ENCYCLICAL, an ecclesiastical epistle intended for general circulation, now almost exclusively used of such letters issued by the pope (from Late Lat. encyclicus, for encyclius=Gr. E'yKUKXGOS, from iv and KUKAos, "a circle") . The forms encyclica and en cyclic are sometimes, but more rarely, used. The old adjectival use of the word in the sense of "general" (encircling) is now obsolete. though it survives in the term "encyclopaedia."