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.
Derivatives:
catholically adv. Catholicism n. catholicity n. catholicly adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF catholique or LL catholicus f. Gk katholikos universal f. kata in respect of + holos whole