Why is receive spelled ei?

The spelling "ei" in "receive" is a bit of a historical quirk! It's not entirely straightforward and has to do with how the English language evolved.

Here's a breakdown:

* Latin Roots: The word "receive" comes from the Latin word "recipere", meaning "to take back." The Latin spelling for "receive" was "recipere" with the "ce" ending.

* French Influence: During the Norman Conquest of England, French became the language of the ruling class and greatly influenced English spelling. The French word for "receive" is "recevoir," which is spelled with "oi."

* The Great Vowel Shift: A major sound change happened in the English language between the 14th and 18th centuries, called the Great Vowel Shift. This altered the pronunciation of vowels, making it difficult to consistently represent sounds with spelling.

* "Ei" for Long "E": In many words, the spelling "ei" came to represent a long "e" sound, as in "receive," "believe," and "deceive." This was a way to distinguish long "e" sounds from short "e" sounds, which were often spelled with "e" alone.

So, while "ei" seems illogical in "receive" compared to the Latin root, it reflects the historical interplay of language changes, French influence, and evolving spelling conventions.