encyclical
[ en-sik-li-kuh l, -sahy-kli- ]
/ ɛnˈsɪk lɪ kəl, -ˈsaɪ klɪ- /
noun
Roman Catholic Church.
a letter addressed by the pope to all the bishops of the church.
adjective
(of a letter) intended for wide or general circulation; general.
Also
en·cyc·lic.
Words nearby encyclical
enculturation,
encumber,
encumbrance,
encumbrancer,
ency.,
encyclical,
encyclopedia,
encyclopedic,
encyclopedism,
encyclopedist,
encyst
British Dictionary definitions for encyclical
encyclical
/ (ɛnˈsɪklɪkəl) /
noun
a letter sent by the pope to all Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world
adjective Also: encyclic
(of letters) intended for general or wide circulation
Word Origin for encyclical
C17: from Late Latin
encyclicus, from Greek
enkuklios general, from
kuklos circle
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.