[a. F. universalité, OF. universaliteit (14th c.; = It. universalità, Sp. -idad, Pg. -idade), or ad. late L. ūniversālitās (Boethius), f. L. ūniversālis: see UNIVERSAL a. and -ITY.]
I. 1. The fact or quality of extending over, existing in, or belonging to the whole (of something expressed in or implied by the context); esp. extension, occurrence, prevalence, or diffusion throughout the whole world, everywhere, or in all things.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., V. pr. v. (1868), 169. Þat is … þat resoun lokeþ and comprehendiþ by resoun of vniuersalite [L. in ratione universitatis], boþe þat þat is sensible and þat þat is ymaginable.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, 351. All men knowe, that cheefly Auerrhoes vrgeth the eternitie of the World, and the vniuersalitie of one onely Mynd.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. ix. (Arb.), 38. The Nobilitie and dignitie of the Art considered aswell by vniuersalitie as antiquitie.
1624. H. Mason, Art of Lying, ii. 25. Persons claimeth … Universality, Antiquity, and Consent, for this … vpstart fancie of their owne.
1686. Caldwell Papers (Maitl. Cl.), I. 168. The French language, being, because of its universalitie, so very necessarie for converse.
1707. Mortimer, Husb., 501. The Planting of Fruit-Trees;… and the Advantages of it, which consist … in the Universality of it, there being hardly any Soil, but one sort … or other may be raised on them.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 78. God … cannot depart from … that universality of essence, by and in which alone all essences subsist.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., p. xxxvi. Experiments more and more evince the universality of iron.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 266. He has shown the universality of guilt, and the universality of grace.
b. Of a church or religion, esp. Roman Catholicism: Extension to the whole world or all men.
Freq. in 17th cent.; now rare or Obs.
1559[?]. A. P., trans. Vincent of Lirins’ Golden Treatise (title-p.), The antiquitie, and vniuersalitie, of the Catholicke Religion.
1574. Whitgift, Def. Aunsw., ii. 16. This strengthneth the Papistes vniversalitie.
1608. Willet, Hexapla Exod., 551. Vniuersalitie and multitude … is no good rule to know the right church … by.
1691. Sir T. P. Blount, Ess., 90. That thing call’d Vniversality, is so slight an Evidence of Truth, that even Truth it self is asham’d of it.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The Catholicks assert the Universality of their Church, both as to Time, and Persons.
1730. J. Denne (title), Want of Universality no just Objection to the Truth of the Christian Religion.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ix. § 1. He dismissed with contempt the accepted test of universality.
† c. Of persons with reference to power or authority (see UNIVERSAL a. 2). Obs.
1620. T. Granger, Div. Logike, 228. Gregory pronounced the same of Iohn Patriarch of constantinople affecting vniuersalitie.
1661. Morgan, Sph. Gentry, III. vii. 67. The pope, who hath usurped the Universality, will have his triple Crown, to signifie his dominion over the Universe.
2. The fact or quality of extending or applying to, affecting or prevailing among, all the members of a class of persons or things; relation to or inclusion of all individuals, cases, or instances.
1572. Harrison, England, II. xix. (1877), I. 307. If a man may presentlie giue a ghesse at the vniuersalitie of this euill.
1634. T. Norton’s Calvin’s Inst., Table of Contents. The universality of the promises of salvation maketh nothing against the doctrine of the predestination of the reprobate.
1695. J. Edwards, Perfect. Script., 342. The universality of the slaughter.
1764. Harmer, Observ., ii. § 17. 75. The tents of the Arabs are with great universality black.
1771. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., iv. (1778), 113. He might have seen it in an instance or two; and he mistook accident for universality.
1829. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 132. Closely connected with the universality of suffrage, is the opportunity of its frequent exercise.
1873. Holland, A. Bonnic., ix. 162. The universality of the influence which they [sc. religious revivals] exert during the time of their highest activity.
b. Of laws, etc., esp. with reference to validity.
1712. Berkeley, Pass. Obed., Wks. 1871, III. 138. The universality of this mathematical rule.
1747. Gentl. Mag., 120/2. That we are not sure of the universality of this law.
1855. Brewster, Newton, I. xiii. 381. Every new comet, every new planet,… proclaims the universality of Newton’s philosophy.
1874. Carpenter, Ment. Phys., II. xvi. 634. The universality of the Law of Gravitation.
† 3. The study or contemplation of things from a general point of view. Obs. rare.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. v. § 5. Another error … is, that after the distribution of particular arts and sciences, men haue abandoned vniuersalitie, or Philosophia prima. Ibid., II. To the King § 6. If any man think philosophy and universality to be idle studies, he doth not consider that all professions are from thence served and supplied.
4. The quality or character of extending to or comprehending all or (more usually) a great variety of subjects; unbounded or very great versatility of (mind, genius, etc.).
1765. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint., III. 11. The following [pictures] by Streater … show the universality of his talent.
1818–9. Lady Morgan, Autobiog. (1859), 203. His gigantic labours … indicate the universality of the highest order of mind.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. 17. A man … of that peculiar universality of genius which forms … a handy fellow.
1871. ‘M. Legrand,’ Cambr. Freshm., 112. The universality of my friend’s mind.
b. Capacity for, knowledge of, interest in, all or many things or pursuits; width or extensiveness of understanding, knowledge, or sympathy.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. iv. Whereby … the vague universality of a Man shall find himself ready-moulded into a specific Craftsman.
1855. Hawthorne, Eng. Note-bks. (1870), I. 375. Perhaps there may be a universality in his face.
1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics, I. 7. One quality in Gower I have always especially liked,—his universality.
1862. Macm. Mag., 240. The universality of the heart, which enables them to feel for, and make allowances for all.
1900. Edmond Holmes, What is Poetry? 65. Universality, not individuality, is of the essence of the poet’s genius; that he belongs to mankind even more than to himself.
c. The fact of knowing everybody or a large number of persons; extensiveness of (acquaintance).
1791. Paine, Rights of Man, 89. He [Marquis de la Fayette] served in America as an American officer under a commission of Congress, and by the universality of his acquaintance, was in close friendship with the civil government.
1838. Ticknor, in Life, etc. (1876), II. ix. 182. He added, that he himself had never seen him so as to know him…; a curious fact, considering Roger’s own universality.
II. 5. The entire or whole body or number, the whole, of the people, a nation, mankind, etc., regarded collectively; also, the bulk or mass of the people. Now arch. (Cf. UNIVERSITY 2.)
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 7. Shall the whole vniuersalitie of the world be without this prerogatiue?
1588. Copy of a Letter, in Harl. Misc. (1809), II. 82. The universality of the people through the realm.
1655. Theophania, 77. The vast frame of the world may be shaken, and the universality of nature suffer a change; but a perfect Lover can neither turn, nor alter, nor change.
1673. Essex Papers (Camden), I. 65. Ye Universallity of their Clergie,… & all their Merchants.
1680. H. More, Apocal. Apoc., 163. One mighty City … consisting of the Universality of Cities considered as one.
1709. Strype, Ann. Reformation, ii. 72. So averse did the universality of the nation stand against popery.
1737. L. Clarke, Hist. Bible, VI. 356/1. Innumerable Acclamations … by the Universality of the People.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iv. § 5. 203. The consent of the prelates, earls, barons, and universality of the realm.
† b. The whole world; the universe. Obs. rare.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. x. What madd furie can ever so enveagle any conceipte, as to see our mortall … selves to have a reason, and that this universalitie (whereof we are but the lest pieces) should be utterly devoide thereof?
1593. Q. Eliz., Boeth., III. pr. xii. 72. That God was he that ruld the vniuersalitie by the raynes of goodnes.
† c. The whole people or state; the people in general. Obs.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, V. iii. 496. The Common happinesse of the vniuersalitie.
1644. [H. Parker], Jus Populi, 18. The Parliament differs many wayes from the rude bulk of the universality.
1675. Machiavelli’s Prince, xvii. Exorbitant mercy has an ill effect upon the whole universality.
† d. The whole subject; a matter or subject regarded generally or as a whole. Obs.–1
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., II. 5/1. I shall speak first of those wherein this particular Art is most concerned; and as for the others, which relate to the universality, they shall serve by way of epilogue.
6. pl. Something which extends to all the members of a class; a general statement or description, a generality. Obs.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Sinful Man (1592), A 5. To the Heathen hee shewed vniuersalities and antiquities.
1608. D. T[uvill], Ess. Pol. & Mor., 9. Simple men; who … beeing vnable to iudge, or conceiue of vniuersalities, suffer themselues … to be wholly guided by their externall sense.
1629. H. Burton, Truth’s Triumph, 210. The deceitful man loueth to walke in vniuersalities or generalities.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., ix. 162. If you can … determine those great questions which consist much in universalities, then also you may determine the particulars.
† b. A universal medicine or remedy; a panacea. Obs.–1
1756. Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, IV. 126. Men who … poyson you with universalities, medicines that are generally ineffectual, and of whose formations they are quite unacquainted.
† 7. A collective whole or body, as distinct from one of the parts of which it is composed. (Cf. 5.)
1622. Breton, Strange News, C 3 b. Neare the chiefe Citie of Nullibi, in an vniuersalitie, in stead of an Vniuersitie,… there was a deepe studient in the secrets of Nature.
1642. View Print. Book int. Observat., 8. Kingdome or Regnum denotes an universalitie or body collected.
[1875. Poste, Gaius, II. com. (ed. 2), 290. As single things can be bequeathed, so can a universality.]
† 8. Something that exists everywhere or in all things; a universal being. Obs.–1
1681. Whole Duty Nations, 7. He himself is the prime Unity and Universality.
