Word: world Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós Proto-Germanic *weraz Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *h₂életi Proto-Germanic *alaną Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Germanic *-þiz Proto-Germanic *aldiz Proto-Germanic *weraldiz Proto-West Germanic *weraldi Old English weorold Middle English world English world From Middle English world, from Old English weorold (“world”), from Proto-West Germanic *weraldi, from Proto-Germanic *weraldiz (“lifetime, human existence, world”, literally “age/era of man”), equivalent to wer (“man”) + eld (“age”). Eclipsed non-native Middle English mounde (“world”), from Old French monde, munde (“world”). Cognates Cognate with Scots warld (“world”), North Frisian Wārel, wäält, wråål (“world”), Saterland Frisian Waareld (“world”), West Frisian wrâld (“world”), Afrikaans wêreld (“world”), Bavarian Wöd (“world”), Dutch wereld (“world”), German, Luxembourgish Welt (“world”), German Low German Wereld, Werld (“world”), Vilamovian wełt (“world”), Yiddish וועלט (velt, “world”), Danish verden (“world”), Elfdalian wärd (“world”), Faroese verð, verøld (“world”), Icelandic veröld (“world”), Norn vrildan (“the earth”), Norwegian Bokmål verd, verden (“(the) world”), Norwegian Nynorsk verd (“world”), Swedish värld (“world”). Pronunciation: /wɜːld/, /wɜɹld/, [wɝɘɫd], /wɵːld/, [wɵːɯ̯d̥] 1. The subjective human experience, regarded collectively; human collective existence; existence in general; the reality we live in. Example: In retrospect, the process of economic globalization has meant the end of the world as we knew it. Example: There will always be lovers, till the world’s end. 2. The subjective human experience, regarded individually. Example: The period immediately following my divorce seemed like the end of my world. Example: He was my world! [said of a slain companion] 3. A majority of people. Labels: metonymically, with-definite-article Example: Running after God is the only life worth living. Even though the world believes that living for God is boring, we believe that there is nothing more exciting. 4. The Universe. 5. The Earth, especially in a geopolitical or cultural context, or as the physical planet. Labels: with-definite-article Example: People are dying of starvation all over the world. Example: “As the world turns, we know the bleakness of winter, the promise of spring, the fullness of summer and the harvest of autumn–the cycle of life is complete.” - quotation attributed to Irna Phillips. 6. Any of several possible scenarios concerning The Earth, either as the physical planet, or in a geopolitical, cultural or societal context. Example: Who would want to live in a world like this? 7. (Several) alternative scenarios concerning The Earth, either as the physical planet, or in a geopolitical, cultural or societal context. Labels: countable Example: the best of all possible worlds. In the French original: le meilleur des mondes possibles. In German: die beste aller möglichen Welten. 8. A distinct realm, capable of containing objects or inhabitants, which does not physically border other similar realms. Labels: countable Example: He's a highly advanced AI, and this is his world - one that he created from nothing. So, naturally, he has control over... everything. ...But so do we. 9. A distinct realm, capable of containing objects or inhabitants, which does not physically border other similar realms. Labels: countable Example: Our mission is to travel the galaxy and find new worlds. Example: A third is wroth: ‘Is this an hour […] A time to sicken and to swoon, ⁠When Science reaches forth her arms ⁠To feel from world to world, and charms Her secret from the latest moon?’ 10. A distinct realm, capable of containing objects or inhabitants, which does not physically border other similar realms. Labels: broadly, countable 11. A distinct realm, capable of containing objects or inhabitants, which does not physically border other similar realms. Labels: countable Example: Frey [...] clambered up on to the Hildskjalf, the throne from which Odin could see everything that happened across the nine worlds. 12. A distinct realm, capable of containing objects or inhabitants, which does not physically border other similar realms. Labels: countable Example: the world of Narnia Example: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter 13. A very large extent of country. Example: the New World 14. An individual or group perspective or social setting. Example: In the world of boxing, good diet is all-important. Example: Welcome to my world. 15. The part of an operating system distributed with the kernel, consisting of the shell and other programs. 16. A subdivision of a game, consisting of a series of stages or levels that usually share a similar environment or theme. Example: Have you reached the boss at the end of the ice world? Example: There's a hidden warp to the next world down this pipe. 17. The twenty-second trump or major arcana card of the tarot. 18. A great amount, a lot. Labels: informal Example: Taking a break from work seems to have done her a world of good. Example: You're going to be in a world of trouble when your family finds out. 19. Age, era. Labels: archaic Example: Thy kingdom is a kingdom of al worldes: and thy domnion in al generation and generation.