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encyclical
[ en-sik-li-kuhl, -sahy-kli- ]
/ ɛnˈsɪk lɪ kəl, -ˈsaɪ klɪ- /
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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.
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Also en·cyc·lic .
Words nearby encyclical
enculturation, encumber, encumbrance, encumbrancer, -ency, encyclical, encyclopedia, encyclopedic, encyclopedism, encyclopedist, encyst
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use encyclical in a sentence
In 1864 Pius IX issued his famous encyclical, in which he boldly condemned the "pernicious" doctrine of the rights of man.
The Church In Politics--Americans Beware!|M. M. MangasarianTen years subsequently he put forth the celebrated Encyclical Letter and the Syllabus.
History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science|John William DraperWe refer to the reply to the noble and paternal encyclical of Pius IX.
When the question is asked, therefore, Why there are (not one only but) several encyclical bodies?
Aristotle|George Grote
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
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.