Cyclopedia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A comprehensive reference work that contains a wide array of information in multiple subjects, typically organized alphabetically
2. An extensive compilation of knowledge covering various domains, presented in a format that allows for easy navigation and reference
3. A detailed resource that provides summaries or entries on numerous topics, intended to educate and inform readers on a broad spectrum of subjects

Etymology: "Cyclopedia" is a shortened form of "encyclopedia," and the shortening is a little odd. The Greek roots are "kyklos," meaning "circle," and "paideia," meaning "child-rearing" or "education." Put together, they describe learning that goes round in a full circle, covering the whole range of knowledge, which is why the older spelling "cyclopaedia" survived for so long in English. The word's history belongs to the longer "encyclopedia," which the Greek phrase "enkyklios paideia" (general education) gave rise to. "Cyclopedia" is the same idea with the prefix "en-" dropped, so it has the same basic structure as its better-known sibling. Writers used the shorter form for a time, but "encyclopedia" won out, and "cyclopedia" now feels slightly old-fashioned, appearing mostly in titles and older texts.

Synonyms: encyclopedia, reference work, compendium, dictionary, manual