used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
in actual fact
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
at or in the front
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
atomics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
Cavenda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
convertedverbUS /kənˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “convert” — change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
dead-black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
detectionnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading What he did worry about was detection.
detectorsnounUS /dɪˈtektərz/
plural of “detector” — any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
detets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
diameternounUS /daɪˈæmətər/
the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
drug-runners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
divisible by two
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What he did worry about was detection.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
Lensmannoun
someone who takes photographs professionally
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
not any; not one
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
planetnounUS /ˈplænət/
(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
Samms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
scout-ship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
space-ships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
sphericaladjectiveUS /ˈsferɪkəl/
of or relating to spheres or resembling a sphere
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
super-powered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
VirgilnounUS /ˈvɜːrdʒəl/
a Roman poet; author of the epic poem “Aeneid” (70-19 BC)
From this reading Approaching Cavenda in his dead-black, converted scout-ship, Virgil Samms cut his drive, killed his atomics, and turned on his super-powered detectors.
voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/
lacking any legal or binding force
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For five full detets in every direction--throughout a spherical volume over ten detets in diameter--space was void of ships.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What he did worry about was detection.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading Some activity was apparent upon the planet dead ahead, but the First Lensman did not worry about that.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The drug-runners would of course have atomics in their plants, even if there were no space-ships actually on the planet--which there probably were.
