multiverse

Etymology

Blend of multiple + universe, coined by American philosopher William James. Surface analysis: multi- + -verse

noun

1. (philosophy) The world, considered as lacking in purpose, design, or predictability.
   Visible nature is all plasticity and indifference, a multiverse, as one might call it, and not a universe. 1895 October, William James, “Is Life Worth Living?”, in International Journal of Ethics, page 10
2. (physics, cosmology) The hypothetical group of all the possible universes in existence.
   Our universe is a very small part of the multiverse.
   I have been describing show us that the multiverse exists and that it contains many counterparts of each particle in the tangible universe. To reach the further conclusion that the multiverse is roughly partitioned into parallel universes, we must consider interference phenomena involving more than one tangible particle. 1998 [1997], David Deutsch, The Fabric of Reality, New York: Penguin Books, page 46
   I can’t help feeling that in the closest arm of the multiverse, there is a version of me that is fatter and happier. 2020, Raven Leilani, Luster, Picador, published 2021, page 26
3. (fiction) The different canons, continuities or timelines of a fictional property, considered as a whole.
   In the DC multiverse, our reality is called "Earth-33". But in the Marvel multiverse, it's "Earth-1218".