An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1a) Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of all or the whole; relating to, affecting, or including everyone in a group or situation.

1b) Of or pertaining to the → Universe, all nature, or all existing things.

2. A trait, characteristic, or property, as distinguished from a particular individual or event, that can be possessed in common, as the care of a mother for her young (Dictionary.com).
   

See also:

→ Coordinated Universal Time, → universal astrolabe, → universal gas constant, → universal IMF, → universal quantifier, → Universal Time.

Related concepts:

→ all, → general, → omni-, → public, → total.

See also: → universe; → -al.