— ecumenically , adv.
/ek"yoo men"i keuhl/ or, esp. Brit., /ee"kyoo-/ , adj.
1. general; universal.
2. pertaining to the whole Christian church.
3. promoting or fostering Christian unity throughout the world.
4. of or pertaining to a movement (ecumenical movement) , esp. among Protestant groups since the 1800s, aimed at achieving universal Christian unity and church union through international interdenominational organizations that cooperate on matters of mutual concern.
5. interreligious or interdenominational: an ecumenical marriage.
6. including or containing a mixture of diverse elements or styles; mixed: an ecumenical meal of German, Italian, and Chinese dishes.
Also, ecumenic, oecumenical, oecumenic .
[ 1835-45; oecumenicus belonging to the whole inhabited world ( oikoumenikós, equiv. to oikoumen- (s. of pass. prp. of oikeîn to inhabit) + -ikos -IC) + -AL 1 ]