The chief test for Kentish is the use of _e_ to represent the A.S. short _y_, which usually became _u_ in Southern, and _i_ in Midland. Thus the A.S. verb _cyssan_, to kiss, is represented by the Southern _kussen_, the Midland _kissen_ (as in literary English), but in Kentish by _kessen_. Hence we find in Chaucer, the infin. _kisse_, D 1254, and the pt. t. _kiste_, B 3746, regularly; but we also find the Kentish _kesse_, E 1057, and the pt. t. _keste_, F 350. We can well understand that these variations were made for the sake of the rimes, since the riming words are, respectively, _blisse_, _wiste_, and _stedfastnesse_, _reste_. Other double forms are _brigge_, _bregge_ (in the compound _Cantebregge_)[14]; _fulfille_, _fulfelle_; _kin_, _ken_; _knitte_, _knette_, and the pp. _knit_, _knet_[15]; the pp. _y-stint_, _stent_; _thinne_, _thenne_ (thin). Further, we find Midland _abye_, Kentish _abegge_; and (without corresponding Midland forms) the Kentish _berien_, to bury; _dent_ (in _thonder-dent_)[16]; _melle_, a mill; _selle_, a floor, Mod. E. _sill_ (A.S. _syll_); _sherte_, shirt (Icel. _skyrta_); _shetten_ to shut, pp. _y-shet_ (A.S. _scyttan_); _steren_, to stir (A.S. _styrian_)[17]. In one case Chaucer uses all three forms, viz. _merie_ (A 208); _mirie_, E 2217, 2326; and _murie_ (A 1386, E 1733). The Southern _murie_ is only resorted to in order to secure a rime to _Merc['u]rie_. Another test for Kentish is the use of _[=e]_ for A.S. long _[=y]_; as in Kentish _fer_, _feer_, A.S. _f[=y]r_, fire. Here, also, we find in Chaucer the occurrence of duplicate forms. Examples are seen in Midland _dr[=y]e_, dry (A.S. _dr[=y]ge_), Kentish _dr[=e]ye_; Midland _f[=y]r_, fire (A.S. _f[=y]r_), Kentish _f[=e]re_, Troil. i. 229, iii. 978; Midland _hid_, hidden, Kentish _hed_; Midl. _thriste_, to thrust, Kentish _threste_[18]. This use of Kentish forms by Chaucer is of considerable interest. Of course, they occur still more freely in Gower, who was of a Kentish family. s. 18. PRONUNCIATION. The M.E. pronunciation was widely different from the present, especially in the case of the vowel-sounds. The sounds of the vowels were nearly as in French and Italian. They can be denoted by phonetic _invariable_ symbols, here distinguished by being enclosed within marks of parenthesis. I shall here use the same symbols as are employed in my Principles of English Etymology. Of course, these symbols must be used as defined. Thus the symbol (oo), being defined to mean the sound of the German _o_ in _so_, will not be understood by the reader who pronounces it like the _oo_ in _root_.