One author of eminence pronounces _defile_ in three syllables, _def-i-le_. In this he is singular; neither general practice, nor rules warrant the pronunciation; and all the other authorities are against him. With respect to _oblige_, authorities differ. The standard writers give us both _oblige_ and _obleege_, and it is impossible to determine on which side the weight of authority lies. The direct derivation of the word from the French would incline us to prefer _obleege_, in the analogy of _fatigue_, _machine_, _antique_, _pique_, _marine_, _oblique_, which uniformly preserve the French _i_ or English _ee_. Yet Chesterfield called this affectation, and it might be so in his age; for the opinions of men are capricious. The English analogy requires _i_ long in _oblige_; and perhaps this should incline all parties to meet each other on that best principle. Some people very erroneously pronounce _chaise_, _sha_ in the singular, and _shaze_ in the plural. The singular number is _shaze_, and the plural, _shazes_. Our modern fashionable speakers accent _European_ on the last syllable but one. This innovation has happened within a few years: I say innovation; for it is a violation of an established principle of the language, that words ending in _ean_ have the accent on the last syllable but two: Witness _Mediterra'nean_, _Pyre'nean_, _Hercu'lean_, _subterra'nean_. I do not advert to an exception,[55] and why _European_ should be made one, it is difficult to determine. The reason given by some, that _e_ in the penultima represents the Latin dipthong _æ_, which was long, is of little weight, opposed to the general practice of a nation, and to an established principle. The standard authors, in this instance, as in all others, where practice is not uniform, very absurdly give both pronunciations, that we may take our choice. As this is a very easy method of getting over difficulties, and passing along without giving offence, so it is a certain way to perpetuate differences in opinion and practice, and to prevent the establishment of any standard. Analogy requires _Euro'pean_, and this is supported by as good authorities as the other.