]l (sound),
h[=ae]lan (heal).
u .. y:--burg (city), _pl._ byri[.g]; trum (strong), trymman (to
strengthen).
o .. y:--gold, gylden (golden); coss (a kiss), cyssan (to kiss).
e .. i:--beran (to bear), bireth (beareth); cwethan (speak), cwide
(speech).
eo (= e) .. ie (= i):--heord (herd), hierde (shepherd); [.c]eorfan (cut),
[.c]ierfth (cuts).
u .. o:--curon (they chose), [.g]e.coren (chosen).
[=u] .. [=y]:--c[=u]th (known), c[=y]than (to make known); f[=u]l (foul),
[=a].f[=y]lan (defile).
[=o] .. [=e]:--s[=o]hte (sought _prt._), s[=e][.c]an (to seek); f[=o]da
(food), f[=e]dan (to feed).
[=e]a .. [=i]e:--h[=e]awan (to hew), h[=i]ewth (hews); t[=e]am (progeny),
t[=i]eman (teem).
[=e]o .. [=i]e:--st[=e]or (rudder), st[=i]eran (steer); [.g]e.str[=e]on
(possession), [.g]es.tr[=i]enan (gain).
Before proceeding to gradation, it will be desirable to describe the other
most important vowel-relations.
a, ae, ea. In O.E. original _a_ is preserved before nasals, as in _mann_,
_lang_, _nama_ (name), and before a single consonant followed by _a_, _u_,
or _o_, as in _dagas_ (days), _dagum_ (to days), _faran_ (go), _gafol_
(profit), and in some words when _e_ follows, as in _ic fare_ (I go),
_faren_ (gone). Before _r_, _l_, _h_ followed by another consonant, and
before _x_ it becomes _ea_, as in _heard_ (hard), _eall_ (all), _eald_
(old), _eahta_ (eight), _weaxan_ (to grow). Not in _baerst_ (p. 7). In most
other cases it becomes _ae_:--_dae[.g]_, (day), _dae[.g]es_ (of a day),
_faest_ (firm), _waer_ (wary). {6}
e before nasals always becomes _i_: compare _bindan_ (to bind), pret.
_band_, with _beran_ (to bear), pret. _baer_.
_e_ before _r_ (generally followed by a consonant) becomes _eo:--eorthe_
(earth), _heorte_ (heart). Not in _berstan_ (p. 7). Also in other
cases:--_seolfor_ (silver), _heofon_ (heaven).
i before _r_ + cons. becomes _ie:--bierth_ (beareth) contr. from _bireth,
hierde_ (shepherd) from _heord_ (herd), _wiersa_ (worse).
[e,] before _r_, or _l_ + cons. often becomes _ie:--fierd_ (army) from
_faran_, _bieldo_ (boldness) from _beald_, _ieldra_ (elder) from _eald_.