When Greek words come into English, αι typically becomes _____.

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Restating the question: When Greek words come into English, αι typically becomes _____. 
Option 1: 'only ae' — This would suggest αι always renders as 'ae' in English. In practice, English borrowings show variation, and αι does not exclusively map to 'ae' in every case. Some words preserve other endings or adapt to a simple 'e' sound, so this is too narrow.
Option 2: 'only e' — This asserts that αι always becomes 'e'. While there are instances where αι is realized as 'e' in English, it is not the sole outcome across all borrowings; the pattern is not exclusive to 'e'. Hence this overstates a single result.
Option 3: 'ai' — Transliteration as 'ai' would literally render the Greek digraph as itself, but English borrowings frequently shift toward a vowel combination such as 'ae' or a single 'e', rather than maintaining the exact 'ai' spelling in many words. This option ignores common historical spelling adaptations.
Option 4: 'either e or ae' — This option claims that αι can become either 'e' or 'ae' in English, depending on the word. This aligns with descriptive patterns in English etymology, where αι is realized variably as 'e' (e.g., 'synthesis' style evolutions) or as 'ae' (as in some latinate borrowings), rather than a single fixed outcome. This broader, conditional statement captures the observed variability.
Option 5: 'oe' — Rendering as 'oe' is not a standard outcome for αι in English; it would misrepresent the common adaptations and is historically unlikely in the majority of borrowings.
In summary, the most accurate characterization among the choices is that αι can become either 'e' or 'ae' in English borrowings, reflecting the irregular but documented variation in transliteration and anglicization of Greek digraphs.

CLA 030 001 WQ 2025 Homework 29: Questions on Geological Ages

When Greek words come into English, αι typically becomes _____.

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