Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

Order by: alphabetical | chronological



Word Definition
space rocket n. (1924) a rocket designed to travel beyond a planet's atmosphere
space sailor n. (1933) a person who travels in space, esp. as a profession
space science n. (1953) the study of outer space
space scientist n. (1939) an expert or specialist in a branch of science that deal with regions beyond the earth or beyond Earth’s atmosphere, including astronomy, astrophysics, and exobiology
spaceship n. (1880) a spacecraft; esp. a manned one under the control of its crew
space shuttle n. (1950) = shuttle n.
space sick adj. (1912) suffering from spacesickness n.
spacesickness n. (1912) sickness caused by the effects of space flight or by low gravity in general
space station n. (1930) a large artificial satellite used as a long-term base for operations in space
space suit n. (1929) a sealed and pressurized garment designed to protect the wearer against the conditions of space; cf. earlier suit n.
space-suited adj. (1931) wearing a space suit n.
space tan n. (1936) a tan caused by exposure to the light of stars unfiltered by planetary atmospheres; cf. space burn n.
space-tanned adj. (1932) having a space tan n.; cf. space-burned adj.
space taxi n. (1941) a small spacecraft designed for short-distance ferrying of passengers
space travel n. (1923) travel through outer space
space traveller n. (1928) a traveller in outer space
space travelling n. (1928) travelling through outer space
space-travelling adj. (1930) capable of space travel; that travels in space
space tug n. (1939) a small powerful spacecraft designed for short-distance tasks, such as maneuvering other vessels, pulling freight ships, etc.
space tunnel n. (1975) = wormhole n.
space vehicle n. (1928) = spacecraft n.
space vessel n. (1929) = spaceship n.
spacewalker n. (1930) a machine designed to enable a person to walk in space
spaceward adj. (1940) facing or directed towards space
spaceward adv. (1872) towards or in the direction of space
space warp n. (1935) a distortion of space-time that enables space travellers to make journeys at faster-than-light speeds
spaceway n. (1933) an established route through space; usu. in pl. spaceways space as an area in which people travel; cf. planet v.
spacewoman n. (1937) a female space traveller
spaceworthiness n. (1933) the condition of being spaceworthy adj.
spaceworthy adj. (1931) (of a person) in a fit condition for space travel; (of an object, esp. a vehicle) in a fit condition for use in space
spacewreck n. (1933) the destruction of a spacecraft; a wrecked spacecraft
spacewrecked adj. (1932) wrecked in space
space yacht n. (1931) a luxurious spaceship for personal use
spacing n. 1 (1942) the act of travelling in space; (also) the profession of working in space
spacing n. 2 (1972) the act of executing a person by forcing them into space without a spacesuit; cf. space v. 2
speculative fiction n. 1 (1889) = science fiction n. 2; (sometimes spec.) hard science fiction n.
speculative fiction n. 2 (1952) = imaginative fiction