Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological ( asc | desc )
| First date | Word | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | changewar n. (1958) | a conflict in which participants engage in time travel in order to alter history to effect a desired timeline |
| 1958 | clanker n. (1958) | = robot n. |
| 1958 | collapsium n. (1958) | any of a variety of extremely high-density substances |
| 1958 | farside n. (1958) | the side of the Moon that faces away from Earth; cf. earlier darkside n. 1, nightside n. |
| 1958 | gravitically adv. (1958) | by means of gravity; with regard to gravity; cf. gravitic adj. |
| 1958 | hovercar n. (1958) | a car that hovers above the ground, typically conceived as using antigravity technology |
| 1958 | RealSoonNow adv. (1958) | ironically eventually; at some point |
| 1958 | sapient n. (1958) | an intelligent alien |
| 1958 | skin job n. 1 (1958) | a skin transplant (esp. for the purpose of changing or concealing oneβs identity); cosmetic surgery performed on the skin |
| 1958 | solar sail n. (1958) | a surface designed to utilize the pressure of solar radiation to provide the propulsive force for a spacecraft to which it is attached |
| 1958 | space relay n. (1958) | a relay station, as for a radio transmission, in space or on a moon |
| 1958 | stargate n. (1958) | a portal or device that transports something to another point in the universe (usually another such location or device) in a manner that bypasses the intervening space; cf. gate n., jump gate n. |
| 1958 | telempathic adj. (1958) | of or by means of telempathy n. |
| 1958 | xenobiological adj. (1958) | of or relating to xenobiology n. |
| 1959 | Betelgeusean n. 2 (1959) | the language of Betelgeuseans |
| 1959 | COA n. (1959) | esp. in the context of fanzines: notification of a change of address |
| 1959 | congoing n. (1959) | attendance at (usually science fiction) conventions |
| 1959 | empathic adj. (1959) | having the ability of an empath n. |
| 1959 | gafiate v. (1959) | to cease involvement with science fiction fandom |
| 1959 | gafiation n. (1959) | the state of having quit fandom; cf. gafia n. 2 |
| 1959 | intergalactically adv. (1959) | between or among galaxies; (broadly) (used as an intensive), extremely, incredibly |
| 1959 | jump drive n. (1959) | a spacecraft drive that enables a ship to journey through hyperspace or to engage in any instantaneous (long-distance) travel; cf. jump n., jump v. |
| 1959 | ob- prefix (1959) | denoting 'obligatory or expected reference to' a topic |
| 1959 | off-planet n. (1959) | an off-planet location |
| 1959 | planet-hopper n. 2 (1959) | a small spacecraft used esp. for short journeys between nearby planets, in contrast to one used for interstellar travel |
| 1959 | planetside n. (1959) | the surface of a planet; a base or other installation on a planet |
| 1959 | RSN adv. (1959) | = RealSoonNow adv. |
| 1959 | sf-ish adj. (1959) | = science-fictionish adj. |
| 1959 | shapechange n. (1959) | an act or instance of shapechanging |
| 1959 | solar sailing n. (1959) | propelling a spacecraft via a solar sail n. |
| 1959 | superluminal adj. (1959) | having or being a speed greater than that of light; (also) designating an engine, etc., that can produce such a speed |
| 1959 | Tau Cetan adj. (1959) | of or relating to the Tau Ceti star system or its inhabitants |
| 1959 | tight-beam v. (1959) | to send (esp. a message) by means of a tight-beam n.; to send to (someone) by means of a tight-beam n.; also intrans. |