an ansible is a kind of fictional device or technology. ansibles can communicate faster than light. it can send and receive messages to and from a corresponding device over any distance or obstacle whatsoever with no delay, even between star systems. as a name for such a device, the word "ansible" first appeared in a 1966 novel "rocannon's world" by ursula k. le guin the word shortened from "answerable." it allowed users to receive answers to their messages quickly, even over interstellar distances.