teleportation Psychics and Science Fiction.
(ˌtɛlɪpɔːˈteɪʃən)
[f. tele- + transportation.]
The conveyance of persons (esp. of oneself) or things by psychic power; also in futuristic description, apparently instantaneous transportation of persons, etc., across space by advanced technological means. Cf. telekinesis s.v. tele-, psychokinesis 1.
| 1931 C. Fort Lo! i. iv. 42 Sometimes, in what I call ‘teleportations’, there seems to be ‘agency’ and sometimes not... Some other time I may be able more clearly to think out an expression upon flows of pigeons to their homes, and flows of migratory birds, as teleportative, or quasi-teleportative. 1945 N. Collins London belongs to Me iv. liv. 421 The weekly copy of The Spirit World lay on the occasional table... They were wonderful letters—full of glimpses through the veil, and teleportations and proofs of survival. 1951 ‘J. Wyndham’ in Science-Fantasy Winter 8 Suppose the Russians..could project things or people here by teleportation. 1960 Analog Science Fact & Fiction Nov. 14/1 It took a latent ability to learn teleportation, and some people had it while others didn't. Ibid. 36/1 Going from one place to another is teleportation. 1977 ‘L. Egan’ Blind Search i. 4 Telepathy, telekinesis, teleportation, apports, whatever the hell psychic forces. |
Hence (as a back-formation) ˈteleport v. (a) intr., to convey oneself by teleportation; (b) trans., to convey by teleportation; also absol.; ˈteleporting ppl. a. and vbl. n.; also ˈteleport n., one who practises teleportation; teleˈportage rare = teleportation; teleˈportative a. rare, pertaining to teleportation.
| 1931 Teleportative [see teleportation]. 1951 ‘J. Wyndham’ in Science-Fantasy Winter 5 If there could be teleportation, or teleportage, or whatever it is. Ibid. 6 This teleporting guy. 1953 ‘T. Sturgeon’ More than Human iii. 204 Bonnie and Beanie can't carry so much as a toothpick with them when they teleport, let alone clothes. 1954–5 Planet Stories Winter 26 It might teleport him, too, if he attracted its attention. 1955 Astounding Sci. Fiction Feb. 11 The Martian was back in the chair again. ‘It's not teleportation. We don't teleport.’ 1960 Analog Science Fact & Fiction Nov. 41/2 After all, he'd found telepaths in insane asylums, and teleports among the juvenile delinquents of New York. 1965 New Statesman 5 Nov. 705/2 So we must adjust to instant teleporting from Raspail Métro to the Donnybrook tram by way of Strangeways Gaol. 1967 E. B. Nickerson Kayaks to Arctic ix. 79 It was a steep bushy bank but he [sc. a bear] made it as if teleported and did not rustle even a leaf. 1979 B. Shaw Dagger of Mind vii. 116 Albert can teleport people... Miss Connie..does it with objects. Psychokinesis. |