used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
barracksnounUS /ˈbærəks/
plural of “barrack” — a building or group of buildings used to house military personnel
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
clampedverbUS /klæmpt/
past form of “clamp” — fasten or fix with a clamp
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
at any time
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
LegionnounUS /ˈliːdʒən/
archaic terms for army
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
lidnounUS /lɪd/
either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Sweated and listened.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
low-Martian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
the force of workers available
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
not any; not one
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
outlanders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
rumpledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌmpəld/
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
scrapingsnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋz/
plural of “scraping” — (usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
SolaradjectiveUS /ˈsoʊlər/
relating to or derived from the sun or utilizing the energies of the sun
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
space-rats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
springsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
StellaradjectiveUS /ˈstelər/
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
swamplands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
sweatedverbUS /ˈswetɪd/
past form of “sweat” — excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
Thekla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as Thekla the low-Martian learned, no one had ever betrayed it and--lived.
tight-coiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
uniformsnounUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz/
plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
VenusnounUS /ˈviːnəs/
the second nearest planet to the sun
From this reading No one had ever escaped from Venus' dread Stellar Legion.
Venusian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Men in rumpled uniforms--outlanders of the Stellar Legion, space-rats, the scrapings of the Solar System--sweated in the sullen heat of the Venusian swamplands before the rains.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Silence was on the barracks like a lid clamped over tight-coiled springs.
