| Age |
n. (Latin
"Middle English < Old French aage < Vulgar Latin < Latin aetas "age")
The period of spacetime during which someone exists. How old a spanner is, and also the events he has already experienced;
these events of course do not come in the natural sequence levellers experience events. Sometimes referred to as the
'Required Past', but only in comparison to the Yet (see).
|
| Antedesertium |
n. (Latin "the
land before the time of the desert")
The worldwide narcissist empire posing the greatest threat to the Continuum. Called by many natives Yrnë.
Flourishes to c. 18000 - 13557 BC.
|
| as/as not |
The point during an incident of frag beyond which natural
paradoxes do not heal by themselves, but collapse the universe, instead. Sentient force is applied at this point
to heal frag. |
| Atlantean Councils |
n. The 117 sessions at the beginning
of the Societies that determined membership, and many rules of conduct for spanners within Societal spacetime. Held every
five or six years on Atlantis, beginning in 12969 BC. |
| Atlantis |
n. (Greek Atlas
"Titan supporting the heavens" < ProtoIndoEuropean [PIE] tel "to lift, support, weigh") Battle station that can
span; modeled after certain Inheritor designs. A city of spanners, it is the largest of several stations allotted for the
Societies' defense against Antedesertium. Host to the Atlantean Councils. |
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| chrony |
n. (Modern English Slang
"old companion" < Greek khronios "long-lasting" < chronos "time" < Uncertain)
A fellow spanner one considers a close friend. |
| civilization |
n. (Middle English < Old French <
Latin civis "citizen" < "member of a household" < PIE keiwi)
To spanners, the overarching period dominated by a particular species or subspecies, as opposed to merely a culture. Examples of
civilizations: Antedesertium, the Societies, the Inheritors.
|
| Continuum |
n. (Latin continuus [neuter form]
"continuous" < continere "to hold together, restrain" < tenere < PIE ten "to stretch")
1. Humanity (and all nonhuman sentience) that can span, and social
framework that holds it together.
2. The entirety of sentience throughout spacetime, most specifically that which is used to maintain existence.
|
| corner |
n. (Middle English < Old French
corniere < Vulgar Latin cornarium < Latin cornu < "horn, extremity" < PIE ker "horn")
1. A homestead or equivalent establishment where spanners of a particular locality can be themselves
without leveller scrutiny. Essentially, a local safe house or home base for spanners.
2. By extension, the locality around the home base.
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Down
Downward |
adv. (Middle English doun < Old English
dune < of dune "from the hill" [of "off" + dun "hill"] < Germanic dunaz "hill" < Protoceltic dhuno
"fortified, enclosed")
Towards the past from one's current position in spacetime. Pastward. Normally capitalized to differentiate it from a
mere direction in space. Compare Up and Level.
|
| dreamtime |
n. (dream + time [dream < Middle English
drem < Old English "joy, music" < Germanic draugma < PIE dhreugh "to deceive"] + [time <
Old English tima < Germanic dimon < PIE da "to divide"])
A state wherein people with the Dreaming skill, primarily spanners, encounter one another to exchange information;
a state of consciousness equivalent to Plato's World of Ideas. Named for the dream-state of Australian aboriginal myth.
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elder
elder self |
n. The later, older self in a gemini incident (see below), that has
experienced the incident before. See also junior. |
| era |
See zodiac, below. |
| Exalted |
n. (Middle English exalten <
Old French exalter < Latin exaltare < "[to lift] up high")
sing. or pl. – Spanner(s) of such skill that they can easily travel the length of the Societies,
and beyond. Considered authorities and intermediaries with other civilizations, especially with the
Inheritors. |
|
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frag
fragmentation |
(Modern English Slang "to blow up
[someone surreptiously]" < fragment "to break" < Middle English < Latin fragmentum < frangere <
PIE bhreg "to break")
1. n. The state of inconsistency with the universe, corrected at the as/not by proper application
of sentient force. (See CºNTINUUM, ppg. 53-54.)
2. adj. The state of experiencing that inconsistency.
3. v. to frag. To use sentient force to cause such inconsistency. |
| fraternity |
n. (Middle English fraternite <
Old French < Latin fraternitas < frater "brother" < PIE bhrater)
A group of spanners of like mind, usually performing a unique service to other spanners and/or the Continuum.
Like a medieval guild, a Fraternity is the profession of a spanner, when among spanners. There are ten primary Fraternities; since
they are different professions, and must cooperate for the good of the Continuum, there are rarely any rivalries between them.
Members of any given Fraternity can be found throughout the spacetime of the Societies, and often beyond. |
frune
froon |
v. (Old English gefrunen)
To find out by asking questions.
This is distinct from other forms of information, and gathering information. Frooning implies the knowledge of others, with its
consequences, and the advertising that you are aware of certain events.
This is also distinct from merely asking, which is just the expression of the desire for information. Frooning emphasizes sentient
force applied to the discovery of information from other sentience. |
| "Further information is not available
here."
|
This phrase is used whenever an informative answer cannot be given to a
spanner, on the understanding that knowing too much or too little can be burdensome to one's Yet. The sentence is perfectly
information-neutral, revealing only that additional information on the subject matter the querant seeks will not be found at that
place and time– not whether the respondant knows or doesn't know the answer, nor any clue to its discovery or relevance. See
also frune. |
futury
futurity |
n.
The equivalent of history, only in reference to "the future" as understood by levellers; prophecy. Detailed information of upcoming
events. Rarely a relevant term for spanners: see the Yet.
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|
gemini incident |
An event where a spanner meets himself. Such incidents have strict rules of conduct,
primarily governed by the Second Maxim: 'Respect your elders, they know more than you.' (See elders and
juniors.)
Not to be confused with the Geminid zodiacal era, which is known for its frequency of gemini incidents (see zodiac,
below). |
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Hegemony
The Hegemony |
n.
The name by which many narcissists refer to the Societies. Used derogatorily. |
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| Inheritors |
n.
1. The people, mostly spanners, who flourish after the spacetime of the Societies.
2. The spacetime of the civilization of the Inheritors.
|
| Interregnum |
n. (Latin "between reigns")
The spacetime
between Antedesertium and the Societies, 13557 - 12969 BC. A time of extreme chaos and frag. |
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junior
junior self |
n. Any previous version of one's self along one's Age. Especially
refers to the earlier, younger self in a gemini incident (see), that has not experienced the incident before. |
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| level |
The "present" as currently occupied or described. The ordinary passage of time
from past to future. |
| leveller |
n. A person unaware of spanning, and unable to span. An ordinary
human. |
| locality |
n.
1. A spanner's original birthplace, especially where he was raised as a leveller. The spacetime most familiar to a
spanner by experience and association.
2. The place(s) a spanner has made his home. See corner, above. |
|
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Maxims
The Maxims |
n. pl. (Middle English < Old French
maxime < Medieval Latin propositio maxima "greatest proposition" < Latin maximus < PIE meg
"great")
The set of axioms spanners loyal to the Continuum follow. The Maxims are believed to be universal throughout all spacetime,
with only minor variations. |
|
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| narcissist |
n. (Latin narcissus < Greek
narkissos < Mediterranean)
A spanner at odds with Continuum, using his ability and sentient force to attempt to alter events, usually for
his own aggrandizement. So named after the figure in Greek myth who was so infatuated with himself, that he turned into
vegetable. |
|
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| paradox |
n. (Latin paradoxum < Greek paradoxos
"incredible", conflicting with the expected" < [para "beyond" + doxa "opinion" < dokein "to think" < "to cause to
be accepted" < PIE dek "to take or accept"])
1. Any situation of two mutually-exclusive events occuring at the same time; can occur naturally,
accidentally, or deliberately. (See CºNTINUUM, ppg. 56-57.)
2. Used by some to refer to the moment of as/as not (see); though properly described, the
as/as not contains a near-infinite number of potential paradoxes.
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| sentient force |
n. Deliberate act of will, usually in reference to its application in
ensuing events, or attempting to change them.
|
| society |
n.
One of the hundreds of cultures/nations accepted as a cohesive unit by the Atlantean Councils. One of the Societies
(see below).
|
Societies
The Societies |
n.
The civilization existing in spacetime between Antedesertium and the Inheritors. Made up of hundreds of individual
cultures/nations, which provide the civilization its name. Trade and competition among societies make up much of the
political machinations of the civilization. Flourishes 12969 BC - AD 2400. |
| span |
(Middle English spanne "short distance or interval" <
Old English spann < Germanic spannon < PIE spen "to draw, stretch, spin")
1. n. The distance of spacetime a spanner can travel safely without rest. Often indicative of social
status and responsibility.
2. n. A length of time, used especially of the entire duration of a person, object or civilization.
3. v. to span. The act of travelling through time at will.
Most schools of spanner philosophy regard all of the foregoing definitions as facets of the others.
|
spanner
spinner |
n.
1. A wrench.
2. One who spans; a person that can traverse time at will.
Contrast leveller, above. Natives from localities Down from the Industrial Revolution prefer the related term
spinner, as in weaver. |
Swarm
The Swarm |
n.
The name by which many narcissists refer to the Continuum, or any group of loyal Continuum spanners. Used
derogatorily. |
|
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Up
Upward |
adv. (Middle English up < Old English
uppe "on high" < Germanic upp < PIE upo "under, up from under, over")
Towards the future from one's current position in spacetime. Futureward. Normally capitalized to differentiate it
from a mere direction in space. Compare Down and Level.
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| "What time is it?" |
This phrase, or obvious variants, is main signal spanners use to identify one
another.
The proper response is to repeat the phrase verbatim when asked. Levellers will act confused or annoyed; fellow spanners
will expect to lead or be led to a safe area where matters privy to spanners can be discussed without leveller scrutiny. |
|
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|
Yet
the Yet |
n. (Middle English yit < Old English
giet, gieta "still" < Uncertain )
Information of events that a spanner has not experienced, but will. This is referred to as the Yet to distinguish it from
other, especially linear, definitions of a "future" or "past". Usually referred to with an article (the Yet, his Yet, her Yet,
etc.) Also referred to as the 'Required Future'. Compare Age. |
| young gemini |
The gemini incidents (see above) that occur before a spanner learns to
span. Leveller encounters with elder (spanner) selves, nearly always unrecognized for what they are until much
later. |
|
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zodiac
zodiacal era
era |
n. (Middle English < Old French
zodiaque < Latin zodiacus < Greek zoidiakos kuklos "circle of carved figures" < zoion
"animal" < PIE gwyoyo )
Sections of spacetime of approximately 2000 years each. Each era has special meaning and events relevant to Societal
spanners. Spanners often identify themselves to each other by their era before revealing narrower details such as their locality
or corner.
The zodiac and its variants exist to assist spanners in understanding their local spacetime; its astrological connotation is the
face presented to levellers. |
