(a) The physical or material world, the earth; the land comprising the physical world; the natural world and its creatures; the globe, orb, sphere, etc. of the earth; also in fig. context; (b) the world as the object or focus of God’s providence, God’s creation; the world as the setting for the unfolding of God’s plan, the achievement of man’s salvation, etc.; worldes ende, the ende (endinge) of the ~, þissere worldes endinge, etc., the Last Judgment, Judgment Day; the more ~, the earth as contrasted to man [cp. sense 7.(a)]; (c) the kingdoms, dominions, realms, etc. that comprise the inhabited world, the world as a political entity; also, the prelapsarian world as the domain of Adam [quot. c1390]; (d) with diminished force: an expanse, a vast open area, wide plain; also, that which lies beyond one’s own doorstep, the unfamiliar; sen the ~; (e) in cpds. and combs.: ~ riche, q.v.; ~ slade, this world’s valley, i.e., the world as the abode of human beings; ~ thing, q.v.

(a) In phrases and other constructions emphasizing the world’s duration: from the ginninge of the ~, from the worldes frume, sin that this ~ first bigan, sitthen this ~ was astald, sitthen that god this ~ wrought, etc., since the beginning of time, always; also, with negatives: (not) ever; in-to the endinge of this ~, to (unto) the worldes ende, oth þissere worldes ende, etc., until the end of time, forever; also, until Doomsday comes; so longe so this ~ ilaste, while that the ~ stondeth, etc., as long as this world endures, for all time; also, as long as human history continues; (b) in phrases emphasizing the vastness or limitlessness of the physical world: al the ~, al the worldes riche, the ~ hem-self, the whole of the earth, the whole world itself; worldes ende, the ends of the earth, the farthest reaches of the globe; in ~ wide, in-to al this wide ~, over al the ~, thurgh-oute the (yond al) ~, this rounde ~ abouten, etc., far and wide, throughout the world, all over the earth, everywhere.

In various hyperbolic or emphatic expressions indicating totality, inclusivity, etc.: (a) a great number or quantity (of food, land, people, etc.), a profusion or plenitude; also, ?a marvel, thing of wonder [quot. a1500]; a (al the) ~ of; (b) with superlatives and statements conveying uniqueness or lack of parallel: in (the, this, al the) ~, of (the, this) ~, on ~, etc., in the whole wide world, in existence anywhere, of all; (c) the wealth, goods, or honors of the world; control of the world, dominion;—chiefly used in comparisons and negative asseverations; bettre (levere) than al the ~, etc.; for al the (this) ~, al the ~ to haven, al this ~ to winnen, etc.; (d) ne…(never) in this ~, ne…never on (in) ~, etc., not in the least, not at all; (e) for al the (this) ~, in every particular; also, just exactly (like sth.).

(a) A realm or state of existence; on other ~; (b) the realm or sphere in which human beings are ordained to live out their lives; the state of human existence in the material world; the life of this world in contrast to that of the next; this ~; (c) the sphere or realm of mundane human activities, the world of civic affairs, commerce, trade, etc.; also, secular life in contrast to the religious life; (d) the world as the realm of mutability, reversals of fortune, inconstancy, etc.; also person. [quots. 1372 & a1425, 2nd]; worldes whele, changing fortunes, the wheel of fortune; (e) the ~ to comen, the other (tother) ~, etc., the realm of eternal existence, life to come, next world; this ~, the afterlife from the perspective of a demon [1st quot.].

In cpds. and combs. denoting or describing persons, things, properties, or circumstances pertaining to or exclusively coexistent with the material world, human existence, the realm of secular activity, etc.: (a) ~ lif [OE weorold-lif], temporal earthly existence; also, (one’s) deeds in the earthly life, the course of (one’s) life in this world; worldes deth, departure from this world, physical death; worldes night, this life, earthly existence; (b) ~ king [OE weorold-cyning], a ruler in the temporal realm, an earthly king; also, a royal consort [quot. c1275, 1st]; worldes make, an earthly spouse; ~ man, q.v.; worldes man, man of the ~, a living man, mortal man; also, a man who is not in orders, a secular man [quot. c1450]; ?also, a man caught up in secular matters, a worldly man [quot. c1350]; ~ shrift, an earthly confessor; worldes womman, a living woman, ?a woman subject to the ways of the world; prest of the ~, a secular priest; (c) ~ (worldes) aughte [OE weorold-ǣht], worldes catel (richesse), ~ (worldes) god [OE weorold-gōd], ~ (worldes) wele [OE weorold-wela], ~ (worldes) win, prosperite (richesse, welthe) of this ~, worldly goods, material comforts or wealth, earthly possessions; (d) worldes blisse (joie, lust, mirthe, wonders), blisse (joie) of this ~, etc., the pleasures, attractions, etc. of the world, worldly diversions or happiness [see also vanite n. 1.(e)]; also, as epithet for a person who is a source of earthly happiness [quot. c1450(1369)]; (e) ~ thrum [OE weorold-þrymm], worldes honour (pride, worshipe), earthly dignity, rank, glory, esteem, etc.; (f) ~ lore, worldes wisdom, wisdom þissere ~, secular wisdom or learning, expertise or competence in temporal matters; worldes bisinesse (thing), bisinesse of the ~, a secular concern; secular matters; worldes care (harm, wane, etc.), difficulties in the temporal sphere, tribulations, adversities; worldes laue (lei), secular law; ?also, the natural way of things in the world, earthly custom [last quot.]; ~ theudom [OE weorold-þēowdōm], obligations in the secular world, servitude to earthly powers; (g) ~ (worldes) love [OE weorold-lufu], excessive attachment to the material world; ~ (worldes) pride [OE weorold-prȳt], pride of the ~, vanity, idle boasting, vainglory; sorinesse (unrotnesse) þissere worldes, discontent, the sin of tristitia; (h) ~ riche [OE weorold-rīce], ~ seli, successful in the secular world, prosperous; ~ wise [OE weorold-wīs], wise in the ways of the secular world, astute; ~ witti, as noun: experts in secular learning, clever fellows.

(a) The pursuits, pleasures, concerns, dealings, etc. associated with human existence in the secular world; also, the temptations, attractions, etc. associated with this present life [occas. difficult to distinguish from senses 2.(b), (c) and vice versa]; also person. and reified; (b) circumstances or conditions obtaining within the earthly realm or mundane sphere, the way of things; also, a particular or present state of affairs; (someone’s) fortunes, circumstances, or condition.

(a) The nations, kingdoms, peoples, etc. of earth, human society; the world’s populace considered as political entities, subjects of dominion, conquest, influence, etc.; ?also, social order, domestic security [1st quot.]; (b) the individual men and women of the world, the whole of mankind, the human race; al the (this, etc.) ~, everyone living; multiplien (the) ~, to increase the world’s population; (c) the members of a group, society, etc. as the arbiters of morality or taste, the world as judge of someone’s behavior or character; the eyes of the world, public opinion; worldes ere, public hearing; ~ (worldes) shame [OE weorld-sceamu], public disgrace, opprobrium [cp. shame n. 3.(f)]; ~ yelp [OE weorold-gilp], worldly praise, public admiration; for (biforen) ~, in the judgment of men, to public view; to the ~ ward, with respect to public opinion; (d) with diminished force, in phrase: al the (this) ~, the multitudes, everyone around, all those on hand.

(a) A defined, usu. extended, period of human history or earthly existence; an age, a generation; also, the span of time from creation to a specified later point; bi long worldes, in worldes long, for many years, for ages; biforen (toforen the) worldes, before the ages began, before time; fern ~ er, in ages past, long before; to than (thare) ~ longe, as long as the world endures, for ages; God of worldes, God of the ages [Deus saeculorum]; king of al worldes, king of all time. (b) in selected adv. phrases used to translate Vulg. in saeculum, in saeculum saeculi, in saecula saeculorum, etc. and in non-Biblical uses modeled on these: ~ al-weies, for (in) ever-lasting worldes, in (al) worldes, in-to (unto) the ~, in ~ (worldes) of worldes, in the ~ of worldes, in-to ~ (worldes) of worldes, in (on, thurgh) alre worldes ~, o to ~, etc., forever and ever, to all eternity, for all time; from the ~, from ~ in-to ~ (worldes), always, from the beginning; (c) ~ withouten (bouten, o bouten) ende, ~ withouten endinge, forever, eternally; ?also, as noun: eternity [1st quot.].

(a) The entire universe conceived as an orderly system, the cosmos; heaven and earth; also, the elements comprising the physical universe [1st quot.]; lesse (litel, second) ~, fig. man as a microcosm; also, alch. the philosophers’ stone; (b) a part of the universe constituting a distinct entity; also, a specified subdivision of the universe, specif. the region of the earth [sometimes difficult to distinguish from senses 1a.(a) & (b)]; worldes binethen, louere ~, the sublunary realm or regions; middel (middes) ~, that which is intermediary between the heavens and the infernal regions, the earth [cp. middel-erd n. (a), middel-erthe n. (a), midden-erd n. (a)].

In surname [cp. sense 5.(c)].