Sad remark by a girl at a hearing (4)
I believe the answer is:
alas
'sad remark by a girl' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'at a hearing' is the wordplay.
'at' says to put letters next to each other.
'hearing' becomes 'las' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'a'+'las' is 'ALAS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alas that I've seen before include "Expression of grief or misfortune" , "Sad to say!" , "-- and alack!" , "Cry of woe" , "'- Poor Yorick' (Hamlet)" .)