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"Grok" may be the only English word that derives from Martian. Yes, we do mean the language of the planet Mars. No, we're not getting spacey; we've just ventured into the realm of science fiction. "Grok" was introduced in Robert A. Heinlein's 1961 science fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land. The book's main character, Valentine Michael Smith, is a Martian-raised human who comes to earth as an adult, bringing with him words from his native tongue and a unique perspective on the strange, strange ways of earthlings. "Grok" was quickly adopted by the youth culture of America and has since peppered the vernacular of those who grok it.

Examples

The novel's protagonists are driven by a desire to grok their place in the grand scheme of the universe.

"Both of these views completely fail to grok both the documented benefits of America's leadership in space and the font of inspiration for visionaries … who have aspired to send people there." - From an article by Greg Autry in Political Machine, February 2, 2012