According to the
Wikipedia, it was coined by Andy Nimmo in
December 1960 for a talk on the Everett many-worlds
interpretation of quantum physics. It originally denoted:
"an apparent universe, a multiplicity of which, go to
make up the whole universe." What word is it?
Etymology, Etymology, and more Etymology
as well as grammar, usage, euphemism, slang, jargon, semantics, linguistics, neologism, idiom, cant, and argot.

The critically-acclaimed board game
MooT
consists of tough questions about the nuances of the English language.
Answer:
multiverse
According to the Caltech Knowledge-base for Extragalactic Astronomy and
Cosmology - http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/ - the word
multiverse denotes a: "Hypothetical
enlargement of the cosmos in which our Universe is but one of an enormous
number of separate and distinct Universes."
If you think about it, the neologism
multiverse introduces some cosmological
cognitive dissonance. Doesn't the word Universe denote: "all that there is." Thus a
multiverse being another universe is another "all that there is."
A complete explanation of the term multiverse and
its etymology can be found in the Wikipedia at:
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse
Copyright 1998-2009 Blair Arts Ltd. All rights reserved.