OS. [w] vanished before [u]; [{uw|wu}] > [u]

OS. [w] vanished before [u]; [{uw|wu}] > [u]

Based on a few examples, it seems [w] vanishes before [u] in Old Noldorin, in the same way as that [j] vanished before [i]. Since the combination [wu] did not normally occur in Primitive Elvish, this phonetic development only applied to cases where the [u] arose later, such as when [oi], [ǭi] became [ui] in Noldorin:

Based on the examples above, this sound change occurred at the Old Noldorin stage, and before initial [w] became [gw]. There seems to be one other peculiar example of [w] assimilating to a preceding [u] in Old Noldorin:

The Quenya form was also ᴹQ. kukua, so the assimilation here might have been in Primitive Elvish, from *kukū + suffixal -wā. But more likely it was a parallel sound change: see the entry on how [j], [w] often reduced between vowels in Ancient Quenya.

Conceptual Development: There is no clear evidence of this sound change in either Sindarin or early versions of the language, but since [j] vanished before [i], it seems reasonable to assume something similar would happen to [w] before [u].

Order (03500)

After 02600 [ā], [au] became [ǭ] ᴹ✶wāyā > wōia > ON. uia Ety/WAY

Related

Phonetic Rule Elements

[uw] > [u]
[wu] > [u]

ON. [w] vanished before [u]; [{uw|wu}] > [u]

Order (04600)

After 02800 [ā], [au] became [ǭ] ᴹ✶wāyā > wōia > ON. uia Ety/WAY
After 03200 [j] became [i] after vowels ᴹ✶wāyā > wōia > ON. uia Ety/WAY

Related

Phonetic Rule Elements

[uw] > [u]
[wu] > [u]

Phonetic Rule Examples

kukūwa > kukua uw > u ᴹ✶kukūwā > ON. kukua ✧ Ety/KŪ
gwuin > guin wu > u ᴹ✶WĀ-N > N. guin ✧ Ety/WA-N
wuia > uia wu > u ᴹ✶wāyā > wōia > ON. uia ✧ Ety/WAY
wuiar > uiar wu > u ᴹ✶wā́yārō̆/Vā́yārō̆ > N. Uiar ✧ Ety/WAY