Area

• An open, sunken space next to a building; an areaway.
• A small sunken area allowing access or light and air to basement doors or windows.
• An often narrow passageway between buildings.

The classic form of an area works like this. If you are facing the house, there are steps up to the front door. To one side, there are also steps down to a sunken space where servants, deliveries, and such are made. In some cases, this sunken area is to one side, in an alley. In any event, the area is a sunken space allowing access to servants, tradesmen, and the like. It ensures that such people do not tramp up the main hallway, which can thus be reserved for the family and their friends and callers.

-- ChrisLehrich^? - 28 Dec 2004