An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The totality of all matter and energy that exists in the vastness of cosmos whether known to human beings or not. Related concepts: → world,
   → cosmos,
   → multiverse.
   

2a) Math.: A → set made of
→ subsets that contains all the elements relevant to a particular discussion or problem.

2b) Statistics: The entire population under study.

See also: → all, → general, → omni-, → public, → total.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from O.Fr. univers, from L. universum “the universe,” noun use of neuter of adj. universus “all together,” literally “turned into one,” from unus, → one, + versus, p.p. of vertere “to turn,” akin to Pers. gar-, gardidan “to turn, to change” (Mid.Pers. vartitan; Av. varət- “to turn, revolve;” cf. Skt. vrt- “to turn, roll,” vartate “it turns round, rolls;” L. vertere “to turn;” O.H.G. werden “to become;” PIE base *wer- “to turn, bend”).

Etymology (PE): 1) Giti “world, material world, time,” variants jahân, keyhân, geyhân “world;”
Mid.Pers. gêhân “world,” gêtig “the material world; wordly;” Av. gaēθā- “being, world, matter, mankind,” gaya- “life, manner of living”, root gay- “to live” (present tense jiva-), O.Pers. gaiθā- “live-stock,” cognate with Skt. jīv- “to live,” jīva- “alive, living;” Gk. bios “life,” L. vivus “living, alive,” vita “life;” PIE base *g^wei- “to live” (cf. O.E. cwic “alive;” O.C.S. zivo “to live;” Lith. gyvas “living, alive;” O.Ir. bethu “life,” bith “age;” Welsh byd “world”). The Pers. words zistan “to live,” zendé “alive,” zendegi “life,” and jân “vital spirit, soul; mind” belong to this family.

2. Hargân, from har “every, all, each,” → holo-,

• -gân suffix forming plural entities, from Mid.Pers. -gânag, -gâna, on the model of hamegân, → public.