Encyclical — • According to its etymology, an encyclical is nothing more than a circular letter. In modern times, usage has confined the term almost exclusively to certain papal documents which differ in their technical form from the ordinary style of either… … Catholic encyclopedia
encyclical — index public (known) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
encyclical — (adj.) in reference to a letter sent by the Pope to all the bishops, 1640s, from L.L. encyclicus, from L. encyclius, from Gk. enkyklios in a circle, circular (see ENCYCLOPEDIA (Cf. encyclopedia)). As a noun, from 1837 … Etymology dictionary
encyclical — [en sik′li kəl, insik′li kəl; ] occas. [, en sī′kli kəl, insī′klikəl] adj. [LL encyclicus < Gr enkyklios, in a circle, general, common < en , in + kyklos, a circle: see CYCLE] for general circulation: also encyclic n. R.C.Ch. a papal… … English World dictionary
Encyclical — An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Christian church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from Latin encyclia (from the… … Wikipedia
Encyclical — Encyclic En*cyc lic, Encyclical En*cyc li*cal, a. [L. encyclios of a circle, general, Gr. ?; ? in + ? circle: cf. F. encyclique. See {Cycle}.] Sent to many persons or places; intended for many, or for a whole order of men; general; circular; as,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Encyclical — Encyclic En*cyc lic, Encyclical En*cyc li*cal, n. An encyclical letter, esp. one from a pope. Shipley … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
encyclical — /en sik li keuhl, suy kli /, n. 1. Rom. Cath. Ch. a letter addressed by the pope to all the bishops of the church. adj. 2. (of a letter) intended for wide or general circulation; general. Also, encyclic. [1610 20; < LL encyclicus ( < Gk enkýklios … Universalium
encyclical — UK [ɪnˈsɪklɪk(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms encyclical : singular encyclical plural encyclicals an official announcement by the pope in the form of a letter … English dictionary
encyclical — I. adjective Etymology: Late Latin encyclicus, from Greek enkyklios circular, general, from en in + kyklos circle more at in, wheel Date: 1647 addressed to all the individuals of a group ; general II. noun Date: 1837 an encyclical letter; … New Collegiate Dictionary
