vation the division is made with reference to the component
parts (roots, prefixes, and suffixes); but if the purpose is to
indicate correct pronunciation, the result may be very different. For
illustration, the following words are divided, first, to show
derivation: abs-tract, bene-vol-ent, pre-de-cess-or, e-duc-ate,
phon-o-typ-y, pro-gress, e-lig-ible; and, second, to indicate correct
pronunciation: ab-stract, be-nev-o-lent, pred-e-ces-sor, ed-u-cate,
pho-not-y-py, prog-ress, el-i-gi-ble.

While in the illustrations here given the syllables formed for one
purpose are very different from those formed for the other, yet in the
majority of words the resulting syllables are the same whether divided
for one purpose or for the other.

In the United States the prevailing purpose of syllabication is to
indicate pronunciation.

The ULTIMATE syllable of a word is the last (_ultimus_ = last); the
PENULTIMATE is next to the last (_pen_ = almost); the ANTEPENULTIMATE
is the third from the last (literally, _before almost_ the _last_);
the PREANTEPENULTIMATE is the fourth from the last (literally,
_before_ the one that is _before_ the one _almost last_).

#[Second Month.]#

ACCENT.

ACCENT is stress of voice on a particular syllable in pronouncing a
word.

In long words two, and sometimes three, syllables are accented. But
one syllable is always accented more strongly than the others are. The
stronger accent is called the PRIMARY accent, the weaker is called the
SECONDARY. Thus, in _am' mu ni' tion_ the primary accent falls on the
third syllable and the secondary on the first.

The "PRINCIPLES" which govern the placing of accent are complicated.
The International Dictionary says there are no principles by which to
determine the accent in English. Another high authority says: "All
attempts to assign rules for the place of the accent in English only
serve to render the subject hopelessly intricate and confounded."

There are, however, certain _tendencies_ which mature pupils might
profitably consider, but the limited scope of this book will not
permit me to attempt to set them forth.

In the words of the following list the accent changes with a change of
meaning. When nouns or adjectives these words are accented on the
first syllable; when verbs, on the second:

abstract
accent
compound
conflict
concert
contract
contrast
converse
convict
desert
escort