Chapter M

=Machiavelian=--măk-i-a-vēl´ian, not măsh-i-a-vĕl´ian.
pertaining to Machiavel; politically cunning.

=Mad.= In the sense of provoked, wrathful or indignant, _angry_
is generally considered the more appropriate word. "_Mad as a
March hare_," is an indelicate term that should not be used on
account of its origin.

=Madame=--mä-däm´, not măd´am.

=Magna Charta=--magna kär´ta, not magna chär´ta.

=Manes=--mā´nēz, not mānz. The souls of the dead.

=Manor=--măn´or, not mā´nor.

=Marigold=--măr´i-gold, not mā´ri-gold.

=Matin=--măt´in, not mā´tin.

=Matins=--măt´inz, not mā´tinz.

=Mattress=--măt´tress, not ma-trăss´. Written also
=matress= and pronounced as the first.

=Meaw=--mū, not meyow. To cry like a cat.

=Mediocre=--me´di-ō-ker, not mē-di-ō´ker, nor
mē-di-ŏk´er.

=Melange=--mā-lŏngzh´, not me-lănj´.

=Melanotype=--me-lăn´o-type, not me-lān´o-type.

=Melodrama=--mĕl-o-drā´ma, not mĕl-o-drăm´a, nor
mĕl-o-drä´ma.

=Memoir=--mĕm´wor or mēm´wor, according to Webster;
Worcester gives mē-moir´ or mĕm´wär.

=Mesdames=--mā-däm´, not mĕz-dāmes´.

=Metallurgy=--mĕt´al-lur-jy, not me-tăl´lur-jy.

=Metaphor.= The failure to distinguish between metaphors and
similes, is a very common mistake. In a metaphor the
resemblance is implied without any words to show the
similarity; as soon as the latter are added it becomes a
simile. "Hope is an anchor," and "Judah is a lion's whelp" are
metaphors. "Hope is _like_ an anchor," and "Judah is _like_ a
lion's whelp" are similes.

=Metrical=--mĕt´rik-al, not mē´trik-al.

=Mezzo=--mĕd´zō or mĕt´zō, not mĕz´zō. An
Italian word meaning middle; not extreme. =Mezzo-soprano=
(mĕd´zo-so-prä´no); between contralto and soprano; said of
the voice of a female singer. =Mezzotinto=, etc.

=Microscope=--mī´kro-scope, not mĭk´ro-scope. =Microscopic=
(mī-kro-scŏp´ic). =Microscopy= (mī-kros´co-py).

=Mien=--meen, not māne.

=Mineralogy=--min-er-al´o-jy, not min-er-ŏl´o-jy.

=Minuet=--mĭn´ū-et, not mĭn-ū-ĕt´. A dance.

=Mischievous=--mĭs´che-vŭs, not mĭs-chē´vŭs, nor
mis-chē´ve-us. =Mischievously= and =mischievousness= are
also accented on the first syllable.

=Modulate.= This word is often used incorrectly instead of
_moderate_ in such sentences as: "_Modulate_ your voice," when
it is meant to command or request that the tone be _moderated_
or lowered. _Modulate_ means to vary or inflect in a musical
manner, and although the word might often be used with
propriety in such sentences as the above, yet it is not always
what is _meant_ by the speaker. A person's voice may be
perfectly _modulated_ and yet the tone may be so high that it
is desirable, upon certain occasions, to have it _moderated_.

=Moire=--mwôr, not mōre nor mō´re. =Moire antique= (mwor
ăn-tēk´).

=Molasses.= It may seem incredible to those who have never heard
the error I am about to mention, that such a ridiculous blunder
could occur. I should hardly have believed it myself, if I had
only heard _of_ it; but I was once in a portion of the country
where all the people for miles around spoke of molasses as if
it were a plural noun, and I frequently heard such remarks as
the following: "_These_ molasses are very good; _they_ are the
best I have seen for some time." I once began to remonstrate
with one of the champions of the plurality of the treacle, and
insisted that he should say, "_this_ molasses" and, "_it_ is
good," etc.; but it was of no avail. He insisted that the word
was analogous to _ashes_, and if one was plural so was the
other. There was no good dictionary or other reliable authority
in the neighborhood, as might be imagined from what has been
said, so they were left happy in their ignorance.

=Monad=--mŏn´ad, not mō´nad. An ultimate atom.

=Monogram=--mŏn´o-gram, not mō´no-gram.

=Monograph=--mŏn´o-graph, not mō´no-graph.

=Monomania=--mŏn-o-mā´nia, not mō-no-mā´nia.
=Monomaniac= (mŏn-o-mā´ni-ac).

=Moor=--mōōr, not mōre. An extensive waste; a heath.
_Moor_, the name of a native of North Africa, is similarly
pronounced.

=Morale=--mo-räl´, not mŏr´āle nor mō-răl´.

=Mountainous=--mount´ain-ous, not moun-tā´ni-oŭs.

=Multiplication=--mŭl-ti-pli-cā´tion, not
mŭl-ti-pi-cā´tion.

=Murrain=--mŭr´rĭn, not mŭr´rāne. A disease among
cattle.

=Museum=--mu-zē´um, not mū´ze-um.

=Mushroom=, not _mush-roon_.

=Musk-melon=, not _mush-melon_; but anything before
_mush-million_.

=Mussulmans=, not _musselmen_, is the plural of =Mussulman=.

=Mythology=--mĭ-thŏl´o-jy, not mī-thŏl´o-jy.

N.

=Naiad=--nā´yad, not nā´ĭd nor nā´ăd. A water nymph.

=Nainsook=--nān-sōōk´, not năn-sōōk´. A kind of
muslin.

=Naive=--nä´ēv, not nāve nor näve. Natural; artless.

=Naivete=--nä´ēv-tā, not nā-vēte´ nor nā-vē´ta.

=Nape=--nāp, not năp. The back part of the neck.

=Nasal=--nā´zal, not nā´sal nor năs´al.

=Nasturtium= or =Nasturtion=, not _asturtion_.

=Negligee=--nĕg-li-zhā´, not nĕg-li-jē´, nor
nĕg´li-zhā.

=Newspaper=--nūz´pā-per, not nūs´pā-per.

=Niche=--nĭch, not nĭck, when a concave recess in a wall
for an ornament is meant. If a piece is chopped roughly out of
anything, it is a _nick_. _Nick_ of time, not _niche_ of time,
when a critical moment is meant; but in figurative language
there is no doubt that the phrase "niche of time," may be
appropriately used. A great event may be said to stand in a
_niche of time_ as an example for coming ages.

=Nomad=--nŏm´ad, not nō´-mad. One of a wandering tribe.
Written =nomade= (nŏm´ade) also.

=Nomenclature=--no-men-clā´ture, not nō´men-clātūre.

=Nominative=, not _nom-a-tive_.

=Nonillion=--nō-nĭll´ion, not nŏn-ĭll´ion.

=Nook=--nōōk, as given by Webster. Worcester sanctions both
nōōk and nŏŏk.

=Notable=--nŏt´a-ble, not nō´ta-ble, when it is applied to
a person distinguished for thrift, management, care, etc.; as a
_notable housekeeper_.

=Nymphean=--nĭm-fē´an, not nĭmf´e-an. Relating to nymphs.

O.

=Obesity=--o-bĕs´i-ty, not o-bē´si-ty.

=Obligatory=--ŏb´li-ga-to-ry, not ŏb-lĭg´a-to-ry.

=Often=--ŏf´n, not ŏf´tĕn.

=Omega=--o-mē´ga or o-mĕg´a, not ŏm´e-ga. Worcester
allows the first only.

=Onerous=--ŏn´er-ous, not ō´ner-oŭs.

=Only=--ōn´ly, not ŭn´ly.

=Onyx=--ō´nyx, not ŏn´yx.

=Opal=--ō´-pal, not ō-păl´ nor ō-pawl´.

=Opponent=--op-pō´nent, not ŏp´po-nent.

=Ordnance=, not _ordinance_, when cannon, artillery, etc., are
intended. _Ordinance_ is a rule established by authority.

=Orgeat=--ôr´zhat or ôr´zhā, not ôr´je-at. Worcester gives
ôr´zhat.

=Orthoepy=--ôr´tho-e-py, not ôr-thō´e-py.

=Orthoepist=--ôr´tho-e-pist, not ôr-thō´e-pist.

=Overflowed=, not _overflown_.

P.

=Palaver=--pa-lä´ver, not pa-lăv´er.

=Pall-mall=--pĕl-mĕl´, not pawl-mawl´. The name of a game
formerly played in England; and the name of a street in London.
Written also _pail-mail_ and _pell-mell_, both pronounced as
above. Pell-mell used as an adverb means mixed together in a
disorderly manner; but one person can not rush _pell-mell_.

=Papaw=--pa-paw´, not pŏp´paw as commonly called. Written also
=pawpaw=.

=Papyrus=--pa-pī´rus, not păp´i-rŭs. A material used for
writing upon by the ancients, made from the inner bark of a
plant.

=Parent=--pâr´ent, not pā´rent.

=Parisian=--pa-rĭz´ian, not pa-rĭsh´ian nor pa-rĭss´ian.
Worcester gives pa-rĭzh´i-an.

=Paroquet=--păr´o-quet, not păr-o-kĕt´.

=Parquet=--pär-kā´ or pär-kĕt´. Worcester allows pär-kā´
only.

=Parquette=--pär-ket´, not pär-kā´.

=Partner=, not _pardner_.

=Partridge=, not _pattrij_.

=Patent.= The _adjective_ is pronounced either păt´ent or
pā´tent. When used as a verb or a noun it is pronounced
păt´ent.

=Patois=--păt-wŏ´, not păt´wŏ nor păt-waw´.

=Patriot=--pā´tri-ot, not păt´ri-ot. =Patriotic=,
=patriotism=, etc., have also the long a. Worcester gives the
same with the exception of _patriotic_, which he pronounces
both pā´tri-ot-ic and păt´ri-ot-ic.

=Patron=--pā´tron, not păt´ron. =Patroness= and
=patronless= have also the long a.

=Patronize=--păt´ron-īze, not pā´tron-īze.

=Patronage=--păt´ron-aje, not pā´tron-aje.

=Pease=, not _peas_, when an uncounted quantity is referred to,
as: a bushel of _pease_, a plateful of _pease_, some more
_pease_, etc. _Peas_ when a certain number is mentioned, as: a
dozen _peas_, fifty _peas_, etc.

=Pedal=--pĕd´al, not pē´dal, when that portion of a piano
or harp that is acted upon by the feet, is meant. Pē´dal is
an adjective, and means pertaining to the above, or to a foot.

=Perfect.= I have selected this as the representative of a class
of adjectives that, strictly speaking, do not admit of
comparison. I have noticed, invariably, that those who appear
to be so anxious to correct the error of giving degrees of
comparison to a few stereotyped words of this class, such as
_round_, _square_, _universal_, _chief_, _extreme_, etc., are
singularly remiss in calling attention to a great many other
mistakes of the same kind that are equally prominent. Amongst
the latter may be mentioned the comparison of _correct_,
_complete_, _even_, _level_, _straight_, etc. It will be
admitted that if anything is _perfect_ it can not be _more_ so;
and as soon as it is _less_ so it fails to be _perfect_ at all.
So, if anything is _correct_ it is perfectly free from error;
it can not be made _more_ correct, and if its correctness is
detracted from, it is not quite correct any longer. A
_straight_ line is one that does not vary from a perfectly
_direct_ course in the slightest degree; it can not be
_straighter_ and if it could be _less_ straight, it would be
_curved_. It is ridiculous for any one to insist upon a
national reformation of a few such errors, and suffer a hundred
others just like them to exist without remonstrance. Either
_nearer_ and _nearest_, _more nearly_, and _most nearly_, and
the like, should be substituted for the degrees of comparison
and used with all such words; or people should treat them as
all other adjectives, just as the best writers and speakers
have always done. The former course is the more desirable; the
latter is certainly the more probable.

=Perfidious=--per-fĭd´i-ous, not pĕr´fĭd-oŭs.
Worcester allows per-fĭd´yŭs in addition to the first.

=Peony=--pē´o-ny) =Pæony= (pē´o-ny) or =Piony= (pī´o-ny)
not pī´ny as often called. A flower.

=Perambulate=, not _preambulate_.

=Period=--pē´ri-od, not pĕr´i-od. =Periodic=, =Periodical=,
etc., have also the long e.

=Perspire=, not _prespire_.

=Perspiration=, not _prespiration_.

=Persuade.= This word carries with it the idea of success in
one's endeavors to convince or induce. "I _persuaded_ him for a
long time, but he would not grant my request," should be, "I
_tried_ to _persuade_ him," etc.

=Petrel=--pĕt´rel, not pē´trel. A bird. Worcester allows
the latter also.

=Phaeton=--phā´et-on, not phā'te-on. A vehicle.

=Pharmaceutist=--fär-ma-sū´tĭst, not fär-mā-kū´tist
nor fär-mā´kū-tist.

=Pharmacopœia=--fär-ma-co-pē´ya, not fär-mā-cō´pi-a.

=Piano=--pi-ä´no, not pī-ăn´o. Worcester allows
pĭ-ăn´o.

=Piano-forte=--pĭ-ä´no-fōr´tā, not
pī-ăn´o-fōrt. Worcester sanctions
pĭ-ä´no-fōr´te, pĭ-ăn´o-fôr-te, and remarks in
parenthesis, _often_ pe-ăn´o-fōrt; but the last
pronunciation is evidently not preferred.

=Pilaster=--pĭ-lăs´ter, not pĭl´as-ter. A square pillar
set into a wall and projecting slightly.

=Piquant=--pĭk´ant, not pĭk´wănt nor pēk´wănt.
=Piquantly= (pĭk´ant-ly), etc.

=Placard=--pla-kärd´, not plăk´ard.

=Placid=--plăs´id, not plā´sid. =Placidly= and =placidness=
have also the short a.

=Plait=--plāt, not plăt nor plēt. A braid; or to braid.
=Plat= (plăt) is a proper word, however, having the same
meanings, but the difference in pronunciation must be observed,
when the spelling is as above. =Plait=, meaning a fold of
cloth, as in a shirt bosom, is also pronounced plāt. How
common an error it is to speak of the _pleets_ when alluding
to such folds.

=Platina=--plăt´i-na or pla-tē´na, not pla-tī´na nor
pla-tĭn´a. Worcester allows plăt´i-na only.

=Platinum=--plăt´i-num or pla-tī´num, not pla-tē´num nor
pla-tĭn´um. Worcester gives plăt´i-num only.

=Plebeian=--ple-bē´ian, not plē´bi-an. Ple-bŏn´, as some
pronounce it, is outrageous, neither French, English, nor
Hottentot.

=Plenary=--plē´na-ry, not plĕn´a-ry. Full; entire.
Worcester gives both methods.

=Poetaster=--pō´et-ăs-ter, not pō´et-tāst-er. A petty
poet.

=Poniard=--pŏn´yard, not poin´yard.

=Posthumous=--pŏst´hu-mous, not pōst´hu-moŭs nor
pŏst-ū´moŭs. =Posthumously= (pŏst´hu-mous-ly).

=Potable=--pō´ta-ble, not pŏt´a-ble. Drinkable.

=Potheen=--po-theen´, not pŏt-teen´. When spelled =potteen=,
however, as it may be correctly, the latter pronunciation is
proper.

=Prairie=--prā´ry, not per-rā´ry.

=Prebendary=--prĕb´end-a-ry, not prē´bend-a-ry. A clergyman
of a collegiate or cathedral church, who enjoys a prebend.

=Prebend=--prĕb´end, not prē´bend. A stipend.

=Precedence=--pre-sē´dence, not prĕs´e-dence. =Precedency=
and =precedently=, have the second syllable accented also.

=Precedent=--pre-sē´dent, not prĕs´e-dent. An adjective
meaning antecedent.

=Precedent=--prĕs´e-dent, not pre-sē´dent nor
prē´se-dent. A noun meaning an example or preceding
circumstance. =Precedented= and =unprecedented= have also the
short e.

=Precocious=--pre-kō´shus, not pre-kŏsh´ŭs.
=Precociously= and =precociousness= have also the long o.

=Predatory=--prĕd´a-to-ry, not prē´da-tory. Plundering;
pillaging.

=Predecessor=--prĕd-e-cĕs´sor, not prē-de-cĕs´sor.

=Preface=--prĕf´ace, not prē´face. =Prefatory=
(prĕf´a-to-ry).

=Prejudice=, not _predudice_.

=Prelate=--prĕl´ate, not prē´-late.

=Presage=, not _prestige_, when something is meant that foreshows
a future event; an omen. "This is a _presage_ of victory."

=Prescription=, not _perscription_.

=Prestige=, not _presage_, when it is meant that some one carries
weight or influence from past deeds or successes. "The
_prestige_ of the hero's name was half the battle."

=Presentiment=--pre-sent´i-ment, not pre-zent´i-ment.

=Pretty=--prĭt´ty, not prĕ´ty. =Prettily= (prĭt´ti-ly),
etc.

=Preventive=, not _preventative_.

=Primeval=--prī-mē´val, not prĭm´e-val.

=Process=--prŏs´ess, not prō´sess.

=Prodigy=, not _projidy_.

=Produce=--prŏd´uce, not prō´dūce. The noun; the verb is
pro-dūce´.

=Product=--prŏd´uct, not prō´duct.

=Progress=--prŏg´ress, not pro´gress. Noun; the verb is
pro-gress´.

=Prosody=--prŏs´o-dy, not prō´so-dy nor prŏz´o-dy.

=Protean=--prō´te-an, not pro-tē´an. Assuming different
shapes.

=Protege= (Fr. protégé)--prō-tā-zhā´, not
prō´tēje. One under the care of another. =Protegee= (Fr.
protégée)--prō-tā-zhā´, feminine.

=Psalm=--säm, not săm. =Psalmist= (säm´ist). Worcester gives
săm´ist also for the latter word.

=Psalmody=--săl´mo-dy, not säm´o-dy nor săm-o-dy.

=Psychical=--sī´kĭk-al, not sĭk´ĭk-al nor
fĭz´ĭk-al, as it is sometimes thoughtlessly pronounced in
reading. Pertaining to the human soul.

=Pumpkin=, not _punkin_. _Pumpkin_ itself is a corruption of
_pumpion_ or _pompion_, but is the word that is now generally
used.

=Purulent=--pū´ru-lent, not pŭr´u-lent. Containing pus or
matter. =Purulence= and =purulency= have also the long u in the
first syllable.

=Put=--pŏŏt, not pŭt. This anomalous pronunciation is
hard for some to adopt, the natural tendency being to sound the
_u_ as it is in a host of other words consisting of two
consonants with a short u between them, as: bun, but, cut, dug,
fun, gun, hut, nut, etc.

=Pyrites=--pī-rī´tez, not pe-rī´tez, pĭr´i-tez nor
pī´rītez.

Q.

=Qualm=--kwäm, not kwăm. Worcester allows kwawm also.

=Quay=--kē, not kwā.

=Querulous=, means complaining, whining, etc., and not
_questioning_.

=Quinine=--kwī´nīne or kwĭ-nīne´, not kwi-neen´.
Worcester gives kwĭ-nīne´ or kwĭn´īne.

=Quoit=--kwoit, not kwāte.

=Quoth=--kwōth or kwŭth, not kwŏth.

R.

=Rabies=--rā´bi-ēz, not răb´ēz. Madness, as that of
dogs.

=Radish=--răd´ish, not rĕd-ish.

=Raillery=--răl´ler-y, not rāl´ler-y. Slight ridicule;
pleasantry.

=Raise=--=Rise.= _Raise_ is a transitive verb, or one in which
the action passes over to an object. Present tense, _raise_;
imperfect tense and past participle, _raised_; present
participle, _raising_. _Rise_ is an intransitive verb, the
action not passing over to an object. Present tense, _rise_;
imperfect tense, _rose_; past participle, _risen_; present
participle, _rising_. Errors in the use of these words ought to
be avoided by remembering the following rules:

1. If the person or thing spoken of exerts an action that
passes over to an object, use _raise_, _raised_, and
_raising_.

2. If the person or thing spoken of exerts an action that
does not pass over to an object, use _rise_, _rose_,
_risen_, _rising_. To avoid further repetition in the method
I have adopted to impress upon the mind the difference
between transitive and intransitive verbs by contrasted
sentences, I would refer the reader to the remarks under
=Lay=. "I will _raise_ in the morning at five," should be,
"I will _rise_," etc. "I will _raise_ the _window_," etc.,
is correct, for the action passes to or affects the window.
"I will _raise myself_ if I have the strength" is correct,
because an object, _myself_, is furnished. "The price of
flour is _raising_," should be, "The price of flour is
_rising_;" but it is right to say, "The merchants are
_raising_ the price of flour." "Gold has _raised_ in value,"
should be, "Gold has _risen_ in value." "The price of bonds
_raised_ in less than an hour," should be, "The price of
bonds _rose_," etc. "The sun is _raising_," should be, "The
sun is _rising_." "The sun is _raising_ the temperature," is
proper. The pulse has _risen_, but excitement has _raised_
it. The river has _risen_ in its bed and has _raised_ the
canal. Birds _rise_ in the air. _Arise_ can often be
appropriately substituted for _rise_.

=Rampant=--răm´pant, not ram-pant´.

=Rapine=--răp´ĭn, not răp´een nor rā-peen´.

=Raspberry=--răz´ber-ry, not răss´ber-ry nor rawz´ber-ry.
Worcester gives raz´ber-ry and räs´ber-ry.

=Rational=--răsh´un-al, not rā-shun-al. =Rationalist=
(răsh´un-al-ĭst), etc.

=Recess=--re-cĕss´, not rē´cĕss.

=Recherche= (Fr. recherché)--rŭh-shêr-shā´, not re-shersh´.
Worcester gives rā-sher-shā´.

=Recluse=--re-kluse´, not re-kluze´.

=Reconnoissance=--re-cŏn´noĭs-sänçe, not rek-on-nois´sançe.
Worcester gives re-cŏn´noĭs-sänçe´. =Reconnaissance= is
another method of spelling.

=Recriminations=, not _mutual recriminations_; the word itself
tells of the _mutuality_.

=Redolent=--rĕd´o-lent, not redō´lent. Diffusing odor or
fragrance.

=Relevant=, not _revelant_. Pertinent; applicable.

=Relic=, not _relict_, when that which remains, a corpse, or
anything preserved in remembrance, is meant. =Relict= means a
widow.

=Rendezvous=--rĕn´de-vōō, not rŏn´de-vōō nor
rĕn´de-vōōz. Worcester gives rĕn´de-vōō and
rĕn´de-vōōz. The plural is =rendezvouses=
(rĕn´de-vōōz-ez).

=Requiem=--rē´kwi-em, not rĕk´wĭ-em. Worcester gives
both pronunciations.

=Resume= (Fr. résumé)--rā-zū-mā´, not re-zūme´ nor
re-zū´mā. Worcester gives rez-u-mā´.

=Reticule=, not _ridicule_, when a little bag of net-work is meant.

=Reveille=--re-vāl´yā, not rev-a-lē´. Worcester gives
the first and re-vāl´.

=Ribald=--rĭb´ald, not rī´bald. Low; obscene. =Ribaldry=
(rĭb´ald-ry).

=Rinse=--rĭnss, not rĕnse nor wrĕnch. "_Wrench_ your
mouth," said an uneducated dentist to a patient after _wrenching_
out a large molar. "Thank you," replied the patient. "_You_ have
done that, but I'll _rinse_ it, if you please."

=Ripples=, not _riffles_.

=Romance=--ro-manss´, not rō´manss.

=Roseate=--rō´ze-at, not rōz´āte. Worcester gives
rō´zhe-at also.

=Roue= (Fr. roué)--rōō-ā´, not rōō. Worcester
gives rōō´ā.

S.

=Sacerdotal=--săs-er-dō´tal, not sā-ser-dō´tal,
sā-ker-dō´tal nor săk-er-dō´tal.

=Sacrament=--săk´ra-ment, not sā´kra-ment. =Sacramental=
(săk´ra-ment-al), etc.

=Sacrifice=--săk´rĭ-fīz, not săk´rĭ-fĭs nor
săk´rĭ-fīse. Verb and noun the same. =Sacrificing=
(săk´rĭ-fī-zĭng), etc.

=Sacristan=--săk´rist-an, not sā´krist-an nor
sā-krĭs´tan. =Sacristy= (săk´rist-y).

=Salam=--sa-läm´, not sa-lăm´. Written =salaam= also, and
pronounced similarly.

=Saline=--sa-līne´ or sā´līne, not sā-lēēn´.
Worcester gives sa-līne´ only.

=Salve=--säv, not săv. Worcester gives sälv also.

=Samaritan=--sa-măr´i-tan, not sa-mā´ri-tan.

=Sanitary=, not _sanatory_, when _pertaining_ to health is meant.
=Sanatory= is more restricted in its application, and means
healing; curative.

=Saracen=--săr´a-sen, not săr´a-ken.

=Sarsaparilla=--sär-sa-pa-rĭl´la, not săs-sa-pa-rĭl´la,
nor sär-sa-fa-rĭl´la.

=Satyr=--sā´tur, according to Webster. Worcester gives
săt´ir also.

=Saucy=--saw´sy, not _sassy_.

=Said.= _Said_ (sĕd), not says (sĕz), in speaking of past
remarks. Many of the most cultivated people are guilty of this
vulgarism. "'I will call to see you soon,' _sez_ he." "'I will
be glad to see you at any time,' _sez_ I." Where the details of
a long conversation are given the frequent repetition of _sez_,
or even _said_, is very grating to the refined ear. The use of
_asked_, _inquired_, _remarked_, _suggested_, _answered_,
_replied_, etc., instead, has a pleasing effect upon narrative
or anecdote. It is preferable, also, to give the _exact words_
of the speaker after _said_, etc., as: "When he had finished
reading the letter, he said: 'I will attend to the business the
first leisure moment I have.'" When the word _that_ follows the
_said_, the substance only of the remark may be given, as "He
said that he would attend to the business the first leisure
moment he had." Whichever form is used in narrative, it is not
at all harmonious to give the _exact words_ of one speaker and
only the substance of the remarks of another, at least without
regard to regularity in alternation.

=Schism=--sĭzm, not skĭsm.

=Seckel=, not sĭck-el. A kind of pear.

=See.= It is not uncommon to meet with people that incorrectly
use _see_ in the imperfect tense, as: "I _see_ him yesterday,"
instead of, "I _saw_ him yesterday." See is never used in any
tense but the present, without an auxiliary, as did, shall, etc.

=Seignior=--sēn´yur, not sān´yor.

=Seine=--sēn, not sān. A net for catching fish.

=Senile=--sē´nīle, not sĕn´īle. Pertaining to old age.

=Separate=, not _seperate_. The loss of the a is not noticed in
the pronunciation, but the mistake frequently occurs in writing
this word as it does in the words =inseparable=,
=inseparableness=, =separation=, etc.

=Servile=--sër´vĭl, not sër´vīle.

=Set.= Noun. There are many who incorrectly use _sett_ in writing
of a _set_ of dishes, a _set_ of chess-men, a _set_ of teeth,
or of some other collection of things of the same kind. A
=sett= is a piece placed upon the head of a pile for striking
upon, when the pile can not be reached by the weight or hammer.

=Set=--=Sit.= Blunders in the use of these words are amongst the
most common we have. _Set_, as we shall first consider it, is a
transitive verb, or one in which the action passes over to an
object. Present tense, _set_; imperfect tense and past
participle, _set_; present participle, _setting_. _Sit_ is an
intransitive verb, or one which has no object after it. Present
tense, _sit_; imperfect tense and past participle, _sat_;
present participle, _sitting_.

To avoid repetition as much as possible, I would refer any one to
whom the explanation here given is not perfectly clear, to the
rules and remarks under =Lay= and =Raise=, which are equally
applicable here. "Will you _set_ on this chair?" should be, "Will
you _sit_ on this chair?" "Will you _set_ this _chair_ in the
other room?" is correct. "I _set_ for my picture yesterday,"
should be, "I _sat_," etc. "This hat _sets_ well," should be,
"This hat _sits_ well." "Court _sets_ next month," should be,
"Court _sits_ next month." "The hen has been _setting_ for a
week," should be, "The hen has been _sitting_," etc. "As cross as
a _setting_ hen," should be, "As cross as a _sitting_ hen." But a
person may _set_ a hen; that is, place her in position on eggs.
One _sits_ up in a chair, but he _sets_ up a post. One _sits_
down on the ground, but he _sets_ down figures. _Set_ is also an
intransitive verb and has special meanings attached to it as
such, but they may be readily understood by a little study of
the dictionary, and no confusion need arise. The sun _sets_.
Plaster of Paris _sets_. A setter dog _sets_. One _sets_ out on a
journey. _Sit_ may also be used in two senses as a transitive
verb, as: "The general _sits_ his horse well," and "The woman
_sat_ herself down."

=Sew=--sō, not sū.

=Shampoo=, not _shampoon_. =Shampooing.= Written also =champoo=.

=Shekel=--shĕk´el, not shē´kel.

=Shumac=--shū´mak, not shū-mak´. Written also =sumac= and
=sumach=, both accented on the first syllable.

=Sick= _of_, not sick _with_, as sick _of_ a fever.

=Sienna=--si-ĕn´na, not _senna_, when paint is meant. =Senna=
is a plant used as medicine.

=Simultaneous=--sī-mul-tā´ne-ous, not
sĭm´ul-tā´ne-oŭs. =Simultaneously=
(sī-mul-tā´ne-ous-ly), etc.

=Since=, not _sence_.

=Sinecure=--sī´ne-cure, not sĭn´e-cure. An office which
yields revenue without labor.

=Sit.= See =Sat=.

=Slake=--slāke, not slăk, when the word is spelled as
given, as: _slaked_ lime, to _slake_ one's thirst, etc. If
spelled =slack=, the ordinary pronunciation is right.

=Slough=--slow, not slōō nor slō. A mudhole. Written
=sloo= (slōō) also.

=Slough=--slŭf, not as above. The cast skin of a serpent. Dead
flesh which separates from the living. The verb expressing this
action is pronounced the same.

=Sobriquet=--so-bri-kā´, not written _soubriquet_. Worcester
pronounces it sŏb´rē-kā´.

=Soften=--sŏf´fn, not sawf´ten.

=Sonnet=--sŏn´net, not sŭn´net.

=Soot=--sōōt or sŏŏt, not sŭt.

=Soporific=--sŏp-o-rĭf´ik, not sō-por-ĭf´ik.

=Sotto voce=--sŏt´tō vō´chā, not sŏt´to vōs´
nor sŏt´tō vō´sē.

=Souse=--souss, not sowze. To plunge into water.

=Spasmodic=, not _spasmotic_.

=Spectacles=--spĕk´ta-kls, not spĕk´tĭk´els.

=Spermaceti=--sperm-a-sē´tĭ, not sperm-a-çĭt´y.

=Spider=, not _spiter_.

=Splenetic=--splĕn´e-tic, not sple-nĕt´ic. Fretful;
peevish.

=Spoliation=--spō-li-ā´tion, not spoil-a´tion.

=Spurious=--spū´ri-ous, not spŭr´i-oŭs. =Spuriously=
(spū´ri-ous-ly), etc.

=Statical=--stăt´i-cal, not stā´ti-cal. Pertaining to
bodies at rest.

=Stationery=, not _stationary_, when paper, envelopes, ink, etc.,
are meant.

=Statue=, not _statute_, when a carved image is meant.

=Statute=, not _statue_, when a law or decree is meant.

=Stearine=--stē´a-rĭn, not stĕr´ĭn.

=Stereoscope= (stē´re-o-scope), =Stereotype=
(stē´re-o-type), etc., according to Webster; and
stĕr´e-o-scope, stĕr´-e-o-type, etc., according to
Worcester.

=Stolid=--stŏl´id, not stō´lid. Stupid; dull.

=Stratum=--strā´tum, not străt´um. =Strata= (strā´ta),
the Latin plural is used much more than the English =stratums=.
Errors like "a _strata_ of gravel," are also not infrequently
heard.

=Strategic=--stra-tē´jik, not străt´e-jĭk. =Strategical=
(stra-tē´ji-cal) and =strategist= (străt´e-jist).
Worcester gives stra-tĕj´ic and stra-tĕj´i-cal.

=Strum= or =Thrum= should be used, and not _drum_, when the noisy
and unskillful fingering of a musical instrument is meant.

=Stupendous=--stu-pen´dŭs, not stu-pĕn´jŭs nor
stu-pĕn´de-us.

=Suavity=--swăv´ĭ-ty, not swäv´ĭ-ty nor suăv´i-ty.

=Subtraction=, not _substraction_, when the act of deducting is
meant. =Substraction= is a law term meaning the withholding of
some right, for which, however, the word _subtraction_ is also
used. =Subtract=, not _substract_.

=Subtile=--sŭb´tĭl, not sŭt´tle.

=Subtle=--sŭt´tle, not sŭb´tle.

=Suffice=--sŭf-fīz´, not sŭf-fīs´.

=Suicidal=--sū-i-sī´dal, not sū-ĭs´i-dal. Worcester
placed the principal accent on the first syllable.

=Suite=--sweet, not sūte. When the word =suit= is used,
however, the latter pronunciation is correct.

=Sulphurous=--sŭl´phur-ŭs, not sul-phū´rŭs nor
sŭl-phū´re-us. =Sulphureous= is another word.

=Summoned=, not _summonsed_.

=Supersede=, =superseded=, =superseding=. Observe the s in the
penultimate. It is a common error to write _supercede_, etc.

=Supposititious=--sup-pos-i-tĭ´shus, not sup-po-sĭ´shus.
Put by a trick in the place of another, as, a _supposititious_
child, a _supposititious_ record.

=Surtout=--sŭr-tōōt´, not sŭr-towt´ nor
sŭr´tōōt.

=Swath=--swawth, not swawthe. Worcester gives swŏth. The sweep
of the scythe in mowing.

T.

=Tabernacle=--tăb´er-na-cle, not tăb´er-năk´cle.

=Tapestry=--tăp´es-try, not tā´pĕs-try.

=Tarlatan=--tär´la-tan, not tärl´tun. =Tartan= is a different
material.

=Tarpaulin=--tär-paw´lin, not tär-pō´lin. Written also
=tarpauling= and =tarpawling=.

=Tartaric=--tar-tăr´ic, not tar-tär´ic. Pertaining to or
obtained from tartar, as _tartaric_ acid.

=Tassel=--tăs´sel, not taw´sel. Worcester gives tŏs´sl also.

=Tatterdemalion=--tăt-ter-de-măl´ion, not
tăt-ter-de-māl´ion.

=Telegraphy=--te-lĕg´ra-phy, not tĕl´e-grăph-y.

=Telegraphist=--te-lĕg´ra-phist, not tel´e-grăph-ist. A
telegraphic operator. No such word as _telegrapher_ is given.

=Terpsichorean=--terp-sĭk-o-rē´an, not terp-si-kō´re-an.
Relating to =Terpsichore= (terp-sik´o-re), the muse who
presided over dancing.

=Tete-a-tete=--tāt-ä-tāt´, not teet-ä-teet.

=Theatre= or =theater=--thē´a-ter, not the-ā´ter.

=Threshold=--thrĕsh´ōld, not thrĕz´ōld nor
thrĕz´hold. Worcester gives thrĕsh´hold.

=Thyme=--tīm, not as spelled.

=Tic-douloureux=--tĭk´dōō-lōō-rōō´, not
-dŏl-o-rōō´ nor -dō-lō-rōō´.

=Tiny=--tī´ny, not tee´ny nor tĭn´y.

=Tolu=--to-lū´, not tū´lū.

=Tomato=--to-mā´to or to-mä´to, not to-măt´o.

=Topographic=--tŏp-o-graph´ic, not tō-po-grăph´ic.
=Topographical= and =topographically= have also the short o in
the first syllable.

=Tour=--tōōr, not towr.

=Tournament=--tür´na-ment according to Webster. Worcester gives
tōōr´na-ment also.

=Toward= and =towards=--tō´-ward and tō´wardz, not to-ward´
and to-wardz´.

=Tragacanth=--trăg´a-kănth, not trăj´a-sĭnth nor
trăg´a-sănth. A gum used for mucilage.

=Traverse=--trăv´erse, not tra-verse´. =Traversable=,
=traversing= and =traversed= have also the accent on the first
syllable.

=Tremendous=--tre-mĕn´dŭs, not tre-mĕn´de-ŭs nor
tre-mĕn´jŭs.

=Trilobite=--trī´lo-bīte, not trĭl´o-bīte nor
trŏl´lo-bīte, as it is often called.

=Troche=--trō´kee, not trōsh, trō´she, trōke nor
trŏtch. Plural, =troches= (trō´keez). A lozenge composed
of sugar, mucilage and medicine, as: _bronchial troches_.
=Trochee=--trō´kee, is a foot in poetry.

=Truculent=--trū´ku-lent, not trŭk´u-lent.

=Truths=--truths, not truthz, is the plural of =truth=.

=Tryst=--trĭst, not trīst. An appointment to meet.
=Tryster= (trĭst´er), =trysting= (trĭst´ing).

=Turbine=--tür´bĭn, not tür´-bīne. A kind of water wheel.

U.

=Umbrella=--um-brĕl´la, not um-ber-rĕl´ nor
um-ber-rĕl´la.

=Upas=--ū´păs, not ū´paw nor ū´pawz.

=Usurp=--yū-zurp´, not yū-surp´. =Usurper= (yū-zurp´er),
etc.