Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

Order by: alphabetical | chronological



Word Definition
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; (also) a female or feminine person or being from another planet
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
speculative fiction n. 3 (1968) fiction which includes science fictional elements but which is regarded as not part of the genre of science fiction, as because it is soft science fiction, or to avoid a stigma felt to be associated with the term ‘science fiction’
speeder n. (1932) any of various small personal vehicles, typically travelling on or very close to the ground
Spider-Man principle n. (2003) the adage ‘with great power comes great responsibility’