World sb.

Forms: α. 1 weorold, wuruld, worold, uoruld, wiarald, 1–3 weoruld, woruld, -eld, -old, 2 wurold, 3 we(o)reld, wæruld, Orm. wo(o)relld. β. 1– world; 1–3 weorld, 4–6 worlde (2 worlð, 3 wurld, 5 whorlld(e); 2–3 werlð, 3 Orm. werrld, 3–5 werld(e; north. and Sc. 3– warld, 5–6 warlde, varld, (5 warlede). γ. 4–6 wordle, 5 wordel, wordil; north. and Sc. 5–7 wardle, 6 wardill, vardil, wardel, vardel; 3 werdle. δ. 3–6 word, 4–5 worde (6 woaude); 3–5 werd, 4–5 werde; 4 wird; north. 4, 6 ward. ε. 3 worl, 3–5 worle, 5 worlle, orlle, 6 worell; 8 worl’, north. and Sc. 5 warle, 8 warl’, 9 warl. [Com. Teut. (wanting in Gothic): OE. weorold, worold, world str. f., rarely m., corresp. to OFris. wrald, ruald, warld (EFris. warld, WFris. wrôd), OS. werold (MLG. werlt, warlt, LG. werld, MDu. werelt, Du. wereld), OHG. weralt (MHG. werelt, werlt, welt, G. welt), ON. veröld (Sw. verld, Da. verden): a formation peculiar to Germanic, f. wer- man, WERE sb.¹ + ald- age (cf. OLD a., ELD sb.²), the etymological meaning being, therefore, ‘age’ or ‘life of man.’]

  I.  Human existence; a period of this.

  1.  a. Chiefly This world, the world: the earthly state of human existence; this present life.

  To (unto, OE. oð) the world’s end: as long as human things shall last, to the end of time (with admixture of senses 7, 9). Similarly in phrases such as as long as the or this world lasts, and in this world.

832.  Charter, in Sweet, O. E. Texts, 447. Ðet he ðas god forðleste oð wiaralde ende.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xviii. 137. [Hi] ne dooð him nan oðer god ðisse weorolde.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 57. We witon þæt ælc wlite … to ende efsteþ & onetteþ þisse weorlde lifes.

c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 17. ‘Andswere me’ … he wile seggen, ‘hwat hafst ðu swa lange idon on ðare woreld?’

c. 1205.  Lay., 5028. Þa wifmon Þa þe a ðas weoreld ibær.

c. 1250.  Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 33. Þet ha yef us swiche werkes to done in þise wordle Þet þo saulen of us mote bien isauued a domes dai.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 32. Fader … ðu giue me seli timinge To thaunen ðis werdes biginninge.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 91. Quat bote is to sette traueil On thyng … þat es bot fantum o þis warld?

c. 1300.  Havelok, 2335. Was neuere yete ioie more In al þis werd, þan þo was þore.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1058. Allas of me vn-to þe worldis ende Schal noþer ben wretyn noþer I-songe No good word.

c. 1400.  26 Pol. Poems, i. 123. They han here heuene in this world here.

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 12. Ale the wyt of this word fallus to foly.

c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 43. Wa is me, wretche in this warld, wilsome of wane!

1451.  Paston Lett., I. 189. In this werd that now is.

1513.  Life Hen. V. (1911), 22. Yearelie to be distributed … twenty pounds in pence to the poore people duringe the Worlde.

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., x. 36. He sall with vs rest, And we with him, sa lang as warld may lest.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., II. ii. 108. Time himselfe is bald, and therefore to the worlds end, will haue bald followers. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., V. iii. 102. I prethee now deliuer them, like a man of this world.

1670.  T. Blount, Acad. Eloq. (ed. 4), 230. The Heir of a Knight in the right line shall be an Esquire to the worlds end.

1794.  Paley, Evid., II. ii. § 8. A Christian’s chief care being to pass quietly through this world to a better.

1797.  Jane Austen, Sense & Sensib., xliv. ‘As to that,’ said he, ‘I must rub through the world as well as I can.’

1856.  Dickens, Christmas Stories (1874), 43. She was too good for this world and for me, and she died six weeks before our marriage-day.

  b.  With reference to birth or death; esp. to bring into the world, to give birth to (see BRING v. 7 c); to come into (or to) the world, to be born (see COME v. 4 c); fig. (of a book) to be published; to go or depart out of this world.

Beowulf, 60. Ðæm feower bearn forð ʓerimed in worold wocun.

a. 1000.  Genesis, 2284. Þu scealt, Agar, Abrahame sunu on woruld bringan.

a. 1000.  Epist. Alex., in Cockayne, Narrat. (1861), 31. Ðin modor ʓewiteð of weorulde þurh scondlicne deað.

c. 1205.  Lay., 17235. He sæt stille alse þeh he wolde of worlden iwiten.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2389. Ic sal to min sune fare … or ic of werlde chare.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5116. & þe nyenteþe day of aueryl out of þis worl he wende.

[1382], c. 1510–.  [see COME v. 4 c].

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 2653 (Dubl.). Qwen he went of þis warld.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 3953. Þaw y shulde now ouȝt of þis worde gone.

1579.  Randolph, Lett., in Buchanan, Wks. (S.T.S.), 56. The last little Treatise … that lately come into the World.

c. 1588.  Cath. Tractates (S.T.S.), 250. Not doutand bot angels and sanctis depairted out of this wardle may and do pray for us.

1607.  [see BRING v. 7 c].

1784.  Burns, Addr. Illeg. Child, iv. My funny toil is now a’ tint, Sin’ thou came to the warl asklent.

1914.  ‘Ian Hay,’ Knt. on Wheels, xiii. § 3. Having been born into the world with a club foot.

  c.  without article (with blending of sense 7): † (a) On, o, in world, in this life, on earth.

c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xxiii. (1890), 332. Eal þæt heo for worulde [v.r. on weorulde] hæfde.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 111. Vnclene wif þoleð scome on weorlde & unclene wif bið unwurð on liue.

c. 1205.  Lay., 22069. Þe king for-bæd heom … þat na mon on worlde swa wod no iwurðe … þat his grið bræke. Ibid., 23475. Þat nuste he neuere on weorlde hu feole þusend þer weoren.

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 120. An wirm is o werlde, wel man it knoweð.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1349. Hwore so he o worde aren.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 871. Wheþen in worlde he were, Hit semed as he myȝt Be prynce.

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 1270. In warld was non so wiis Of craft þat men knewe.

1457.  Harding, Chron., i. in Engl. Hist. Rev. (1912), Oct., 740. This book … Whiche no man hath in worlde bot oonly ye.

c. 1475.  Partenay, 3816. Pray for me All dais while lif in worle here haue ye.

  † (b)  in genitive = temporal, earthly, secular: freq. in world’s (worldes) riches, wealth, win (WIN sb.² 2), and the like. Obs. (in later use Sc.)

Beowulf, 2343. Ende ʓebidan worulde lifes.

c. 1175, etc.  [see WIN sb.² 2].

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 51. Þe hie weren wuniende in ierusalem … and hadden þe fulle of wurldes richeisse.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 48. Hise wise sune, Ðe was of hin fer ear bi-foren Or ani werldes time boren.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8314. Salamon … sal be a man o pes, And mikel haf o werldes es. Ibid., 12416. To sett iesu to werld lar.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 362. For coveitise and worldes pride.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 674. Alle my werdez wele.

c. 1400.  Love, Bonavent. Mirr., xxxiii. (1908), 159. Forsakynge all worldes besynesse.

1508.  Dunbar, Poems, vi. 34. A barell bung ay at my bosum, Of varldis gud I bad na mair.

1611.  J. Davies, (Heref.), Of Work of Sylvester, 52, S.’s Wks. 816. For whose deare birth, thou didst all ease refuse, Worlds-weal, and (being a Marchant) thy Receits.

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Justine, 15 b. When he saw they would not sel their liberty for any worldes good.

1781.  Burns, My Nanie, O, vi. My riches a’s my penny-fee…; But warl’s gear ne’er troubles me. Ibid. (1786), To Mr. J. Kennedy, iv. Now if ye’re ane o’ warl’s folk, Wha rate the wearer by the cloak. Ibid. (a. 1796), Now bank & brae, ii. The chield wha boasts o’ warld’s wealth.

1820.  Blackw. Mag., VII. May, 165/2. Let warld’s gear gang.

  d.  The other, another, the next, a better world, the world to come or to be: the future state, the life after death. Sometimes viewed as the ‘realm’ of departed spirits.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xii. 32. Ne byð hyt hym forʓyfen, ne on þisse worulde, ne on þære toweardan [1382 Wyclif, nether in this world, ne in the tother; 1526 Tindale, nether in this worlde, nether in the worlde to come].

c. 1200.  Ormin, 4192. Resstedaȝȝ … tacneþþ all þatt resste & ro Þatt hallȝhe sawless brukenn Inn oþerr werelld.

1548–9.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Nicene Creed. The lyfe of the worlde to come.

1581.  Hamilton, in Cath. Tractates (S.T.S.), 73. The horribill tormentis preparit for thame in the varld to cum.

1611.  Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, IV. iii. Will there be no slanders, No jealousies in the other world?

1715.  I. Mather, Several Serm., title-p., When Godly Men dye, Angels carry their Souls to another and a better World.

1738.  Wesley, Hymn, ‘Attend while God’s Eternal Son,’ v. Far from … Sin, and Earth, and Hell, In the new World thy Grace hath made, May I for ever dwell!

1770.  Goldsm., Des. Vill., 170. He … Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.

a. 1796.  Burns, Epit. on Friend, 7. If there’s another world, he lives in bliss.

1809.  Magee, Atonement (1816), II. 107. The appellation, ‘mighty dead,’… becomes applicable to all the inhabitants of the invisible world.

1816.  Shelley, Mont Blanc, 49. Some say that gleams of a remoter world Visit the soul in sleep,—that death is slumber.

1846.  Tennyson, Golden Year, 56. ’Tis like the second world to us that live. Ibid. (1864), En. Ard., 899. Who will embrace me in the world-to-be.

  e.  gen. A state of (present or future) existence.

c. 1300.  Beket, 77. Heo … ȝeode aboute as a best … As heo were of another wordle.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., IV. v. 134. Both the worlds I giue to negligence, Let come what comes.

1807.  Wordsw., Ode Intim. Immortality, 149. Blank misgivings of a Creature Moving about in worlds not realised.

1859.  FitzGerald, Omar, xxv. All the Saints and Sages who discuss’d Of the Two Worlds so learnedly.

  2.  The pursuits and interests of this present life; esp., in religious use, the least worthy of these; temporal or mundane affairs. † World’s = worldly.

a. 1000.  Guthlac, 399 [370]. Ne won he æfter worulde ac he in wuldre ahof modes wynne.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10103. Thrin fas … þis werld, my fleche, þe warlau als.

1340.  Ayenb., 92. Þe more þet [me] lykeþ þe zuetnesse of þe wordle, þe lesse me wylneþ þe zuelnesse of god.

c. 1410.  Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), Prol. lf. 4. Þe devel, þe worlde, ande the flessh.

c. 1425.  Cast. Persev., 192, in Macro Plays, 83. Who-so spekyth a-ȝeyn þe werd, In a presun he schal be sperd. Ibid., 1009, 107. Þe Werld, þe Flesch, & þe Devyl, are knowe grete lordis.

1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, I. iii. F iv. Bycause he is so sore sette, or to gredy vpon the world, or his thrift.

1564.  J. Martiall, Treat. Crosse, 17. Christ hath subdued sinne, conquered the worlde, discomfited the deuil.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 73. Ah Palinodie, thou art a worldes childe: Who touches Pitch mought needes be defilde.

1675.  Owen, Indwelling Sin, ii. (1732), 17. Whence is it, that Men follow and pursue the World with so much greediness?

1780.  Cowper, Love of the World Reproved, 25. Renounce the world—the preacher cries. Ibid. (1784), Task, II. 389. Infidelity and love of world.

1807.  Wordsw., Misc. Sonn., I. xxxiii. 1. The world is too much with us.

1843.  J. Martineau, Chr. Life, xvii. 255. The world … i.e. the opportunities of action with a view to temporal good.

1882.  Seeley, Nat. Relig., II. i. 130. The World is the collective character of those who do not worship.

  3.  The affairs and conditions of life; chiefly in phr., esp. with the verb go (e.g., how the world goes, how events shape themselves; how goes the world with (a person), how are his affairs; as the (or this) world goes, as things are, considering the state (of affairs); also † to let the world slide, to allow things to take their course, to leave matters alone; to let the world wag (see WAG v. 7 c).

Beowulf, 1739. Ac him eal worold wendeð on willan.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxvi. § 1. Ʒeþenc þu nu … Boetius … hwæðer þin woruld þa eall wære æfter þinum willan.

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 318. Hyra woruld wæs ʓehwyrfed.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 19. A Feir feld ful of folk fond I þer bi-twene,… Worchinge and wondringe as þe world askeþ.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 530. & wynter wyndez agayn, as þe worlde askez.

c. 1460–5[?].  MS. Trin. Coll. Dubl., D. 4, 18, in Archaeologia, XXIX. 341.

1478.  Paston Lett., III. 232. William Paston … paid to the parson … xxiiijli.… It is yerly worth, as the world goth now, xli.

1481.  Cely Papers (Camden), 81. Howr father … thynkes the whorllde qwhessy … and therfor he whowlde that ze gepart not yowrselfe to hofton to Bregys.

a. 1529–.  [see WAG v. 7 c].

1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, IV. iv. T iij. What is the matter, or howe gothe the worlde with hym?

1564.  Bullein, Dial. agst. Pest. (1888), 26. Now let vs go … and see how the worlde goeth with Master Antonius.

1570.  Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), 1848/1. What a Gospeller [he] … was in King Edwardes tyme, which now turning with the world, sheweth him self such a bytter Persecuter … in Queene Maries time.

1596, 1611.  [see SLIDE v. 5 b].

1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 178. To be honest as this world goes, is to bee one man pick’d out of two thousand. Ibid., III. ii. 285. Some must watch, while some must sleepe; So runnes the world away.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1686, III. 74. However the world goes, we may yet make a tolerable shift.

1713.  Pope, Lett. to Addison, Wks. 1737, VI. 32. And give me leave to tell you, that (as the world goes) this is no small assurance I repose in you.

1855.  Dickens, etc., Househ. Words, Christmas No. 23/1. How’s the world used you since this morning?

1862.  H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xviii. The world is out of joint.

1886.  Baring-Gould, Crt. Royal, iv. What was the world coming to, when the police poked their noses into his shop?

  † b.  State of human affairs, state of things; hence, season or time as marked by the state of affairs. Obs.

1456.  Paston Lett., I. 402. And as for the iiij^xx li. to be sette on Olivere is taile, I can not see it wole be, for there is noo suche worlde to bringe it abowte.

1479.  Cely Papers (Camden), 19. Here ys but strange warlede … the sekenese raynyd sore at London. Ibid. (1484), 152. What world wee schall hawe w^t Flaunders I can nott say, I feyr me they wyll breke w^t us.

1503[?].  in Lett. Rich. III. & Hen. VII. (Rolls), I. 232. Good yt is that we see to our owne surtie … wat world so euer shall hapen to fall here after.

1513.  More, Rich. III., Wks. 70. If the worlde woold haue gone as I would haue wished, king Henryes sonne had had the crown. Ibid. What nede in that grene world y^e protector had of y^e duke. Ibid. (c. 1523), in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 295. They do but seke delayes till they may se how the world is.

1530.  Palsgr., 559/2. Let the place be well fumygate … it is a daungerous worlde [Fr. temps] nowe a dayes.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 195 b. Til he might spye a tyme conuenient, & a world after hys awn appetite.

c. 1555.  Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (Camden), 178. Others which foretold this dolorous doleful wretched world that followed upon this divorce.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iii. 94. This is no world To play with Mammets.

1614.  Chapman, Odyssey, XI. 602. But take close shore disguisde, nor let her know, For tis no world to trust a woman now.

  † c.  (One’s) condition in life, (good) fortune. Obs.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 16. Bot every clerk his herte leith To kepe his world in special. Ibid., 84. I not in what degree Thou schalt thi goode world achieve. Ibid., III. 170. Whan that he weneth best achieve His goode world.

  4.  Secular (or lay) life and interests, as distinguished from religious (or clerical); also (by association with III, as in b and d below), secular (or lay) people. Of the world, † world’s: secular; see also MAN OF THE WORLD a.

a. 1030.  Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 109. Oððe æfter gode oððe æfter wurulde he sy.

c. 1200.  [see MAN OF THE WORLD a].

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 24. Hwon þe preostes of ðe worlde singeð hore messen.

c. 1290.  Beket, 244, in S. Eng. Leg., 113. Þo þis holi Man was i-torned fram þe office of holi churche To a gret office of þe world.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 27172. Werlds man, or clerc, or closterer.

1340.  Ayenb., 49. Þe enlefte [sin of adultery] is of man of þe wordle to wyfman of religioun.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (prose), 37. Bot bettir chepe sal ye selle þan þe men of þe werld dose.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1. That is to say, some chose to go by the worlde and some by religion.

1533.  Gau, Richt Vay (S.T.S.), 25. The oder varkis qvhilk ar techit in al the buikis of the wardel.

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 521. Hee taking a loathing to the world … retired into that hospitall … where with poore people hee lived to God.

1671.  Ravenscroft, Mamamouchi, II. i. (1675), 24. I’I threaten to flee beyond Sea to a Nunnery, and for ever seclude my self from the World.

a. 1700.  in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., IX. 337. In the 20^th of her age, forsaking y^e world she desired nothing more, then to dedicate herselfe to God, in a Religious estate.

1717.  Pope, Eloisa, 208. How happy is the blameless Vestal’s lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

1808.  Scott, Marmion, II. iii. The Abbess … early took the veil and hood, Ere upon life she cast a look, Or knew the world that she forsook.

1845.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 12. A book which is not only esteemed in the Church, but has had the honour … of commanding the respect of the world.

1888.  ‘Bernard,’ Fr. World to Cloister, ii. 12. Having resigned the situation I held in the world.

  b.  In the Society of Friends applied to those outside their own body.

1648.  G. Fox, Jrnl. (1852), I. 70. The Lord commanded me to go abroad into the world.

c. 1680.  in Sussex Archæol. Coll. (1912), LV. 81. The Other Months Named after ye Manner of ye world.

1698–9.  Story & Gill, in S. B. Weeks, South. Quakers & Slavery (1896), 67. The displeasure of God … against mixed marriages between them [sc. Quakers] and the world.

a. 1713.  Thomas Ellwood, Hist. Life (1714), 340. Thomas Dell and Edward Moor [were discharged] by other People of the World, paying their Fines and Fees for them.

1837.  Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 57. They are receiving a perpetual accession to their numbers from among the ‘world’s people.’

1867.  Dixon, New Amer., II. x. 93. Some of these [Quaker] ladies … have husbands (as the world would call them).

  c.  † To go to the world, to be (a man, woman) of the world: to be married.

1565.  Calfhill, Answ. Martiall, 109 b. Ye say when a man wyl marry, then he goeth to the world.

1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 230/2. This man is of the worlde, that is to say, he is maried: This man is of the Churche, that is to say, Spirituall.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 331. Good Lord for alliance: thus goes euery one to the world but I. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., V. iii. 5. I do desire it [marriage] with all my heart: and I hope it is no dishonest desire, to desire to be a woman of y^e world? Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, I. iii. 20. But if I may haue your Ladiships good will to goe to the world, Isbell the woman and we will doe as we may.

  d.  In biblical and religious use: Those who are concerned only with the interests and pleasures of this life or with temporal or mundane things; the worldly and irreligious.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. I. 37. Leef not þi licam, for lyȝere him techeþ, Þat is þe Wikkede word þe to bi-traye.

1382.  Wyclif, John xv. 19. But I chees ȝou fro the world, therfore the world hatith ȝou.

1540–7.  Coverdale, Fruitf. Less. (1593), E 1 b. The world, that is to say, fleshly men and children of the world, receiue not this spirite.

1738.  Wesley, Ps. IV. vi. The World with fruitless Pain Seek Happiness below.

  † 5.  An age or (long) period of time in earthly or human existence or history: pl. ages. Obs.

  Phrases. † By long worlds: ages ago. In or to worlds long: for ages. Worlds of years: ages, centuries. The world(s) to come: future ages, posterity.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 81. Þis bitacneð þe world þet wes from biginnegge [etc.] … In þisse worlde nas na laȝe ne na larþeu.

c. 1205.  Lay., 23425. A þere ilke worlde [c. 1275 worle] Þa þis wes iwurðen wes Francene lord Gualle ihaten.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1491. Þe formast werld adam be-gan, Þar-of lameth þe last man. Ibid., 15128. Suilc a man was neuer yeitt sin ani werldes ware.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 196. These olde worldes with the newe Who that wol take in evidence, Ther mai he se [etc.].

c. 1400.  trans. Secr. Secr., Gov. Lordsh., 113. Þe olde philosophers vsyd it by longe werldes.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., XI. 162. Who wol do puruyaunce in worldis longe, The palmes forto sette he must ha mynde. Ibid., 482. Tyl worldis longe This drynkis wole abide and ay be stronge.

1450–1530.  Myrr. Our Ladye, II. 115. All thys worlde ys departed in to thre tymes. The fyrst tyme was when men after the lawe of nature [etc.].

1549.  Ridley, in Potts, Liber Cantabr. (1855), 245, note. A dangerouse example to the worlde to cum.

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 44. He that all warldis was beforne, Come downe of Marie to be borne.

1574.  Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1577), 18. For that in the worldes to come, it might be known who was the author therof.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, vii. (1592), 87. The Heauen goeth about continually, and in so many worlds and ages as haue beene, we perceiue no alteration at all.

1593.  Bilson, Govt. Christ’s Ch., 5. This was the blessing due to the elder Brother in the first world.

1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax, D 7. Tarquinius … prouident in peace, & in that young world, a notable polititian.

a. 1600.  Hooker, Serm., Habak. ii. 4, Wks. 1874, III. 640. Adam and all the fathers before Christ, till Christ’s coming, were for so many worlds together detained.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 2. Forgetfull of all other things in their ancient country, after so many worlds of yeeres.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., III. ii. 180. True swaines in loue, shall in the world to come Approue their truths by Troylus.

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 202 [200]. From all which ’tis as clear, that we meant in the dayes of yore by the word World, time, ages [etc.].

  b.  A period or age of human history characterized by certain conditions or indicated by the character of those living in it. Obs. exc. as colored by 16 a.

1530–1600.  Golden world [see GOLDEN a. 7].

1630.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw., 160. It was used in that good old world, when men wiped their nose on their sleeve (as the French man sayes).

1781.  Blair, in Sc. Transl. & Paraphr. (1790), 41.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 401. These were men whose minds had been trained in a world which had passed away.

1886.  E. B. Bax, Relig. Socialism, 166. In Shakespeare’s ‘historical plays’ the characters live and speak in the world of the sixteenth century.

  6.  In various phrases translating eccl. Latin in secula seculorum, in seculum seculi = for ever and ever, for all time, through eternity. † a. From world into world(s, in world of world(s, in to (the) world(s of world(s, through all worlds, world always.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxi. Þa nu sculon standan to worulde.

c. 1110.  Ælfred’s Boeth., Epil. Si þe lof & wylder nu & a a a to worulde buton æʓhwilcum ende.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 25. Þe lauerd … wuniende and rixlende on worulde a buten ende.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid. (1922), 39. Ah schal ifinden him ai swettere & sauurure, fram worlde in-to worlde.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter lx. 9. Swa salme saie sal I þe same In werld of werld vnto þi name.

1382.  Wyclif, Isa. xxxiv. 10. Desolat shal [his land] be in to worldus of worldis.

a. 1400.  Prymer (1891), 34. As hit the bygynnynge and now and euere: in the worldes of worldles amen.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (verse), 331. Sche sal … loue god euer of al his lone And wirchip him werld alwais.

c. 1420.  Prymer (1895), 16. Glorie be to þee, lord,… in euerlastynge worldis. Ibid., 74. He ordeynede þo þingis in-to þe world, & in to þe world of world [L. in aeternum, et in sacculum saeculi].

1434.  Misyn, Mending of Life, 131. To qwhome be wyrschip & ioy … in warld of warldys. Amen.

1551.  Recorde, Cast. Knowl. (1556), I. 4. Thorough worlde of worldes: whiche signifieth for euer.

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XV. xii. 411. Eternall God, which liuest and reignest euer one God through all worlds, Amen.

[1842.  Tennyson, Gard. Dau., 205. I heard his deep ‘I will,’ Breathed, like the covenant of a God, to hold From thence thro’ all the worlds.]

  b.  World without (ME. abuten or buten) end; later used hyperbolically: Endlessly, eternally. Hence as adj. phr. = perpetual, everlasting, eternal; and as subst. phr. eternal existence, endlessness, eternity.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 182. Þeo pet hefden ofearned þe pinen of helle world a buten ende.

c. 1305.  St. Swithin, 109, in E. E. P. (1863), 46. Þat vuel … ne schal no leng ileste, Ac þu worst þerof hol and sound, wordle wiþouten ende.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., ii. 465. I must nedis weynd, And to the dwill be thrall warld withoutten end.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 94/1. Many benefetes ben gyuen to thonour of our lord Jhū crist whiche is blessed world wythouten ende. Amen.

1548–9.  Bk. Com. Prayer, Matins. As it was in the begynning, is now, and euer shalbe, world without ende.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 799. A time me thinkes too short, To make a world-without-end bargaine in.

1649.  Milton, Eikon., xxi. Wks. 1851, III. 484. This man … thinks by talking world without end, to make good his integrity.

1753.  in Life Ld. Hardwicke (1847), II. 499. L^d Chesterfield writes Worlds without End.

1881.  Morris, Mackail’s W. M. (1899), II. 34. This world-without-end-for-everlasting hole of a London.

1888.  Advance (Chicago), 20 Dec., 831. A city pastor, with a world-without-end of things to be done.

1896.  A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xiv. My heart and soul and senses, World without end, are drowned.

1905.  F. Young, Sands of Pleasure, I. v. Small wonder if the embodiment of the world-without-end should prove no encourager of man’s happiness or contentment!

  II.  The earth or a region of it; the universe or a part of it.

  7.  The earth and all created things upon it; the terraqueous globe and its inhabitants. (See also 21 a, 22 a.)

  Citizen of the world: see CITIZEN 2 c. Universal world: see UNIVERSAL a. 8. Wide world: see WIDE a. 1 b.

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 5. Þeah þu þa ealle ʓesceafta ane naman ʓenemnede, elle þu nemdest togedere & hete woruld. Ibid. (c. 893), Oros., I. vi. § 1. On þæs Ambictiones tide wurdon swa mycele wæterflod ʓeond ealle world.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Crist, 659. Se þas world ʓescop, godes gæst-sunu.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 19. We habbeð ihereden þurh wise witega hu he erest astalde þeos woreld al for ure neode.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 15460. Godd shop all þe werrld off nohht.

c. 1205.  Lay., 7206. He [Julius Cæsar] þohte to bi-winnen … al middel-eærdes lond and halde þat worlde in his hond.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 901. Wiste no man of werlðe ðo, Quat kinde he was kumen fro.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 346. Bot he þat mad al thing o noght To-geder he al þis werld wroght.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 222. Noe sones … departed al þys werd … in þre parties.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 4. Ich wente forth in þe worlde wonders to hure.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 1502. He mon ride þus & regne ouire all þe ronde werde.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), 180. Men myghte go be Schippe alle aboute the World, and aboven and benethen.

14[?].  Childh. Jesus, in, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 113. Jhesu, þat alle þys orlle hath wrowt.

1539.  Bible (Great), Psalms lxxxix. 12. Thou hast layed the foundacion of the rounde worlde, and all that therin is.

1555.  Eden, Decades, 214 b. The vyage made by the Spanyardes rounde abowte the worlde.

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. I. Ark, 60. The World’s-re-colonizing Boat [viz. Noah’s ark].

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. ii. 168. and thirtie dozen Moones … About the World haue times twelue thirties beene.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., viii. 25. The Bisquayn Ship … wherein Magellan compassed the World.

1667.  Milton, P. L., XII. 646. The World was all before them, where to choose Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide.

1784.  Cowper, Task, I. 372. Its own revolvency upholds the world.

1877.  Encycl. Brit., VII. 390/1. (Drake) This voyage round the world, the first accomplished by an Englishman, was thus performed in two years and about ten months.

  b.  transf. and fig.

1556.  in T. Sharp, Cov. Myst. (1825), 73. Paid to Crowe for makyng of iij worldys … ij^s.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 408. Her breasts like Iuory globes circled with blew, A paire of maiden worlds vnconquered. Ibid. (1597), Lover’s Compl., 7. I … Ere long espied a fickle maid full pale … Storming her world with sorrows, wind and raine.

1746.  Francis, trans. Hor. Epist., I. xix. 29. Through open Worlds of Rhime I dar’d to tread In Paths unknown.

1873.  Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 706. See, the sun splits on yonder bauble world Of silvered glass.

  c.  In phr. with go round, orig. referring to the rotation of the earth, but used chiefly fig. with implication of other senses (e.g., 1 a, 3).

1782.  Burns, A Toast, 4. Their fame it shall last while the world goes round.

1788.  J. Hurdis, Village Curate (1797), 21. Tis drink, And only drink, that makes the world go round.

1882.  W. S. Gilbert, Iolanthe, II. It’s Love that makes the world go round!

  d.  The world’s end: the farthest limit of the earth. Chiefly used hyperbolically.

  Used as the proper name of out-of-the-way localities or houses, esp. formerly, of certain inns kept for illicit purposes (cf. quot. 1695)

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, II. i. 272. Will your Grace command mee any seruice to the worlds end? I will goe on the slightest arrand now to the Antypodes.

1628.  trans. Matthieu’s Powerfull Favorite, 13. Is it for this (say they) that they haue sent him to the worlds end.

1695.  Congreve, Love for L., II. ix. Poor innocent! you don’t know that there’s a place call’d the World’s End?

1727.  Boyer, Dict. Royal, II. s.v. World, He lives at the World’s end (or a great way off).

1863.  W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, vi. 216. We saw … the fresh footprints of a Kaffir, and resolved to follow that to the world’s end.

  attrib.  1839.  Bailey, Festus, 90. Now we stand On the world’s-end-land!

  e.  In generalized sense, usually qualified by a.

1676.  Dryden, Aurengz., III. 33. Too truly Tamerlain’s Successors they, Each thinks a World too little for his sway.

1713.  Derham, Phys.-Theol., II. i. (1720), 39. This [spherical figure] must be allowed to be the most commodious, apt Figure for a World on many Accounts.

1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1768), VIII. 190. They have great force upon me … or one world would not have held Mr. Lovelace and me thus long.

1784.  Cowper, Task, IV. 89. ’Tis pleasant through the loop-holes of retreat To peep at such a world.

1865.  Swinburne, Chastelard, V. ii. 189. Life is not worth a world That you should weep to take it.

  f.  pl. Used hyperbolically for: ‘a great quantity’; often advb. ‘a great deal,’ ‘infinitely’ (cf. 19 b). (a) pl. Not (…) for worlds: not for all the wealth in the world, not on any account.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, III. (1912), 517. Like two contrarie tides, either of which are able to carry worldes of shippes, and men upon them.

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 223. Nor doth this wood lacke worlds of company.

1621.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Unnat. Father, Wks. 1630, I. 142. Through worlds of Deaths I’l breake to fly to him.

[1831.  G. P. R. James, Philip Aug., xix. I would not part with this for worlds of ore.] Ibid., xxiv. Nor would he do one act for worlds, that could … cast a shade over the fame and honour of one ——.

1872.  Locker, Lond. Lyrics (ed. 5), 178. I’d give worlds to borrow Her yellow rose with russet leaves.

1874.  W. S. Gilbert, Sweethearts, II. I’m sure I wouldn’t stand in his way for worlds.

1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, x. She seemed to be separated by whole worlds of difference from such ladies as his own mother.

1892.  ‘G. Travers,’ Mona Maclean, I. vi. 59. I was worlds too shy.

1900.  H. S. Holland, Old & New, 33. They look to you worlds apart.

  (b)  sing., in negative context, e.g., not for the world, all the world, † half the world.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., II. i. 99. Prin. He’ll be forsworne. Nau. Not for the world faire Madam, by my will. Ibid. (1604), Oth., IV. iii. 68. Would’st thou do such a deed for al the world?

1605.  Erondelle, Fr. Gard., N 6 b. I would not faile in it for any thing in the world.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 32. Not for all the world, purposing any hurt vnto him.

1664.  in Trans. Cumbld. & Westmld. Antiq. Soc. (N. S.), 178. A thing I would not have been guilty of for halfe the world.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. i. 6. He would not for all the World return again.

1731–8.  Swift, Pol. Conversat., 43. I wou’dn’t be as sick as she’s proud, for all the World.

1784.  Cowper, Task, III. 807. He … Can dig, beg, rot,… but could not for a world Fish up his dirty and dependent bread, [etc.].

1797.  Jane Austen, Sense & Sensib., xxxviii. But I am sure I would not do such a thing for all the world.

1822.  Scott, Nigel, viii. Not for the world … will I be a spy on my kind godfather’s secrets.

1847.  Buckstone, Flowers of Forest, III. vii. No, no—not for the wide, wide world!

1881.  Miss Braddon, Asphodel, I. iii. 62. Daphne, usually loquacious, felt as if she could not have spoken for the world.

  8.  With qualification: Any part of the universe considered as an entity, as † MIDDLE WORLD (the earth), lower or nether world (Hades or hell, less freq. the earth), UNDERWORLD 1.

c. 1200, c. 1250, 1822.  [see MIDDLE WORLD].

1607.  Shaks., Timon, I. i. 44. This beneath world.

1609–.  [see UNDERWORLD 1].

1720.  [see NETHER a. 6].

1784.  Cowper, Task, VI. 729. The groans of nature in this nether world, Which Heav’n has heard for ages.

1786.  Burns, Nature’s Law, ii. This lower world I you resign. Ibid. (179[?]), To Mr. Renton. Though ’twere a trip to yon blue warl’ [i.e., hell].

1814.  Cary, Dante, Parad., XVII. 22. I … With Virgil … visited the nether world of woe.

  b.  A planet or other heavenly body, esp. one viewed as inhabited.

1713.  Addison, Cato, V. i. But thou shalt flourish … Unhurt amidst … The Wrecks of Matter, and the Crush of Worlds.

1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, I. 254. Being on Being wreck’d, and world on world.

1781.  Cowper, Retirem., 81. The sun, a world whence other worlds drink light.

1870.  R. A. Proctor (title), Other Worlds than Ours.

1872.  Black, Adv. Phaeton, xxxi. 419. Overhead the great worlds became more visible in the deep vault of blue.

  9.  The material universe as an ordered system; the system of created things; ‘heaven and earth’; the cosmos. Also (rarely) a system of heavenly bodies. Also fig. † In early use chiefly in the greater or more world, the macrocosm, and the less or little world, the microcosm, man. Now rare.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 17597. Mycrocossmos, þatt nemmnedd iss Affterr Ennglisshe spæche Þe little werelld.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 552. For þis resun þat ȝee haue hard, Man es clepid þe lesse werld.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 645. Ȝe liknen a lud to a litil wordle.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 71. A soubtil man,… Which thurgh magique and sorcerie Couthe al the world of tricherie.

1450–1530.  Myrr. our Ladye, II. 181. No meruayle thoughe god had more delyte in the thow lesse worlde that were yet to be made, then of thys more worlde.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., I. xvi. 50. This clerenesse … enuyronneth al aboute the worlde the foure elementis whiche god created.

1519.  Interl. Four Elem., A vj b. The yerth as a poynt or center is sytuate In the myddes of the worlde.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1. Lyke as the great worlde was made perfecte in vij dayes, so y^e lesse worlde, that is man, is made … perfecte by grace in these vij spirituall dayes.

1551.  Recorde, Cast. Knowl., I. (1556), 4. The worlde is an apte frame of heauen and earthe, and all other naturall thinges contained in them.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, III. i. 10 (Qo. 1). In his little world of man.

1633.  Herbert, Temple, Man, viii. Man is one world, and hath Another to attend him.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett., II. l. (1890), 444. Surely the Astronomers had reason to term this Sphere … a thing of no dimension at all, being compar’d to the whole World.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxiv. § 1. The great collective Idea of all Bodies whatsoever signified by the name World.

1709.  Shaftesb., Moralists, III. i. 182. Thy Works apparent to us, the System of the bigger World!

1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v. University, The four Faculties are supposed to make the World or Universe of Study.

1755.  B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sci., 8. The Philosophers of the present Age teach us, that the Universe … is replenished with Systems or Worlds of different Bodies.

1882.  T. Fowler, Shaftesbury & Hutcheson, 106. We may infer that Shaftesbury conceived the relation of God to the World as that of soul to the body. Nature is, as it were, the vesture of God, and God the soul of the Universe.

  10.  The sphere within which one’s interests are bound up or one’s activities find scope; (one’s) sphere of action or thought; the ‘realm’ within which one moves or lives.

  In the earliest instances with allusion to the microcosm of man (see 9).

a. 1586.  Sidney, Apol. Poetry (Arb.), 31. How it [sc. virtue] extendeth it selfe out of the limits of a mans own little world, to the gouernment of families.

a. 1642.  Suckling, Poems (1648), 11. In each mans heart that doth begin To love, there’s ever fram’d within A little world.

1642.  H. More, Song of Soul, III. II. xv. She dwells in her own self, there doth reside, Is her own world, and more or lesse doth pen Her self.

1807.  Wordsw., Personal Talk, 23. Children are blest and powerful; their world lies More justly balanced; partly at their feet, And part far from them.

1837.  Disraeli, Venetia, II. ii. With no aspirations beyond the little world in which she moved.

1837.  Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 28. The atmosphere of insolence in which he dwells;… the taint of contempt which infects all the intercourses of his world.

1853.  T. T. Lynch, Self-Improvement, iii. 53. Man’s world is not of the senses simply, but of the spirit too.

1898.  ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xvi. 168. [His] world was a narrow one, consisting as it did of himself and his bank-book.

  11.  A section or part of the earth at large, as a place of inhabitation or settlement; † a country or region.

  New World, a continent or country discovered or colonized at a comparatively late period, esp. the continents of America (the Western Hemisphere) as distinguished from the Old World, or the continents of the Eastern Hemisphere, esp. Europe and Asia, as being known before the discovery of America.

1555.  Eden, Decades, title-p., The Decades of the Newe Worlde or West India.

1581.  Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., Ep. Ded. A iij b. Some of them … seeke new Countries and new worlds to show their valiancie in.

1589.  Hakluyt, Princ. Navig. (title-p.), The English valiant attempts in searching almost all the corners of the vaste and new world of America.

a. 1593.  Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, I. i. Of Troy am I,… driuen by warre from forth my natiue world.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 45. This little world, This precious stone, set in the siluer sea.

1600.  Hakluyt, Voy., III. title-p., Voyages … to all parts of the Newfound world of America, or the West Indies.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, VI. i. I. 115. From the one side to the other [of the Bosphorus] … men out of these two worlds may parly one to another with audible voice.

1627.  May, Lucan, III. E 2 b. Tanais … doth diuide Europe from Asia, giuing to each side The name of seuerall worlds.

1638.  Brome, Antipodes, I. vi. No Isle nor Angle in that Neather world, But I have made discovery of.

1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 183. This World produces two Harvests.

1709.  Pope, Ess. Crit., 711. Thence Arts o’er all the northern world advance.

1741.  Watts, Improv. Mind, I. (1801), 16. Alexander the Great … when he had conquered what was called the Eastern World … wept for want of more worlds to conquer.

1812.  Rogers, Voy. Columbus, ii. 39. From world to world their steady course they keep.

1842.  Tennyson, Ulysses, 57. Come, my friends, ’Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

1859.  Cornwallis (title), A Panorama of the New World [Australia].

1861.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 46. Before the New World poured in so many objects hitherto unknown to Europe.

1888.  Bryce, Amer. Commw., I. 29, note. The influence which American freedom would exert upon the Old World.

  12.  A division of created things; esp. each of the three primary divisions of natural objects (the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms).

  Organic world, the animal and vegetable kingdoms; inorganic world, the material world outside these.

1695.  Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, I. (1723), 3. Nor … did I neglect … whatever either the Vegetable or Animal World afforded.

1727–46.  Thomson, Summer, 112. The vegetable world is also thine, Parent of Seasons!

1861.  Buckle, Civiliz. (1873), II. viii. 530. In the inorganic world, the magnificent discoveries of Newton were contumeliously rejected.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 70. As in the animal or vegetable world.

  13.  A group or system of things or beings associated by common characteristics (denoted by a qualifying word or phrase), or considered as constituting a unity.

1673.  T. Blount (title), A World of Errors discovered in the New World of Words.

1685.  G. Sinclair (title), Satans Invisible World discovered.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., IV. iii. § 27 (1695), 319. The whole intellectual World; a greater certainly, and more beautiful World, than the material.

1701.  Norris, Ideal World, I. vi. 389. Truth is where the Divine Ideas are,… in the Intelligible World, that world of true light and glory. Ibid. (1704), II. iii. 253. Intellectual world means the world of spirits, whereas by intelligible world we mean the world of Ideas.

1781.  Cowper, Retirem., 536. Then, all the world of waters sleeps again.

1807.  Wordsw., Personal Talk, 33. Dreams, books, are each a world.

1821.  Lamb, Elia, I. Witches. Dear little T. H. … finds all this world of fear [i.e., night fears] … in his own ‘thick-coming fancies.’

1842.  Dickens, Amer. Notes, xvi. We carried in the steerage nearly a hundred passengers: a little world of poverty.

1851.  [see VISIBLE a. 1].

a. 1862.  Buckle, Misc. Wks. (1872), I. 213. The external world is governed by acts, the internal world by opinions.

1874.  Mivart, Contemp. Evol. (1876), 199. The mingling of the hyperphysical world of rationality with the irrational creation.

1893.  W. S. Furneaux (title), The Outdoor World; or, Young Collector’s Handbook.

  † b.  World of words: a dictionary. Obs.

1598.  Florio (title), A Worlde of Wordes, Or Most copious, and exact Dictionarie in Italian and English.

1611.  Cotgr., Vocabulaire, a Vocabularie, Dictionarie, world of words.

1696.  Phillips (title), The Moderne World of Words, or A Vniversall English Dictionary,… Novus Orbis Verborum.

  III.  The inhabitants of the earth, or a section of them.

  14.  The human race; the whole of mankind; human society. (See also 21 b, 22 b.)

  Sometimes passing into 15.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Crist, 1424. Hwæt! ic þæt for worulde ʓeþolade.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 17496. Swa lufede þe Laferrd Godd þe werelld, tatt he sennde Hiss aȝhenn Sune … to wurrþenn mann onn erþe.

c. 1205.  Lay., 9072. Jesu Crist … alre worulde wunne.

c. 1275.  XI Pains of Hell, 128, in O. E. Misc., 214. Þe sun of god, Þat aȝayn boȝt þe word.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 1. So that it myhte in such a wyse, Whan we ben dede … Beleve to the worldes eere.

c. 1400.  Pety Job, 596, in 26 Pol. Poems, 140. And so shall I see my sauyour Deme the worlde.

1535.  in Lett. Suppr. Monast. (Camden), 31. I suppose it wolbe hard for you to purge your selfe before God or the worle.

1567.  Jewel, Def. Apol., VI. vi. § 2. 620. They make Decrees expressely againste Goddes Woorde, and that not … couertly, but openly, and in the face of the worlde.

1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, II. i. § 2. It being impossible that persons employed by a God of truth should make it their design to impose upon the world.

1714.  Derham, Astro-Theol. (1769), 27. The condition, state and order of the world inhabiting the earth.

1733.  Pope, Ess. Man, III. 307. In Faith and Hope the world will disagree, But all Mankind’s concern is Charity.

1842.  Tennyson, Locksley Hall, 128. In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world. Ibid. (1842), Walking to Mail, 69. You know That these two parties still divide the world—Of those that want, and those that have.

1866.  Liddon, Bampton Lect., vi. (1875), 337. The whole world was redeemed by Christ.

  † b.  World’s, worlde(s shame, shame of the world: universal or public disgrace. Obs.

  Replacing the OE. compound woruldscamu (ME. weorldscome): see 24 a.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 353. He schal with worldes schame Himself and ek his love schame.

1483–4.  Act 1 Rich. III., c. 4. Persones of noo substaunce ne havur, not dredyng God nor worldez shame.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 27. Worlds shame.

1611.  Chapman, May Day, IV. Has not one of them [sc. disguises] kept you safe from the shame of the world?

1731–8.  Swift, Pol. Conversat., 32. Fie, fie, Miss! for Shame of the World, and Speech of good People.

1882.  Pusey, Paroch. & Cathedr. Serm., xii. 164. One decided act of blind, obedient faith, ready … to bear what might bring the world’s shame.

  c.  Against the world: in opposition to or in the face of all mankind; hence, against all opposition, † in preference to everything else. (See also 21 b.)

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 124. But yesterday, the word of Casar might Haue stood against the World.

1690.  W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 531. I am for the woods against the World, i.e. before any thing.

1859.  Tennyson, Guinevere, 114. There will I … hold thee with my life against the world.

  15.  The body of living persons in general; society at large, ‘people,’ the public; often with reference to its judgment or opinion.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., I. ii. 120. Fellow, why do’st thou show me thus to th’ world? Beare me to prison.

1616.  R. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 127. Yet let both hym and the world judg of me yf I dealt frendly with hym.

1693.  Humours Town, 29. To make the World think he has been at a good Meal.

1738.  Pope, Epil. Sat., i. 147. In golden Chains the willing World she [sc. Virtue] draws.

1762.  Churchill, Night, 351. You must be wrong, the World is in the right.

1784.  Cowper, Task, VI. 681. He … call’d the world to worship on the banks Of Avon, fam’d in song.

1828.  Ld. Ellenborough, Diary (1881), I. 201. There are all sorts of stories of the Lord High Admiral, and the world says he is mad.

1833–5.  Newman, Hist. Sk., Ser. III. x. (1873), 191. It is harder to resist the world’s smiles than the world’s frowns.

1858.  Mrs. Craik, Woman’s Th. about Women, ix. 230. How often do we hear the phrases,—‘What will the world say?’ [etc.]

1859.  Tennyson, Elaine, 936. The world, the world, All ear and eye.

1893.  Bookman, June, 85/1. From the world’s point of view his unpopularity was richly deserved.

  16.  Usually with qualification: A particular division, section or generation of the earth’s inhabitants or human society. a. with reference to the place or time of their existence.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Pet. ii. 5. If God … sparide not to the first world, but kepte Noe [Tindale the olde worlde but saved Noe].

1601, 1704.  Western world [see WESTERN a. 4].

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 76. The old world, as is thought, was ignorant of this sport.

c. 1670.  A. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), I. 317. The world of England was perfectly mad.

1781.  Cowper, Charity, 40. While Cook is lov’d for savage lives he sav’d, See Cortez odious for a world enslav’d.

1822.  Shelley, Calderon’s Magico Prodigioso, i. 126. The wisdom Of the old world masked with the names of Gods.

1890.  R. H. Wrightson, Sancta Respubl. Rom., 4. Theodosius left the Roman world in peace.

1922.  G. M. Trevelyan, Brit. Hist. 19th Cent., v. 91. To prevent the domination and exploitation of the European world by France.

  b.  with reference to their interests or pursuits.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, IV. iv. 2. One of the greatest in the Christian world Shall be my suretie.

1658.  R. Baillie, in Durham’s Comm. Rev. (1660), To Rdr. B 1 b. The matter of it … cannot but be very welcom and acceptable to the world of Believers.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 195, ¶ 1. The Learned World are very much offended at many of my Ratiocinations.

1779.  Sheridan, Critic, I. i. A gentleman well known in the theatrical world.

1796.  Nelson, 25 Nov., in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 305. The part allotted to me … ended, as our world here, say, much to my credit.

1779.  Mirror, No. 38. The female world.

1798.  Charlotte Smith, Yng. Philos., III. 74. Satiated as I am, and as I suppose two thirds of the reading world have been with sonnets.

1807.  T. Thomson, Chem. (ed. 3), II. 470. A fact now well known to the chemical world.

1810.  Sporting Mag., XXXV. 304/1. An extraordinary circumstance is stated to have taken place in the musical world.

1854.  Poultry Chron., II. 219. Two noblemen, whose names are as eminent in the poultry world as in rank.

1870.  Huxley, Lay Serm., iii. 48. The serene resting-place for worn human nature,—the world of art.

1882.  Sala, Amer. Revis., viii. (1885), 160. The whole world of ruffiandom.

1886.  Ruskin, Præterita, II. 5. He brought us news from the mathematical and grammatical world.

1897.  Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 441. An old marine engineer … who loves them [his engines] as living things,… defending them … against the aspersions of the silly, uninformed outside world.

  17.  Human society considered in relation to its activities, difficulties, temptations, and the like; hence, contextually, the ways, practices or customs of the people among whom one lives; the occupations and interests of society at large.

  To begin the world: to begin to take an active part in the affairs of life; to start one’s career.

1449.  Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 21. He seythe that he shall dwelle with his wyffes fader … and he will no forther medill in the werde.

1556.  in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Mary (1914), 215. These two will attempt the worlde to seke theyr fortune.

1570.  Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), 2237/2. A stocke of money to begin the world withall.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 136. Olde folkes you know, haue discretion, as they say, and know the world.

1704.  M. Henry, Church in House, 55. You are beginning the World (as you call it).

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 491, ¶ 2. However he had so much of the World, that he had a great share of the Language which usually prevails upon the weaker Part of that Sex.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., I. § 1. That great Whirlpool of Business, Faction, and Pleasure, which is called the World.

1753–4.  Richardson, Grandison, II. xvi. 124. He will be still kinder to them, when they are old enough to be put into the world.

1796.  (title) Address to a Young Lady on her entrance into the world.

1839.  J. H. Newman, Par. Serm., IV. xii. 212. By the world, I mean all that meets a man in intercourse with his fellow men.

1853.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., xiii. The world is before you; and it is most probable that as you enter it, so it will receive you.

1882.  W. Ballantine, Exper., I. ix. 115. He was a perfect child in the world’s ways.

1882.  Besant, All Sorts, xxxii. (1898), 227. Two thousand pounds; that’s a large sum to hand over…. Upon my word,… you will have to begin the world again.

1899.  Jesse L. Williams, Stolen Story, etc., 186. Hamilton J. Knox had been one of the great men of his day, which was a year or two ago, when in college. He was in the World now.

  b.  with reference to social status or worldly fortune.

  † To be beforehand or behindhand in (or with) the world: to be in prosperous or indigent circumstances.

1687.  Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v. World, To be before hand in the World, être à son aise.… To be behind hand in the World, faire mal ses Affaires.

1777.  Thicknesse, Journ. France (1789), I. 10. My landlord, Monsieur Dessein, who was behind-hand with the world ten years ago, is now become one of the richest men in Calais.

1784.  Cowper, Tiroc., 672. Low in the world, because he scorns its arts.

1838.  Dickens, O. Twist, xxxix. Indications of the good gentleman’s having gone down in the world of late.

1840.  Marryat, Poor Jack, xxviii. His family is getting up in the world.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, xiv. (1885), 112. I am getting on a little in the world, and am in the way to earn a little money.

1889.  [see COME v. 56 e].

  18.  High or fashionable society. More explicitly the world of fashion, the fashionable world; also the polite world, the great world, † occas. the very first world. (See also 21 c.)

  Half-world (= DEMI-MONDE): see HALF- II. n.

1673.  Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, I. i. He talks too like a man that knew the world To have been long a Peasant.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 15, ¶ 7. She … fancies herself out of the World, when she is not in the Ring, the Play-House, or the Drawing-Room.

1713.  Swift, Cadenus & Vanessa, 430. To know the world! a modern phrase For visits, ombre, balls, and plays.

1726.  Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess Mar, Wks. 1837, II. 185. I leave the great world to girls that know no better.

1750.  Chesterfield, Lett. to Son, 11 June. The court is called the world here, as well as at Paris; and nothing more is meant, by saying that a man knows the world, than that he knows courts.

1763.  Brit. Mag., Jan., 14/2. The polite world.

1786.  Burns, Twa Dogs, 158. To mak a tour, an’ tak a whirl, To learn bon ton an’ see the worl’.

1791.  Boswell, Johnson, 24 April, 1779 (1904), II. 292. Mr. Beauclerk … told us a number of short stories in a lively elegant manner, and with that air of the world which has I know not what impressive effect.

1791.  Charlotte Smith, Celestina (ed. 2), I. 32. His solicitude to maintain his importance as a man of taste in the fashionable world. Ibid. (1796), Marchmont, IV. 280. I saw enough of the lives of people of the very first world.

1853.  Dickens, Bleak Ho., ii. It is but a glimpse of the world of fashion that we want.

1889.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Mrs. Bob, ix. (1891), 109. I must tell you that the Parish set comprised ‘the world’ of the ancient city.

  IV.  Idiomatic uses and phrases: see also above.

  19.  A world. a. A vast quantity, an ‘infinity’; in early use, esp. a vast expanse (of land or water). A world of years, of time (obs. or dial.): a vast extent of time, an age, an eternity. (Sometimes more emphatically a whole world of.)

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., VII. 28. The playner part of ffraunce a craft hath fonde To repe in litel space a world of londe.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., lxxxii. Standing there I sawe A warld of folk.

1579–80.  North, Plutarch, Nicias (1595), 589. A world of trumpets, howboyes, and such marine musicke.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 353. A world of torments though I should endure.

1589.  Warner, Alb. Eng., Æneidos, 151. My Father … deliuered mee with a world of Treasure to Polymnestor.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 39. He, making speedy way through spersed ayre, And through the world of waters wide and deepe.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. i. 94. For there will be a World of Water shed, Vpon the parting of your Wiues and you.

1598.  Chapman, Blinde Beg. Alexandria, D 3 b. What a worlde of tyme Is it for me to lie as in a sounde, Without my life.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, XIV. i. I. 404. Yet continued it hath a world of yeares uncorrupt.

1620.  Quarles, Pentel., N 4. Seruing a world of yeeres.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., I. 16. I beheld a world of old Bookes.

1662.  Evelyn, Sculptura, Acc. Signor Favi, c 6. He had made provision of sundry huge Volumes,… besides a world more which he had sent away.

1703.  Earl Orrery, As you find it, II. ii. 22. I have a World of Business to do this Afternoon.

1779.  G. Keate, Sketches fr. Nat. (ed. 2), II. 78. A ship that hath traversed the globe, and cut her passage through a world of waters.

1804.  Scott, 19 March, in Lockhart, I. xii. 412. I had a world of things to say to you.

1812.  Rogers, Voy. Columbus, V. 2. A world of waves, a sea without a shore.

1849.  Robertson, Serm., Ser. I. v. (1866), 79. A whole world of passions.

1854.  Anne E. Baker, Northampt. Gloss., s.v., It’ll take a world of time to do it.

1897.  S. Crane, Third Violet, iv. 22. These long walks in the clear mountain air are doing you a world of good.

  b.  Used advb.: Infinitely, vastly. (Cf. worlds, 7 f.) arch.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 160. His youthfull hose well sau’d, a world too wide, For his shrunke shanke.

1879.  ‘Hesba Stretton,’ Through a Needle’s Eye, II. viii. 76. Her smile was no longer bright and ready, but it had a world more tenderness in it.

1887.  Pall Mall Gaz., 22 June, 5/2. The Venus Anadyomene is a fine thing, but the Statue of Liberty is a world finer.

  † c.  It is a world: it is a great thing, it is a marvel. Similarly † it is a world and wonder, † wonder a world. Obs. or dial.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 2205. Euerychone on other ferly they sette … and trewly for to speke It was a world to here the sperys breke.

1519.  Interl. 4 Elem., C v b. It is a world to se her whyrle Daunsynge in a rounde.

a. 1562.  G. Cavendish, Wolsey (1825), I. 145. Is it not a world to consider the desire of wilful princes, when they fully be bent … to fulfil their voluptuous appetites.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 343.

1600.  Holland, Livy, III. xxvi. 105. A world and wonder it is to hear them speak.

1620.  Bp. Andrewes, 90 Serm., Holy Ghost, xiii. (1629), 738. But it were a world to rake up old errors.

1666.  Dugdale, Orig. Jurid., 152/1. The Prince so served will tender meats,… as it seesmed wonder a world to observe the provision.

1881.  Leic. Gloss., s.v., It’s a woo’ld to see that theer little un order the big uns to the roight abaout!

  20.  The world (see also above senses). a. In the world: on earth, in existence; (a) as an intensive phrase after a superlative or all, no, not a, everything, nothing, etc. Also occas. † in (a) world; OE. on worulde.

a. 1070.  Laws Ethelred, Be griðe, § 25. On hwam mæʓ huru æfre æniʓ man on worolde swyðor God wurðian ðonne on cyrcan?

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 181. Þe veireste men in þe world þer inne [sc. in England] beþ ibore.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 240. Mar to prys Than all the gold in warld that is.

a. 1400–59.  Wars Alex., 5131. Thretti goblettis of gold, þe grattest in þe worde.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, ix. 224. He began to make the gretest sorow in the worlde.

c. 1500.  Melusine, v. 27. He had nat mow say one only word for all the gold in the world.

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 74. And I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst haue it.

a. 1589.  R. Lane, in Hakluyt’s Voy., 739. The Riuer of Choanoak, and all the other sounds,… shewe no currant in the world in calme weather.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. vii. 3. The least winde i’ th’ world wil blow them downe. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., I. ii. 41. Cre. Hectors a gallant man. Man. As may be in the world Lady.

1694.  Atterbury, Serm. (Isa. Ix. 22) (1726), I. 110. The Gospel of Christ, at its Earliest appearance, had all the Probabilities in the World against its Success.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 142, ¶ 7. It is the hardest thing in the World to be in Love, and yet attend Business.

1716.  Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 123. They would have given all they had in a world to have been off.

1790.  Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial. (1821), 21. Thats aw spite, nowt ith ward else.

1826.  Disraeli, Viv. Grey, III. viii. Here is everybody in the world that I wish to see, except yourself.

1833.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Mr. Minns. He was … the most retiring man in the world.

1890.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xxvi. Hartley enjoyed his dinner … as if he had not a debt in the world.

  (b)  intensifying an interrogative.

1530.  Palsgr., 467/2. He wyste nat in the worlde what to do.

1595.  Shaks., John, V. iv. 26. What in the world should make me now deceiue…?

1600.  J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, I. 11. He knew not what in the world to doe.

1614.  Day, Dyall, Ep. Ded. ¶ 2 b. Hee … could not tell where in the world he had laid it.

1835.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Private Theatres. And if they don’t know how to do this sort of thing, who in the world does?

1865.  Mrs. Whitney, Gayworthys, xxvi. How in the world did you persuade the captain?

  † b.  Of the world [cf. F. du monde]: = in the world (20 a). Obs.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 238. Al studied þat þer stod, & stalked hym nerre, Wyth al þe wonder of þe worlde, what he worch schulde.

1476.  Stonor Papers (Camden), II. 7. Yff ye wold be a good etter off your mete … ye shuld make me the gladdest man off the world.

c. 1477.  Caxton, Jason, 69. Wherfore they began to crye and demene the gretteste sorow of the worlde.

1589.  Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. xxiv. (Arb.), 300. The most gentle and affable Prince of the world.

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., V. iii. 72. No setled Sences of the World can match The pleasure of that madnesse.

1620.  Shelton, Quix., III. ix. 203. He began the most sadd and dolefull lamentation of the world.

  c.  Of (all) the world: out of the whole world, above all others in the world. Obs. or arch.

1760–72.  H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), II. 150. The man of the world, excepting yourself…, for whom I have the dearest respect. Ibid., III. 3. You are the man of the world whom I would have chosen.

1781.  Cowper, Hope, 427.

  † d.  All to the world: in every respect; = 21 e.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, VIII. viii. There the Bastard was bred up,… all to the World like any Gentleman.

  e.  To think the world of: to have the highest possible opinion of or regard for.

1894.  ‘L. Keith,’ ’Lisbeth, xvii. She thinks the world of ’Lisbeth.

1905.  F. Young, Sands of Pleasure, II. i. She was kept by a Russian Prince, who thought the world of her.

  f.  See MAN OF THE WORLD. Similarly woman of the world, a woman who is experienced in the ways of life or the conventions of society.

1837.  Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 132. Girls … boldly staring at all that is going on, and serving themselves, like little women of the world.

1844.  Kinglake, Eöthen, viii. Presently (though with all the skill of a woman of the world) she shuffled away the subject.

  21.  All the world. a. The whole of the inhabited globe; the entire earth (or universe).

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 35. Me were leofere þenne al world [etc.].

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 705. Þei al þe world wer min & al þe richesse iwis. Ibid., 7551. Þer nas prince in al þe world of so noble fame.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1290. It [sc. the hill] was so hey, þat y wel mouthe Al þe werd se, als me þouthe.

1382.  Wyclif, Mark viii. 36. What profiteth it a man, if he wynne al the world, and do peyringe to his soule?

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 18. Þat was þe athill Alexsandire … Þat aȝte euyn as his awyn all the werd ouire.

1420.  in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 70. Aboue all erthely Princeps thorw all the word Christene and Hethene.

c. 1450.  Hymns Virgin (1867), 122. Alle the worlle schalle to-dryve.

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 4. Go ȝour way into all the warld, and preiche the Euangell.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 139. All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women, meerely Players.

1713.  Derham, Phys.-Theol., II. v. (1720), 48. Every where all the World over.

1784.  Cowper, Task, I. 698. Such London is, by taste and wealth proclaim’d The fairest capital of all the world.

1830.  Tennyson, Sea-Fairies, 41. Who can light on as happy a shore All the world o’er? Ibid. (1833), New Year’s Eve, 24. In the early early morning … Before the red cock crows … When … all the world is still.

  b.  Everybody in existence; in narrower sense, everybody in the community, the public. Against all the world: in opposition to or competition with everybody. (= F. tout le monde.)

  All the world and his wife: see WIFE sb. 2 b.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14495. All þe werld mon wit him rijs.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 2386. Þou mayst nat excuse þe with rous [v.r. ros], And sey, ‘al þe worlde so dous.’

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XXII. 219. For antecrist and hise shal al þe worlde greue.

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 2. That al the werd schal have wyttying.

1523.  Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 33. Theire insaciable apetite … ys so manyfest and notorys to all the word.

1588.  in Border Papers (1894), I. 307. The Kinge … will mayntaine it [sc. religion] to the uttermoste of his power against all the worlde.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. v. 225. Which I, with more, then with a Common paine, ’Gainst all the World, will rightfully maintaine.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., II. 157. I will faithfully serve her against all the World.

1660.  Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., III. iv. rule 13. 284. The Rogation fast (all the world knows) was instituted by Mammercus Bishop of Vienna.

1768.  Goldsm., Good-n. Man, I. i. All the world loves him.

1841.  Thackeray, Gt. Hoggarty Diam., xii. A man has no business to place them on paper for all the world to read.

1854.  Tennyson, Charge of Light Brigade, iii. Charging an army, while All the world wonder’d.

1879.  McCarthy, Donna Q., I. 60. A woman can be handsome without all the world running after her.

  c.  Everybody in fashionable society; everybody of account.

1813.  Sk. Char. (ed. 2), I. 39. Oh, all the world’s here, the season was never so full.

1860.  Trollope, Castle Richmond, xxvii. All the world—her world and his world—would think it better that they should part.

1877.  Echo, 31 July, 1/4. The London Season when ‘everybody’ goes out of town—all the world, indeed.

  d.  Everything in existence: often in intensive emotional use = All that is of value or account to a person, something supremely precious.

  Cf. quot. 1382 in a above.

1595.  Shaks., John, III. iv. 104. My life, my ioy, my food, my all the world.

1704.  Pope, Autumn, 88. I may … Forsake mankind, and all the world—but love!

1797.  Jane Austen, Sense & Sensib., xlvi. You, my mother, and Margaret must henceforth be all the world to me.

1853.  Mrs. Gaskell, Ruth, iv. Happiest of all, there was the consciousness of his love, who was all the world to her.

  e.  For all the world: in regard to, or taking into consideration, everything in the world; hence, in every respect, exactly (like, etc.). Also occas. † for all this world, † in all the world. (See also 7 f (b).)

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 16063. For al þe werd, so ferde he, On lyue wolde he non let be.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1244. For alle þis world in swich present gladnesse Was Troilus and hath his lady swete. Ibid. (c. 1386), L. G. W., Prol. 218. For al the world ryght as the dayseye I-corounede is with white leuys lite.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. vii. 40. Sic ene had he, and sic fair handis tway, For all the warld, sic mouth and face, perfay.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 93. For all the World, As thou art to this houre, was Richard then. Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., V. i. 149. A paltry Ring … whose Poesie was For all the world like Cutlers Poetry Vpon a knife.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, XI. xliv. I. 349. Thumbs and great toes they have moreover, with joints like (in all the world) to a man.

1609.  Dekker, Gull’s Horn-bk., iii. 15. Two narrow paire of staires, that for all the world haue crooked windings like those that lead to the top of Powles steeple.

1621.  Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 339. Iust, for all the world, as the Pharises are taxed by our Sauiour.

1775.  Sheridan, Duenna, II. iii. As to her singing … she has a shrill, cracked pipe, that sounds for all the world like a child’s trumpet.

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, IV. v. ¶ 3. She … dressed herself up in such a costume, as to look for all the world as if her sex were of a piece with her appearance.

1893.  Stevenson, Catriona, 3. This city … was for all the world like a rabbit warren.

  22.  The whole world. a. = 21 a.

1534.  Tindale, Luke ix. 25. What avauntageth it a man, to wynne the whole worlde, yf he loose him sylfe?

1557.  Bible (Geneva), 1 John v. 19. We knowe … that the whole worlde lyeth in wyckednes.

c. 1570.  Misogonus, III. iii. 72 (Bond). As any is ith whole woaude.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 4. The vther parte … sa is situat, as frome the hail warlde it war diuidet.

1625.  N. Carpenter, Geog. Del., II. i. 7. Man … had left him notwithstanding for his lot the whole world besides.

1759.  Sterne, Tr. Shandy, I. x. It being just so long since he left his parish, and the whole world at the same time behind him.

1856.  Miss Yonge, Daisy Chain, II. viii. Ethel [was] full of glee and wonder, for once beyond Whitford, the whole world was new to her.

  b.  = 21 b.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 62. I had the whole worlde against me with all their force and myght.

1569.  J. Rogers, Glasse Godly Love, in Tell-trothes N. Yr.’s Gift, etc. (1876), 188. The amendment of all the whole world.

1570.  Buchanan, Admonit., Wks. (S.T.S.), 22. Ȝe haif obleist ȝour selffis befoir ye haill warld to continew in yatilk vertew of justice.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., III. iii. 175. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

1773.  Foote, Bankrupt, II. Wks. 1799, II. 112. The whole world concur in giving him sense.

1918.  Nation (N. Y.), 7 Feb., 135/1. Our population grows apace, and the whole world is beggaring itself by war.

  V.  attrib. and Comb.

  23.  a. Simple attrib. = ‘of, pertaining to, or relating to the world’ (in various senses), as world-age, -architect, area, battle, craft, day, egg, era, field, formation, hero, level, love, nausea, noise, ocean, philosopher, power, principle, riddle, sadness, sect, sorrow, stratum, stuff, wilderness, wisdom, wreckage, wright; in certain cases with reference to early cosmogonies, as world-egg, mill, mother, oak, tortoise, tree.

  Some of these are translated from or modelled on G. compounds, as weltalter world-age, weltgeräusch world-noise, weltschmerz, wellsorge, world-sadness, world-sorrow.

1908.  Ch. Times, 5 June, 761/4. Our Lord’s teaching … was that the end of the present *world-age was at hand.

1877.  E. Caird, Philos. Kant, II. xviii. 635. The idea … of a *world-architect, who is limited by the character of the material he uses.

1911.  Zwemer, Unocc. Mission Fields, Pref. p. vii. The entire *world-area has not yet been wholly covered by the tracks of the explorer.

1871.  R. B. Vaughan, S. Thomas of Aquin, II. 295. He was a world-saint, for he had a *world-battle to fight and win.

1840.  Strickland, Lives Queens Eng., I. 87. William Rufus … had an abundant share of *world-craft, and well knew how to adapt himself to his father’s humour.

1851.  Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., II. 758. The earliest *world-day light that ever flowed.

1848.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 3), 108. The azure serpent … that sloughs its years And lays its *world-eggs in thy brightness.

1874.  Sayce, Compar. Philol. iii. 99. The primeval world-egs of Egyptian philosophy, out of which all things have been generated.

1858.  J. Martineau, Stud. Christ., 139. The end of the great *world-era of the Lord.

1840.  S. Wilberforce, Sp. Missions (1874), 72. How great a thing … it is to be entrusted with sowing the *world-field with the seed of man.

1884.  S. Willard, in Century Mag., XXVII. 916/2. The nebular hypothesis of Mr. Spencer evidently assumes such a medium for a part of the *world-formation.

1844.  Marg. Fuller, Wom. 19th C. (1862), 27. To implore these *‘world-heroes’ … to beware of cant above all things.

1891.  H. Crosby, Conform. World, 10. Many an honest … Christian has unguardedly gone down to the *world-level.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett. to Lady Robertland, 4 Jan. (1671), 205. Pride, & self love, & Idol-love, & *world-love.

1889.  R. B. Anderson, trans. Rydberg’s Teut. Mythol., 118. That the *world-mill has a möndull, the mill-handle, which sweeps the uttermost rim of the earth.

1902.  Alice Kemp-Welch, in 19th Cent., Dec., 991. The *World-Mother looked down through the ascending incense, as through the veil of centuries.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., xxiv. She had a *world-nausea upon her.

1916.  S. Brooke, in Life & Lett. (1917), II. 663. You are in the roar and hustle of *world-noises and affairs which make history.

1904.  Folk-Lore, Sept., 295. The *world-oak or cloud-oak of Central and Southern Europe.

1877.  J. E. Carpenter, trans. Tiele’s Outlines Hist. Relig., 181. A sea-voyage over the *world-ocean.

1853.  Thackeray, Engl. Hum., iv. 160. Mat was a *world-philosopher of no small genius.

1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 409. He has, like all great *world-powers, a real dignity and majesty.

1912.  W. Temple, in Foundations, v. § iii. 243. A *World-principle, the Logos of the Stoics.

1909.  H. Weinel, in Hibbert Jrnl., July, 723. She [sc. science] knows that the pretence of solving the *‘world-riddle’ by her means alone is a mere echo of youthful enthusiasm.

1901.  Chamb. Encycl., VIII. s.v. Pessimism, The same *‘world-sadness’ (Weltschmerz) … colours … the poetry of Omar Khayyam, Leopardi, Heine, and Byron.

1853.  T. Parker, Theism, Atheism, Introd. p. xlviii. All the *world-sects, as well as all the Christian sects.

1896.  Sunday Mag., Nov., 729. The *World-Sorrow.

1868.  M. Collins, Sweet Anne Page, I. 185. That *world-stratum called society.

1886.  Winchell, Geol. Talks, 213. The background of the heavens is phosphorescent with the glow of these distant fields of *world-stuff.

1858.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., I. iv. I. 46. Scepticism, which is there beginning at the very top of the *world-tree.

1872.  Hardwick, Trad. Lanc., 177. The great world-tree, Yogdrasil.

1848.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 3), 108. The scape goat of this dark *world-wilderness.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., VIII. 1410. *World-wisdom much has done, and more may do.

1899.  Watts-Dunton, Aylwin, II. iv. The narrow world-wisdom of this Welsh aunt.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VII. x. The Cimmerian *World-wreckage.

a. 1721.  Prior, Cromwell & Porter, Wks. 1907, II. 267. Your System-Makers and *World-wrights.

  b.  Objective, as world-beater, -betterer, -builder, -controller, -creator, -destroyer, -encircler, -improver, -lover, -maker, -monger, -sharer, -stormer, -teacher, -watcher, -worker; world-conquering, -embracing, -fearing, -forgetting, -making; world-adorning, -alarming, -bettering, -changing, -cheering, -commanding, -compassing, -compelling, -contemning, -covering, -despising, -devouring, -embracing, -encircling, -forgetting, -knowing, -lifting, -producing, -rejoicing, -renouncing, -reviving, -revolving, -scorning, -shaking, † -shogging, -subduing, -supporting, -surrounding, -swallowing, -tossing, -wasting, -winning adjs.; world-despise vb. c. Instrumental, as world-adored, -despised, -entangled, -fretted, -jewelled, -ridden, -studded, -used, wearied, -worn adjs.; similative, as world-deep, -great, -high, -like, -long, -old adjs.; see also WORLD-WIDE. d. In other adverbial uses, (a) ‘from or to the world,’ ‘in, about, or over the world,’ ‘to the end of the world,’ as world-abiding, -abstracted, -bound adjs., -dweller, -famed, -famous [cf. G. weltberühmt] adjs., -flight, -lasting, roving, -wandering adjs.; (b) ‘over the whole world,’ ‘to all the world,’ as world-famed, -familiar, -famous, -known, -noted, -renowned, -spread adjs.; (c) ‘of or in regard to the world,’ as world-†rich, † -seely, -sick, -tired, -wearied, -weary (hence -weariness); (d) with pl. in sense 7 e, as worlds-high adj.

1876.  F. Harrison, Choice of Bks. (1886), 52. The world-wide and *world-abiding masterpieces.

1898.  C. A. Federer, in Trans. Yorks. Dial. Soc., I. 7. Lore far more precious, and far truer to life, than the annals and chronicles compiled by a *world-abstracted monk in his solitary cell.

1852.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 554. King, conqueror, and master, *world adored!

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. I. Eden, 231. Thy wondrous *World-adorning Fruit.

a. 1699.  J. Beaumont, Psyche, XVI. xci. The *World-alarming Trumpets.

1893.  Outing (U.S.), XXII. 103/1. The master of Palo Alto believed that the filly would prove to be a *world-beater.

1875.  W. Cory, Lett. & Jrnls. (1897), 376. One should … try to be an improver, a *‘world-betterer’ (Cambridge slang of my time).

1896.  L. A. Tollemache, Jowett, 118. I once quoted the foregoing passage to that ardent world-betterer T. H. Green.

1877.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 10), 148. Great deeds, great thoughts, great schemes, *world-bettering.

1797.  T. Park, Sonn., 9. My *world-bound bark must course an hardier way.

1884.  J. Parker, Apost. Life, II. 264. He saw us world-bound.

1884.  J. Tait, Mind in Matter (1892), 258. Imaginary *world-builders, like Mr. Spencer, lay their foundations in shallows.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., l. The *world-changing battle of Sadowa.

1603.  Chettle, Eng. Mourn.-Garm., Sheph. Spring Song, F 4. The Sun, which now doth gild the skie, With his light-giuing and *world-cheering eie.

1603.  J. Davies (Heref.), Extasie, Wks. (Grosart), I. 90/1. A Ladie … Cladd like a *World-commanding Potentate.

1861.  Max Müller, Sci. Lang., Ser. I. vi. (1864), 236. Their *world-compassing migrations.

1901.  Daily Chron., 27 Dec., 5/4. Wartburg, whence Luther’s song entered upon its *world-conquering career.

1603.  J. Davies (Heref.), Sonn. Ld. Kinlosse, Wks. (Grosart), I. 98/2. Thy *World-contemning Thoughts.

1823.  Scott, Quentin D., viii. How now!… our world contemning daughter—Are you robed for a hunting-party, or for the convent, this morning? Speak.

c. 1648–50.  Brathwait, Barnabees Jrnl., I. (1818), 33. Joviall, jocund, jolly bowlers, As they were the *world controulers.

1826.  W. Elliott, The Nun, etc., 80.

1877.  E. Caird, Philos. Kant, II. xviii. 635. The idea of a *world-creator, for whom the means can have no existence apart from the end.

c. 1843.  Carlyle, Hist. Sk. (1898), 299. The grand interior tide-stream and *world-deep tendency.

1857.  Hawthorne, Engl. Note-bks. (1870), II. 272. Their world-wide, though not world-deep, experience.

1692.  Evelyn, Lett. to Pepys, Aug. P’s Diary (1889), IX. 365. I have been philosophizing and *world-despising in the solitudes of this place.

1847.  Helps, Friends in C., I. vi. 91. How often has fiction made us sympathize … with the *world-despised.

1603.  J. Davies (Heref.), Extasie, Wks. (Grosart), I. 90/1. I tooke her for some *World-despising Dame.

1858.  Gen. P. Thompson, Audi Alt., xliv. I. 171. The tyrants and *world-destroyers of antiquity.

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. II. Ark, 449. These stormy Seas’ deep *World-devouring waves.

1900.  Daily News, 17 Jan., 5/1. It is said that in the days of the Reign of Terror there were people living quietly in the neighbourhood of Paris who knew nothing of the *world disturbing turmoil in that city.

c. 1586.  C’tess Pembroke, Ps. XLIX. i. *World-dwellers all.

1848.  R. I. Wilberforce, Doctr. Incarnation, ii. (1852), 18. The *world-embracing benefits of his [Abraham’s] seed.

1827.  Keble, Chr. Y., 5th Sund. in Lent, xii. The *world-encircling sun.

1609.  J. Davies (Heref.), Holy Rood, Wks. (Grosart), I. 8/2. Ye heau’ns weepe out your *world-enlight’ning eies.

1812.  Crabbe, Tales, xix. 202. *World-entangled men!

1866.  Trevelyan, in Macm. Mag., March, 411/2. And, ere long, in the *world-famed Straits of Salamis, was fought the great sea-fight which rolled back the tide of Asiatic conquest.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. iv. 176. A cunningly devised Beheading Machine, which shall become famous and *world-famous.

1873.  Symonds, Grk. Poets, xi. 373. One who made the insignificant place of his origin world-famous.

1841.  Helps, Ess., Dom. Rule (1842), 58. Ridicule … tends to make a poor and *world-fearing character.

1895.  K. Grahame, Golden Age, 67. Rosa … looked far away into the tree-tops in a visionary, *world-forgetting sort of way.

1813.  L. Hunt, in Examiner, 15 Feb., 104/1. The charm that stillness has for a *world-fretted ear.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. ii. And so … did this of Royalty … grow mysteriously,… till it also had grown *world-great.

1853.  T. T. Lynch, Self-Improvement, 25. ‘Young men and others’ as self-improvers are to become *world-improvers.

1839.  Bailey, Festus, 243. Night comes, *world-jewelled.

1833.  T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., I. vii. The … well-turned insinuations of his *world-knowing mother.

1845.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 2), 172. *World-known for strangest powers.

1851.  Brimley, Ess., 105. No marble of which *world-lasting statue … may be hewn.

1839.  Bailey, Festus, 274. It hath starlike beauty, And *worldlike might.

1842.  Manning, Serm., i. (1848), 18. Then shall … the *world-long growth and gathering of this awful mystery be accomplished.

1633.  Earl Manch., Al Mondo (1636), 87. The *world-lover ends his hope and happinesse, when he dyes.

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 138. I can’t find in my heart to deny that skill to a *World-maker, that I must needs give to a Watchmaker.

1871.  R. B. Vaughan, S. Thomas of Aquin, II. 673. Plato…, who admitted a world-maker, and a Providence.

1884.  S. Willard, in Century Mag., XXVII. 914/2. This is Emerson’s pregnant comment on *world-making as practiced by the Astronomers.

1682.  Peden, Lord’s Trumpet (1739), 7. O … *World-monger that thou art, hath not Christ answered thee in that 6th of Matthew 33 Verse?

1615.  T. Adams, Blacke Devill, 48. Monstrous and *world-noted wickednesse.

1858.  Mary C. Clarke (title), World-noted Women.

1727–46.  Thomson, Summer, 1747. The *world-producing Essence, who alone Possesses being.

a. 1644.  Quarles, Sol. Recant., xi. 20. Every one Takes pleasure in the *world-rejoycing Sunne.

1854.  trans. Hettner’s Athens & Peloponnese, 1 The *world-renowned islands of Ægina and Salamis.

1728–46.  Thomson, Spring, 51. Thou *world-reviving sun. Ibid. (1727–46), Summer, 32. With what an awful *world-revolving power Were first the unwieldy planets launched along The illimitable void!

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XVII. 16. Þese *worlde-riche men.

1848.  Eliza Cook, Dreamer, xxvii. The dense *world-ridden brain.

1757.  Dyer, Fleece, I. 460. Inferior theirs to man’s *world-roving frame.

1606.  Sir G. Goosecappe, II. i. in Old Pl. (1884), III. 29. I That have studied with *world-skorning thoughts The way of Heaven.

c. 1205.  Lay., 11043. Þa comen to-somne *weorld-seli men.

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. I. Ark, 444. *World-shaking Father.

1884.  J. Parker, Apost. Life, II. 5. Christianity … was a world-shaking faith.

1893.  T. P. O’Connor, in Harper’s Mag., Dec., 36/1. The … tragic and world-shaking events which are associated with the history of the august Parliament of Great Britain.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. vii. 76. These three *World-sharers, these Competitors Are in thy vessell.

1611.  Cotgr., Croule-vniuers, *World-shogging, all-shaking.

1884.  R. F. Burton, Bk. Sword, Introd. p. xiii. Their recklessness of all consequences soared *worlds-high above the various egotistic systems.

1836.  Newman, in Lyra Apost. (1849), 239. *World-sick, to turn within and image there Some idol dream.

1886.  W. J. Tucker, E. Europe, 233. Your *world-spread language.

1878.  Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 271. The man who, like one of the *world-stormers of more modern times … could carry everything before him.

1852.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 5), 12. The ætherial web, *world-studded, of the skies.

1851.  Brimley, Ess., 105. Iron, of which *world-subduing machines may be wrought.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., lii. A *world-supporting elephant.

1820.  Shelley, Prometh. Unb., I. 661. *World-surrounding aether.

1885.  R. L. & F. Stevenson, Dynamiter, 166. At one *world-swallowing stride, the heart of the tornado reached the clearing.

1887.  Haweis, Lt. Ages, viii. 211. The Jew never was to have an Empire. He was the *world-teacher not the world-ruler.

1608.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. IV. Decay, 657. *World-tossing Tempest!

1860.  Trollope, Cas. Richmond, xxvi. That dry, time-worn *world-used London lawyer.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., x. 292. Those poore *world-wandring men.

1820.  Shelley, Prometh. Unb., I. 325. Jove’s world-wandering herald, Mercury.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., V. iii. 112. This *world-wearied flesh.

1838.  Lytton, Alice, II. vi. It was … this singular purity of heart which made to the world-wearied man the chief charm in Evelyn Cameron.

1858.  Faber, Spir. Confer. (1870), 142. *World-weariness is a blessed thing in its way.

1768.  Murphy, Zenobia, I. i. 16. This sad *world-weary spirit.

1876.  Swinburne, Erechtheus, 1140. Night that lulls world-weary day.

1822.  Byron, Werner, IV. i. 410. A *world-winning battle.

1843.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., III. vi. (1872), 146. Giant Labour, truest emblem there is of God the *World-Worker.

1826.  A. A. Watts, Richmond-Hill, ix. The *world-worn man may here repair.

1842.  Manning, Serm., xxi. (1848), I. 310. The wearied and world-worn spirit.

  24.  Passing into adj.: a. in comb. derived from OE. compounds of woruld, in which this is equivalent to ‘of or pertaining to this world, earthly, mundane,’ as woruldǽht, -god, -þing, -wela worldly possessions or wealth, woruldcyning an earthly king, woruldscamu public disgrace (cf. 14 b above), woruldwynn earthly joy.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 143. Þer scal beon worldwunne wiðuten pouerte.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 7513. & uss birrþ weorelldþingess lusst Forrbuȝhenn & forrwerrpenn. Ibid., 12079. Off þatt hemm weorelldahhtess spedd Aȝȝ waxeþþ mare & mare.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 29. Gef þu hauest woreld wele þu miht þarof wurðliche fare.

c. 1205.  Lay., 7345. Freoliche we hit haldeð wið alle weoruld kingen. Ibid., 8323. & æfter muchel weorld-scome wurð-scipe wurhten.

12[?].  Moral Ode, 365 (Egerton MS.). Ne scal þer beo sced ne scrud ne woruld wele none.

c. 1250.  Prov. Alfred, 382, in O. E. Misc., 124. Alle world-ayhte schulle bi-cumen to nouhte.

c. 1275.  Lay., 28131. Nolleþ hii hit bi-gynne for none worle-þinge.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13281. Petre and andreu … wit a word þai left þair scipps tuin, For þat was al þair werld win [Gött. worldis win].

14[?].  MS. Sloane 2593, xlii. 25, in Herrig’s Archiv (1902), CIX. 60. If þu welde þi wordel goodes [etc.]. Ibid., 81. Þis wordel good xuld incres.

  b.  With the meaning ‘of or pertaining to the whole world, embracing the whole world, world-wide, universal.’

  Orig. translating or modelled on G. compounds, as welthandel world-commerce, weltkrieg world-war, weltmacht WORLD-POWER, weltreich world-empire.

1839.  Bailey, Festus, 53. [Immortality] That is the great world question. Ibid. (1848), (ed. 3), 172. Pride and World-Ambition.

1843.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., II. ii. The World-Dramaturgist has written: Exeunt.

1850.  Blackie, Æschylus, II. 6. That primeval age of gigantic ‘world-strife’ (if we may be allowed to Anglicize a German compound).

1852.  Tennyson, Ode Wellington, 42. The great World-victor’s victor will be seen no more. Ibid., 133. In that world-earthquake, Waterloo!

1856.  Grote, Greece, II. xciv. XII. 367. Alexander, had he lived, would … have multiplied … the communications … between the various parts of his world-empire.

1858.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., I. i. I. 20. The huge world-conflagration. Ibid., V. vi. 594. The Second Act … of this foolish World-Drama of the Double-Marriage opens.

1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 553. Alexander’s policy was essentially different from that of the world-monarchs before him. Ibid. (1864), Daniel, ii. 78. When He took away their world-rule, He left them in being as nations.

1864.  Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., vii. (1866), 99. The two great ideas which expiring antiquity bequeathed to the ages that followed were those of a World-Monarchy and a World-Religion.

1887.  Albert Shaw, in Contemp. Rev., May, 699. In 1884, with the world price of wheat so closely approximating to the cost of production.

1894.  A. J. Balfour, Found. Belief (1895), 3. My object, then, is to recommend a particular way of looking at the World-problems which, whether we like it or not, we are compelled to face.

1898.  Q. Rev., July, 264. In any serious world-struggle we should be certain to have each other’s sympathy and probably co-operation.

1899.  Daily Tel., 21 Aug., 6/7. We have had thrust upon us a drama played upon a world stage, and we could not, if we would, take our eyes off the actors.

1904.  Westm. Gaz., 14 Nov., 4/2. The great British World-Empire. Ibid. (1905), 21 Sept., 3/2. The great world-commerce, upon which the very existence of England will depend. Ibid. (1906), 26 Sept., 5/2. A world-parliament of the Universities. Ibid. (1909), 8 April, 4/2. This … is the type of dirigible by which in a world-war … 360,000 German troops could be transported from Calais to Dover in half an hour.

  25.  Special comb.: world-divided a., (a) separated from the rest of the world; (b) ‘worlds’ apart or asunder; world-history [G. weltgeschichte], history embracing the events of the whole world; hence world-historic, -historical adjs.; world-language, (a) a language universally read and spoken by educated people; (b) a language for international use; world-life, life in the world, earthly life; world-old [G. weltalt], as old as the world; world-order, an organized state of existence in this or another world; world-policy, -politics [G. weltpolitik], a policy or politics based upon considerations affecting the world as a whole; hence world-politician; world-revolution, a world-wide revolution in the social order or in any sphere of activity; world-ruler, a ruler of the (known) world; world-soul [G. weltgeist, weltseele], the animating principle that informs the physical world; world-spirit, (a) the spirit of the world in its mundane aspects and activities; (b) = world-soul; world-state, (a) a state comprising the whole world; (b) a state possessing world-power; world-thane Hist. [OE. woruldþeʓn], a secular ‘thane’; world-view [G. weltanschauung], contemplation of the world, view of life; so world-viewer; world-wise a., wise in the things of the world, worldly-wise; world-worm, a low creature of earth; world-year (see quot.).

a. 1618.  Sylvester, Sonn., Wks. (Grosart), II. 321. Our little *World-divided Ile.

1743.  Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, III. v. 3. Since world-divided Britain owns his sway.

1899.  Folk-Lore, March, 75. Races world-divided in their range and their social conceptions.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. ii. Of these ages *World-History can take no notice.

1902.  J. B. Crozier, in Fortn. Rev., Dec., 1006. A philosophy of history and civilisation … which holds its ground as the basis both of World-history and Christian theology to this hour.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., lxiii. In this romantic *world-historic position of his. Ibid. (1879), Theo. Such, xiv. 255. Something truly Roman and *world-historical.

1889.  Athenæum, 24 Aug., 256/3. Jireczek was already well versed in the two classical and four great modern *‘world-languages.’

1899.  Daily News, 3 July. A German Professor has proposed English as a World-language.

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Th.), ciii. 33 [civ. 35]. Þæt hio ne wunian on *world-life.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 2980. All þiss weorelldlif iss full Off sinness þeossterrnesse.

c. 1205.  Lay., 32075. Þu uindest ænne pape … he þe scal scriuen of þine world-lifen.

1848.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 3), 324. With the world thy part is now…. Now behoves to live The worldlife of the future.

1840.  T. Gordon, trans. W. Menzel’s Ger. Lit., I. 265. The *world-old Oriental idea of the mystic unity of those contrasts which, though absolutely separated in the world, are all united in God, could not produce its most abundant crops till modern times.

1862.  Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. i. 7. No modern traveller … has left a written account of this world-old place.

1875.  Lowell, Wordsw., Prose Wks. 1890, IV. 357. The world-old question of matter and form.

1846.  Trench, Mirac., Introd. (1862), 72. There is a nobler *world-order than that in which we live and move.

1894.  H. Drummond, Ascent of Man, 38. The Struggle for the Life of Others … [is] engrained in the world-order as profoundly as the Struggle for Life.

1896.  Daily News, 10 March, 6/5. The Minister again declared that Germany did not think of inaugurating a *‘world-policy.’

1905.  Westm. Gaz., 24 March, 2/1. A world-policy alliance with Japan.

1858.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gr., V. iv. I. 571. Papa [King George I.] and Husband [the King of Prussia] being so blessedly united in their *World-Politics.

1905.  Daily Chron., 24 June, 4/3. The considerable measure of success which the Kaiser’s intervention in Morocco has attained is an instructive lesson in the solidarity of world-politics. Ibid. (1905), 27 May, 3/2. Our Future is on the Sea? Critical Inquiries and Deductions by a German *World Politician.

1832.  Carlyle, Remin. (1881), I. 60. The great *world-revolutions send in their disturbing billows to the remotest creek.

1911.  G. Elliot Smith, Anc. Egyptians, i. 6. The great world-revolution inaugurated by the advent of the Age of Metals.

1874.  W. P. Mackay, Grace & Truth, 160. We protest against the awful power that the *world-rulers used in former days.

1881.  N. T. (R.V.), Eph. vi. 12. Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but … against the world-rulers [κοσμοκράτορας] of this darkness.

1918.  The Crime, II. 461. Let us hear the bombastic, sonorous vision of the future as it appears to the German World-ruler: [etc.].

1848.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 3), 202. I am the *world-soul, nature’s spirit am I.

1856.  R. A. Vaughan, Mystics, I. iii. 27. The philosophers who believe themselves organs of the world-soul.

1850.  Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xxi. The *world-spirit can rebuke as sharply as the Spirit which was in John.

1909.  W. R. Inge, Faith, viii. 129. This World-Spirit was once incarnated in a human life.

1890.  B. F. C. Costelloe, Church Catholic (1892), 25. She prophesies of a *World-State, and laughs at the little fences statesmen draw upon the map.

1902.  Daily Chron., 1 Nov., 3/1. However desirable may be the lot of a small State among small States, the conditions are changed in a world of world-States.

1614.  Selden, Titles Hon., 225. Ealdormen, Holdes, Hetgerefas, Messethegnes, and *Werldthegnes.

1839.  Keightley, Hist. Eng., I. 83. The mass-thane or clergyman stood on a par with the world-thane or gentleman.

1858.  J. Martineau, Stud. Christ., 321. The deep penetration of his [sc. Paul’s] mistaken *world-view.

1906.  D. S. Cairns, Christ. in Mod. World, v. 232–3. Christianity, alike in its Central Gospel, and in its World-view, must come to terms with Hellenism.

1862.  Gen. P. Thompson, in Bradford Advertiser, 20 Dec., 6/1. More instances will occur to the thoughtful *world-viewer.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13721. Þa *weorldewis mon þa oðere children biwusten.

1845.  Bailey, Festus (ed. 2), 240. Was he world-wise?

1862.  Lytton, Str. Story, lxvii. II. 192. Silently thinking, I walked by the side of the world-wise woman.

1617.  Fletcher, Mad Lover, II. i. Away thou *World-worm, Thou win a matchless Beauty?

1826.  E. Irving, Babylon, II. 429. Rear your children to be men, not to be world-worms; to be saints, not to be drudges.

1860.  Chamb. Encycl., I. 76/1. These Ages were regarded as the divisions of the great *world-year, which would be completed when the stars and planets had performed a revolution round the heavens.