encyclopedia

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English

Volumes 5–12 of the Encyclopedia Americana (covering topics from Bulgaria to Goethals) in the SUB Library at the University of Göttingen, Germany

Alternative forms

Etymology

From New Latin encyclopedia (“general education”), variant of encyclopaedia, a univerbated form of Koine Greek ἐγκύκλιος παιδείᾱ (enkúklios paideíā, “education in the circle of arts and sciences”), from Ancient Greek ἐγκύκλιος (enkúklios, “circular”) + παιδείᾱ (paideíā, “childrearing; education”), q.v. Nearly all modern English use of the word influenced by the scope and format of Diderot & al.'s French Encyclopédie.

Pronunciation

  • (Canada) IPA(key): /ənˌsəɪ.kləˈpi.di.ə/
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpi(ː).dɪə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpi(ː).di.ə/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːdiə
  • Hyphenation: en‧cy‧clo‧pe‧di‧a

Noun

encyclopedia (plural encyclopedias or encyclopediae or encyclopediæ)

  1. A comprehensive reference work (often spanning several printed volumes) with articles (usually arranged in alphabetical order, or sometimes arranged by category) on a range of subjects, sometimes general, sometimes limited to a particular field.
    I only use the library for the encyclopedia, as we’ve got most other books here.
    His life's work is a four-volume encyclopedia of aviation topics.
  2. Similarly comprehensive works in other formats.
    Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia anyone can edit.[citation needed]
  3. (dated) The circle of arts and sciences; a comprehensive summary of knowledge, or of a branch of knowledge.

Usage notes

The spelling encyclopedia is standard in American English, common in Canadian English, accepted in Australian and International English, and also very common in British English although nonstandard.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia