A Little Book of French Grammar, Translated into Latin

of a word, i occurred between vowels: such as Envoyer, Ie uoyoye, so that the i of the preceding syllable would not be joined with the following syllable, and read Enuo-ier, Ie uo-io-ie. Likewise, at the end of words terminated in a diphthong, they wrote y, such as Moy, Toy, Soy, Foy, Roy, Iray, Appuy, Ennuy.

Z

z The French use this letter in words formed from a Greek term, and they pronounce it with the tongue adhering to the lower teeth, with the mouth slightly open, in a soft sound: such as Zele, Zelateur. It also has use at the end of certain words in place of s, to show that they are to be pronounced with an open mouth, with the tongue adhering to the lower teeth: such as in words of this kind, Aimez, Envoyez, participles of the past tense: Oyez, Voyez, of the imperative mood.

OF THE APOSTROPHE.

A, E, and I are very often not written, especially E at the end of certain monosyllabic words, and sometimes those of several syllables: as often as they are joined to another word beginning with the same or another vowel: then (according to the custom of the Greeks) in place of the letter taken away from the preceding word, a semicircle is placed at the top, or head of the letter, made in this manner, which is called by the Greek word Apostrophos, which signifies aversion. This is done, however, to show that the letter has been taken away or subtracted and should not be read, but that two words are to be joined into one so that there is a single pronunciation for both. This is seen especially in these particles de, ie, le, me, que, se, te, ma, ta, sa, ne. For example, D'autant