Universalities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. The qualities or characteristics that apply to all people or things in a broad sense are often referred to as universal concepts
  2. Principles or values that are consistent and applicable across different cultures and societies can be termed universal truths
  3. Aspects or features that hold significance for the entirety of humanity, transcending individual differences, represent the notion of universality

Etymology: The noun in question traces back to the root "universal," which itself entered English in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. This root stems from the Latin "universalis," meaning "pertaining to the whole," derived from "universum," or "the whole, universe." The Latin term combines "uni-" (one) with "versus," the past participle of "vertere," meaning "to turn," effectively suggesting "turned into one" or "combined into one whole." This concept was central to medieval philosophy and theology, where universals were the abstract properties or concepts shared by many particular things. From "universal," the form "universality" developed, originally capturing the quality or state of being universal — that is, applying everywhere or to all cases. This abstract noun appeared in English by the 16th century, reflecting growing interest in philosophy, law, and science, where the idea of universal principles or truths was vital. The plural form "universalities," though less common, naturally extends this concept to multiple instances or kinds of universality. It can denote various universal characteristics, principles, or qualities considered across different contexts. This pluralization aligns with standard English noun formation, using the "-ity" suffix to create abstract nouns and then adding "-ies" to indicate more than one such abstract quality. Thus, the word carries with it a lineage from Latin philosophical terminology, through medieval scholasticism, into modern English, where it can be employed to discuss multiple universal principles or truths. Its layered etymology reflects a journey from concrete notions of unity and wholeness to abstract reflections on the breadth and variety of universality itself.

Synonyms: universals, commonalities, generals, abstractions, principles

Antonyms: particularities, specifics, exceptions, individualities, differences