Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1942 seetee n. (1942) = contraterrene matter
1942 slideway n. (1942) = slidewalk n.
1942 solar n. (1942) a unit of currency, esp. one used throughout a solar system; cf. earlier sol n. 2
1942 space-bound adj. 2 (1942) headed to space
1942 space-burned adj. (1942) having a space burn n.; cf. space-tanned adj.
1942 spacefaring adj. (1942) that travels, or is able to travel, in space; that is used during or pertains to space travel
1942 spacefaring n. (1942) the action of travelling in space
1942 spacing n. 1 (1942) the act of travelling in space; (also) the profession of working in space
1942 stasis field n. (1942) an enclosed area within which time is stopped
1942 stfcon n. (1942) a science fiction fan convention
1942 supernova n. (1942) to go supernova (of a star) to become a supernova; (more generally, of a star, planet, etc.) to explode (also used figuratively)
1942 terraform v. (1942) to transform (a planet or environment) by terraforming n.
1942 terraformed adj. (1942) of an environment or planet: transformed by terraforming n.
1942 terraformer n. (1942) one who engages in terraforming n.; (in 1942 quot.) a device that is used for terraforming
1942 terraforming n. (1942) the process of transforming a planet into one sufficiently similar to Earth to support Earth life-forms, esp. humans
1942 time paradox n. (1942) a paradox caused by an action of a time traveller which alters history so that the action is no longer logically possible or sensible, such as travelling into the past to kill a dictator which leads to a peaceful world from which the time traveller would have had no reason to depart; cf. grandfather paradox n., temporal paradox n.
1942 time storm n. (1942) a disturbance in time that can bring people and things from different times into the same timeline; cf. timequake n., time-slip n.
1942 tri-dim n. (1942) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a three dimensional image; (also) a three-dimensional image or video; = tri-D n.
1942 Vegan n. 2 (1942) the language of Vegans
1942 Vestan n. (1942) a native or inhabitant of the asteroid Vesta
1942 waldo n. (1942) a remotely operated body, arm, etc., used variously to extend the user’s natural abilities, perform work in an inhospitable environment or at a distance, etc.
1942 worldbuilder n. (1942) a writer who engages in world-building n.
1942 Worldcon n. (1942) the annual World Science Fiction Convention
1943 alternative world n. (1943) = alternate world n.
1943 atomics n. 2 (1943) atomic weapons
1943 Centaurian n. 2 (1943) the language of Centaurians
1943 Earthian n. 2 (1943) a language spoken on Earth, esp. a universal language spoken widely by Earth people
1943 elsewhen n. (1943) (in time-travel contexts) another time
1943 everywhen adv. (1943) (in time-travel contexts) in or to all points in time
1943 fannishness n. (1943) the quality of being fannish
1943 Gernsbackian adj. (1943) of, relating to, or characteristic of Hugo Gernsback, and esp. of the writing that appeared in the magazines he edited, esp. in featuring extensive discussions of scientific or technological issues
1943 helicab n. (1943) a helicopter serving as a taxi
1943 hooman n. (1943) a human (used by, or in (implied) reference to, non-humans)
1943 kryptonite n. (1943) in the fictional world of the comic book hero Superman: a substance that renders Superman weak when he is exposed to it; (hence, in figurative or allusive use) something that can weaken or damage a particular person or thing; an Achilles heel
1943 mag- prefix (1943) magnetic
1943 needle v. (1943) to fire a needle gun or needle-beam at