I ::
I () I, the ninth
letter of the
English alphabet, takes its form from the
Phoenician, through the Latin and the
Greek. The
Phoenician letter was
probably of
Egyptian origin. Its
original value was
nearly the same as that of the
Italian I, or long e as in mete.
Etymologically I is most
closely related to e, y, j, g; as in dint, dent,
beverage, L.
bibere; E. kin, AS. cynn; E. thin, AS.
/ynne; E.
dominion, donjon, dungeon..