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Encyclical


 

In the ancient Church, an encyclical was a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area. As used at that time, the word could be used of a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from Latin "encyclia" meaning "general" or "encircling", which is also the origin of the word "encyclopedia".

Source

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd. ed.), p. 545

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