Also 5 vniuerse, 6 -uers, 7 univers. [a. F. univers (12th c.; = Sp., Pg., It. universo), ad. L. ūniversum sb., the whole world, orig. neut. sing. of ūniversus all taken collectively, universal, f. ūnus UNI- and versus, pa. pple. of vertĕre to turn.]
† 1. In universe, universally, of universal application. Obs.–1
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 36. Ye folk a lawe han sette in vniuerse; And þis know I by hem þat loueres be, Þat whoso stryueth with ȝow hath þe worse.
2. The whole of created or existing things regarded collectively; all things (including the earth, the heavens, and all the phenomena of space) considered as constituting a systematic whole, esp. as created or existing by Divine power; the whole world or creation; the cosmos.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. xi. (Arb.), 111. The Roundell or spheare … for his ample capacitie doth resemble the world or vniuers.
1596. Spenser, Hymn Heav. Beauty, 31. Looke on the frame Of this wyde vniuerse, and therein reed The endlesse kinds of creatures.
1611. B. Jonson, Catiline, I. i. O for a clap of thunder now, as loud As to be heard through out the universe, To tell the world the fact.
1656. Cowley, Davideis, I. 800. Dull Earth with its own Weight did downwards pierce To the fixt Navel of the Universe.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 63. I wou’dn’t touch a Man’s Flesh for the Universe.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat., I. 149. That active power of Nature which fills the Universe.
1817. Byron, Manfred, II. ii. 111. She had … The quest of hidden knowledge, and a mind To comprehend the universe.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVI. 18/1. Theory of the Universe,… what is known of the general arrangement of planets, stars, etc. and of their connexion with one another.
1871. Morley, Carlyle, in Crit. Misc., Ser. I. 216. The same sense of the puniness of man in the centre of a cruel and frowning universe.
b. With a and pl. Also const. of (something).
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 622. A Universe of death, which God by curse Created evil.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, XIV. 160. To … substitute a universe of death For that which moves with light and life informed.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. ii. To Newton and to Newton’s Dog Diamond, what a different pair of Universes!
1872. Mozley, Mirac. (ed. 3), Pref. p. xxvi. These two schools of minds live indeed in different universes.
c. transf. and fig. Less universe (quot. 1674) = MICROCOSM 1.
1674. Milton, P. R., IV. 459. As … harmless, if not wholsom, as a sneeze To mans less universe.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. University, They are call’d Universities, or Universal Schools, by reason the four Faculties are supposed to make the World or Universe of Study.
1821. Shelley, Epipsych., 589. Into the height of Love’s rare Universe.
1847. J. Kirk, Cloud Dispelled, iv. 67. His conduct is false, and will be denounced as such by the universe of mind.
a. 1854. H. Reed, Lect. Brit. Poets, ii. (1857), 62. To trace the associations between the universe of sense and the spiritual life within us.
1871. E. F. Burr, Ad Fidem, xv. 299. A universe of light and color—a universe of sound.
d. Universe of discourse: (see quot. 1896).
1881. J. Venn, Symbolic Logic, vi. 128. We must be supposed to know the nature and limits of the universe of discourse with which we are concerned…. If we are talking of ordinary phenomena we must know whether we refer to them without limit of time and space.
1896. ‘L. Carroll,’ Symbolic Logic, I. II. iii. 14. The Genus referred to is called the ‘Universe of Discourse.’
3. The world or earth, esp. as the place of abode of mankind or as the scene of human activities.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 134. Such a bridge, that without exception, it may worthily be accounted the admirablest Monument, and firmest erected Collosseum (in that kinde) of all the Vniverse.
1687. T. Brown, Saints in Uproar, Wks. 1720, I. 89. No People in the Universe know better.
1704. (title) The Present State of the Universe.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. 6. A land, perhaps the only one in the universe, in which political or civil liberty is the very end and scope of the constitution.
1791. Hampson, Mem. J. Wesley, III. 96. [Wesley] took the universe for his parish.
1820. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., IV. 359. Who all our green and azure universe Threatenedst to muffle round with black destruction.
b. transf. The inhabitants of the earth; mankind in general.
1743. Johnson’s Debates (1787), II. 222. The decline of that power which has so long intimidated the universe. Ibid., 230. That wisdom … which … the greatest part of the universe will remember with gratitude.
1774. Goldsm., Retal., 31. Here lies our good Edmund,… Who, born for the universe,… to party gave up what was meant for mankind.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., III. viii. ‘Go to,… thou shalt pay due debt!’ shouts the Universe to them.
Hence Universeful, as many or as much as the universe will hold.
1891. J. Orr, Chr. View of God & World (1893), 374. A whole universefull of other spiritual beings.
