Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

(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 _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

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

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

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

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

getting bald

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

past form of “bank” — tip laterally

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

plural of “battlement” — a rampart built around the top of a castle with regular gaps for firing arrows or guns

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

plural of “collector” — a person who collects things

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

placed crosswise

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

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

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

-ing form of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading Discovering new stars was a kind of perpetual game with Mr. Wordsley.

past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

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

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading Discovering new stars was a kind of perpetual game with Mr. Wordsley.

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

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

a state of misfortune or affliction

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

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

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

inflected form of “instal” — set up for use

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading Discovering new stars was a kind of perpetual game with Mr. Wordsley.

the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

determine the measurements of something or somebody, take measurements of

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

above and across; more than

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading Discovering new stars was a kind of perpetual game with Mr. Wordsley.

a quantum of electromagnetic radiation; an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

possessive form of “rocket” — any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

being one more than sixteen

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

transport commercially

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

very drunk

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

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

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

exceeding or surpassing usual limits especially in excellence

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

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

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

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

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

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

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

past form of “tune” — adjust for (better) functioning

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

not known

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

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

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

look attentively

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

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

From this reading This was by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and installed in the nose of the ship.

a Caucasian

From this reading And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing brilliance.

which person or people

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Discovering new stars was a kind of perpetual game with Mr. Wordsley.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

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

From this reading _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros crossed half a universe--suffered hardship--faced unknown dangers; and all this for what--a breath of rare perfume?_ Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond night and darkness without stars.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end.