Why does american english change “metre” to “meter” but not “wire” to “wier” or “lyre” to “lyer”?

Question

Why does american english change “metre” to “meter” but not “wire” to “wier” or “lyre” to “lyer”?

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Answer 1

I think it’s specifically the -tre ending that becomes -ter, like “theatre” and “theater.”

“Wire” and “lyre” also have a slightly different sound. Each of those is nominally just one syllable (though they are often said as two, probably be cause the sounds are unfamiliar to the English tongue). “Wiry” is clearly 2 syllables, and “wire” should be one fewer. “Metre” is one syllable in the French pronunciation, but very clearly is 2 syllables in the English. It *sounds* like me-ter.