verse n.
the universe; (also) one of many universes in a multiverse; cf. earlier -verse suffix
Often as ’verse.
Dimensions
-
[1991
According to theory, a baby universe—or ‘babyverse’—can be spun off from the parent ‘multiverse’ as a bulge in the fabric of spacetime.]
Quantum Leaps of Imagination in Newsday (New York) 27 Aug. 62/1 -
2002
Joss Whedon
Kaylee It’s shiny! I like to meet new people. They’ve all got stories— Jayne Captain, can you stop her from being cheerful, please? Mal I don’t believe there is a power in the ’verse that can stop Kaylee from being cheerful.
Serenity (Firefly episode) (transcription) -
2004
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OK so last night I had another one of those early night dreams [...] we were out in this field and the other guy and i had this power where we could see this alternate universe that was like a layer of our own, much darker and we could occasionally switch between both but when we were in the alternate verse, we couldnt see the real world[...]
on LiveJournal 24 June (blog entry) -
2007
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Justina Robson
bibliography
The realm of the dead. They say it’s parted from us in temporal dimensions only, that it is panspatial and pantemporal, a dimensional ’verse transecting all points in which beings like us cannot move, though there are beings that can.
Selling Out viii. 86 -
2009
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Jason K. Chapman
bibliography
Davey’s laugh dragged itself across a bed of gravel. ‘The word’s been heard, varritch. There ain’t no roads but roads to Rhodes. Don't leave this ’verse without you’ve seen it for yourself.’ Rhodes was an ugly thing, but it was the wonder of the universe. The first evidence of non-human intelligence was hard to resist.
Singers of Rhodes in Panverse One 230 -
2015
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Jay Kristoff
Amie Kaufman
bibliography
You flex your tiniest gun turret, look like you’re even reaching to scratch an itch, I’m going to raise so much noise the Lincoln and every ally she has in the ’verse will know where to find you.
Illuminae 84 -
2017
You’re close, but no pineapple. (catching herself) I’m sorry. It’s hard to keep track of which idioms come from which verses.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (script) (12/18/2017 draft) 86
Research requirements
antedating 2002
Earliest cite
Joss Whedon, <i>Firefly</i>
Research History
Suggested, and most quotes submitted, by Bee Ostrowsky.
Last modified 2023-06-20 10:25:38
In the compilation of some
entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.