Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Railway Conquest of the World
The Railway Conquest of the World

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of The Railway Conquest of the World is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 10 of The Railway Conquest of the World by Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot holds 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 10 of The Railway Conquest of the World contain?

Chapter 10 holds 141 sentences of The Railway Conquest of the World, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of The Railway Conquest of the World by Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 10 of The Railway Conquest of the World?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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 The Railway Conquest of the World

Common questions about reading The Railway Conquest of the World by Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Railway Conquest of the World?

Yes. All 4385 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #66868 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Railway Conquest of the World is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #66868, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Railway Conquest of the World take to read?

About 365 minutes of reading across 877 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Railway Conquest of the World section by section

How to work through The Railway Conquest of the World section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of The Railway Conquest of the World to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Railway Conquest of the World

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Railway Conquest of the World, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Railway Conquest of the World; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Garden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Railway Conquest of the World; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Canada
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Railway Conquest of the World; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Making
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Railway Conquest of the World; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Railway Conquest of the World
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.
This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.
The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.
Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.
A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Railway Conquest of the World

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of The Railway Conquest of the World is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.
Line 2
This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.
Line 3
The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.
Line 4
Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.
Line 5
A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.”

Through preposition US /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading “This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.”

All words in this reading · 93

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

1000

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

ago

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

all

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

ambition

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

Arabia

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

arm

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

blinded

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

built

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

cherishes

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

cities

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

commerce

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

considerations

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

constructed

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

cradle

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

Damascus

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

deserts

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

entirely

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

exigencies

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

expressly

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

faith

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

Faithful

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

fervour

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

few

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

glittering

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

Hadj

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

Hedjaz

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

HOLY

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

inhospitable

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

instance

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

Journey

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

life

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

line

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

Mahommedans

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

majority

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

make

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

MECCA

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

Medina

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

meet

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

member

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

members

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

miles

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

military

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

Moslem

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

nearly

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

occasionally

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

Palestine

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

penny

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

Prophet

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

purposes

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

RAILWAY

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

railways

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

religious

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

required

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

sacred

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

scheme

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

sect

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

shrank

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

shrine

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

From this reading Every member of the Faithful cherishes one ambition in life--to make the “Hadj,” or Sacred Journey to the cradle and shrine of the Prophet.

sinuous

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

southwards

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

steel

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

strategy

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

stretches

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

striking

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

subscribed

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

there

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

undertaking

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.

vast

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The railway was built entirely by Mahommedans for Mahommedans, every penny required for the scheme being subscribed by the members of this vast sect.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This is the Hedjaz railway, which stretches its sinuous, glittering arm of steel from Damascus for nearly 1000 miles southwards through the inhospitable deserts of Palestine and Arabia to Mecca and Medina, the sacred cities of the Moslem faith.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading THE HOLY RAILWAY TO MECCA While the majority of railways are constructed to meet the exigencies of commerce, and occasionally from considerations of military strategy, there is one striking instance of a line being built expressly for religious purposes.

years

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

From this reading A few years ago this was an undertaking from which all but those blinded by religious fervour shrank.