Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
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.
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
1950 science-fictionalized adj. (1950) that has been made science fictional adj. in character
1950 space shuttle n. (1950) = shuttle n.
1950 spindizzy n. (1950) in James Blish’s City in Flight series: a faster-than-light antigravity drive powered by a field that alters the magnetic rotation of atoms