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encyclic

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en⋅cyc⋅li⋅cal

  [en-sik-li-kuhl, -sahy-kli-]
Use encyclic in a Sentence
–noun
1. Roman Catholic Church. a letter addressed by the pope to all the bishops of the church.
–adjective
2. (of a letter) intended for wide or general circulation; general.
Also, en⋅cyc⋅lic.

Origin:
1610–20; < LL encyclicus (< Gk enkýklios, with -icus -ic for -ios, equiv. to en- en- 2 + kýkl(os) circle, cycle + -ios adj. suffix) + -al 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Cultural Dictionary

encyclical [(en-sik-li-kuhl)]

A letter from the pope to the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church, in which he lays down policy on religious, moral, or political issues.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

encyclical 
"letter sent by the Pope to all the bishops," 1647, from L.L. encyclicus, from L. encyclius, from Gk. enkyklios "in a circle, circular" (see encyclopedia).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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