Encyclopaedic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. pertaining to a detailed and inclusive compendium that encompasses a broad spectrum of information while demonstrating profound insight across multiple disciplines
2. associated with a extensive reference work that covers a wide array of topics and reflects a deep command of diverse areas of knowledge
3. Describing something that covers a vast range of subjects with thoroughness and depth

Etymology: The adjective comes from "encyclopedia", which in Greek described a general education rather than a book. Ancient Greek "enkyklios paideia" meant "general education" or "all-round learning", built from "enkyklios", "circular" or "within the circle", and "paideia", the training of a young person, from "pais", child. The idea was of a complete course of study that rounded out a person's knowledge. The sense of a book containing all knowledge emerged much later. The phrase was revived in New Latin as "encyclopaedia", and it was English that gave the word its modern meaning of a reference work. The adjective "encyclopedic" is formed by adding the suffix "-ic" to "encyclopedia", and it was first recorded in 1824. The spelling "encyclopaedic" is simply the older British variant, with the "ae" retained from the Latin-style spelling.

Synonyms: comprehensive, all-encompassing, extensive

Antonyms: narrow, limited