Where does “universal” come from?

Universal comes from Middle English universal, from Old French universal, from Latin universalis, formed from versus meaning "turned" and the suffix -alis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wer-.

universal (English): Of or pertaining to the universe; Common to all...

Definitions

  1. Of or pertaining to the universe; Common to all...

Ancestry of “universal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishuniversalall-encompassing, subject to everything and...
2Old Frenchuniversaluniversal
3Latinuniversalisuniversal; general
4Latinūniversuswhole, entire, taken collectively or altogether
5Latinversusturned, changed, having been turned; towards,...
6Latinvertōto turn, turn oneself, direct one's way, to turn about, turn around, revolve
7Proto-Italicwertōto turn
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “universal

Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer-