ansible

Definition

A hypothetical device that enables users to communicate instantaneously across great distances; that is, a faster-than-light communication device.

Etymology

Coined by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin in 1966 in her novella Rocannon's World; Le Guin states that she derived it from answerable. The word was further spread by its adoption into other science fiction worlds, including by Orson Scott Card in Ender's Game (1986), Vernor Vinge in The Blabber (1988) and Dan Simmons in Hyperion (1989).

Example Sentences

• "“You remember the ansible, the machine I showed you in the ship, which can speak instantly to other worlds, with no loss of years– […] ” “An ansible would theoretically be powered by subatomic particles that have undergone quantum entanglement, which utilizes Einstein's 'spooky action at a distance', allowing the alteration of one particle to instantaneously alter the state of its paired particle. […] ”"
• "“[…] The master ansible is there, in contact with all our invasion fleet; the ships are all working, ready to fight. […]”"
• "Ky had allotted two hours here, time to strip the news from the ansible, share it, even discuss it, but she didn’t plan to have everyone clustered and vulnerable."