Words in _cal_ are nearly all derived from other words ending in _ic,_
as _classical, cubical, clerical,_ etc. Words ending in _cle_ are
(as far as English is concerned) original words, as _cuticle,
miracle, manacle,_ etc. When in doubt, ask the question if, on
dropping the _al_ or _le,_ a complete word ending in _ic_ would be left.
If such a word is left, the ending is _al,_ if not, it is probably _le_.
Er and re.
Webster spells _theater, center, meter,_ etc., with the termination
_er,_ but most English writers prefer _re. Meter_ is more used to
denote a device for measuring (as a "gas meter"), _meter_ as the French
unit of length (in the "Metric system"). In words like _acre_ even
Webster retains _re_ because _er_ would make the _c_ (or _g_) soft.
Words ending in er, ar, or.
First, let it be said that in most words these three syllables
(_er, ar, or_), are pronounced very nearly if not exactly alike (except
a few legal terms in or, like _mort'gageor_), and we should not try to
give an essentially different sound to _ar_ or _or_* from that we give
to _er_. The ending _er_ is the regular one, and those words ending in
_ar_ or _or_ are very few in number.
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