/en suy'kleuh pee"dee euh/ , n.
1. a book or set of books containing articles on various topics, usually in alphabetical arrangement, covering all branches of knowledge or, less commonly, all aspects of one subject.
2. ( cap. ) the French work edited by Diderot and D'Alembert, published in the 18th century, distinguished by its representation of the views of the Enlightenment.
Also, encyclopaedia .
[ 1525-35; encyclopaedia enkyklopaidía, a misreading of enkýklios paideía circular (i.e., well-rounded) education. See ENCYCLICAL, PEDI- 2 ]