First Known Use: 1647
Dictionary
1encyclical
adjective en·cyc·li·cal \in-ˈsi-kli-kəl, en-\
Definition of ENCYCLICAL
: addressed to all the individuals of a group : general
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Origin of ENCYCLICAL
2encyclical
noun
: an official letter from the Pope to the Roman Catholic bishops
Full Definition of ENCYCLICAL
: an encyclical letter; specifically : a papal letter to the bishops of the church as a whole or to those in one country
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First Known Use of ENCYCLICAL
1837
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