History of the English language
known about how the brain works. However, for the present purposes this question is
immaterial
Why do metathetical forms oust old forms?
ease of pronunciation (suhkrut-suhkurt)
analogy-Nucular pro nuclear,Cf circular, muscular
Proto-Indo-European *kailo-"whole, uninjured, of good omen"
Proto-Germanic *hailaz
1. Old English hal HALE (sound in health, vigorous, robust (HALE AND HEARTY),
WHOLE
2. Old English halsum WHOLESOME (e.g. WHOLESOME FOOD)
3. Old Norse heill (healthy) HAIL (as a greeting), TO HAIL (to greet, also: to hail a
taxi, also fig. to praise highly, to acclaim, as in "critics hailed her new book"),
WASSAIL; German "Heil!" not used any more ("Heil Hitler! and the associated shame
(just as with Reich)
Germanic *hailitho > Old English hælth HEALTH
Germanic *hailjan > Old English hælan TO HEAL
Germanic *hailagaz > Old English halig HOLY