microcosm

The story

1. French · derived frommicrocosme
2. English todaymicrocosm

From French microcosme, from Latin microcosmus, from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”) + κόσμος (kósmos, “universe, order”), equivalent to micro- + -cosm.

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. Human nature or the human body as representative of the wider universe; man considered as a miniature counterpart of divine or universal nature.
• 17th–19th c. The human body; a person.
• from 17th c. A smaller system which is seen as representative of a larger one.
• from 19th c. A small natural ecosystem; an artificial ecosystem set up as an experimental model.