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ENCYCLOPEDIA, en-s[=i]-klo-p[=e]'di-a, n. the circle of human knowledge: a work containing information on every department, or on a particular department, of knowledge, generally in alphabetical order: a name specially given to the work of the French writers Diderot, D'Alembert, and others in the third quarter of the 18th century.--adjs. ENCYCLOPÆ'DIAN, embracing the whole circle of learning; ENCYCLOPÆ'DIC, -AL, pertaining to an encyclopædia: full of information.--ns. ENCYCLOPÆ'DISM, knowledge of everything; ENCYCLOPÆ'DIST, the compiler, or one who assists in the compilation, of an encyclopædia: esp. a writer for the French Encyclopédie (1751-65). [Formed from Gr. engkyklopaideia--engkyklios, circular, paideia, instruction.]