A Comparative Grammar of the Modern Aryan Languages of India v1.c5.39

v1.c5.39

§ 34. When a syllable having *a* for its vowel is followed by one having *i* or *u*, these latter sometimes exercise an influence over the former, either by entirely superseding it, or by combining with it into the corresponding *guṇa* vowel. This proceeding is analogous to that discovered by Bopp with respect to the Zend and Old High German. Thus in Zend we have *bavaiti* = Skr. *bhavati*, *dadhâiti* = Skr. *dadâti*, *kerenúite* = Skr. *kṛṇute*; and in Old High German *anst* "grace," makes in certain cases *ensti*, where, under the influence of the *i* of the termination, the preceding *a* has been compounded with an *i* also into *e*.