Chapter I

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

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

relating to or having the characteristics of bees

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

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

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

form a curve

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

English architect (1723-1796)

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

coldness due to a cold environment

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

plural of “colonist” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

of an obscure nature

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

slightly wet

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

people collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

stubbornly unyielding

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

remove the dust from

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

an explosive containing nitrate sensitized with nitroglycerin absorbed on wood pulp

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

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

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

one or the other of two

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

opinion or judgment

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

having facets

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

to a faint degree or weakly perceived

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

United States writer remembered for his novels (1904-1979)

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

having been flattened

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

-ing form of “force” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

set up or found

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

United States illustrator remembered for his creation of the “Gibson girl” (1867-1944)

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

a small number or amount

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

the side or slope of a hill

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

pitted with cell-like cavities (as a honeycomb)

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

ten 10s

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

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

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

plural of “image” — an iconic mental representation

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

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

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

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

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

moving slowly and gently

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

of less size or importance

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

plural of “light-year” — the distance that light travels in a vacuum in 1 year; 5.88 trillion miles or 9.46 trillion kilometers

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

set afire or burning

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

lowest in rank or importance

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

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

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

a particular point in time

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

having or involving or consisting of more than one part or entity or individual

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

completely unclothed

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

absolutely essential

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

not any; not one

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

lacking sensation

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

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

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

and nothing more

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

furnished with people

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

by chance

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

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

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

past form of “shroud” — cover as if with a shroud

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

in or at or to some place

From this reading Somewhere above him, the silent audience chambers lay shrouded in lesser gloom, heavy with the dust of generations and peopled only by cryptic apian images.

past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

a member of the ancient Greek school of philosophy founded by Zeno

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

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

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

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

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

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

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

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

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

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

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

-ing form of “tunnel” — move through by or as by digging

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

under the level of the ground

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

a vivid mental image

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

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

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting

From this reading An enormous weapon is forcing people to keep their troubles to themselves--it's dynamite!

without a weapon

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading _Waiting for him...._ _They might as well have been back on Terra, five hundred light-years away._ _Six feet away on either side, the corridor walls curved up faintly, a flattened oval of tunneling designed for multiple alien feet, lighted for faceted eyes demanding the merest fraction of light necessary for an Earthman's vision.

in the company of; together with

From this reading _Numb with the terror that had dogged him from the moment he regained consciousness and found himself naked and weaponless, Farrell had no idea how long he had been lost in the honeycombed darkness of the Hymenop dome._ _The darkness and damp chill of air told him that he was far underground, possibly at the hive's lowest level.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.

Spanish missionary and Jesuit who establish missionaries in Japan and Ceylon and the East Indies (1506-1552)

From this reading Outside the dome, in a bend of lazy silver river, sprawled the Sadr III village with its stoic handful of once-normal Terran colonists and, on the hillside above the village, Gibson and Stryker and Xavier would be waiting for him in the disabled_ Marco Four.