impunity, etc. we find too, that even u contracts itself before two consonants, as in curvity, taciturnity, etc. and that scarcity and rarity (signifying uncommonness; for rarity, thinness, has the a short) are the only exceptions to this rule throughout the language. The same observations are applicable to words ending in ify, as justify, clarify, etc. The only words where the antepenultimate accent, in words of this termination, does not shorten the vowel, are glorify and notify. The y in these words is always long, like the first sound of i; and both accent and quantity are the same when these words take the additional syllable able, as justifiable, rarefiable, etc. (183)
512. To these may be added the numerous class of words ending in arous, erous, and orous, as barbarous, vociferous, and humorous; all which have the accent on the antepenultimate syllable, except canorous and sonorous; which some unlucky scholar happening to pronounce with the accent on the penultimate syllable, in order to show their derivation from the Latin adjectives, canorus and sonorus, they stand like strangers amidst a crowd of similar words, and are sure to betray a mere English scholar into a wrong pronunciation.
To polysyllables in these terminations might be added those in ative, atory, ctive, etc. Words ending in ative can never have the accent on the penultimate syllable, if there is a higher syllable to place on it, except in the word creative; and when this is the case, as it is seldom otherwise, the accent seems to rest on the root of the word; or on that syllable which has the accent on the noun, adjective, or verb, with which the word in ative corresponds: thus copulative, estimative, alterative, etc. follow the verbs to copulate, to estimate, to alter, etc. When derivation does not operate to fix the accent, a double consonant will attract it to the antepenultimate syllable, as appellative; and two consonants have sometimes this power, in opposition to derivation, as adversative and argumentative, from adverse and argument. Indicative and interrogative are likewise exceptions, as they do not follow the verbs to indicate and interrogate: but as they are grammatical terms, they seem to have taken their accent from the secondary accent we sometimes give to the Latin words indicativus and interrogativè, (see the word Academy.) Words ending in ary, ery, or ory, have generally the accent on the root of the word; which, if it consists of three syllables, must necessarily be accented on the first, as contrary, treachery, factory, etc. if of four or five, the accent is generally on that syllable which has the accent in the related or kindred words; thus expostulatory has the accent on the same radical syllables as expostulate: and congratulatory, as congratulate: interrogatory and derogatory are exceptions here, as in the termination ative; and if pacificatory, sacrificatory,[1] significatory, vesicatory, etc. have not the accent on the first syllable, it seems to arise from the aversion we seem to have at placing even the secondary accent on the antepenultimate a, (which we should be very apt to do if the principal accent were on the first syllable) and the difficulty there would be in pronouncing such long words with so many unaccented syllables at the end, if we were to lay the accent on the first. Words ending in ctive have the accent regularly on the penultimate syllable, except adjective, which, like indicative, being a grammatical word, seems to have taken its accent from the secondary stress of the Latin adjectivus, (see Academy) and every word ending in tive, preceded by a consonant, has the accent on the penultimate syllable likewise, except substantive; and perhaps, for the reason just given. After all, it must be owned, that words ending in ative and atory are the most irregular and desultory of any in the language; as they are generally accented very far from the end, they are the most difficult to pronounce; and therefore, whenever usage will permit, we should incline the stress as much as possible to the latter syllables: thus refractory ought never to have the accent on the first syllable; but refectory, with the accent on the first, is a school term, and, like substantive, adjective, indicative, and interrogative, must be left in quiet possession of their Latin secondary accent.
Enclitical Accent.
513. I have ventured to give the name of enclitical to the accent of certain words, whose terminations are formed of such words as seem to lose their own accent, and throw it back on the last syllable of the word with which they coalesce, such as theology, orthography, etc. The readiness with which these words take the antepenultimate accent, the agreeable flow of sound to the ear, and the unity it preserves in the sense, are sufficient proofs of the propriety of placing the accent on this syllable, if custom were ambiguous. I do not remember to have heard the accent disputed in any word ending in ology; but orthography is not unfrequently pronounced with the accent on the first syllable, like orthodoxy. The temptation we are under to discover our knowledge of the component parts of words, is very apt to draw us into this pronunciation; but as those words which are derived from the Greek, and are compounded of λόγος, have universally given into this enclitical accentuation, no good reason appears for preventing a similar pronunciation in those compounded of γραφω, as by placing the accent on the antepenultimate syllable, the word is much more fluent and agreeable to the ear. It is
- ↑ These words ought certainly to be accented alike; and accordingly we find Dr. Johnson, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Barclay, and Mr. Smith, place the accent on the second syllable; but though Fenning accents significatory in in the same manner, he places the accent on the antepenultimate of pacificatory; and Kenrick likewise accents the second syllable of significatory, but the first of pacificatory: the other orthöepists who have not got these words have avoided these inconsistencies.
