farspeaker

English

Etymology

From farspeak +‎ -er. Compare German Fernsprecher (“telephone”).

Noun

farspeaker (plural farspeakers)

1. (puristic) Telephone.
2. (science fiction, fantasy) One who farspeaks.
   • 1987, Mercedes Lackey, Arrow's flight:

     "I wish I wasn't so messed up; I wish I was bigger and stronger. Or a Farspeaker like Kyril,” she replied in a very small voice. “You can't help what happened. As for being a Farspeaker, I don't think both of us together could reach someone with the Gift to hear us, and if we could, I don't know that it would do any good," he sighed.

3. (science fiction) A device or apparatus used to farspeak or communicate over long distances.
   • 1948, New Statesman: the week-end review:

     Ecgbert picked up the farspeaker eagerly. "Frideswide darling! I have been wating to hear from you all the morning. […] "

   • 1984, John Brunner, The Crucible of Time:

     "Let's find out whether I do or not," said Yull imperturbably, and activated the farspeaker to maximum volume. At one a voice rang out, impersonal, repetitive: the sound of a recordimal.

   • 2009, Nick Gevers, Jay Lake, Other Earths:

     “Sir, we found him in the farspeaker room,” said one of the guards. “He was tampering with the equipment."

   • 2011, James Rollins, Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx:

     She held it out toward him. It was the size of a chicken egg, only broken in half. The other half of the crystal—carried by another—would vibrate in tune with its twin, allowing communication, like a walkie-talkie. “A farspeaker! Pindor gasped out. "Why didn't you tell us you had one!" "I did. Back when I first ran into you all," she reminded them. "I had been calling Papa on my farspeaker when I was snatched here."