Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

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First date Word Definition
1953 time cop n. (1953) a member of the time police n.
1953 time opera n. (1953) a subgenre of science fiction featuring adventure-driven, extravagantly dramatic plots based on time travel; a work in this genre
1953 torcher n. (1953) a pilot of a spaceship with a torch drive
1953 torchship n. (1953) a spaceship that uses a torch drive n.
1953 trideo n. (1953) a device or system capable of transmitting or displaying a (moving) three dimensional image; a (moving) image displayed by such a device
1953 UFO n. (1953) an unidentified flying object; a β€˜flying saucer’
1953 universe-wide adv. (1953) across or throughout the entire universe
1953 vidcall n. (1953) a call made on a videophone n.
1953 vidscreen n. (1953) a screen capable of displaying a visual image; (also) a videophone n.
1953 WKF n. (1953) someone who is moderately prominent within a particular fandom; cf. BNF n.
1954 alternate history n. (1954) a timeline that is different from that of our own world, usually extrapolated from the changing of a single event; the subgenre featuring such a timeline; (also) a story featuring this
1954 anti-agathic n. (1954) a drug or other medical treatment that prolongs life
1954 anti-agathic adj. (1954) (of a drug, medical treatment, etc.) that prolongs life
1954 congoer n. (1954) one who attends (usually science fiction) conventions
1954 croggle v. (1954) to astonish, bewilder, baffle
1954 Ellisonian adj. (1954) of, relating to, or characteristic of the writing of Harlan Ellison
1954 genetic engineer n. (1954) a scientist who works in the field of genetic engineering n.
1954 hobbitlike adj. (1954) like a hobbit
1954 mindlink n. (1954) a telepathic connection between people; cf. mind-meld n.
1954 near-future adj. (1954) denoting a subgenre of science fiction set in a future recognizably similar to a contemporary setting, having only moderate differences in technology
1954 neo n. (1954) = neofan n.
1954 posthuman n. (1954) a (hypothetical) descendant of humans who is sufficiently different from present-day humans in form or capabilities to be regarded as a new species or otherwise fundamentally different from present-day humans; (also) a human who has been genetically or bionically augmented; cf. earlier posthuman adj.
1954 precog n. 1 (1954) a person with precognitive abilities; cf. earlier precog v.
1954 precog n. 2 (1954) precognition; foreknowledge, esp. as a form of extrasensory perception; cf. precog n. 1 and earlier precog v.
1954 slugthrower n. (1954) a weapon that fires a physical projectile, in contrast to an energy weapon n.
1954 temporal paradox n. (1954) = time paradox n.
1954 three vee n. (1954) a device capable of transmitting or displaying a (moving) three dimensional image
1954 timequake n. (1954) a sudden significant disturbance in the continuity of time; cf. time storm n., time-slip n.
1954 Tolkienian adj. (1954) of or pertaining to J.R.R. Tolkien or his writings; cf. Tolkienesque adj.
1954 tri-v n. (1954) a device or system capable of recording, transmitting, or displaying a (moving) three dimensional image; such a system as a form of entertainment
1954 trufan n. (1954) a science fiction fan who adheres to the ideals and practices of fandom
1954 trufandom n. (1954) the state of being a trufan; excellence in fannish behavior
1954 Tuckerism n. (1954) using the name of a real person as a name of a character in a work of fiction; an instance of this
1954 xenobiologist n. (1954) a specialist in xenobiology n.