promoting or fostering Christian unity throughout the world.
4.
of or pertaining to a movement (ecumenical movement), esp. among Protestant groups since the 1800s, aimed at achieving universal Christian unity and church union through international interdenominational organizations that cooperate on matters of mutual concern.
5.
interreligious or interdenominational: an ecumenical marriage.
6.
including or containing a mixture of diverse elements or styles; mixed: an ecumenical meal of German, Italian, and Chinese dishes.
[Origin: 1835–45; < LL oecumenicus belonging to the whole inhabited world (< Gk oikoumenikós, equiv. to oikoumen- (s. of pass. prp. of oikeǐn to inhabit) + -ikos-ic) + -al1]
Concerned with establishing or promoting unity among churches or religions.
[From Late Latin oecūmenicus, from Greek oikoumenikos, from (hē) oikoumenē (gē), (the) inhabited (world), feminine present passive participle of oikein, to inhabit, from oikos, house; see weik-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Ec`u*men"ic\, Ecumenical \Ec`u*men"ic*al\, a. [L. oecumenicus, Gr. ? (sc. ?) the inhabited world, fr. ? to inhabit, from ? house, dwelling. See Economy.] General; universal; in ecclesiastical usage, that which concerns the whole church; as, an ecumenical council. [Written also [oe]cumenical.] Ecumenical Bishop, a title assumed by the popes. Ecumenical council. See under Council.
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