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A Minor Curiosity

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 5:50 pm
by brogine
When do you pronounce ‘enveloped’ with the accent on the final syllable? When it carries the specific sense of putting something in an envelope.
Peripherally, under ‘envelope’ in the OED, /ˈɑnvəˌloʊp/, and its British counterpart, are listed after the sensible way.

Re: A Minor Curiosity

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 7:21 pm
by Slava
For me, when speaking of an envelope, I'd go with ENveloped.

Re: A Minor Curiosity

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2022 8:29 pm
by brogine
Of course you’re right. Don’t know what I was thinking. Thanks for shortening my period of humiliation!

Re: A Minor Curiosity

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 11:20 pm
by David Myer
I wouldn't go with ENveloped in that sense. Surely if you put something in an envelope, you envelOPE it? But horrid to use the word as a transitive verb anyway IMHO. ENVELoped is when you're completely immersed in something - fog, say, or warm water. And again when his comforting arms ENVELope the injured animal.

No need for humility brogine. Looks like a fair question to me

Re: A Minor Curiosity

Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2022 4:21 pm
by brogine
Thanks for your interest. The OED accepts - albeit as colloquial - ‘envelope’ as a verb.

ˈenvelope v. colloquial to put (a letter) in an envelope.

With no indication otherwise, it must be assumed that pronunciation should be on the first syllable.