Re: [tied] Re: PIE Word Formation (1)

>>How about /nUmb&/ versus /nUm&/ (that which makes you numb)? The
>>independent word numb prevents the pronunciation of the /b/. All right, I
>>am pushing it a bit - but there's a similarity.

> Not a valid example: _numb_ never had a /b/, only a <b> introduced in
> the spelling.

Nor origianlly did "number" < numerus, (with epethentic b introduced in
French) but the b is nevertheless now pronounced - so it could be in numb-er
as well, if the verb /nUm/ did not exist.

Peter