t-o-t-a-l-i-t-y
TOTALITY means the whole amount, the complete sum, or entirety of something. From solar eclipses to philosophical concepts, totality represents absolute completeness without exception.
11
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
TOTALITY represents the state of being complete or the whole amount of something. It encompasses everything within a defined scope, leaving nothing out. Whether describing the brief moments when the moon completely covers the sun during a solar eclipse or the sum of all parts in a philosophical system, totality implies absolute inclusiveness. In astronomy, totality refers to the phase of an eclipse when one celestial body completely obscures another. During a total solar eclipse, the moon's totality creates darkness in daytime, revealing the sun's corona. This astronomical phenomenon has captivated humanity throughout history, with ancient civilizations viewing it as divine intervention.Common contexts for totality:
The word totality derives from Medieval Latin totalitas, meaning "completeness" or "entirety." This comes from totalis meaning "whole, entire," which itself derives from Latin totus meaning "all, whole, entire." The Latin totus has ancient Indo-European roots, related to Sanskrit sarva (all) and possibly connected to the root meaning "to swell" or "be full." The suffix -ity forms abstract nouns expressing state or condition, transforming "total" into the concept of "being total." Totality entered English in the late 16th century, initially used in philosophical and theological contexts to describe the sum of all existence. The astronomical meaning emerged in the 18th century as eclipse observation became more scientific. Today, we use totality both literally (the totality of evidence) and dramatically (the totality of human experience).
•The longest totality in a solar eclipse can last up to 7.5 minutes
•Ancient Chinese believed eclipse totality occurred when a dragon devoured the sun
•The "path of totality" for eclipses is typically only 60-160 miles wide
•TOTALITY contains three T's—excellent for building off existing T tiles on the board
"We witnessed the eclipse in its totality from the mountain observatory."
"The judge considered the totality of circumstances before making her decision."
"Understanding requires seeing the totality, not just individual parts."
Words with similar meaning
Entirety
The whole thing
Wholeness
Complete state
Completeness
Nothing missing
Aggregate
Total amount
Words with opposite meaning
Partiality
Only part
Fragment
Broken piece
Incompleteness
Missing parts
Portion
Part of whole
Adjective Form
total
The total cost was high.
Verb Form
totalize
Let's totalize the results.
Adverb Form
totally
I totally understand.
Related Terms
Eclipse viewing zone
Complete coverage time
Length of full eclipse
Shorter words within TOTALITY:
During a total solar eclipse, totality creates one of nature's most spectacular phenomena. As the moon completely blocks the sun's disk, day becomes night for precious minutes. The sun's corona—its outer atmosphere—becomes visible as a ghostly white halo. Stars appear in the darkened sky, animals behave as if night has fallen, and the temperature drops noticeably. This brief totality has inspired awe, fear, and scientific discovery throughout human history.
The path of totality—where the total eclipse is visible—traces a narrow band across Earth's surface. This path is typically 60-160 miles wide and can stretch thousands of miles long. Eclipse chasers travel globally to position themselves within this path, as even a mile outside means missing totality entirely. The 2017 Great American Eclipse drew millions to its path of totality, creating the largest human migration in U.S. history.
Eclipse totality has enabled crucial scientific discoveries. Einstein's theory of general relativity was confirmed during the 1919 totality when starlight was observed bending around the sun. Helium was discovered in the sun's corona during an 1868 eclipse. Modern scientists use totality to study the sun's corona, solar flares, and magnetic fields— observations impossible without the moon's perfect coverage.
Totality vs. Majority
Complete whole vs. most but not all
Totality vs. Finality
Completeness vs. ending
Totality vs. Reality
Wholeness vs. what exists
TOTAL
Complete amount
WHOLE
Entire thing
COMPLETE
Nothing missing
ENTIRE
Full extent
SUM
Added total
UNITY
Oneness
ECLIPSE
Celestial event
PARTIAL
Not complete
SUMMIT
Highest point
ABSOLUTE
Complete, total
Other valuable wholeness-related words in Scrabble
Total base points: 11 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 3 | Consonants: 5
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like TOTALITY