The London Mercury — Vol. I

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of The London Mercury — Vol. I is here in full — 488 sentences across 98 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Various • Curated US English Learning Edition

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English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.

Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XVII Reading 1/97

The London Mercury — Vol. I Various

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of The London Mercury — Vol. I is here in full — 488 sentences across 98 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

To conclude these remarks on Ollier, it may be mentioned that he also published for Shelley _The Cenci_, second edition (1821), _Rosalind and Helen_ (1819), _Prometheus Unbound_ (1820), _Epipsychidion_ (1821), and _Hellas_ (1822). He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry. This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued. The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death. Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

The London Mercury — Vol. I

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of The London Mercury — Vol. I is here in full — 488 sentences across 98 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/97 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Line 2

He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

Line 3

This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

/ðɪs eˈseɪ ˈprɑːmptɪd ˈʃeli tuː raɪt æz ə rɪˈplaɪ hɪz ˈeləkwənt dɪˈfens ʌv ˈpoʊətri wɪtʃ wɑːz ˌɪnˈtendɪd fɔːr ə ˈleɪtər ˈɪʃuː bʌt ðə fɜːrst wɑːz ðə ˈoʊnli ˈnʌmbər ˈɪʃuːd/

Line 4

The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.

Line 5

Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

/ðer wɑːnt ʌv səkˈses wɑːz əˈtrɪbjətɪd tuː ə læk ʌv ˈbɪznəs kəˈpæsəti ɑːn ðə pɑːrt ʌv ðə ˈpɑːrtnərz ənd ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt ˈkæpətəl/

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.

insufficient adjective US /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/

of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement

From this reading “Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.”

Miscellany noun US /ˈmɪsəleɪni/

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

partners noun US /ˈpɑːrtnərz/

plural of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage

From this reading “Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.”

Peacock noun US /ˈpiːkɑːk/

European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot

From this reading “He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.”

Prometheus noun US /prəˈmiːθiːəs/

(Greek mythology) the Titan who stole fire from Olympus and gave it to mankind; Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock where an eagle gnawed at his liver until Hercules rescued him

publishing noun US /ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ/

the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution

From this reading “The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.”

Shelley's noun US /ˈʃeliz/

possessive form of “shelley” — English writer who created Frankenstein's monster and married Percy Bysshe Shelley (1797-1851)

From this reading “The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.”

Unbound adjective US /ʌnˈbaʊnd/

Released from physical or magical bonds; free and unrestricted.

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

second edition noun + noun

In this reading “To conclude these remarks on Ollier, it may be mentioned that he also published for Shelley _The Cenci_, second edition (1821), _Rosalind and Helen_ (1819), _Prometheus Unbound_ (1820), _Epipsychidion_ (1821), and _Hellas_ (1822).”

on the part preposition + article + noun counted as “on … part”

In this reading “Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.”

All words in this reading · 78

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.

1819

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

From this reading To conclude these remarks on Ollier, it may be mentioned that he also published for Shelley _The Cenci_, second edition (1821), _Rosalind and Helen_ (1819), _Prometheus Unbound_ (1820), _Epipsychidion_ (1821), and _Hellas_ (1822).

1820

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

1821

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

1822

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

attributedverbUS /əˈtrɪbjətɪd/

past form of “attribute” — attribute or credit to

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/

capability to perform or produce

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

capitalnounUS /ˈkæpətəl/

assets available for use in the production of further assets

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

Cenci

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

concludeverbUS /kənˈkluːd/

decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion

contributedverbUS /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/

past form of “contribute” — bestow a quality on

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.

DefencenounUS /dɪˈfens/

(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

editionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

eloquentadjectiveUS /ˈeləkwənt/

expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

Epipsychidion

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

essaynounUS /eˈseɪ/

an analytic or interpretive literary composition

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

HelennounUS /ˈhelən/

(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

Hellas

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

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.

insufficientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/

of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

intendedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪd/

resulting from one's intentions

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/

prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

issuedverbUS /ˈɪʃuːd/

past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

lacknounUS /læk/

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

LiteraryadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

mentionedverbUS /ˈmenʃənd/

past form of “mention” — make reference to

MiscellanynounUS /ˈmɪsəleɪni/

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

Ollier

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

Olliers

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

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

partnersnounUS /ˈpɑːrtnərz/

plural of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

PeacocknounUS /ˈpiːkɑːk/

European butterfly having reddish-brown wings each marked with a purple eyespot

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

PoetrynounUS /ˈpoʊətri/

literature in metrical form

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

PrometheusnounUS /prəˈmiːθiːəs/

(Greek mythology) the Titan who stole fire from Olympus and gave it to mankind; Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock where an eagle gnawed at his liver until Hercules rescued him

promptedverbUS /ˈprɑːmptɪd/

past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

publicationnounUS /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/

a copy of a printed work offered for distribution

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

publishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

publishingnounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ/

the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution

From this reading The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.

remarksnounUS /rɪˈmɑːrks/

plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

replynounUS /rɪˈplaɪ/

a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

Rosalind

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

secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

ShelleynounUS /ˈʃeli/

English writer who created Frankenstein's monster and married Percy Bysshe Shelley (1797-1851)

Shelley'snounUS /ˈʃeliz/

possessive form of “shelley” — English writer who created Frankenstein's monster and married Percy Bysshe Shelley (1797-1851)

From this reading The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.

successnounUS /səkˈses/

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

UnboundadjectiveUS /ʌnˈbaʊnd/

Released from physical or magical bonds; free and unrestricted.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Their want of success was attributed to a lack of business capacity on the part of the partners and insufficient capital.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He also issued a publication called _Olliers' Literary Miscellany_ (1820), to which Peacock contributed an essay on Poetry.

writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading This essay prompted Shelley to write as a reply his eloquent _Defence of Poetry_, which was intended for a later issue, but the first was the only number issued.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading The Olliers abandoned publishing in 1822, the year of Shelley's death.

Chapter 17 of The London Mercury — Vol. I by Various holds 488 sentences, grouped into 98 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 17 of The London Mercury — Vol. I contain?

Chapter 17 holds 488 sentences of The London Mercury — Vol. I, unabridged, divided into 98 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The London Mercury — Vol. I by Various exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 488 sentences, grouped into 98 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 17 of The London Mercury — Vol. I?

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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.

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Chapter XVII

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