The w had humble beginnings in medieval Latin as two u-s printed closely together. In some cases it appeared as two v-s. As two u-s it was commonly used in the spelling of Old High German, but only sporadically in Old English, where the w sound was still being represented by the runic letter "wynn" (it looks like a P). After the Norman conquest and by 1300 the double u notation gained popularity and eventually replaced the runic letter. Although the w remained an outsider on alphabet lists for many years, scribes finally brought about today's official W when they noted that the u-s and v-s placed so closely together looked like branches which crossed in the middle. But the journey to its final notation was a long and drawn out one which caused 16th century writer Valentin Ickelsamer to complain, "Poor w is so infamous and unknown that many barely know either its name or its shape...not even the schoolmasters know what to do with it or how to call it."
W-onderful W shot...the textures, composition and whole tree scene really stand out! Crossed my mind that when each of these letters-- u, v and w are followed by a vowel they all rhyme. Leave it to my simple mind to come up with that ;-)
@cimes1 Thanks Carole- I will have to check out that rhyme theory!! @karenann Thanks Karenann! @joannapayne Thanks Joanna!
This great tree is in the parking lot next to the clubhouse where I swim.
@prttblues Thanks Bev! @woot Thanks Davide! Isn't it a cool tree?? @sarasdadandmom Thanks Terry! @summerfield Thanks Vikki! I couldn't wait to get to W to post it! @httpgeffed Thanks Colleen! @dmariewms Thanks Marie! @nicolecampbell Thanks Nicole! At present I am planning to do NOTHING!! I think I just need a break. But who knows, someone might post an interesting challenge in the next few days and I'll be all inspired again! I also have one more roll of film for the film challenge which will probably show up one week in March. But other than that I have no immediate plans.
@peterdegraaff Thank you Peter (and I suspect that this particular tree has some pretty deep roots too!). @digitalrn Thanks Rick- yes only three to go!
@alia_801 I couldn't wait to post this one. It's next to the clubhouse where I swim every day and I saw it at the very beginning. So day after day I was thinking "I have to remember to photograph the W!"
February 28th, 2012
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@karenann Thanks Karenann!
@joannapayne Thanks Joanna!
This great tree is in the parking lot next to the clubhouse where I swim.
@inertie Thank you Inertia!
@woot Thanks Davide! Isn't it a cool tree??
@sarasdadandmom Thanks Terry!
@summerfield Thanks Vikki! I couldn't wait to get to W to post it!
@httpgeffed Thanks Colleen!
@dmariewms Thanks Marie!
@nicolecampbell Thanks Nicole! At present I am planning to do NOTHING!! I think I just need a break. But who knows, someone might post an interesting challenge in the next few days and I'll be all inspired again! I also have one more roll of film for the film challenge which will probably show up one week in March. But other than that I have no immediate plans.
@digitalrn Thanks Rick- yes only three to go!