Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1949 fugghead n. (1949) a stupid, obnoxious, or incompetent person
1949 fuggheaded adj. (1949) stupid; obnoxious; incompetent
1949 fuggheadedness n. (1949) the quality of being stupid, obnoxious, or incompetent
1949 galaxy-wide adv. (1949) across or extending throughout a galaxy
1949 gee n. 1 (1949) a measure of gravitation or acceleration
1949 newspeak n. (1949) the artificial language used for official propaganda in the dystopia of Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four; (hence) any form of English regarded as dishonest, corrupt, etc.; esp. ambiguous or euphemistic language as used in official pronouncements or political propaganda
1949 nova v. (1949) to cause to become a nova; to destroy (a star, planet, etc.); (intransitive): (of a star) to become a nova; (more generally, of a star, planet, etc.) to explode
1949 Orwellian adj. (1949) characteristic or suggestive of the writings of George Orwell, esp. of the totalitarian state depicted in his dystopian account of the future, Nineteen Eighty-four (1949)
1949 out-system adj. (1949) of or relating to another solar system; outside of a solar system; cf. in-system adj.
1949 overmind n. (1949) a single, non-material consciousness composed of the consciousnesses of a large number of beings
1949 plastiskin n. (1949) synthetic skin
1949 prespace adj. (1949) = pre-spaceflight adj.
1949 science-fictioner n. (1949) a science fiction film or TV show
1949 Sirian n. 2 (1949) the language of Sirians
1949 skimmer n. (1949) any of various small vehicles that fly relatively close to the ground, esp. by means of an anti-gravity propulsion system
1949 space probe n. (1949) an unmanned spacecraft used esp. for research or reconnaissance
1949 stun-gun v. (1949) to shoot with a stun gun n.
1949 tanstaafl n. (1949) (used as a proverb to assert that everything has a cost, hidden or otherwise)
1949 telekineticist n. (1949) one who practises or has the power of telekinesis
1949 teleport n. 2 (1949) a person who is able to teleport, esp. by psychic rather than technological means; teleporter n. 1
1949 teleporter n. 1 (1949) a person who is able to teleport; = teleport n. 2
1949 thruster n. (1949) an engine that creates thrust, esp. a small rocket engine used to adjust the attitude or course of a spacecraft in flight
1949 tie-in n. (1949) a book, film, or the like published to take advantage of the appearance of the same work in another medium
1949 ultradrive n. (1949) a type of faster-than-light star drive
1949 universal translator n. (1949) a device, computer system, etc. that (instantaneously) translates among languages
1949 unperson n. (1949) a person who, usually for political reasons, is deemed not to have existed and whose name is removed from all public records; hence, more generally: a person whose contributions or achievements are officially denied or disregarded; a person regarded as less than human
1949 videophonic adj. (1949) of or related to videophones or their use
1949 xenologist n. (1949) a person who studies aliens; a specialist in xenology n.
1949 xenology n. (1949) the scientific study of aliens, esp. xenobiology n.
1948 atmosphere suit n. (1948) = space suit n.
1948 avian n. (1948) a bird-like alien
1948 BNF n. (1948) someone who is extremely prominent within a particular fandom
1948 Bradburyesque adj. (1948) = Bradburyish adj.