Chapter II · The Magic Carpet

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

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

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

From this reading The houses, for the most part, were old, bow-windowed, and quaint.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the time of which I write, Stoke Newington still retained a village atmosphere.

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading At the time of which I write, Stoke Newington still retained a village atmosphere.

brought into existence

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

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

From this reading The houses, for the most part, were old, bow-windowed, and quaint.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading It was here that my mother died.

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

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The houses, for the most part, were old, bow-windowed, and quaint.

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

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading It was here that my mother died.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The houses, for the most part, were old, bow-windowed, and quaint.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

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

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was here that my mother died.

a county in southeastern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was the first to be colonized by the Romans

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The houses, for the most part, were old, bow-windowed, and quaint.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading It was here that my mother died.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It was here that my mother died.

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

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

in a northern direction

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The houses, for the most part, were old, bow-windowed, and quaint.

make a promise or commitment

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

strange in an interesting or pleasing way

From this reading The houses, for the most part, were old, bow-windowed, and quaint.

continued in your keeping or use or memory

From this reading At the time of which I write, Stoke Newington still retained a village atmosphere.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

not in physical motion

From this reading At the time of which I write, Stoke Newington still retained a village atmosphere.

stir up or tend; of a fire

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

a residential district located on the outskirts of a city

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was here that my mother died.

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

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading At the time of which I write, Stoke Newington still retained a village atmosphere.

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

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading At the time of which I write, Stoke Newington still retained a village atmosphere.

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

From this reading I was born in South London on a crowded street lying off the Old Kent Road.

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

From this reading The houses, for the most part, were old, bow-windowed, and quaint.

at the time that

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

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

From this reading When I was about six, a false-dawn came in my father’s prospects, on the promise of which he moved northward to the suburb of Stoke Newington.

produce a literary work

From this reading At the time of which I write, Stoke Newington still retained a village atmosphere.