used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Brandon," he tried to lie gracefully, "You're a card.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
anew
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/
contrived by art rather than nature
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
Brandon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading "Brandon," he tried to lie gracefully, "You're a card.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
unvarying in nature
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
without stop or interruption
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
gracefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪsfəli/
in a graceful manner
From this reading "Brandon," he tried to lie gracefully, "You're a card.
grinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
the act of retaining something
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
of great significance or value
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
InterioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading "Brandon," he tried to lie gracefully, "You're a card.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
pencil-thin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
refusalsnounUS /rɪˈfjuːzəlz/
plural of “refusal” — the act of refusing
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
Secretary'snounUS /ˈsekrəteriz/
possessive form of “secretary” — a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
not in physical motion
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
toynounUS /tɔɪ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading "Brandon," he tried to lie gracefully, "You're a card.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
which person or people
From this reading An artificial grin spread across the narrow face of the Secretary of Interior who was watching him closely.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading And still Brandon couldn't figure out why he was so important...._ Brandon was looking at his desk again.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The Secretary's pencil-thin fingers continued to toy with the small, wood figure he was holding.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading _Year after year they came back, despite his constant refusals.
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brandon," he tried to lie gracefully, "You're a card.
