Cosmopolis

cosmopolis

Merriam-Webster

cos·mop·o·lis

Pronunciation

\käz-ˈmä-pə-ləs\

Function

noun

Etymology

New Latin, back-formation from cosmopolites

Date

   1849

Definition

a cosmopolitan city

Function

   adjective 

Date

   1798

Definition

1. having worldwide rather than limited or provincial scope or bearing
2. having wide international sophistication : worldly 3 : composed of persons, constituents, or elements from all or many parts of the world 4 : found in most parts of the world and under varied ecological conditions <a cosmopolitan herb>

Function

adjective

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin metropolitanus of the see of a metropolitan, from metropolita, noun, metropolitan, from Late Greek mētropolitēs, from mētropolis see of a metropolitan, from Greek, capital

Date

15th century

Definition

1. of or constituting a metropolitan or his see
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a metropolis and sometimes including its suburbs
3. of, relating to, or constituting a mother country as distinguished from a colony

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Editor's note: Most definitions of 'cosmopolis' refer to what is effectively a large metropolis, and no doubt there a at least a handful of 'great cities in this world, but it is doubtful any of them qualify as a 'universe city'. Nevertheless, this does not obviate cultivating an appreciation for the inspiration of such a 'place' that is served well by Stephen Toulmin's book, Cosmopolis: The Hidden Agenda of Modernity ISBN 0226808386