v. [f. UNIVERSAL a. + -IZE. Cf. F. universaliser, It. -izzare, Pg. -isar.]
1. trans. To make or render universal; to give a universal character to; to extend to all the members of a class; to apply or appropriate to a class of things, as distinct from the individuals composing it.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. II. iii. 7. Can souls that be thus universalis’d, Begot into the life of God e’re dy? Ibid. (1664), Apology, 552. I do not speak of the English Church, but of … the Reformed Churches in General—so Universalized were my thoughts in that Meditation.
1840. L. Hunt, Seer, 73/1. Their ideal of a face, let them try to universalise it as they can, is a French one.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., XIV. iii. VI. 463. The conception by the senses is confused,… till abstracted, analysed, at once universalised and individualised by the intelligence.
1876. L. Stephen, Eng. Th. 18th C., I. 323. We must, then, universalize our terms.
absol. a. 1853. Robertson, Lect., ii. (1858), 185. It is thus that the poets universalize and unite.
1871. Fraser, Life Berkeley, iii. 77. We cannot even perceive without universalizing.
† 2. To imbue with general (in contrast to specific) properties. Obs.–1
1676. Princ. Chymists Lond., 59. Salts distilled from the Soots of Chymnies, arising from different Woods, notwithstanding their Alteration by the Ambient Air, and their being (by that Medium) in some measure Universallized.
3. To make of universal application; to bring into universal use.
1809. Crit. Rev., XVI. 499. He must universalize in his empire the given religion which he prefers.
1829. Bentham, Justice & Cod. Petit., 102. In the case of circuit business this source of misdecision is purposely established and universalised.
1845. Maurice, Mor. Philos., in Encycl. Metrop., II. 603/1. To universalize the system of Plato.
1891. [F. C. S. Schiller], Riddles Sphinx, 183. But let us consider what effect would be produced upon the actual results of evolutionist explanations, if the law of evolution could be really and completely universalized.
b. To extend or spread over the whole expanse.
1813. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 186. To complete and universalize the desolation of the globe.
1875. W. R. Greg, Misc. Ess., vi. (1882), 144. Our sewerage system shall be universalized and perfected.
Hence Universalized ppl. a.; Universalizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a. Also Universalizer, one who makes universal.
1651. H. More, Second Lash, in Enthus. Tri., etc. (1656), 179. A free divine *universalized spirit is worth all.
1691. Norris, Pract. Disc., 64. The unselfish universalized nature of God.
1871. R. H. Hutton, Ess., I. 169. The fourth gospel is essentially a universalised Judaism.
1895. W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul, xvi. § 3. 375. A distinct step towards the Universalised Church.
1853. E. G. Holland, Mem. J. Badger, xviii. (1854), 372. The active theological minds … may fall under two general classifications which … we may call the centralizers and *universalizers.
1811. Bentham, Panopt., Corr. Wks. 1843, XI. 161. An engine for the *universalising of Protestantism.
1891. [F. C. S. Schiller], Riddles Sphinx, 183. The first case will evidently not bear universalizing.
1836. G. S. Faber, Prim. Doctr. Election, II. iii. 306. The attentive reader … will readily perceive their palpably *universalising tenor.
1851. Fraser’s Mag., XLIII. 150. A kind of vagabondizing, universalizing philanthropy.
