World
The term world refers to the domain of discourse, and is often synonymous with the planet Earth (especially when capitalized: the World.) It is sometimes used to refer to the entire Universe. This is less common now that knowledge of space is more commonplace; however, it is still used vaguely in this sense (as in "the whole wide world").World can be used in less literal terms; for example, when describing two people with very little in common, one can describe them as "living in two different worlds." When a person refers to the "end of the world," that person usually means "the end of everything I am familiar with."
World can also refer to a fictional setting, for example the world of Star Trek or the world of Lord of the Rings.
First World, Second World, Third World
The terms first world, second world, and third world are used to divide the nations of Earth into three broad categories. Originally, during the Cold War, the phrase "first world" referred to nations within the United States' sphere of influence, the phrase "second world" to nations within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, and the phrase "third world" to nations within neither sphere. After the Cold War, "first world" began to refer to countries with "western" societies and large economies and "third world" to developing countries in regions such as Africa (because originally neither Cold War superpower bothered with such countries); with the fall of Leninist Communism the term "second world" largely fell out of use.
Planetary worlds
The word "world" is sometimes used as a synonym for planet; for example, Mars and Jupiter are two worlds within the solar system.
slumber and their nights in settling private disputes, while the city remains uncleaned.
I nurse yet another grudge against the canine.html">canine.html">canine race! That Voltaire of a whelp, who imposed himself upon our confiding first parents, must have had an important pull at headquarters, for he certainly succeeded in getting the decree concerning beauty and fitness which applies to all mammals, including man himself, reversed in favor of dogs, and handed down.html">down to his descendants the secret of making defects and deformities pass current as qualities. While other animals are valued for sleek coats and slender proportions, canine monstrosities have always been in demand. We do not admire squints or protruding under jaws in our own race, yet bulldogs have persuaded many weak-minded people that these defects are charming when combined in an individual of their breed.
The fox.html">fox in the fable, who after losing his tail tried to make that bereavement the fashion, failed in his undertaking; Dutch canal-boat dogs have, however, been successful where the fox failed, and are to-day pampered and prized for a curtailment that would condemn any other animal (except perhaps a Manx cat) to a watery grave at birth.
I can only recall two instances where canine sycophants got their deserts; the first tale (probably apocryphal) is about a donkey.html">donkey, for years the silent victim of a little terrier who had been trained to lead him to water.html">water and back. The dog--as might have been expected--abused the situation, while pretending to be very kind to his charge, never allowed him to roll on the grass, as he would have liked, or drink in peace, and harassed the poor beast in many other ways, getting, however, much credit from the neighbors for devotion and intelligence. Finally, one day after months of waiting, the patient victim's chance came. Getting his tormentor well out into deep water, the donkey quietly sat down on him.
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