Encyclopædia

Encyclopedia , en-sī-klo-pē′di-a, n. the circle of human knowledge: a work containing information on every department, or on a particular department, of knowledge, generally in alphabetical order: a name specially given to the work of the French writers Diderot, D'Alembert, and others in the third quarter of the 18th century.— adjs. Encyclopæ′dian , embracing the whole circle of learning; Encyclopæ′dic , -al , pertaining to an encyclopædia: full of information.— ns. Encyclopæ′dism , knowledge of everything; Encyclopæ′dist , the compiler, or one who a ists in the compilation, of an encyclopædia: esp. a writer for the French Encyclopédie (1751-65). [Formed from Gr. engkyklopaideia — engkyklios , circular, paideia , instruction.]