sb. and a. [ad. Gr. κοσμοπολίτ-ης citizen of the world, f. κόσμο-ς world + πολίτης citizen. Cf. mod.F. cosmopolite.]
1. A ‘citizen of the world’; one who regards or treats the whole world as his country; one who has no national attachments or prejudices.
Common in the 17th c.; but app. revived early in the 19th c., and often contrasted with patriot, and so either reproachful or complimentary. To this 19th-c. revival nearly all the derivatives belong.
[1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 6. To finde himselfe Cosmopolites, a citizen … of the … one mysticall citie vniuersall, and so consequently to meditate of the Cosmopoliticall gouernment thereof.]
c. 1618. E. Bolton, Hypercr., in Haslewood, Anc. Crit. Ess. (1815), II. 254. Thou standest charged with a four-fold Duty. 1. As a Christian Cosmopolite. 2. As a Christian Patriot … 3. As a Christian Subject … 4. As a Christian Paterfamilias.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. VI. lx. I came tumbling out into the World a pure Cadet, a true Cosmopolite, not born to Land, Lease, House or Office.
1657. W. Rumsey, Organ. Salutis, Ep. Ded. (1659), 15. He who findes out any thing conducing to humane health, is the best Cosmopolite.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb. (1861), 191. He was one of those vagabond cosmopolites who shark about the world, as if they had no right or business in it.
1834. Medwin, Angler in Wales, II. 190. You … have merged the patriot in the cosmopolite.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 332. Some had passed a great part of their lives abroad, and … were mere cosmopolites.
1885. Tennyson, Hands all round, 3. That man’s the best Cosmopolite, Who loves his native country best.
2. transf. A plant or animal at home in all parts of the world. So of proverbs, legends, or the like.
1832. Lyell, Princ. Geol., II. 101. Some species of the vulture tribe are said to be true cosmopolites.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., 37. Sea-Rocket…. A cosmopolite.
1853. Trench, Proverbs, 42. There are others [proverbs] … which we meet all the world over. True cosmopolites, they seem … to have made themselves an home equally in all [lands].
† 3. A man of this world, a worldling. Obs.
1614. T. Adams, Devil’s Banquet, 166. The vanitie of carnall ioyes, the vanitie of vanities, are as bitter to vs, as pleasant to the Cosmopolite or worldling.
1657. Reeve, God’s Plea, 8. The Devill … hath an Incorporation of Cosmopolites, an Host of Lucre-worms.
b. attrib. and adj. = COSMOPOLITAN a.
1809. Naval Chron., XXII. 201. Compunctious visitings of … cosmopolite patriots.
1852. Dana, Crust., I. 1553. These are cosmopolite species.
1862. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), VI. liii. 327. His doctrines were essentially cosmopolite.
1872. Bagehot, Physics & Pol. (1876), 177. The existence of a cosmopolite Church.
