Where does “encyclopedia” come from?
Encyclopedia derives from New Latin encyclopaedia, from Ancient Greek ἐγκυκλοπαιδεία, a compound of ἐγκύκλιος and παιδείᾱ meaning "instruction in a circle of arts and sciences."
encyclopedia (English): A comprehensive reference work with articles on...
Definitions
- A comprehensive reference work with articles on...
Ancestry of “encyclopedia”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Latin | encyclopaedia | general education; encyclopedia |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | παιδείᾱ | rearing of a child, education; child-rearing,... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | παῖς | child, son, daughter; young person, child, boy,... |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | pā́wits | child |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | péh₂wids | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂w- | few, little; smallness |