e.

Doubled letters, like ll, mm, tt, etc., should be so pronounced that both
members of the combination are distinctly articulated.

SYLLABLES.

4. There are as many syllables in a Latin word as there are separate vowels
and diphthongs.

In the division of words into syllables,--

1. A single consonant is joined to the following vowel; as, vo-lat, ge-rit,
pe-rit, a-dest.

2. Doubled consonants, like tt, ss, etc., are always separated; as, vit-ta,
mis-sus.

3. Other combinations of two or more consonants are regularly separated,
and the first consonant of the combination is joined with the preceding
vowel; as, ma-gis-tri, dig-nus, mon-strum, sis-te-re.

4. An exception to Rule 3 occurs when the two consonants consist of a mute
followed by l or r (pl, cl, tl; pr, cr, tr, etc.). In such cases both
consonants are regularly joined to the following vowel; as, a-gri,
vo-lu-cris, pa-tris, ma-tris. Yet if the l or r introduces the second part
of a compound, the two consonants are separated; as, ab-rumpo, ad-latus.

5. The double consonant x is joined to the preceding vowel; as, ax-is,
tex-i.

QUANTITY.

5. A. Quantity of Vowels.

A vowel is _long_ or _short_ according to the length of time required for
its pronunciation. No absolute rule can be given for determining the
quantity of Latin vowels. This knowledge must be gained, in large measure,
by experience; but the following principles are of aid:--

1. A vowel is long,[6]--

a) before nf or ns; as, infans, inferior, consumo, censeo, insum.

b) when the result of contraction; as, nilum for nihilum.

2. A vowel is short,--

a) before nt, nd; as, amant, amandus. A few exceptions occur in compounds
whose first member has a long vowel; as, nondum (non dum).

b) before another vowel, or h; as, meus, traho. Some exceptions occur,
chiefly in proper names derived from the Greek; as, Aeneas.

B. Quantity of Syllables.

Syllables are distinguished as _long_ or _short_ according to the length of
time required for their pronunciation.

1. A syllable is long,[7]--

a) if it contains a long vowel; as, mater, regnum, dius.

b) if it contains a diphthong; as, causae, foedus.

c) if it contains a short vowel followed by x, z, or any two consonants
(except a mute with l or r); as, axis, gaza, resto.

2. A syllable is short, if it contains a short vowel followed by a vowel or
by a single consonant; as, mea, amat.

3. Sometimes a syllable