X

X. (ex) commonly represents ks, gs (as in other languages), where both letters are radical, thus, ax, fax, lax, sax, öx, vax, vaxa, sex, uxi, vöxtr, fox, jaxl, öxl, qq. v.; but hugsa from hugr; lags from lag; loks from lok; oks (gen.) from ok (jugum); rakstr, bakstr, from raka, baka, etc. The vellums use x in other cases, e. g. sterxti = sterksti, the strongest, Clem. 146; tax (gen.) from tak, N. G. L. i. 47; dúx = dúks, Clem. 127, l. 8; lox = loks, 134; vitrleix = vitrleiks, 142; almattex = almáttigs, 133; víxla = vígsla, N. G. L. i. 9; fulltinx = fulltings, ÓH. 242; vaxcliga = vaskliga, Mork. 178; lyxc = lýksk, Íb. (fine); fexk = fékksk (from fá the verb), Bs. i. 351; ux = ups (q. v.), N. G. L. i. 368: or again, vegs = vex (the verb), Hm. 119; lags = lax (salmon), Sæm. 212, l. 20 (Bugge); dax = dags, N. G. L. i, 23; but on the whole the vellums distinguish gs, ks, and x, shewing the pronunciation in olden times to have been more distinct than it is now, when all three forms (gs, ks, x) represent the same sound, no matter whether the s be inflexive or not; thus in common modern spelling, both hugsa and huxa, dags and dax are used at random. In vellums x and r are very much alike: hence in the well-known passage in Vsp. the misreading of sarum (sordibus) for saxum (ensibus), in all Editions, until Prof. Bugge noticed the stroke underneath the line in Cod. Reg.