used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
blottingverbUS /ˈblɑːtɪŋ/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
conceivablyadverbUS /kənˈsiːvəbli/
within the realm of possibility
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
drive-radiation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be no drive-radiation which even the most sensitive of instruments could pick up.
divisible by two
From this reading There would be no drive-radiation which even the most sensitive of instruments could pick up.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
firmamentnoun
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
fleetnounUS /fliːt/
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading There would be no drive-radiation which even the most sensitive of instruments could pick up.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
Kandar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
used to form the superlative
From this reading There would be no drive-radiation which even the most sensitive of instruments could pick up.
not any; not one
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
occultations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
select carefully from a group
From this reading There would be no drive-radiation which even the most sensitive of instruments could pick up.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading There would be no drive-radiation which even the most sensitive of instruments could pick up.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
in or at or to some place
From this reading If there had been an observer somewhere, he could not conceivably have detected the ships.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
specksnounUS /speks/
plural of “speck” — a very small spot
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading It could not be said to be traveling in space, of course.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There would be no drive-radiation which even the most sensitive of instruments could pick up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There was a fleet on the way to Kandar.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There would be no occultations of stars; no blotting out of any of the hundreds and thousands of millions of bright specks which filled all the firmament.
