a usurper or an usuper

[ripley]

Hi, I'd like to know if I both a/an are possible before the noun usurper
Thanks Rip

 

[2006]

Hi, I'd like to know if I both a/an are possible before the noun usurper
Thanks Rip

"usurper" begins with a long u sound (like the word 'you'), so only 'a usurper' is correct.

 

[ripley]

"usurper" begins with a long u sound (like the word 'you'), so only 'a usurper' is correct.

The problem is that John Donne wrote "I, like an usurp'd town" in his sonnet "Batter my heart" and even if I knew the rule I had some doubts...
Is it poetic freedom in Donne's case?
Thanks. rip

 

[2006]

The problem is that John Donne wrote "I, like an usurp'd town" in his sonnet "Batter my heart" and even if I knew the rule I had some doubts...
Is it poetic freedom in Donne's case? I don't know. But John Donne died in 1631, so that is an old poem. Anyway, at least in North America, 'a usurper' is correct.
Thanks. rip

2006

 

[Tdol]

The problem is that John Donne wrote "I, like an usurp'd town" in his sonnet "Batter my heart" and even if I knew the rule I had some doubts...
Is it poetic freedom in Donne's case?
Thanks. rip

It could be that the pronunciation has changed since his time. There's an example of 'an usurpation' from 1838 in a legal text here (first line):
Reports of cases argued and ... - Google Books

 

[mmasny]

The Great Vowel Shift seems to be guilty, doesn't it?