reality
    n 1: all of your experiences that determine how things appear to
         you; "his world was shattered"; "we live in different
         worlds"; "for them demons were as much a part of reality as
         trees were" [syn: world, reality]
    2: the state of being actual or real; "the reality of his
       situation slowly dawned on him" [syn: reality, realness,
       realism] [ant: irreality, unreality]
    3: the state of the world as it really is rather than as you
       might want it to be; "businessmen have to face harsh
       realities"
    4: the quality possessed by something that is real [ant:
       unreality]

Reality \Re*al"i*ty\ (r[-e]*[a^]l"[i^]*t[y^]), n.; pl.
   Realities (-t[i^]z). [Cf. F. r['e]alit['e], LL. realitas.
   See 3d Real, and cf. 2d Realty.]
   1. The state or quality of being real; actual being or
      existence of anything, in distinction from mere
      appearance; fact.
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            A man fancies that he understands a critic, when in
            reality he does not comprehend his meaning.
                                                  --Addison.
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   2. That which is real; an actual existence; that which is not
      imagination, fiction, or pretense; that which has
      objective existence, and is not merely an idea.
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            And to realities yield all her shows. --Milton.
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            My neck may be an idea to you, but it is a reality
            to me.                                --Beattie.
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   3. [See 1st Realty, 2.] Loyalty; devotion. [Obs.]
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            To express our reality to the emperor. --Fuller.
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   4. (Law) See 2d Realty, 2.
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REALITY, n.  The dream of a mad philosopher.  That which would remain
in the cupel if one should assay a phantom.  The nucleus of a vacuum.