used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The contacts had been brief--and violent.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
bloodhoundnounUS /ˈblʌdhaʊnd/
a breed of large powerful hound of European origin having very acute smell and used in tracking
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
of short duration or distance
From this reading The contacts had been brief--and violent.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
contactsnounUS /ˈkɑːntækts/
plural of “contact” — close interaction
From this reading The contacts had been brief--and violent.
power to direct or determine
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
defensesnounUS /dɪˈfensəz/
plural of “defense” — (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading Three years earlier the inevitable had happened.
electronicadjectiveUS /ˌɪlekˈtrɑːnɪk/
of or relating to electronics; concerned with or using devices that operate on principles governing the behavior of electrons
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
expandingverbUS /ɪkˈspændɪŋ/
-ing form of “expand” — extend in one or more directions
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
faster-than-light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
habitableadjectiveUS /ˈhæbətəbəl/
fit for habitation
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Three years earlier the inevitable had happened.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Three years earlier the inevitable had happened.
humansnounUS /ˈhjuːmənz/
all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading Three years earlier the inevitable had happened.
maneuveredverbUS /məˈnuːvərd/
past form of “maneuver” — direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
parsecs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
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 _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
populationnounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃən/
the people who inhabit a territory or state
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
primitiveadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
any competition
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
RimnounUS /rɪm/
the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
separatingverbUS /ˈsepəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “separate” — act as a barrier between; stand between
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
teamnounUS /tiːm/
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Each race had set up defenses against the other, and maneuvered for position and control of the habitable worlds separating them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three years earlier the inevitable had happened.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
trappedadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
unpredictableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl/
not capable of being foretold
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
viciouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪʃəsli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading The contacts had been brief--and violent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
at the time that
From this reading _They were trapped on a viciously primitive planet, by an electronic bloodhound that was viciously unpredictable!_ The survey team was seven parsecs beyond the Rim when the bloodhound picked up their trail.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
WorldsnounUS /wɜːrldz/
plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The humans of the Ten Thousand Worlds had met another race with the faster-than-light space drive--and an expanding population.
a late time of life
From this reading Three years earlier the inevitable had happened.
