Ū’ni-vĕr’si-ty, n.

n. [Fr. université, Sp. universidad, It. università, Pr. universität, from Lat. universitas, all together, the whole, the universe, a number of persons associated into one body, a society, corporation, from universus, all together, universal. See supra.]

1Sense 1. The universe; the whole. [Obs.] More.

2Sense 2. An association, society, guild, or corporation, especially one capable of having and acquiring property. [Obs.]

The universities, or corporate bodies, at Rome were very numerous. There were corporations of bakers, farmers of the revenue, scribæ, and others. Eng. Cyc.

3Sense 3. A universal school, in which are taught all branches of learning, or the four faculties of theology, medicine, law, and the sciences and arts; an assemblage of colleges established in any place, with professors for instructing students in the sciences and other branches of learning, and where degrees are conferred.

The present universities of Europe were, originally, the greater part of them, ecclesiastical corporations, instituted for the education of churchmen. . . . What was taught in the greater part of those universities was suitable to the end of their institutions, either theology or something that was merely preparatory to theology. A. Smith.

☞ From the Roman words universitas, collegium, corpus, are derived the terms university, college, and corporation, of modern languages; and though these words have obtained modified significations in modern times, so as to be indifferently applicable to the same things, they all agree in retaining the fundamental signification of the terms, whatever may have been added to them. There is now no university, college, or corporation, which is not a juristical person in the sense above explained (2); wherever these words are applied to any association of persons not stamped with this mark, it is an abuse of terms. Eng. Cyc.