catholicity
(kæθəˈlɪsɪtɪ)
[f. as prec. + -ity; cf. F. catholicité.]
Catholic quality or character.
1. The quality of being comprehensive in feeling, taste, sympathy, etc.; freedom from sectarian exclusiveness or narrowness.
| 1843 Edin. Rev. Dec. 274 One of the greatest and most attractive characteristics of his mind—its catholicity. 1855 H. Reed Lect. Eng. Lit. ii. (1878) 55 It is important to cultivate a true catholicity of taste. 1882 J. Hawthorne Fort. Fool i. xxxi, Royalty itself could not compete with Lady Mayfair in the brilliant catholicity of her entertainments. |
b. of religious feeling.
| 1841 Myers Cath. Th. iv. 435 This great principle of Christian Brotherhood..a stronger feeling of the true Catholicity of Christianity. 1868 C. L. Balfour Wrkg. Women (ed. 3) 173 True Christian catholicity of spirit. 1882 Farrar in Contemp. Rev. XLII. 813 The lessons of catholicity and toleration. |
2. Universal prevalence; universality.
| 1868 Huxley Phys. Basis Life 137, I share this catholicity of assimilation with other animals. |
3. Of a church or doctrine: The character of being universally recognized or diffused.
| 1843 tr. Mariotti's Italy Past & Pr. (1848) I. 113 Universality of dominion was now to be cemented by catholicity of faith and worship. 1845 J. H. Newman Ess. Developm. Introd. (L.) An appeal to the catholicity of the church, in proof that its doctrines are true, is an appeal to the voice of the multitude upon a dispute as to truth. 1887 Times (weekly ed.) 7 Oct. 3/1 Thus will the catholicity of our Church be at length realized. |
4. The character of belonging to, or in accordance with, the Catholic Church.
| 1830 Coleridge Table Talk 6 June, In the first century, catholicity was the test of a book or epistle..being canonical. 1842 Pusey Crisis Eng. Ch. 139 They wish to claim for the English Church the character of Catholicity. 1868 G. Hardy in Guardian 29 Apr. 494 A sincere and faithful trust in the Catholicity of the Church of England. |
b. spec. of the Church of Rome: The doctrine or faith of that Church, catholicism.
| 1847 Dickens Lett. (1880) I. 175 The Swiss radicals..know what Catholicity is. 1849 Southey Comm.-Pl. Bk. Ser. ii. 80 When the professors of Catholicity arrogate to themselves political command. |