World

World, wurld, n. the earth and its inhabitants: the system of things: present state of existence: any planet or heavenly body: public life or society: an organic whole: business: the public: a secular life: course of life: a very large extent of country, as the 'New World:' very much or a great deal, as 'a world of good:' time, as in the phrase 'world without end'=eternally: possibility, as in 'nothing in the world:' (B.) the ungodly.—adjs. Worl′ded, containing worlds; World′-har′dened, hardened by the love of worldly things.—ns. World′-lang′uage, a universal language; World′liness; World′ling, one who is devoted to worldly or temporal possessions.—adjs. World′ly, pertaining to the world, esp. as distinguished from the world to come: devoted to this life and its enjoyments: bent on gain—also adv.; World′ly-mind′ed, having the mind set on the present world.—n. World′ly-mind′edness.—adjs. World′ly-wise, wise in this world's affairs; World′-old, exceedingly ancient; World′-wea′ried, -wea′ry, tired of the world; World′wide, wide or extensive as the world.—All the world, everybody: everything; All the world and his wife (coll.), everybody: also, an ill-assorted mass; A world, a great deal; Carry the world before one, to pass to success through every obstacle; For all the world, precisely, entirely; Go to the world (Shak.), to get married; In the world, an intensive phrase, usually following an interrogative pronoun or adverb.—The New World, the western hemisphere, the Americas; The Old World, the eastern hemisphere, comprising Europe, Africa, and Asia; The other world, the non-material sphere, the spiritual world; The whole world, the sum of what is contained in the world; The world's end, the most distant point possible. [A.S. woruld, world, weorold, (lit.) 'a generation of men,' from wer, a man, and yldo, sig. an age; Ice. veröld, Old High Ger. weralt (Ger. welt).]