A Gothic Grammar, with selections for reading and a glossary

Part 9

Chapter 93,107 wordsPublic domain

NOTE 1. It is tolerably certain that several verbs of which the preterit does not occur belong here too: (1) =us-alþan=, _to grow old_; =blandan=, _to blend_; =saltan=, _to salt_; =waldan=, _to wield, rule_; =ana-praggan=, _to oppress, harass_. (2) =blêsan=, _to blow_. (3) =ga-þláihan=, _to cumfurt, caress_. (4) =blôtan=, _to wurship_. (5) =stautan=, _to thrust, smite_; =hlaupan=, _to run_.

NOTE 2. =bauan=, _to dwel_, which formerly belongd here according to the testimony of other Germanic dialects, has the weak prt. =bauaida= and is referd to the third weak conjugation (§ 193) also because of the f. =bauains= (§ 103, n. 1). But the 3d pers. sg. is =bauiþ= which is stil a form of the strong conjugation. The inflection of the Goth. =bnauan=, _to rub_, which occurs only onse (=bnauandans=; Lu. VI, 1) can not be determind; its ON. correspondence, *bnúa, (g)núa (altisl. gr., § 433; cp. Zs. fdph., 17, 250), like the OHG. nûan, niuwan (ahd. gr., § 334, n. 5) belongs to the strong inflection; =trauan=, however, follows the weak inflection thruout.--Cp. § 26, b.

NOTE 3. =gaggan=, _to go_, pp. =gaggans=, has lost its prt. =*gaígagg=, which is replaced by other forms. Cp. § 207.

NOTE 4. Insted of =flôkan= the form =flêkan= was formerly uzed on account of the isolated prt. =faíflôkun= (according to § 181). That this is wrong was shown by Bezzenberger, 'Ueber die =a=-reihe der got. spr.', p. 56⁴. Cp. also Gallée, 'Noord en Zuid', 4, 54 et seq.

NOTE 5. =arjandan= (in Lu. XVII, 7) seems to refer to a red. v. =arjan= (_to plow_), w. a =j=-present (206ᵃ); cp. OHG. erien, iar, giaran (ahd. gr., § 350, n. 5).

3. Reduplicating Ablaut Verbs.

§ 180. A number of verbs with the stem-vowel =ê= in the present (or final =ai= in the root) hav the ablaut of the =ê--ô=-series (s. § 36). The prt. has the vowel =ô= and reduplication. In the pp. appears the same vowel as in the prs. These verbs ar divided into two classes according to the vowel of the prs.:

§ 181. I. Stems ending in a consonant hav =ê= in the prs.; e. g., =lêtan=, _to let_, which has =lêta=, =laílôt=, =laílôtum=, =lêtans=. Of this kind ar also =grêtan= (=gaígrôt=), _to weep_; =têkan= (=taítôk=), _to tuch_; =-rêdan= (=raírôþ=), _to counsel_.

§ 182. II. Roots ending in a vowel change the =ê= into =ai= (§ 22). Here belong: =saian=, _to sow_: =saia=, =saísô=, =saísôum=, =saians= (concerning other forms, cp. § 22, n. 1; § 170, n. 2), and =waian= (=waíwô=), _to blow_.

NOTE. The prt. of =faian=, _to blame_, is not extant; cp. § 22, n. 2.

II. WEAK VERBS.

§ 183. The formation and inflection of the prt. and pp. of the four classes of the weak verbs (§ 168) ar alike. The pp. is formd by means of the suffix =-da-= (nom. m. =-þs=) which is in all classes added to the verbal stem. The latter varies according to the formativ suffix and causes in the present forms a considerabl difference of inflection in the four classes. We first giv the inflection of the prt., which is the same in all classes.

_1. INFLECTION OF THE WEAK PRETERIT._

§ 184. Paradims: =nasida=, =salbôda=, =habaida=, =fullnôda=. Only one exampl is necessary to show the inflection.

INDICATIV. OPTATIV.

Sing. 1. =nasi-da= =nasi-dêdjau= 2. =nasi-dês= =nasi-dêdeis= 3. =nasi-da= =nasi-dêdi=

Dual 1. =nasi-dêdu= =nasi-dêdeiwa= 2. =nasi-dêduts= =nasi-dêdeits=

Plur. 1. =nasi-dêdum= =nasi-dêdeima= 2. =nasi-dêduþ= =nasi-dêdeiþ= 3. =nasi-dêdun= =nasi-dêdeina=

What has been said in § 170, n. 4 concerns also the 1st and 2nd pers. du. optativ.

_2. FIRST WEAK CONJUGATION_ (=-jan=).

§ 185. The verbs of this class hav the formativ suffix =i= which appears in the present as =j= (inf. =-jan=). This =j= and a following =i= ar either contracted into =ei= (according to § 44, c and n. 1) or remain =ji=. Thus we hav two subdivisions: (a) Verbs with short stem-syllabls; e. g., =nasjan=, _to save_, or verbs in a long vowel; as, =stôjan=, _to judge_. (b) Verbs with long stem-syllabls ending in a consonant; e. g., =sôkjan=, _to seek_, and polysyllabic verbs; e. g., =mikiljan=, _to praise_.

§ 186.

(a) +Present+ (+Activ+).

INDICATIV.

OPTATIV.

IMPERATIV.

INFINITIV.

=nasjan= =stôjan= | =sôkjan=

PARTICIPL.

=nasjands= =stôjands= | =sôkjands=

(b) Preterit.

=nasida= =stauida= | =sôkida=

(Inflection § 184.)

=nasiþs= =stauiþs= | =sôkiþs=

(d) Medio-Passiv: Present.

INDICATIV.

Sing. 1. 3. =nasjada= =stôjada= | =sôkjada= 2. =nasjaza= =stôjaza= | =sôkjaza= | Plur. 1. 2. 3. =nasjanda= =stôjanda= | =sôkjanda=

OPTATIV.

Sing. 1. 3. =nasjaidau= =stôjaidau= | =sôkjaidau= 2. =nasjaizau= =stôjaizau= | =sôkjaizau= | Plur. 1. 2. 3. =nasjaindau= =stôjaindau= | =sôkjaindau=

NOTE 1. The 3d pers. sg. imper. is preservd in =lausjadau=, ῥυσάσθω; Mt. XXVII, 43 (cp. § 170, n. 3). The 3d pers. pl. would be =lausjandau= according to § 192, n. 1.

NOTE 2. The 2nd pers. sg. imper. =stauei= (inf. =stôjan=) is suggested by the prt. =stauida= according to § 26.

§ 187. Further exampls of this very numerous class: (a) 1. verbs with short stem-syllabls: =waljan=, _to choose_; =ga-tamjan=, _to tame_; =uf-þanjan=, _to strech_; =warjan=, _to forbid_; =lagjan=, _to lay_; =us-wakjan=, _to awake_; =satjan=, _to set_; =wasjan=, _to vest, clothe_; =hazjan=, _to praise_; =huljan=, _to cuver_; 2. stems ending in a vowel: =taujan= (imper. sg. =tawei=, prt. =tawida=, pp. =tawiþs=), _to do_; =*straujan=, _to strew_ (only the prt. =strawida= and pp. =strawiþs= ar extant); =qiujan= (=qiwida=), _to quicken_; =ana-niujan= (=-niwida=), _to renew_; =siujan=, _to sew_; --concerning =*môjan= (in =afmôjan=, _to weary_) and =*dôjan= (in =afdôjan=, _to tire out_), s. § 26, a.

(b) verbs with long stems and polysyllabic verbs: =mêljan=, _to write_; =mêrjan=, _to preach_; =sipônjan=, _to be a disciple_; =hnaiwjan=, _to abase_; =hrainjan=, _to clean_; =hausjan=, _to hear_; =þiuþjan=, _to bless_; --=brannjan=, _to burn_; =sandjan=, _to send_; =namnjan=, _to name_; =andbahtjan=, _to serv_; =glitmunjan=, _to glitter_; =haúrnjan=, _to blow the horn_.

NOTE 1. =kaupatjan=, _to buffet_, has the prt. =kaupasta= (without =i=; cp. § 75), but the pp. =kaupatiþs= (cp. § 209, n. 1). The verbs =lauhatjan=, _to shine_; =swôgatjan=, _to sigh_, occur in the prs. only.

NOTE 2. Sum primary verbs with =j= in the present stem inflect in the present like the weak verbs of the first class. In the prt. they ar either strong or weak without the formativ suffix =i=. Cp. § 206, a (§ 209).

NOTE 3. Only two verbs assume occasionally forms of the 2nd weak conjugation: =hausjan=, _to hear_, beside =hausjôn= (occurs several times); pp. =un-beistjôþs=, _unlevend_, but =ga-beistjan=, _to leven_.

NOTE 4. Like the 2nd pers. du. and pl. imper. of =nasjan= go the interjectional =hirjats=, =hirjiþ=. The sg. =hiri= is irregular. Cp. § 219.

§ 188. Verbs of this class ar derived from verbs, adjectivs and substantivs. Their meaning is predominantly causativ. Causativs from strong ablaut verbs hav the vowel of the prt. sg.; e. g., =wandjan=, _to wend, turn_ (< =windan=); =dragkjan=, _to giv to drink_ (< =drigkan=); =ur-raisjan=, _to raiz_ (< =ur-reisan=, _to arize_); =ga-drausjan=, _to cause to fall_ (< =driusan=).--Also verbs derived from adjectivs and substantivs show, with few exceptions, a causativ meaning; e. g., =háuhjan=, _to make high_ (< =háuhs=); =hailjan=, _to heal_ (< =hails=); =warmjan=, _to warm_ (< =warms=); --=dailjan=, _to deal_ (< =dails=); =taiknjan=, _to make a sign, to show_ (< =taikns=, _a token_); etc.--Only a few hav an intransitiv meaning, e. g., =sipônjan=, _to be a disciple_; =faúrhtjan=, _to fear_.

_3. SECOND WEAK CONJUGATION_ (=-ôn=).

§ 189. The formativ suffix (=ô=) occurs in this class not only in the prt., but also in the hole prs., and absorbs the initial vowels appearing in the endings of the strong verb. Paradim: =salbôn=, _to anoint_.

(a) +Present.+

INDIC. OPT. IMPER. Sing. 1. =salbô= =salbô= -- 2. =salbôs= =salbôs= =salbô= 3. =salbôþ= =salbô= =salbôdau=

Dual 1. =salbôs= =salbôwa= -- 2. =salbôts= =salbôts= =salbôts=

Plur. 1. =salbôm= =salbôma= =salbôm= 2. =salbôþ= =salbôþ= =salbôþ= 3. =salbônd= =salbôna= =salbôndau=

INFINITIV: =salbôn=

PARTICIPL: =salbônds=

(b) +Preterit.+

=salbôda=, =-dês=, =-da=, etc. (s. § 184).

=salbôþs=

(d) +Medio-Passiv: Present.+

INDIC. OPT. Sing. 1. 3. =salbôda= =salbôdau= 2. =salbôza= =salbôzau=

Plur. 1. 2. 3. =salbônda= =salbôndau=

NOTE. No exampls of the 3. pers. sg. and pl. imper. ar extant, but they may be safely inferd like other forms; e. g., the dual forms, or the 2nd pers. sg. midl: =salbôza=, =salbôzau=, which hav been merely inferd according to the other conjugations.

§ 190. The number of verbs of the 2nd class is greater than that of the 3d, but much smaller than that of the verbs in =-jan=. Exampls: =mitôn=, _to think_; =ƕarbôn=, _to wander_; =fiskôn=, _to fish_; =sidôn=, _to practis_; =idreigôn=, _to repent_; =awiliudôn=, _to thank_; =þiudanôn=, _to be king_; =faginôn=, _to rejoice_; =fraujinôn=, _to rule_; =reikinôn=, _to rule_; =frijôn=, _to luv_; =sunjôn=, _to justify_; =hausjôn= (§ 187, n. 3).

_4. THIRD WEAK CONJUGATION_ (=-an=).

§ 191. Verbs of this class hav the formativ suffix =-ai=. This, however, appears in all forms of the prt. (and in the pp.), while it occurs in but few forms of the present and what belongs to the prs., the greater number following entirely the present forms of the strong verb. The =ai= is found in the present only where the terminations of the strong verb begin with =i= which it absorbs (thus, in the 2nd and 3d pers. sg. indic., in the 2nd pers. pl. indic., and in 2nd pers. pl. imper.), and in 2nd pers. sg. imper. (which has no termination).--But the =ai= is entirely wanting before the endings beginning with =a= (=ô=).

§ 192. Paradim =haban=, _to hav_.

(a) +Present.+

INDIC. OPT. IMPER.

Sing. 1. =haba= =habau= -- 2. =habais= =habais= =habai= 3. =habaiþ= =habai= =habadau=

Dual 1. =habôs= =habaiwa= -- 2. =habats= =habaits= =habats=

Plur. 1. =habam= =habaima= =habam= 2. =habaiþ= =habaiþ= =habaiþ= 3. =haband= =habaina= =habandau=

INFINITIV: =haban=

PARTICIPL: =habands=

(b) +Preterit.+

=habaida=, =-dês=, =-da=, etc. (s. § 184).

=habaiþs=

(d) +Medio-Passiv: Present.+

INDIC. OPT.

Sing. 1. 3. =habada= =habaidau= 2. =habaza= =habaizau=

Plur. =habanda= =habaindau=

NOTE. An exampl of the 3d pers. pl. imper. is extant in this conjugation only: =liugandau=, γαμησάτωσαν; I. Cor. VII, 9.

§ 193. Verbs of this class ar mostly intransitiv. Their number is comparativly small. Exampls: =þahan=, _to be silent_; =þulan=, _to suffer_; =liban=, _to liv_; =ana-silan=, _to be silent_; =fijan=, _to hate_; =trauan=, _to trust_ (cp. § 26); =saúrgan=, _to sorrow_; =liugan=, _to marry_.

NOTE. =hatan=, _to hate_, fluctuates between this and the 1st weak conj. (=hatjan=); --=bauan=, _to dwel_, has the 3d pers. sg. prs. indic. strong: =bauiþ=; cp. § 179, n. 2.

_5. FOURTH WEAK CONJUGATION_ (=-nan=).

§ 194. By means of the suff. =-no-= in the prt., =n= (=-na-=) in the present, verbs ar formd in Gothic which denote an entering into a state; therefore they hav an 'inchoativ' meaning. When they hav a medial meaning, they often also render Greek medio-passiv verbs. These verbs ar always intransitiv and never hav a purely passiv meaning. Hense, for exampl, =andbindada= means _it is loost_ (by sum one), but =andbundniþ=, _it becums loose, it loosens_. Nearly all of these verbs ar derived from adjectivs or from the stem of the pp. passiv. Exampls: (a) from strong verbs: =and-bundnan= (=bindan=), _to loosen_ (intr.); =us-bruknan= (=brikan=), _to break off_ (intr.); =dis-kritnan=, _to rend_ (intr.); =fra-lusnan= (=fra-liusan=), _to perish_; =ga-waknan= (=wakan=), _to awaken_; =ga-skaidnan= (=skaidan=), _to becum parted, to depart_; --(b) from adjectivs: =gahailnan= (=hails=), _to becum hole_; =mikilnan= (=mikils=), _to becum great_; =weihnan= (=weihs=), _to becum holy_; =gadauþnan=, _to becum ded, to die_.

NOTE 1. To substantivs belong =gafrisahtnan= (=frisahts=, _image_), _to be formd_; =ga-gawaírþnan= (=ga-waírþi=), _to reconcile one's self to_; the stem-vowel is irregular in: =us-geisnan=, _to becum amazed_; =in-feinan=, _to be moved with compassion_.

NOTE 2. That the fundamental meaning of these verbs is inchoativ has been shown by Egge, 'Inchoativ or =n=-verbs in Gothic' (American Journal of Phil., 7, p. 38 et seq.). The corresponding Norse verbs in =-na= ar inchoativ only.

§ 195. The inflection of these verbs is in the present identical with that of the strong verbs. No medio-passiv nor a pp. can be formd. Paradim: =fullnan= (=fulls=, _ful_; =fulljan=, _to fil_), _to becum ful, fil_ (intr.).

(a) +Present.+

INDIC. OPT. IMPER.

Sing. 1. =fullna= =fullnau= -- 2. =fullnis= =fullnais= =fulln= 3. =fullniþ= =fullnai= =fullnadau=

Dual 1. =fullnôs= =fullnaiwa= -- 2. =fullnats= =fullnaits= =fullnats=

Plur. 1. =fullnam= =fullnaima= =fullnam= 2. =fullniþ= =fullnaiþ= =fullniþ= 3. =fullnand= =fullnaina= =fullnandau=

INFINITIV: =fullnan=

PARTICIPL: =fullnands=

(b) +Preterit.+

=fullnôda=, =-dês=, =-da= (s. § 184).

NOTE 1. Of the imper. of verbs of this class only the 2nd pers. sg. is extant.

NOTE 2. The prt. =keinôda=, _germinated_, aroze thru the influence of the strong present =keinan= (§ 172, n. 2) which could not belong here merely because of its meaning.

III. IRREGULAR VERBS.

_1. PRETERIT-PRESENTS._

§ 196. Preterit-Presents ar strong verbs whose preterit has assumed a present meaning. In consequence thereof the real presents hav been lost. These verbs form the preterit like weak verbs by adding =-da= (=-ta=, =-þa=, =-sa=; cp. §§ 75. 81). Their inflection is the same as that of =nasida= (§ 184). According to the form of their presents, the preterit-presents may be distributed among the different classes of the strong verbs. The prs. inflects like a strong preterit. In the following the 13 Gothic verbs of this kind ar clast according to the corresponding ablaut-series:

§ 197. First Ablaut-Series.

1. Prs. =wait=, _I know_, 2nd pers. =waist=, pl. =witum=, opt. =witjau=; prt. =wissa=, prt. opt. =wissêdjau=, prs. ptc. =witands=, inf. [=witan=].

2. =lais=, _I know_ (the only form extant; causativ =laisjan=, _to teach_).

NOTE. The complete strong verb of =wait= is =*weitan=, =wait=, =witum=, =witans=, retaind in =fraweitan=, _to avenge_, and in =inweitan=, _to wurship_ (§ 172, n. 1).--To =wait= belongs also a weak verb of the III. weak conj., =witan=, =witaida=, _to look at, observ_.

§ 198. Second Ablaut-Series.

3. =daug= (impers., the only form extant), _it is of use, it profits_.

§ 199. Third Ablaut-Series.

4. =kann=, _I know_, 2nd pers. =kant= (also =kannt=; cp. § 80), pl. =kunnum=; prt. indic. =kunþa=, prt. opt. =kunþêdjau=, pp. =kunþs=, _known_; inf. =kunnan=; prsp. =kunnands=.

5. =þarf=, _I need, be in want of_, 2nd pers. =þarft=, pl. =þaúrbum=, opt. =þaúrbjau=; prt. =þaúrfta=, pp. =þaúrfts=, _necessary_, prsp. =þaúrbands=, _needing_, inf. [=þaúrban=].--Cp. § 56, n. 3.

6. =ga-dars=, _I dare_, pl. =ga-daúrsum=, opt. =gadaúrsjau=; prt. =gadaúrsta=; inf. =gadaúrsan=.

NOTE. Like =kann= inflect its cpds.: =frakann=, _I despise_; =gakann=, _I subject myself_.--With this must not be confounded the derivativ weak verb =-kunnan= of the III. weak conjug., =-kunnan=, =-kunnaida=, _to recognize_, in the cpds.: =anakunnan= (ἀναγιγνώσκειν), _to read_; =atkunnan=, _to grant, award_; =gakunnan=, _to know, consider, read_ (Mk. XII, 26).--=uf-kunnan=, _to recognize, know_, belongs in the prs. and pp. (=ufkunnaiþs=) to the III. weak conjug., but its prt. is =ufkunþa=, onse (I. Cor. I, 21) =ufkunnaida=.

§ 200. Fourth Ablaut-Series.

7. =skal=, _I shal_, 2nd pers. =skalt=, pl. =skulum=, opt. =skuljau=; prt. =skulda=, opt. =skuldêdjau=, pp. =skulds=, _owing_; inf. [=skulan=], prsp. =skulands=.

8. =man=, _I think, suppose_, 2nd pers. [=mant=], pl. =munum=, opt. =munjau=; prt. =munda=, pp. =munds= (Lu. III, 23); inf. =munan=, prsp. =munands=.

NOTE. Like =man= goes =gaman=, _I remember_.--To this belongs also =munan=, prt. =munaida=, a derivativ wv. of the III. conjug.

§ 201. Fifth Ablaut-Series.

9. =mag=, _I may, can_, 2nd pers. =magt=, 3d =mag=; dual =magu=, =maguts=, pl. =magum=, =maguþ=, =magun=, opt. =magjau=; prt. =mahta=, opt. =mahtêdjau=, pp. =mahts=; inf. [=magan=], prsp. =magands=.

10. =ga-nah=, _it suffices_; =binah=, _it is permitted, it is lawful_. These impersonal forms and the pp. =binaúhts= ar the only forms extant. There may be inferd the pl. =-naúhum=; prt. =-naúhta=; inf. =-naúhan=.

§ 202. Sixth Ablaut-Series.

11. =ga-môt=, _I hav_ or _find room_ or _place_, 2nd pers. [=môst=], pl. [=môtum=], opt. =gamôtjau=, prt. =gamôsta=; inf. [=gamôtan=].

12. =ôg=, _I fear_, 2nd pers. [=ôht=], pl. [=ôgum=], opt. =ôgjau=; prt. =ôhta=; inf. [=ôgan=]. Causativ =ôgjan=, _to frighten_.

NOTE 1. To =ôg= belongs an anomalous 2nd pers. sg. imper.: =ôgs=, _fear thou!_ The opt. =ôgeiþ= does duty for the corresponding 2nd pers. pl.

NOTE 2. The only extant form of the primary strong verb is the negativ prsp. =unagands=, _fearless_.

§ 203. The verb =áih=, _I hav_, belongs to none of the ablaut-series. Disregarding the want of reduplication, we may, according to its formation, refer it to a reduplicated prt. like =haíhait= (§ 179, 3). The extant forms ar: 1st and 3d pers. sg. =áih= (onse =aig=), pl. 1st =aigum= and =áihum=, 2nd =áihuþ= (onse), 3d =aigun=, opt. sg. 3d =aigi=, pl. 2nd =aigeiþ=, 3d =aigeina=; prt. =áihta=; prsp. =aigands= (5 times) and =áihands= (onse), inf. =áihan= (only onse, in =faíráihan=, _to partake_).

NOTE. In most forms there is a peculiar fluctuation between =g= and =h= in such a manner that the =h= is predominant in the sg. (=áih=), the =g= in the other forms. Cp. § 66, n. 1; § 79, n. 2.

_2. THE VERBS 'be' AND 'wil'._

§ 204. The old root es-, which is preservd in all Indo-Germanic languages, occurs in the Gothic substantiv verb only in the present indic. and opt. The remaining forms ar supplied by the strong verb =wisan= (§ 176, n. 1). The pp. is wanting (cp. Anz. fda., 14, 286).

+Present.+

INDIC. OPT.

Sing. 1. =im= =sijau= 2. =is= =sijais= 3. =ist= =sijai=

Dual 1. =siju= [=sijaiwa=] 2. [=sijuts=] [=sijaits=]

Plur. 1. =sijum= =sijaima= 2. =sijuþ= =sijaiþ= 3. =sind= =sijaina=

INF.: =wisan=

PRSP.: =wisands=

+Preterit.+

INDIC.: =was=, =wast=, =was=, etc.

OPT.: =wêsjau=

NOTE 1. For =ij= (in the opt. and du. pl. indic. prs.) also simpl =i= (§ 10, n. 4) is occasionally found; e. g., pl. indic. 1st pers. =sium=, 2nd =siuþ=, opt. =siau=, etc. But the ful forms occur far more frequently. The comparativly small number of the forms with =i= is confined to the epistls (especially in Cod. B) and to the gospel of Lu. which also in other respects shows many irregular forms (V, 10. VIII, 25. IX, 12. 41. XIV, 31). Of two extant codices (II. Cor. VII, 13. Phil. IV, 5. Col. IV, 6. I. Tim. V, 22) one (in three cases A) always has the correct form with =j=.

NOTE 2. Insted of the imper. the opt. forms, sg. =sijais=, =sijai=, pl. =sijaiþ=, ar employd. The form =sai= (= Gr. ἔστω), which occurs onse in the manuscript, either stands erroneously for =sijai=, =siai=, or must, according to Osthoff (Beitr., 8, 311), be regarded as interj. =sai=, _'ecce'!_

NOTE 3. =nist= = =ni ist=, _is not_ (§ 10, n. 2), =þatist= = =þata ist=, _that is_, =karist= = =kara ist=, _there is care, it concerns_; Jo. X, 12 (§ 4, n. 1).

§ 205. The verb 'wil' has in the present only an opt. which discharges, however, the function of the indicativ. This present optativ has the uzual terminations of the prt. opt. Its preterit is weak. The extant forms ar:--

PRESENT: Sg. 1. =wiljau= 2. =wileis= 3. =wili= Du. 2. =wileits= Pl. 1. =wileima= 2. =wileiþ= 3. =wileina=

INFINITIV: =wiljan=

PRSP.: =wiljands=

PRET.: =wilda= OPT.: =wildêdjau=

(Inflection like that of =nasida=, § 184.)

_3. IRREGULARITIES._

§ 206. The distinction between the present stem and the preterit stem of the strong ablaut verbs consists only in the change of the vowel. The consonantal skeleton of the word remains the same. This was not always so, for in proethnic Germanic, as in other Indo-Germanic languages, there existed present formations with additional consonantal elements. Of these a few remnants stil survive in Gothic, which from a Gothic point of view must be regarded as irregularities.

(a) Present formations with =j=. The =j= of these formations which in the present inflect entirely like weak verbs of the I. conjug. (as, =nasjan=, =sôkjan=), is no formativ suffix and is dropt in the prt. and pp. The existing exampls ar:--=bidjan= (§ 176, n. 5), =hafjan=, =fraþjan=, =hlahjan=, =skapjan=, =skaþjan=, =wahsjan= (§ 177, n. 2), =arjan= (§ 179, n. 5). Cp. also § 209.

(b) Present stems with a final nasal: =keinan= (§ 172, n. 2) and =fraíhnan= (§ 176, n. 4); --a medial nasal is seen in =standan= (§ 177, n. 3).

§ 207. The verb =gaggan= belongs, according to its present and pp. and according to the testimony of the other Germanic languages, to the reduplicated verbs (§ 179, n. 3). Its prt. is uzually represented by the defectiv =iddja= which is conjugated like a weak prt.: =iddja=, _I went_, =iddjês=, =iddja=, etc.; opt. =iddjêdjau=. Onse, however (Lu. XIX, 12), a weak prt. =gaggida= occurs.

§ 208. =briggan=, _to bring_, is, according to its prs., an ablaut verb (III), but the prt. (with ablaut) is formd weak: =brâhta= (from =*branhta=, § 5, b), pp. [=brâhts=].