universellen

Universellen is the plural inflected form of the German adjective universell. Universell means universal, applying broadly or without limitation to many cases. In German, universellen appears in attributive position before a plural noun when a determiner provides the case and number information, typically in the weak declension after articles like der, die, das, or den. For example: die universellen Eigenschaften (the universal properties), den universellen Gesetzen (the universal laws). It can also appear after prepositions that govern the dative case, as in mit universellen Prinzipien (with universal principles).

Morphology and usage notes:

- Universellen is not a noun and is not capitalized.

- It is used in plural phrases where the determiner or article supplies the grammatical ending, producing the -en ending in the adjective.

- In singular forms, various endings occur depending on gender and determiner, e.g., eine universelle Eigenschaft (a universal property) or ein universelles Prinzip (a universal principle).

Semantic role:

- The term is common in philosophy, science, and law when discussing general truths, universal laws, or properties that apply across many cases. It contrasts with more specific or local notions of applicability.

- While closely related to the concept of universality, universellen specifically denotes the grammatical plural form and its usage in context.

Etymology:

- Universellen derives from universell, which itself comes from the Latin universalis, via French universel, into German. The root conveys breadth and applicability beyond a single instance.

See also:

- Universell (the base adjective)

- Universality and universal laws in philosophy and science

- German declension patterns for adjectives in plural phrases