vowel, those of the latter by the syllable. To a Roman
the word _monument_ consists of two short syllables and one long one; to an
Englishman it contains three short syllables.

* * * * *

CHAPTER VII.

ON ACCENT.

s. 139. In the word _tyrant_ there is an emphasis, or stress, upon the
first syllable. In the word _presume_ there is an emphasis, or stress, on
the second syllable. This emphasis, or stress, is called _accent_. The
circumstance of a syllable bearing an accent is sometimes expressed by a
mark ('); in which case the word is said to be accentuated, i.e., to have
the accent signified in writing.

Words accented on the last syllable--_Brig['a]de_, _pret['e]nce_,
_harpo['o]n_, _reli['e]ve_, _det['e]r_, _ass['u]me_, _bes['o]ught_,
_ber['e]ft_, _bef['o]re_, _abro['a]d_, _ab['o]de_, _abstr['u]se_,
_interm['i]x_, _super['a]dd_, _cavali['e]r_.

Words accented on the last syllable but one--_An'chor_, _ar'gue_,
_h['a]sten_, _f['a]ther_, _f['o]xes_, _sm['i]ting_, _h['u]sband_,
_m['a]rket_, _v['a]pour_, _b['a]refoot_, _arch['a]ngel_, _besp['a]tter_,
_dis['a]ble_, _terr['i]fic_.

Words accented on the last syllable but two--_Reg'ular_, _an'tidote_,
_for'tify_, _susc['e]ptible_, _incontrov['e]rtible_.

Words accented on the last syllable but three (rare)--_R['e]ceptacle_,
_r['e]gulating_, _t['a]lkativeness_, _['a]bsolutely_, _l['u]minary_,
_in['e]vitable_, &c.

s. 140. A great number of words are distinguished by the difference of
accent alone.

An _['a]ttribute_. To _attr['i]bute_.
The month _A['u]gust_. An _aug['u]st_ person.
A _com'pact_. _Comp['a]ct_ (close).
To _con'jure_ (magically). _Conj['u]re_ (enjoin).
_Des'ert_, wilderness. _Des['e]rt_, merit.
_Inv['a]lid_, not valid. _Inval['i]d_, a sickly person.
_M['i]nute_, 60 seconds. _Min['u]te_, small.
_S['u]pine_, part of speech. _Sup['i]ne_, careless, &c.

s. 141. In _t['y]rant_ and _pres['u]me_, we deal with single words; and in
each _word_ we determine which _syllable_ is accented. Contrasted with the
sort of accent that follows, this may be called a _verbal_ accent.

In the line,

Better for _us_, perhaps, it might appear,
(Pope's "Essay on Man," I. 169.)

the pronoun _us_ is strongly brought forward. An especial stress or
emphasis is laid upon it, denoting that _there are other beings to whom it