Final answer:
The missing word in the sentence is 'offend'. Richard Saunders doesn't want to offend his friend by publishing the almanac.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is English as it pertains to the study of literature and satire.
In the given sentence, Richard Saunders is using satire to mock his friend Mr. Titan Leeds.
The word that is missing to complete the sentence is offend. Richard Saunders doesn't want to offend his friend Mr. Titan Leeds by publishing the almanac, but he believes that Leeds is going to die soon.
This sentence is a clear example of the use of satire in literature to make fun of someone or highlight their flaws in a humorous way.