catholic

¹

[kath-uh-lik, kath-lik]

adjective

1. broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal.

2. universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.

3. pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.

Catholic

²

[kath-uh-lik, kath-lik]

adjective

1. of or relating to a Catholic church, especially the Roman Catholic Church.

2. Theology.

   1. (among Roman Catholics) claiming to possess exclusively the notes or characteristics of the one, only, true, and universal church having unity, visibility, indefectibility, apostolic succession, universality, and sanctity: used in this sense, with these qualifications, only by the Church of Rome, as applicable only to itself and its adherents and to their faith and organization; often qualified, especially by those not acknowledging these claims, by prefixing the word Roman.

   2. (among Anglo-Catholics) noting or pertaining to the conception of the church as the body representing the ancient undivided Christian witness, comprising all the orthodox churches that have kept the apostolic succession of bishops, and including the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Church of Sweden, the Old Catholic Church (in the Netherlands and elsewhere), etc.

3. pertaining to the Western Church.

noun

1. a member of a Catholic church, especially of the Roman Catholic Church.

Catholic

¹

/ ˈkæθlɪk, ˈkæθəlɪk /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to the entire body of Christians, esp to the Church before separation into the Greek or Eastern and Latin or Western Churches

2. denoting or relating to the Latin or Western Church after this separation

3. denoting or relating to the Roman Catholic Church

4. denoting or relating to any church, belief, etc, that claims continuity with or originates in the ancient undivided Church

noun

1. a member of any of the Churches regarded as Catholic, esp the Roman Catholic Church

catholic

²

/ ˈkæθəlɪk, kəˈθɒlɪklɪ, ˈkæθlɪk /

adjective

1. universal; relating to all men; all-inclusive

2. comprehensive in interests, tastes, etc; broad-minded; liberal

Other Word Forms

• catholically adverb
• catholicly adverb
• catholicalness noun
• catholicness noun
• pseudocatholically adverb
• supercatholic adjective
• supercatholically adverb
• uncatholic adjective
• anti-Catholic adjective
• non-Catholic adjective
• pro-Catholic adjective
• pseudo-Catholic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of catholic¹

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English, from Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikós “general,” from kathól(ou) “universally” (contraction of phrase katà hólou “according to the whole”; cata-, holo- ) + -ikos -ic

Origin of catholic²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; special use of catholic

Word History and Origins

Origin of catholic¹

C14: from Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, from katholou in general, from kata- according to + holos whole

Example Sentences

Its owners, the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy, a catholic order based in Leeds, said it hoped to find a "charitable" use for the land and buildings.

From BBC

BBC News NI has learned that a young mother from the catholic community fled her home three weeks ago, claiming her children were subjected to sectarian abuse.

From BBC

Church officials have said that they do not expect an impact to diocese-run elementary and high schools along with catholic charities and other area affiliates.

From Los Angeles Times

Chamberlain became king of the 1980's TV mini-series: playing a western prisoner in Shogun and a catholic priest tempted by love in The Thorn Birds.

From BBC

He went on to become the king of the 1980s TV mini-series, playing a western prisoner in Shogun and a catholic priest tempted by love in The Thorn Birds.

From BBC