used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
at or in the front
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
asteroidaladjective
of or relating to or resembling an asteroid
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
asteroidsnounUS /ˈæstərɔɪdz/
plural of “asteroid” — any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
beaconnounUS /ˈbiːkən/
a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
beckoningverbUS /ˈbekənɪŋ/
-ing form of “beckon” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
boomingadjectiveUS /ˈbuːmɪŋ/
very lively and profitable
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/
difficult to analyze or understand
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
crawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
cruisernounUS /ˈkruːzər/
a car in which policemen cruise the streets; equipped with radiotelephonic communications to headquarters
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
crumbsnounUS /krʌmz/
plural of “crumb” — a very small quantity of something
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
destructionnounUS /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/
the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
disknounUS /dɪsk/
something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
the organ of sight
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
meteor-swarms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
used to form the superlative
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
orbitsnounUS /ˈɔːrbəts/
plural of “orbit” — the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
rushingnounUS /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
specksnounUS /speks/
plural of “speck” — a very small spot
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
starredadjectiveUS /stɑːrd/
marked with an asterisk
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
Sunsprite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For three days now, the cruiser had cautiously groped deeper into this most perilous region of the System.
throbbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
very small
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
unchartable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/
lacking any legal or binding force
From this reading To the eye, the cruiser moved in a black void starred by creeping crumbs of light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading In reality those bright, crawling specks were booming asteroids or whirling meteor-swarms rushing in complicated, unchartable orbits and constantly threatening destruction.
a Caucasian
From this reading Now a bright, tiny disk of white light was shining far ahead like a beckoning beacon.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
zonenounUS /zoʊn/
a locally circumscribed place characterized by some distinctive features
From this reading Discovered The _Sunsprite_ throbbed steadily through the vast, dangerous wilderness of the asteroidal zone.
