14-07-2018, 11:58 PM
To me, the "bre" looks certain. And then, the 1st letter is either p or v/u, and the last is either n or y. Not too many choices.
In the case of v, this might have been "ubren" as a shortcut for "uberen", but if we agree that the first one is p with its descender lost (based on the shape not characteristic for v, as you say), then the sequence such as "pbre" does not really leave us any alternatives but for being an abbreviation.
And if the first letter of "*alden" is v, then I don't see why the first letter of "*bre*" would be p at the same time.
Also, one either perishes or perishes not, it's hardly possible to perish only to a certain extent, albeit great.
In the case of v, this might have been "ubren" as a shortcut for "uberen", but if we agree that the first one is p with its descender lost (based on the shape not characteristic for v, as you say), then the sequence such as "pbre" does not really leave us any alternatives but for being an abbreviation.
And if the first letter of "*alden" is v, then I don't see why the first letter of "*bre*" would be p at the same time.
Also, one either perishes or perishes not, it's hardly possible to perish only to a certain extent, albeit great.