used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
agencynounUS /ˈeɪdʒənsi/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
automatedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːtəmeɪtɪd/
operated by automation
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
for the reason that
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
broadcastingnounUS /ˈbrɔːdkæstɪŋ/
a medium that disseminates via telecommunications
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
Ceti
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The culture of Eden, Tau Ceti, completed the process.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The culture of Eden, Tau Ceti, completed the process.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
culturenounUS /ˈkʌltʃər/
a particular society at a particular time and place
From this reading The culture of Eden, Tau Ceti, completed the process.
desultoryadjectiveUS /ˈdesəltɔːri/
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
detectionnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
EdennounUS /ˈiːdən/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading The culture of Eden, Tau Ceti, completed the process.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
HowardnounUS /ˈhaʊərd/
English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
a message received and understood
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
JuniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/
kept in good condition
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
engage in
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
perimeternounUS /pərˈɪmətər/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
PersonnelnounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnel/
group of people willing to obey orders
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
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 Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
processverbUS /ˈprɑːses/
subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition
From this reading The culture of Eden, Tau Ceti, completed the process.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
RadionounUS /ˈreɪdioʊ/
medium for communication
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
ReednounUS /riːd/
tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
Spacemannoun
a person trained to travel in a spacecraft
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
stationsnounUS /ˈsteɪʃənz/
(Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
Taunoun
the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet
From this reading The culture of Eden, Tau Ceti, completed the process.
telephonesnounUS /ˈteləfoʊnz/
plural of “telephone” — electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
in or at that place or location
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
the act of using
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
vidphone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Radio broadcasting was maintained by the government as a public service information agency.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole situation gave Junior Spaceman Howard Reed a lot of time to think.
widespreadadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdˈspred/
widely circulated or diffused
From this reading Eden used old-fashioned telephones because its people were too widespread across the face of the planet to make the use of the vidphone practical.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading So, in a desultory manner, the Space Service maintained a perimeter of lookout and detection stations that could have been completely automated ... if it hadn't been that there were more Space Service Personnel than the Service could find work for.
