Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

acted upon; influenced

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

plural of “coil” — a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

power to direct or determine

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

-ing form of “counteract” — act in opposition to

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

the amount per unit size

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

sound recording consisting of a disk with a continuous groove; used to reproduce music by rotating while a phonograph needle tracks in the groove

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

cause to burst with a violent release of energy

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

a short vivid experience

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

for a limitless time

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

of or relating to or caused by gravitation

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

plural of “layer” — single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

the greatest possible degree of something

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

roused to anger

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

a particular point in time

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

not any; not one

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

and nothing more

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

so strong as to be irresistible

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

separated in relationship by a given degree of descent

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

transport commercially

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

a special situation

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

distance travelled per unit time

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading THE POWER OF "_THE THOUGHT_" But it seemed, or must have seemed to any infinite being capable of watching it as it moved now, that the _Thought_ was a mad thought.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading One star--it flashed to a disc, loomed enormous--overpowering--then suddenly they were flashing _through_ it!

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With the time control opened to the limit, and a touch of the space control, it fled across the Universe at a velocity such as no other thing was capable of.

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading The enormous coils fed their current into the space-coils and the time field, and the ship seemed to twist and writhe in distorted space as the gravitational field of a giant star, and a giant ship's space field fought for a fraction of time so short as to be utterly below measurement.

twisted (especially as in pain or struggle)

From this reading Then the ship was gone--and behind it a star, the center of which had suddenly been hurled into another space forever, as the counteracting, gravitational field of the outer layers was removed for a moment, and only its own enormous density affected space, writhed and collapsed upon itself, to explode into a mighty sea of flames.