Etymograph > Indo-European > Old English > Rules > oe-shortening-before-consonants

Source: Ringe 2014:281

[+syllabic] > [-long] / _CCC

Examples

FromToGlossStepsExpected
*gōdspellgodspellgospelgōdspell > godspell
PWGmc *laiwazikālāwriċelarklaiwazikā > lāwrċǣ > lawrċǣ > lawrċelawrċe
PGmc *haifsti-hǣstconflicthaifsti- > hǣfsti > hæfsti > hæfsthæfst
PGmc *ōhsnō-ōxnarmpitōhsnō- > ōksnu > oksnu > oxenoxen
PGmc *unhtwōn-ūhtlast part of the nightunhtwōn- > ūhtwān > uhtwān > uhtwanuhtwan

[+syllabic] > [-long] / _CC if syllable is first and number of syllables is at least 3
[+syllabic] > [-long] / _CC if next sound is geminate

Examples

FromToGlossStepsExpected
*gōdspellgodspellgospelgōdspell > godspell
*lǣssalæssalesslǣssa > læssa
PWGmc *blīþisiblisshappinessblīþisi > blīssi > blissi > bliss
PWGmc *wlātiþōwlǣttanausea, disgust, loathingwlātiþō > wlǣttā > wlættā > wlættawlætta

Sequences

pwgmc-to-oe: previous oe-voicing-assimilation, next oe-apocope
pgmc-to-oe: previous oe-voicing-assimilation, next oe-apocope
pnwgmc-to-oe: previous oe-voicing-assimilation, next oe-apocope