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A Book of Discovery
A Book of Discovery

Chapter XV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.
These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.
Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.
So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.
What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Book of Discovery

Chapter XV

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.
Line 2
These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.
Line 3
Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.
Line 4
So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.
Line 5
What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.”

All words in this reading · 73

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

always

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

appealed

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

ARAB

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

Arabs

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

From this reading These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.

Asia

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

bidden

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

Cathay

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

central

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

Christianity

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

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

contrast

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

From this reading What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.

converting

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

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

early

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

From this reading These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.

east

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

eastern

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

energy

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

Euphrates

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

explorers

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

From this reading What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.

far

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

farther

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

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

fierce

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

followers

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

India

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

lands

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

leading

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

leave

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

men

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

Mohammed

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

more

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

most

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

From this reading These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.

north

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

From this reading What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.

Northmen

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

now

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.

reached

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

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

spread

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

teaching

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

travelled

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

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

travellers

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

From this reading These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.

tribes

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

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

turn

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

uncivilised

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

From this reading So farther and farther to the east travelled the Arabs, converting the uncivilised tribes that Christianity had not reached.

vigorous

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

From this reading What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

WAYFARERS

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading These early travellers to the east were for the most part Arabs.

western

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.

westwards

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What a contrast are these Arabs to the explorers of the vigorous north.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading ARAB WAYFARERS And now we leave the fierce energy of the Northmen westwards and turn to another energy, which was leading men toward the east, to the lands beyond the Euphrates, to India, across central Asia, even into far Cathay.

wide

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

From this reading Mohammed had bidden his followers to spread his teaching far and wide; this teaching had always appealed more to the eastern than to the western mind.