<P> Word - internal * - bh -, * - dh -, * - gh -, * - gwh - evolved into Proto - Italic β, ð, ɣ, ɣw . In Osco - Umbrian, the same type of merger occurred as that affecting voiceless fricatives, with β, ð, and ɣw merging to β . In Latin, this did not happen, and instead the fricatives defricatized, giving b, d ~ b, g ~ h, g ~ v ~ gu . </P> <P> * - bh - is the simplest case, consistently becoming b . </P> <Ul> <Li> PIE * bhébhrus "beaver"> * feβro> Old Latin feber> fiber </Li> </Ul> <Li> PIE * bhébhrus "beaver"> * feβro> Old Latin feber> fiber </Li>

When did latin stop being used in science