universal church

Universal \U`ni*ver"sal\, a. [L. universalis: cf. F. universel,
   OF. also universal. See {Universe}.]
   1. Of or pertaining to the universe; extending to, including,
      or affecting, the whole number, quantity, or space;
      unlimited; general; all-reaching; all-pervading; as,
      universal ruin; universal good; universal benevolence or
      benefice. "Anointed universal King." --Milton.
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            The universal cause
            Acts not by partial, but by general laws. --Pope.
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            This universal frame began.           --Dryden.
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   Note: Universal and its derivatives are used in common
         discourse for general and its derivatives. See
         {General}.
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   2. Constituting or considered as a whole; total; entire;
      whole; as, the universal world. --Shak.
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            At which the universal host up dent
            A shout that tore Hell's concave.     --Milton.
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   3. (Mech.) Adapted or adaptable to all or to various uses,
      shapes, sizes, etc.; as, a universal milling machine.
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   4. (Logic) Forming the whole of a genus; relatively unlimited
      in extension; affirmed or denied of the whole of a
      subject; as, a universal proposition; -- opposed to
      {particular}; e. g. (universal affirmative) All men are
      animals; (universal negative) No men are omniscient.
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   {Universal chuck} (Mach.), a chuck, as for a lathe, having
      jaws which can be moved simultaneously so as to grasp
      objects of various sizes.

   {Universal church}, the whole church of God in the world; the
      catholic church. See the Note under {Catholic}, a., 1.

   {Universal coupling}. (Mach.) Same as {Universal joint},
      below.

   {Universal dial}, a dial by which the hour may be found in
      any part of the world, or under any elevation of the pole.
      

   {Universal instrument} (Astron.), a species of altitude and
      azimuth instrument, the peculiarity of which is, that the
      object end of the telescope is placed at right angles to
      the eye end, with a prism of total reflection at the
      angle, and the eye end constitutes a portion of the
      horizontal axis of the instrument, having the eyepiece at
      the pivot and in the center of the altitude circle, so
      that the eye has convenient access to both at the same
      time.

   {Universal joint} (Mach.), a contrivance used for joining two
      shafts or parts of a machine endwise, so that the one may
      give rotary motion to the other when forming an angle with
      it, or may move freely in all directions with respect to
      the other, as by means of a cross connecting the forked
      ends of the two shafts (Fig. 1). Since this joint can not
      act when the angle of the shafts is less than 140[deg], a
      double joint of the same kind is sometimes used for giving
      rotary motion at angles less than 140[deg] (Fig. 2).

   {Universal umbel} (Bot.), a primary or general umbel; the
      first or largest set of rays in a compound umbel; --
      opposed to partial umbel. A universal involucre is not
      unfrequently placed at the foot of a universal umbel.
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   Syn: General; all; whole; total. See {General}.
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Church \Church\ (ch[^u]rch), n. [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche,
   Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel.
   kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all
   fr. Gr. kyriako`n the Lord's house, fr. kyriako`s concerning
   a master or lord, fr. ky`rios master, lord, fr. ky^ros power,
   might; akin to Skr. [,c][=u]ra hero, Zend. [,c]ura strong,
   OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. {Kirk}.]
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   1. A building set apart for Christian worship.
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   2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] --Acts xix. 37.
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   3. A formally organized body of Christian believers
      worshiping together. "When they had ordained them elders
      in every church." --Acts xiv. 23.
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   4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed,
      observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same
      ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman
      Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.
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   5. The collective body of Christians.
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   6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church
      of Brahm.
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   7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community;
      ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array
      the power of the church against some moral evil.
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            Remember that both church and state are properly the
            rulers of the people, only because they are their
            benefactors.                          --Bulwer.
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   Note: Church is often used in composition to denote something
         belonging or relating to the church; as, church
         authority; church history; church member; church music,
         etc.
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   {Apostolic church}. See under {Apostolic}.

   {Broad church}. See {Broad Church}.

   {Catholic church} or {Universal church}, the whole body of
      believers in Christ throughout the world.

   {Church of England}, or {English church}, the Episcopal
      church established and endowed in England by law.

   {Church living}, a benefice in an established church.

   {Church militant}. See under {Militant}.

   {Church owl} (Zool.), the white owl. See {Barn owl}.

   {Church rate}, a tax levied on parishioners for the
      maintenance of the church and its services.

   {Church session}. See under {Session}.

   {Church triumphant}. See under {Triumphant}.

   {Church work}, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work
      of a particular church for the spread of religion.

   {Established church}, the church maintained by the civil
      authority; a state church.
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