cyclopedia : Idioms & Phrases

Cy`clo*pe"di*a, Cy`clo*pæ"di*a noun (Also<

• Cyclopedia Cyclopaedia
• Cyclopedia Cyclopædia

)

Etymology

NL., from Gr. ky`klos circle + paidei`a the bringing up of a child, education, erudition, fr. paidey`ein to bring up a child. See Cycle, and cf. Encyclopedia, Pedagogue.

Definitions

1. The circle or compass of the arts and sciences (originally, of the seven so-called liberal arts and sciences); circle of human knowledge. Hence, a work containing, in alphabetical order, information in all departments of knowledge, or on a particular department or branch; as, a cyclopedia of the physical sciences, or of mechanics. See Encyclopedia.

Webster 1913