Glossary

Å—angstrom (one ten-millionth of a millimeter)

ABREACTION—release of emotional tension brought about by recalling a repressed traumatic experience

ADRO—a K-PAXian grain

AFFECT—the emotional state or demeanor of a psychiatric patient

AGAPE—a star in the constellation Lyra

AIKIDO—a Japanese form of self-defense involving the throwing of one’s opponent

ANAMNESIS—the recollection of past events

AP—a small, elephant-like being

APHASIA—inability to speak or understand spoken or written language

BALNOK—a large-leafed K-PAXian tree

BROT—an orf (a progenitor of the dremers)

C—the speed of light (186,000 miles per second)

CHOREA—a disease of the nervous system characterized by jerky, involuntary movements

CONFABULATION—the replacement of a gap in one’s memory by something he or she believes to be true

COPROPHILIA—an obsession with feces

DELUSION—a false belief that is resistant to reason or confrontation with actual fact

DRAK—a red grain having a nutty flavor

DREMER—a K-PAXian of prot’s species

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY (ECT)—electric shock treatment used in cases of acute depression

ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM (EEG)—a graphical representation of the electrical activity of the brain

EM—a large, frog-like being who lives in trees

FLED—an undescribed K-PAXian being

FLOR—an inhabited planet in the constellation Leo

HOM—a K-PAXian insect

HYPNOSIS—an induced trance-like state producing vivid recollection along with an enhanced susceptibility to outside suggestion

JART—a measurement of distance (equivalent to 0.214 miles)

K-MON—one of the two suns of K-PAX (also called Agape)

KORM—a bird-like being

K-PAX—a planet in the constellation Lyra

KREE—a K-PAXian vegetable, much like a leek

K-RIL—one of the suns of K-PAX (also called Satori)

KROPIN—a truffle-like fungus

LIKA—a K-PAXian vegetable

MANO—a dremer

MOT—a skunk-like animal

MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER (MPD)—a psychological dysfunction characterized by the existence of two or more distinct personalities, any of which may be in command of the body at a given time

NARR—a doubter

NEUROLEPTIC DRUG—a compound having antipsychotic properties

NOLL—a planet in the constellation Leo

ORF—one of the progenitors of the dremers

PARANOIA—a mental disorder characterized by feelings of persecution

PATUSE—a K-PAXian musical instrument, similar to the bass viol

PROT—traveler

RELDO—a village on the planet K-PAX

RULI—a cow-like being

SATORI—a star in the constellation Lyra

SAVANT SYNDROME—a condition characterized by remarkable mental capabilities, usually associated with a low level of general intelligence

SWON—an em

TERSIPION—a planet in the constellation Taurus

THON—a K-PAXian grain

TOURETTE’S SYNDROME—a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent involuntary movements, and sometimes by grunts, barks, or epithets

TROD—a chimpanzee-like being

YORT—a sugar plum