encyclical

[ en-sik-li-kuhl, -sahy-kli- ]

noun
  1. Roman Catholic Church. a letter addressed by the pope to all the bishops of the church.

adjective
  1. (of a letter) intended for wide or general circulation; general.

Origin of encyclical

1
1610–20; <Late Latin encyclicus (<Greek enkýklios, with -icus-ic for -ios, equivalent to en-en-2 + kýkl(os) circle, cycle + -ios adj. suffix) + -al1
  • Also en·cyc·lic .

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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 Crawford
  • The 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 Flick
  • His encyclicals are marked by their timeliness and practical character.

    The War Upon Religion | Rev. Francis A. Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for encyclical

encyclical

/ (ɛnˈsɪklɪkəl) /


noun
  1. a letter sent by the pope to all Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world

adjectiveAlso: encyclic
  1. (of letters) intended for general or wide circulation

Origin of encyclical

1
C17: from Late Latin encyclicus, from Greek enkuklios general, from kuklos circle

Collins 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

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.