se forms is derived
from the singular, and the other from the plural.

In cases where but one form is preserved, that form is not necessarily the
singular; indeed, it is often the plural;--e.g., Ic fand, _I found_, we
fundon, _we found_, are the Anglo-Saxon forms. Now the present word _found_
comes, not from the singular _fand_, but from the plural _fundon_; although
in the Lowland Scotch dialect and in the old writers, the _singular_ form
occurs;

Donald Caird finds orra things,
Where Allan Gregor _fand_ the tings.--SCOTT.

s. 300. The verbs wherein the double form of the present praeterite is thus
explained, fall into two classes.

1. In the first class, the Anglo-Saxon forms were ['a] in the singular, and
i in the plural; as--

_Sing._ | _Plur._
|
Sce['a]n | Scinon (_we shone_).
Ar['a]s | Arison (_we arose_).
Sm['a]t | Smiton (_we smote_).

This accounts for--

_Present._ _Praet. from Sing. form._ _Praet. from Plur. form._

Rise Rose [54]Ris.
Smite Smote Smit.
Ride Rode [54]Rid.
Stride Strode Strid.
Slide [54]Slode Slid.
Chide [54]Chode Chid.
Drive Drove [54]Driv.
Thrive Throve Thriv.
Write Wrote Writ.
Slit [54]Slat Slit.
Bite [54]Bat Bit.

2. In the second class, the Anglo-Saxon forms were a in the singular, and u
in the plural, as--

_Sing._ | _Plural._
|
Band | Bundon (_we bound_).
Fand | Fundon (_we found_).
Grand | Grundon (_we ground_).
Wand | Wundon (_we wound_).

This accounts for--

_Present._ _Praet from Sing. form._ _Praet. from Pl. form._
Swim Swam Swum.
Begin Began Begun.
Spin [55]Span Spun.
Win [55]Wan [56]Won.
Sing Sang Sung.
Swing [55]Swang Swung.
Spring Sprang Sprung.
Sting [55]Stang