encyclical
Roman Catholic Church. a letter addressed by the pope to all the bishops of the church.
(of a letter) intended for wide or general circulation; general.
Origin of encyclical
1- Also en·cyc·lic .
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use encyclical in a sentence
He frequently writes letters to the bishops, and composes encyclicals in a polished and Ciceronian style of Latin.
Ave Roma Immortalis, Vol. 2 | Francis Marion CrawfordThe Popes wrote letters and published encyclicals to recommend vows and habits of concord to all Christian nations.
The Rise of the Mediaeval Church | Alexander Clarence FlickHis encyclicals are marked by their timeliness and practical character.
The War Upon Religion | Rev. Francis A. Cunningham
British Dictionary definitions for encyclical
/ (ɛnˈsɪklɪkəl) /
a letter sent by the pope to all Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world
(of letters) intended for general or wide circulation
Origin of encyclical
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for 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 New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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