used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
at or in the front
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
backdropnounUS /ˈbækdrɑːp/
scenery hung at back of stage
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
blastverbUS /blæst/
make a strident sound
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
corrosiveadjectiveUS /kərˈoʊsɪv/
of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
deceleratedverbUS /dɪˈseləreɪtɪd/
past form of “decelerate” — lose velocity; move more slowly
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
characterized by great determination
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
DopplernounUS /ˈdɑːplər/
Austrian physicist famous for his discovery of the Doppler effect (1803-1853)
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
dwellverbUS /dwel/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
dwindleverbUS /ˈdwɪndəl/
become smaller or lose substance
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
erredverbUS /erd/
past form of “err” — to make a mistake or be incorrect
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
galaxy'snounUS /ˈɡæləksiz/
possessive form of “galaxy” — a splendid assemblage (especially of famous people)
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
IIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
lashedverbUS /læʃt/
past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
immediately past
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
the act of departing
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
luminarynounUS /ˈluːməneri/
a celebrity who is an inspiration to others
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
magnitudesnounUS /ˈmæɡnətuːdz/
plural of “magnitude” — the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
come together
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
the force of workers available
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
mockerynounUS /ˈmɑːkəri/
showing your contempt by derision
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
on one occasion
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
QuestnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
radialadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiəl/
relating to or near the radius
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/
a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
transport commercially
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
move hurridly
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
star'snounUS /stɑːrz/
possessive form of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
unaccompaniedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌmpənid/
being without an escort
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
velocitynounUS /vəˈlɑːsəti/
distance travelled per unit time
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was the Doppler effect as the star's radial velocity changed relative to the _Quest III_, as for forty hours the ship had decelerated.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But they erred in thinking the Old Ones were too big to be clever.
in or at the place that
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
a Caucasian
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Earth set itself grimly to meet them with corrosive fire, determined to blast them back to the stars.
worldsnounUS /wɜːrldz/
plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading In the last hours the star ahead had grown brighter by many magnitudes, and had changed its color from a dazzling blue through white to the normal yellow, of a GO sun.
but in spite of that
From this reading They had seen many such stars come near out of the galaxy's glittering backdrop, and had seen them dwindle, turn red and go out as the _Quest III_ drove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless luminary unaccompanied by worlds where men might dwell.
