UNIVERSAL

Universal

In metaphysics, a universal is what particular things have in common, namely characteristics or qualities. In other words, universals are repeatable or recurrent entities that can be instantiated or exemplified by many particular things. For example, suppose there are two chairs in a room, each of which is green. These two chairs both share the quality of "being a chair," as well as greenness or the quality of being green. Metaphysicians call this quality that they share a "universal." There are three major kinds of qualities or characteristics: types or kinds, properties, and relations . These are all different types of universal.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Universal (metaphysics)
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

universal

Noun

  1. A characteristic or property that particular things have in common.

Adjective

  1. Of or pertaining to the universe.
  2. Common to all members of a group or class.
  3. Common to all society; world-wide
    She achieved universal fame.
  4. Cosmic; unlimited; vast; infinite
  5. Useful for many purposes, e.g., universal wrench.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: universal
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!