III Accent and Emphasis. (33)
Accent
That syllable in a word which is uttered more forcibly than the others, is said to be accented, and is marked thus, (‘); as the italicized syllables in the following words:
morn’ing. pos’si-ble. ty’rant. re-cum’bent. pro-cure’. ex-or’bi-tant, de-bate’. com-pre-hen’sive.
Common usage alone determines upon what syllable the accent should be placed, and to the lexicographer it belongs, to ascertain and record its decision on this point.
In some few cases, we can trace the reasons for common usage in this respect. In words which are used as different parts of speech, or which have different meanings, the distinction is sometimes denoted by changing the accent.
Examples. (33) sub’ject sub-ject’ pres’ent pre-sent’ ab’sent ab-sent’ cem’ent ce-ment’ con’jure con-jure’
There is another case, in which we discover the reason for changing the accent, and that is, when it is required by emphasis, as in the following:
Examples. (33)
1. His abil’ity or in’ability to perform the act materially varies the case. 2. This corrup’tion must put on in’corruption.