En*cyc"lic (?), En*cyc"li*cal (?), a. [L. encyclios of a circle, general, Gr. ; in + circle: cf. F. encyclique. See Cycle.]
Sent to many persons or places; intended for many, or for a whole order of men; general; circular; as, an encyclical letter of a council, of a bishop, or the pope.
© Webster 1913.
En*cyc"lic, En*cyc"li*cal, n.
An encyclical letter, esp. one from a pope.
Shipley.
© Webster 1913.