Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| subterrene n. (1956) | a subterranean tunnelling machine; esp. one which melts the rock in front of it and causes the molten rock to form a glassy lining to the tunnel as it develops |
| suit n. (1898) | = space suit n. |
| suited adj. (1938) | wearing a spacesuit |
| suit phone n. (1931) | a communications system in the helmet of a space suit; cf. suit radio n. |
| suit radio n. (1941) | = suit phone n. |
| suit up v. (1948) | to put on a spacesuit |
| superfan n. (1939) | a fan who exhibits extreme devotion or enthusiasm |
| superhero n. (1937) | a person who uses superpowers or superscience for benevolent purposes |
| superheroine n. (1960) | a woman who uses superpowers or superscience for benevolent purposes; a female superhero n. |
| superluminal adj. (1959) | having or being a speed greater than that of light; (also) designating an engine, etc., that can produce such a speed |
| superluminal adv. (1990) | at a superluminal speed |
| superluminally adv. (1975) | at a superluminal speed; faster than light |
| supernormal n. (1936) | a being with extraordinary (usu. psychic) powers as compared to other members of their kind |
| supernova n. (1942) | to go supernova (of a star) to become a supernova; (more generally, of a star, planet, etc.) to explode (also used figuratively) |
| superpower n. (1932) | a superhuman ability, esp. as possessed by a superhero; an ability beyond what is possible based on scientific laws |
| superscience n. (1929) | extremely advanced science; science beyond what is possible based on known laws |
| superscientific adj. (1919) | of or pertaining to superscience n.; relating to or generated by the products of super-science |
| super-scientist n. (1928) | a person who studies, or creates inventions using, superscience n. |
| superspace n. (1939) | = hyperspace n. |
| supervillain n. (1917) | a person who uses superpowers or superscience for malevolent purposes |
| supervillainess n. (1970) | a woman who uses superpowers or superscience for malevolent purposes; a female supervillain n. |
| super-weapon n. (1931) | a weapon, esp. an extremely destructive one, based on highly advanced technology |
| sword and sorcery n. (1953) | a subgenre of fantasy n. 1 which describes the adventures of larger-than-life heroes or heroines in bronze-age or medieval settings, and especially their battles with magical or supernatural foes; = heroic fantasy n. |
| system-wide adj. (1935) | extending or existing throughout or across a solar system |
| tanstaafl n. (1949) | (used as a proverb to assert that everything has a cost, hidden or otherwise) |
| TARDIS n. 1 (1963) | in the British television series Doctor Who: a time machine having the outward form of a police telephone box; (hence) any means of travelling through time |
| Tardis n. 2 (1969) | (literally or figuratively) something with a larger capacity than its outward appearance suggests |
| Tardis-like adj. (1984) | denoting something whose capacity is greater than is suggested by its exterior appearance |
| Tau Cetan n. (1931) | a native or inhabitant of the Tau Ceti star system; (also) the language of Tau Cetans |
| Tau Cetan adj. (1959) | of or relating to the Tau Ceti star system or its inhabitants |