Encyclopaedia

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Encyclopedia \En*cy`clo*pe"di*a\, Encyclopaedia
  \En*cy`clo*p[ae]"di*a\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, for ? ?, instruction
     in the circle of arts and sciences: cf. F. encyclop['e]die.
     See {Cyclopedia}, and {Encyclical}.] [Formerly written
     {encyclop[ae]dy} and {encyclopedy}.]
     The full circle of arts and sciences; a comprehensive summary


     of knowledge, or of a branch of knowledge; esp., a work in
     which the various branches of science or art are discussed
     separately, and usually in alphabetical order; a cyclopedia.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  encyclopaedia
       n : a reference work (often in several volumes) containing
           articles on various topics (often arranged in
           alphabetical order) dealing with the entire range of
           human knowledge or with some particular specialty [syn: {encyclopedia},
            {cyclopedia}, {cyclopaedia}]