What does encyclopedical mean?
Encyclopedical is an adjective describing something that resembles an encyclopedia in scope — broad, thorough, and all-encompassing. It is most often applied to knowledge or memory, as when a scholar displays encyclopedical command of a subject, or to collections and works that aim to cover their field exhaustively. The word derives from the same Greek roots as 'encyclopedia': enkuklios paideia, meaning a well-rounded or 'circular' education embracing all branches of learning. Although fully standard historically, encyclopedical has largely given way to the shorter form 'encyclopedic,' which dominates modern usage on both sides of the Atlantic. Encountering encyclopedical today lends a slightly formal, literary flavor to a sentence, evoking the image of vast shelves of reference volumes. Writers who choose it trade everyday familiarity for a touch of erudite charm, making it a distinctive alternative when describing truly sweeping breadth of knowledge.
adjectiveRelating to or characteristic of an encyclopedia; comprehensive in scope, covering a wide range of knowledge in a thorough manner.
- Comprehensive or all-embracing in scope, like an encyclopedia; possessing or displaying broad, thorough knowledge.
"Her encyclopedical knowledge of Renaissance art impressed even the museum's curators."
"The professor's encyclopedical command of classical literature made every lecture a revelation."
"He kept an encyclopedical collection of maps spanning five centuries of cartography."
'Encyclopedical' hides two whole Greek ideas inside it: the circle (kyklos) and education (paideia) — literally 'a complete circle of learning.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of encyclopedical
Encyclopedical comes from the Greek phrase enkuklios paideia, meaning 'circular,' that is, well-rounded, education — instruction in the full circle of arts and sciences. The term passed into Latin and then into early modern European languages, giving rise to 'encyclopaedia' and its adjective forms in English around the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its sibling form 'encyclopedic' ultimately became the dominant variant, leaving 'encyclopedical' as a rarer alternative sharing the same learned heritage.
How encyclopedical is actually used
A rare and somewhat archaic variant of the far more common 'encyclopedic.' It carries a slightly formal or bookish tone and may strike some readers as old-fashioned.
Easily confused with encyclopedical
Both mean comprehensive like an encyclopedia, but 'encyclopedic' is the standard modern form while 'encyclopedical' is a rarer, older variant.