TEST-SPELLER: DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF THE HIGHER CLASSES IN SCHOOLS, AND FOR TEACHERS' INSTITUTES, BY CHARLES W. SANDERS, A.M., NEW YORK: IVISON, PHINNEY, BLAKEMAN & CO. CHICAGO: S. C. GRIGGS & CO. 1867. PREFACE. THE present work is but the proper sequel to the UNION SPELLER. It comes forth in response to a call, long since made and often repeated, for some exercises in spelling, suitable for the higher classes in Schools and for Teachers' Institutes. The standard adopted is the new Illustrated Edition of Webster's American Dictionary. No orthographical, or orthoëpical principle, rule, analogy, or tendency, therefore, laid down and approved in that great work, is here left without ample illustration. The number of words introduced is about five thousand. These include all those about which people are most apt to differ, or to be at a loss. And wherever, in such cases, the doubt is removable by appeal to established rule, or to reputable usage, the rule, or the usage is either given, or referred to, in a brief explanatory note. Where, as often happens, the ear is likely to mislead the eye, as in spelling dac tyl, (tyl), and duc′ tile, (tile), re cede', (cede), and succeed, (ceed), the words presenting such points of resemblance, are purposely put under each other. This is done in order to inculcate these differences by the force of comparison. In more than half of the Exercises the words are all defined. Many, moreover, are further explained in notes; while all are divided into syllables and duly accented. Such, in brief, is the TEST-SPELLER; in the preparation of which the author has kept steadily in view the particular want to be supplied, and thus sought to obviate the very natural objection to an ordinary Spelling-book for advanced pupils. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern Electrotyped by SMITH & MCDOUGAL, 82 & 84 Beekman St., N. Y. GIFT TO THE PUPIL. 891 52445 tes Educ Libkarg IN the KEY TO THE PRONUNCIATION, on the next two pages, you will find, for your guidance, a number of little marks or signs over, under, or across the several letters to indicate their sounds. It is necessary to be perfectly familiar with these. Observe, also, in studying your lessons, how each word is divided into syllables, and which syllable bears the mark (') of the accent. This last is very important; for (among other reasons) a change of accent often involves an entire change of meaning. Thus, col lect' means to gather together; but col' lect means a short prayer. Between the two words coun' sel or and coun' cil or, you notice, there is little, or no difference in sound. But, in the spelling, there is a difference. In coun'sel or, you observe, the second syllable is sel; in coun'cil or, the second syllable is cil. Differences of this kind often lead to mistakes in spelling. Hence, when such cases occur in the lessons, as often they will, they must be carefully noted, for this will serve to fix them in your mind. Some of the marks, as the star (*), the dagger (t), &c., point to notes at the foot of the page. Make it always a part of your lesson to know accurately what these notes teach. 205 |