Obs. A literal rendering of MICROCOSM.
c. 1200. Ormin, 17597. Mycrocossmos, þatt nemnedd iss Affterr Ennglisshe spæche Þe little werelld.
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., 35. The philesofre callith man the litille world.
1603. H. Crosse, Vertues Commw. (1878), 124. If the bodie be not set on worke, the minde goeth astray, whereby this litle world is soone ouerthrowne.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. i. 10 (Qo. 1608).
1614. Sylvester, Little Bartas, 28 The Little-World, wherein the Great is shown.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. IV., cclix. The Little World thus Circumscribes a Nation.
