This word is first recorded in the 15th century as an alternate spelling for controller, the first syllable of which had become associated with the etymologically unrelated word count and its variant compt. Although the historical pronunciation for this word would be the same as for controller, evidence indicates that the spelling pronunciations (kmp-tr´lr) and (kmp´tr´´lr) are probably now used by a majority of speakers. In a recent ballot, 43 percent of the Usage Panel indicated that they pronounce comptroller like controller, while 57 percent pronounce it as it is spelled, with stress on either the first or second syllable. And of those who say they pronounce comptroller like controller, about half indicated that they also consider one or the other of the spelling pronunciations acceptable.
mp-tr
´l
r) and (k
