World
The world is the planet Earth and all life upon it, including human civilization. In a philosophical context, the "world" is the whole of the physical Universe, or an ontological world (the "world" of an individual). In a theological context, the world is the material or the profane sphere, as opposed to the celestial, spiritual, transcendent or sacred spheres. "End of the world" scenarios refer to the end of human history, often in religious contexts.
World
The world's a theatre, the earth a stage,
Which God and nature do with actors fill.
John Heywood, Dramatic Works, Volume I. The Author to His Book. Prefix to Apology for Actors; reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 911-17.
