universal
Meaning
Relating to or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group; applicable to all cases.
A principle, statement, or idea that has general application or acceptance.
Structure
Usage
The search for love is a universal human experience.
The film's themes of family and loss have universal appeal.
In logic, a universal is a general concept or term that can be predicated of many individual things.
Etymology
The word 'universal' originates from the Latin 'universalis', meaning "of or belonging to all". This Latin term is built from 'universus', which combines 'unus' (one) and 'versus' (turned). The literal sense of 'universus' is "turned into one" or "combined into one whole," referring to the entirety of creation or all things considered as a single entity. Over time, this concrete notion of "the whole turned into one" evolved into the abstract modern meanings of "applicable to all" or "common to all," capturing the idea of something that encompasses or pertains to everything without exception.
Analysis
- uni: From Latin 'unus', meaning "one". A combining form indicating oneness or unity. - vers: From Latin 'versus', the past participle of 'vertere', meaning "to turn". A root indicating turning or changing direction. - al: A suffix of Latin origin ('-alis') used to form adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by".