Here's why:
* meager has the short "e" sound, similar to the "e" in "bed" or "pen".
* tenement has a long "e" sound, similar to the "e" in "see" or "tree".
* proceed has a long "e" sound, similar to the "e" in "tree" or "me".
Here's why:
* meager has the short "e" sound, similar to the "e" in "bed" or "pen".
* tenement has a long "e" sound, similar to the "e" in "see" or "tree".
* proceed has a long "e" sound, similar to the "e" in "tree" or "me".