The Mystery of Dare

[Eurysilas]

I was doing some of Wheelock's optional self-tutorial exercises when I noticed an oddity: in the Latin verb Dare, the "a" thematic vowel is not long. Yet, it is in the infinitive form of every other first conjugation Latin verb. Why is this? The rules on the shorting of vowels that I have been given say this thematic vowel should be long in this instance. What gives?

[vir litterarum]

http://books.google.com/books?id=-ntfAA ... TEzATkpJVy

[Eurysilas]

Oh, OK. There IS a reason, then. That's reassuring to know. Thank you!