Thicknesse: Question on Pronunciation

[justcarol67]

> > Carol:
> 
> > FWIW, although I immediately recognized the pun on "thickness," I
> > pronounced it "thick NESS" because of the -"esse" suffix. I can
think of only two English words ("largesse" and "politesse")
containing that suffix, but the "e" in both is a short e, not a schwa,
as in "thickness." At any rate, it's certainly two syllables, not three.
> 
> Geoff:
> Two points.
> 
> "Largesse" and "politesse" are pronounced differently, the former
having a soft `s' sound  and the latter hard.
> 
> I pronounce all these words with the same `e' sound.

Carol:
Not according to Merriam-Webster Online, which has an audio link so
that you can hear the pronunciation. (I checked. The ESS sound is the
same in both words.) 

http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/largesse
http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politesse

Admittedly, however, it's an American dictionary. "Finesse" is another
one:

http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finesse

(Still can't think of any others, but all three have the same sound
according to my source.)

In any case, with regard to Pius Thicknesse, I'd say that JKR's
reading of the first chapter (in which she uses the pronunciation I
suggested, "thick NESS") settles the matter. (Thanks to whoever posted
that comment.)

Speaking of dear Pius, did anyone find it troubling that he's treated
as a bad guy during the battle even though he was Imperiused?
Essentially, he's Yaxley's puppet from the first chapter, not a DE.

Carol, hoping that CMC has settled on a pronunciation that suits the FILK