Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1951 out-system adv. (1951) in or toward the outer parts of a solar system; away from a solar system’s star; outside of a solar system; cf. in-system adv.
1951 psionic adj. (1951) relating to or involving psychic or paranormal phenomena or powers; having psychic ability; cf. psi n., psionics n.
1951 psionics n. (1951) psychic powers, energy, or ability; the field of psychic phenomena; cf. psi n., psionic adj.
1951 skyhook n. 3 (1951) any of various objects that are fairly high relative to a planet’s surface, as a balloon or an orbiting space platform
1951 space junk n. (1951) man-made debris floating in space
1951 tight-beamed adj. (1951) of a message: sent by means of a tight-beam n.
1951 triffid n. (1951) in John Wyndham’s novel The Day of the Triffids: one of a race of malevolent alien plants which threaten to overrun the world
1951 xenoanthropology n. (1951) the study of alien cultures
1950 alternate reality n. (1950) = alternate world n.
1950 alternate universe n. 1 (1950) = alternate world n.
1950 Anglic n. (1950) a future language descended from Modern English
1950 Capellan n. 2 (1950) the language of Capellans
1950 comset n. (1950) a (usu. small, personal) communication device; cf. commlink n.
1950 congoer n. (1950) one who attends conventions
1950 ftl adj. (1950) = faster-than-light adj.
1950 ftl adv. (1950) = faster than light adv.
1950 gafia n. 2 (1950) the state of having quit fandom (cf. earlier gafia n. 1); cf. gafiation n.
1950 galactographic adj. (1950) relating to galactography n.
1950 galactography n. (1950) the science of mapping celestial objects within galaxies
1950 hive mind n. (1950) = group mind n.
1950 insectoid adj. (1950) (esp. of an alien) insect-like
1950 light barrier n. 2 (1950) the speed of light, as a theoretical limit of speed of any object
1950 null-grav n. (1950) = null-g n.
1950 off-world adj. (1950) of or relating to another world; originating from or located in a place outside one’s native world or planet
1950 planet-buster n. (1950) a bomb or other weapon capable of destroying a planet
1950 Plutonian n. 2 (1950) the language of Plutonians
1950 regeneration tank n. (1950) a tank, typically filled with a nutrient bath, in which a person can recover from severe injury, such as the loss of a limb
1950 Rigellian n. 2 (1950) the language of Rigellians
1950 robotic n. (1950) a robot; a robotic device
1950 saucerman n. (1950) a being that travels in a flying saucer; = [[2038]saucerian]]
1950 science fantasy n. 4 (1950) a genre of science fiction characterized by phenomena which are thought to be scientifically impossible (such as time travel or ftl drives); soft science fiction n.; (also) a work in this genre