§ 40. The most characteristic difference between the Saxon and Icelandic (indeed between the Teutonic and Scandinavian tongues) lies in the peculiar position of the definite article in the latter. In Saxon, the article corresponding with the modern word _the_, is _þæt_, _se_, _seó_, for the neuter, masculine, and feminine genders respectively; and these words, regularly declined, are _prefixed_ to the words with which they agree, just as is the case with the English and with the majority of languages. In Icelandic, however, the article instead of preceding, _follows_ its noun, _with which it coalesces_, having previously suffered a change in form. The Icelandic article corresponding to _þæt_, _se_, _seó_, is _hitt_, _hinn_, _hin_: from this the h is ejected, so that, instead of the regular inflection (a), we have the forms (b). a. _Neut._ _Masc._ _Fem._ _Sing. Nom._ Hitt Hinn Hin. _Acc._ Hitt Hinn Hina. _Dat._ Hinu Hinum Hinni. _Gen._ Hins Hins Hinnar. _Plur. Nom._ Hin Hinir Hinar. _Acc._ Hin Hina Hinar. _Dat._ Hinum Hinum Hinum. _Gen._ Hinna Hinna Hinna. b. _Sing. Nom._ -it -inn -in. _Acc._ -it -inn -ina (-na). _Dat._ -nu -num -inni (-nni). _Gen._ -ins -ins -innar (-nnar). _Plur. Nom._ -in -nir -nar. _Acc._ -in -na -nar. _Dat._ -num -num -num. _Gen._ -nna -nna -nna. Whence, as an affix, in composition, _Neut._ _Masc._ _Fem._ _Sing. Nom._ Augat Boginn Túngan. _Acc._ Augat Boginn Túnguna. _Dat._ Auganu Boganum Túngunni. _Gen._ Augans Bogans Túngunnar. _Plur. Nom._ Augun Bogarnir Túngurnar. _Acc._ Augun Bogana Túngurnar. _Dat._ Augunum Bogunum Túngunum. _Gen._ Augnanna Boganna Túngnanna.