space v. 1

to travel to or in space; cf. earlier spacing n. 1

  • 1947 B. I. Kahn Command in Astounding Science Fiction Jan. 121/2 page image Bernard I. Kahn bibliography

    He well remembered, when he was a junior officer, how the sight of a well dressed, impeccably neat commanding officer, no matter how long they had been spacing, maintained the enthusiasm, confidence and morale of the officers and men.

  • 1956 R. A. Heinlein Time for Stars 44 Robert A. Heinlein

    They know we want to space. If they don’t let us do this, we'll do it any way we can. If we joined your corps, we might come home on leave—but not often. If we emigrate, we might as well be dead; very few emigrants make enough to afford a trip back to Earth, not while their parents are still alive, at least.

  • 1972 ‘J. Tiptree’ Milk of Paradise in H. Ellison Again, Dangerous Visions 748

    His dear old chum-scout Timor’s son, saved from the aliens. Your father and mine spaced together—you'll get all that when you’re back.


Research requirements

any evidence 1947

Earliest cite

B. I. Kahn 'Command'

Research History
Ralf Brown located, and Douglas Winston and Lawrence Watt-Evans independently submitted, a cite for the form "spacing" from a reprint of Robert Silverberg's "Tower of Glass"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1970 first magazine appearance.
Jeff Prucher submitted a 1972 cite from James Tiptree, Jr.'s "The Milk of Paradise". Mike Christie submitted a 1947 cite from Bernard I. Kahn's "Command".
Douglas Winston dubmitted a cite from an undated Ace reprint of Robert A. Heinlein's 1956 "Time for the Stars".

We would like further cites of any date.

Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.