Finally, we have to mention the apocopation, for metrical reasons, of unaccented prefixes, as _'bove_ (_above_), _'cause_ (_because_), _'longs_ (_belongs_), &c., which on the whole cannot easily be misunderstood.[139] § =112=. A contrast to these various forms of shortening is presented by the =lengthening= of words for metrical purposes, which we have already in part discussed in the preceding chapter (see for examples § 87). Disyllabic words are made trisyllabic by inserting an _e_ (or rarely _i_) between mute and liquid, e.g., _wond_(_e_)_rous_, _pilg_(_e_)_rim_, _count_(_e_)_ry_, _breth_(_e_)_ren_, _ent_(_e_)_rance_, _child(e)ren_, _Eng_(_e_)_land_, _troub_(_e_)_lous_, _light_(_e_)_ning_, _short_(_e_)_ly_, _jugg_(_e_)_ler_, &c.[140] Among the monosyllabic words or accented endings of words which admit of a disyllabic pronunciation for the sake of metre we have mainly to consider such as have a diphthong in their root, as _our_, _sour_, _devour_, _hour_, _desire_, _fire_, _ire_, _sire_, _hire_, _squire_, _inquire_, &c., or such as approach diphthongal pronunciation and therefore admit of being treated as disyllables, e.g., _dear_, _fear_, _hear_, _near_, _tear_, _clear_, _year_. The disyllabic use of words of the latter class is very rare, though a striking example is afforded by the rhyme _see her: clear_ Mrs. Browning, iii, p. 57. Some other words, phonetically analogous to these, but popularly apprehended as containing a simple long vowel, as _fair_, _fare_, _are_, _here_, _there_, _rare_, _sphere_, _were_, _more_, _door_, _your_, are added to the list by Abbott, but with doubtful correctness (cf. _Metrik_, ii. 115-17). NOTES: [133] In the reading of the Bible and Liturgy the older syllabic pronunciation of certain endings is still common, and it is occasionally heard in sermons, where a more elevated and poetical kind of diction is admissible than would be used in secular oratory. [134] See ten Brink, _Chaucer's Sprache und Verskunst_, § 260. [135] Cf. Luick, _Anglia_, xi. 591-2. [136] Cf. King James I, _The Kingis Quair_, ed. by W. W. Skeat, 1883-4. [137] Cf. _Metrik_, ii. 101-3 _note_. [138] Cf. Ellis, _E. E. Pr._, i. 367-8. [139] A long list of the words so treated is to be found in Abbott, _Shakespearian Grammar_, § 460. [140] Cf. Abbott, § 477; Ellis, _E. E. Pr._, iii. 951-2; _Metrik_, ii, 117-18. CHAPTER VIII WORD-ACCENT