·- is the second letter of the English alphabet. (·see Guide to Pronunciation, // 196, 220.) It is etymologically related to p, v, f, w and m , letters representing sounds having a close organic affinity to its own sound; as in ·Eng. bursar and purser; ·Eng. bear and ·Lat. ferre; ·Eng. silver and ·Ger. silber; ·Lat. cubitum and It. gomito; ·Eng. seven, ·AS seofon, ·Ger. sieben, ·Lat. septem, ·Gr. 'epta', ·Skr. saptan. The form of letter B is Roman, from Greek B (Beta), of Semitic origin. The small b was formed by gradual change from the capital B.