boka on Nostr: Because the “w” is historical, not phonetic. In Old English "and-swaru" (a reply, ...

Because the “w” is historical, not phonetic. In Old English "and-swaru" (a reply, counter-statement) and the verb "and-swarian". Imagine we would still say like that! 🐲 The root is the same as in "swear". The meaning is and- (“again/opposite”) + swaru (“affirmation”) → “a reply/counter-saying.”

The /w/ in "sw" used to be pronounced, but later dropped from speech. Same fossil logic as "two".

Two was "twā / twēgen". The w was fully pronounced. Later English dropped /w/ after /t/ in pronunciation, but kept it in spelling—for consistency with twelve, twenty, twin.