university

university
\ \ [14] The etymological notion underlying a university is that it denotes the ‘whole’ number of those belonging to it. The word comes via Old French universite from Latin ūniversitās, which was derived from ūniversus (source of English universe). This originally meant the ‘whole’, but in the postclassical period it was applied to guilds and other such associations, referring to the ‘totality’ of their membership. These included societies of teachers and students, from which the modern meaning of university emerged.
\ \ Cf.UNIVERSE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • University — U ni*ver si*ty, n.; pl. {Universities}. [OE. universite, L. universitas all together, the whole, the universe, a number of persons associated into one body, a society, corporation, fr. universus all together, universal: cf. F. universit[ e]. See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • University — University, FL U.S. Census Designated Place in Florida Population (2000): 30736 Housing Units (2000): 15494 Land area (2000): 3.870401 sq. miles (10.024292 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.011633 sq. miles (0.030129 sq. km) Total area (2000):… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • University, FL — U.S. Census Designated Place in Florida Population (2000): 30736 Housing Units (2000): 15494 Land area (2000): 3.870401 sq. miles (10.024292 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.011633 sq. miles (0.030129 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.882034 sq. miles (10 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • university — [yo͞o΄nə vʉr′sə tē] n. pl. universities [ME universite < MFr université < ML universitas < L, the whole, universe, society, guild < universus: see UNIVERSE] 1. an educational institution of the highest level, typically, in the U.S.,… …   English World dictionary

  • university — c.1300, institution of higher learning, also body of persons constituting a university, from Anglo Fr. université, O.Fr. universitei (13c.), from M.L. universitatem (nom. universitas), in L.L. corporation, society, from L., the whole, aggregate,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • university — index institute Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • university — ► NOUN (pl. universities) ▪ a high level educational institution in which students study for degrees and academic research is done. ORIGIN Latin universitas the whole , later guild , from universus (see UNIVERSE(Cf. ↑universe)) …   English terms dictionary

  • University — For other uses, see University (disambiguation). See also: College Degree ceremony at the University of Oxford. The Pro Vice Chancellor in MA gown and hood, Proctor in official dress and new Doctors of Philosophy in scarlet full dress. Behind… …   Wikipedia

  • university — universitarian /yooh neuh verr si tair ee euhn/, n., adj. /yooh neuh verr si tee/, n., pl. universities. an institution of learning of the highest level, having a college of liberal arts and a program of graduate studies together with several… …   Universalium

  • university — n. 1) to establish, found a university 2) to go to a university/to go to university (BE) (she goes to a good university) 3) a free, open; people s university 4) an Ivy League (US); redbrick (GB); state (US) university 5) at; in a university (to… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • university — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ elite, leading, major, prestigious, top ▪ ancient (esp. BrE) ▪ modern, new, red bri …   Collocations dictionary

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