used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We halted at the mouth of it.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
children's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
Devins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading We halted at the mouth of it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We halted at the mouth of it.
Jennie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading We halted at the mouth of it.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We halted at the mouth of it.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
setsnounUS /sets/
plural of “set” — a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
in or at or to some place
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
tenementnounUS /ˈtenəmənt/
a run-down apartment house barely meeting minimal standards
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few doors from the chapel an alley sets into the block.
in or at that place or location
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading As we climbed the creaking stairs of the rear tenement, a chorus of children's shrill voices burst into song somewhere above.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We halted at the mouth of it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading We went in, in single file; there was not room for two.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "Come in," said Mr. Devins, "and wish Blind Jennie a Merry Christmas."
