adj. & n.
adj. 1 of interest or use to all; universal. 2 all-embracing; of wide sympathies or interests (has catholic tastes). 3 (Catholic) a of the Roman Catholic religion. b including all Christians. c including all of the Western Church.
n. (Catholic) a Roman Catholic. catholically adv. Catholicism n. catholicity n. catholicly adv.
[ ME f. OF catholique or LL catholicus f. Gk katholikos universal f. kata in respect of + holos whole ]