Avoirdupois.

[Mark Odegard]

Having checked the online MW, AHD4 and Encarta pronunciations, all give the
averred duh poise form, with no alternates. Given the testimony posted here,
the dictionaries might think of giving an alternate. For those who actually
use the word, the Frenchy way seems the majority usage. What does OED say?

'Avoirdupois' is what I call a 'semi-active' vocabulary item. It's something
you might use in writing, but would have almost no occasion to use in
speech.

The back-part of my language-processing centers says the spelling of this
word represents 'a voy yer do poyce'. I obviously applied the "rule" about
syllable final -oir and (the less firm one about) -ois, without ever
assimilating the dictionary-authorized pronunciation.

Beverly Flanigan
>The compromise pronunciation I learned in physics (or whatever) was
>'a-vor-du-poy'.  Note the intrusive /r/ but the lack of final /z/, in a
>semi-Frenchy way.  What WAS the "old anglicized pron. dating back to Middle
>English," by the way?

Benjamin Barrett
>>> >(I left avoidupois out of the list because I've never heard it
>>> >pronounced so that it didn't sound a bit snobbish.)

Me (Mark Odegard)
>>>I don't think I've ever used it, but if I did, I'd have pro'ly given it a
>>>Frenchified pronunciation. I see it really is averred duh poise. My eyes
>>>woulda raised had I ever heard it done the correct M-W way.

Dale Coye
>>I did a brief investigation of avoirdupois a while back by going to the
>>people who might use it most... I called the state capitol of 7 diffrerent
>>states and asked to speak to the Supervisor of Weights and Measures, or
>>whatever the title might be.  Of the 7 only one used the old anglicized
>>pronunciation dating back to Middle Eng. if memory serves.  The other 6
>>had a
>>variety of Frenchy pronunciations.

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