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Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776
Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776 is here in full — 383 sentences across 77 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/76 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
[368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.
[369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.
Edinburgh, 1760.
In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.
Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776 is here in full — 383 sentences across 77 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/76 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
[368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.
Line 2
[369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.
Line 3
Edinburgh, 1760.
Line 4
In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.
Line 5
Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

collected adjective US /kəˈlektəd/

brought together in one place

From this reading “[369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.”

Edinburgh noun US /ˈedənbəroʊ/

the capital of Scotland; located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth

From this reading “Edinburgh, 1760.”

Epic adjective US /ˈepɪk/

very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)

From this reading “Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.”

forgeries noun US /ˈfɔːrdʒəriz/

plural of “forgery” — a copy that is represented as the original

From this reading “[369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.”

Fragments noun US /ˈfræɡmənts/

plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else

Highlands noun US /ˈhaɪləndz/

a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse)

Poem noun US /ˈpoʊəm/

a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

published adjective US /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading “In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.”

All words in this reading · 39

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1760

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Edinburgh, 1760.

1762

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

1781

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

2

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

368

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

369

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

AncientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

BooksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/

brought together in one place

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

containedadjectiveUS /kənˈteɪnd/

gotten under control

From this reading Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

EdinburghnounUS /ˈedənbəroʊ/

the capital of Scotland; located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth

From this reading Edinburgh, 1760.

EpicadjectiveUS /ˈepɪk/

very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale)

From this reading Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

Fingal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

forgeriesnounUS /ˈfɔːrdʒəriz/

plural of “forgery” — a copy that is represented as the original

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

FragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/

plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

HighlandsnounUS /ˈhaɪləndz/

a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse)

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

ipronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

Lyttelton

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

Macpherson's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

Ossian

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

PoemnounUS /ˈpoʊəm/

a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

From this reading Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

PoetrynounUS /ˈpoʊətri/

literature in metrical form

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

postverbUS /poʊst/

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

publishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

SeeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading [368] See _post_, in 1781, the _Life of Lyttelton_.

Vol

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Vol. i. contained _Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem_, in six Books.

vols

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading [369] The first of Macpherson's forgeries was _Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands_.

WorksnounUS /wɜːrks/

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading In 1762, he published in London, _The Works of Ossian, the son of Fingal_, 2 vols.

Chapter 23 of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776 by James Boswell holds 383 sentences, grouped into 77 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 23 of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776 contain?

Chapter 23 holds 383 sentences of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776, unabridged, divided into 77 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776 by James Boswell exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 383 sentences, grouped into 77 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 23 of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776?

Work through the 77 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 77 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776

Common questions about reading Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776 by James Boswell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776?

Yes. All 13767 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9072 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #9072, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 600 minutes of reading across 2754 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776

Words and structures a reader meets early in Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

George
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Birkbeck
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Contents
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Samuel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Life of Johnson, Volume 2 1765-1776; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.