varsal, a. and adv.
(ˈvɑːsəl)
Also 7 'varsal.
[Illiterate abbreviation of universal a. Cf. the earlier form versal a.]
A. adj.
1. Universal, whole. Only in the phr. in the varsal world.
| 1696 Vanbrugh Relapse v. v, That which they call pin-money is to buy their wives everything in the 'varsal world. 1731–8 Swift Polite Conv. ii, I believe there is not such another in the varsal world. 1751 Eliza Heywood Betsy Thoughtless II. 203 ‘She must certainly be somewhat of kin to the child.’—‘None in the varsal world, sir.’ 1823 E. Moor Suffolk Wds. s.v., I'm sewer I heent a farden i' the varsal wald. 1854 in A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. |
2. Single, individual. rare.
| 1765 Bickerstaff Maid of Mill i. viii, There's nothing comes amiss to her; she's cute at every varsal kind of thing. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xiv, When every varsal soul in the family were gone to bed. |
B. adv. Extremely, vastly. rare—1.
| a 1814 Fam. Politics iii. ii. in New Brit. Theatre II. 220 A has now retired with his profits, and married a varsal rich woman. |