Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological ( asc | desc )
| First date | Word | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | subspace n. (1937) | a physical space subject to different physical laws from our own, typically allowing motion or communication at speeds greater than the speed of light |
| 1937 | superhero n. (1937) | a person who uses superpowers or superscience for benevolent purposes |
| 1937 | thionite n. (1937) | an addictive drug which induces euphoric dreams |
| 1937 | time warp n. (1937) | a distortion of space-time by which people or objects at one point in time can be (instantly) moved to another, or within which time moves at a different speed |
| 1937 | vacuum-suited adj. (1937) | wearing a vacuum suit n. |
| 1936 | android n. (1936) | a robot or other artificial being made to resemble a human, esp. one made of synthetic flesh or a fleshlike material (in contrast to metal, plastic, etc.) |
| 1936 | beam weapon n. (1936) | a weapon that fires a destructive beam of energy |
| 1936 | chronoscope n. (1936) | a device for viewing events in the past or future |
| 1936 | fandom n. (1936) | science-fiction fans collectively; the state or attitude of being a science-fiction fan |
| 1936 | Ganymedian n. 2 (1936) | the language or dialect of Ganymedians |
| 1936 | home galaxy n. (1936) | the galaxy that an individual being is from; the galaxy in which a species originated |
| 1936 | impeller n. (1936) | a device used to produce propulsive thrust |
| 1936 | planetary engineering n. (1936) | large-scale modification of the environment or geography of a planet; = terraforming n. |
| 1936 | planet-hopper n. 1 (1936) | a person who planet-hops |
| 1936 | positronic adj. (1936) | related to or designed to use positrons |
| 1936 | science-fictionally adv. (1936) | in the manner of science fiction n. 2 |
| 1936 | science fictioneer n. (1936) | a writer or aficionado of science fiction |
| 1936 | scouter n. (1936) | = scout ship n. |
| 1936 | sense of wonder n. (1936) | a feeling of awakening or awe brought on by an expansion of oneβs awareness of what may be possible; the primary emotional experience of reading science fiction n. 2; see also sensawunda n. |
| 1936 | space alien n. (1936) | = alien n. |
| 1936 | spacefarer n. (1936) | a person who travels in space, an astronaut; (also) a space traveller from another planet |
| 1936 | space legs n. (1936) | the ability to move oneβs body skillfully in low gravity and to avoid spacesickness n. |
| 1936 | space tan n. (1936) | a tan caused by exposure to the light of stars unfiltered by planetary atmospheres; cf. space burn n. |
| 1936 | supernormal n. (1936) | a being with extraordinary (usu. psychic) powers as compared to other members of their kind |
| 1936 | teleportage n. (1936) | = teleportation n. |
| 1936 | Terrestrial n. 2 (1936) | a language or dialect spoken on Earth; a universal language spoken widely by Earth people; Earthian n. 2, Terran n. 2 |
| 1936 | time loop n. (1936) | a (short) repeating period of time, typically one which (some) people are aware they are experiencing repeatedly |
| 1936 | warp n. (1936) | = space warp n.; travel by means of a space warp, travel at warp speed; (also) = time warp n. |
| 1936 | weirdist n. (1936) | an author or fan of weird fiction |
| 1935 | astronavigation n. (1935) | = astrogation n. |
| 1935 | blast rifle n. (1935) | a long shoulder weapon that fires a destructive beam of energy; cf. blaster n. |
| 1935 | gravitic adj. (1935) | of, caused by, or powered by gravity |
| 1935 | Homo superior n. (1935) | the hypothetical successor species to Homo sapiens, having greater intellect or physical abilities and often possessing paranormal powers |