How to parse. ...

308 SYNTHETICAL PERIOD. [Par. 569.
"1Synthetical Period" are given below, to show the
extremely complex nature of the language before it
was simplified in the " Period of Confusion."

NOUNS.
SINGULAR NU.MBER.
Fern. Neut. Fern. Masc. Masc.
(tongue) (word) (hand) (son) (shep-herd)
Nom. tung-e word hand sun-u hird-e
Gen. tung-an word-es hand-a sun-a hird-es
Dat. tung-an word-e hand-a sun-a hird-e
Ace. tung-an word-e Ihand sun-u hird-e
PLURAL.
Norn. tung-an word hand-a sun-a hird-as
Gen. tung-ena word-a hand-a sun-a hird-a
Dat. tung-um word-urn hand-urn sun-urn hird-um
Acc. tung-an word hand-a sun-a hird-as

Self.
In 0. E., Pronouns- were often used reflexively without "cSelf,"
which merely adled emphasis. "Self" was an Adjective nieaniing
"1same," so that " lie killed himsef "' meant emphatically "liHe killed
the same or the above-mentioned him." Gradually this Adjective
ceased to he inflected, and came to he regarded as a Noun. Tile
following were the changes: -
(1) "I came me (Dat.) si/f-nm (Dat. Adj.)."
(2) "I came me (Dat.) si/f (Nom. Adj.)."
(3) "I came mi (Gen.) si/f (Indeclinahle Adj. or Noun)."
(4) "I came myself."
Hence the modern "1our selves," "1his better seflf.