encyclopedia

== English == === Alternative forms === encyclopaedia (Commonwealth) encyclopædia (dated) === Etymology === Borrowed from New Latin encyclopēdīa, encyclopaedīa (“general education”), 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 usage of the word was influenced by the scope and format of the French Encyclopédie by Diderot et al. (see quotation). === Pronunciation === (Canada) IPA(key): /ənˌsəɪ.kləˈpi.di.ə/ (UK) IPA(key): /ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpi(ː).dɪə/ (US) IPA(key): /ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpi(ː).di.ə/ Rhymes: -iːdiə Hyphenation: en‧cy‧clo‧pe‧di‧a === Noun === encyclopedia (plural encyclopedias or encyclopediae or encyclopediæ) 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. My old encyclopedia has been gathering dust on the shelf for the past decade. Similarly comprehensive works in other formats. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit. The ancient Mesopotamians never got to write an encyclopedia on stone. (dated, specifically) The circle of arts and sciences (see Etymology); a comprehensive summary of knowledge, or of a branch thereof. His life's work is a four-volume encyclopedia of aviation topics. ==== 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. Oxford spelling prefers the etymologized form encyclopaedia, reflecting the αι diphthong of Ancient Greek παιδεία. The variant with the æ ligature still appears in the titles of some encyclopaedic works, but it is otherwise archaic in ordinary usage. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === === Further reading === encyclopedia on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “encyclopedia”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.