encyclopaedic

Encyclopaedic is an adjective describing breadth of knowledge or scope that resembles an encyclopedia, or pertaining to an encyclopedia itself. When applied to a person, it can describe someone with wide-ranging knowledge; when applied to a work, it characterizes a comprehensive survey of topics.

Etymology and spelling: The term derives from the noun encyclopaedia, which in turn comes from Greek enkyklios paideia, meaning a general education or circle of knowledge. The modern form entered English via medieval Latin and Old French. Spelling varies by variety of English: encyclopaedic is common in British English, while encyclopedic is widely used in American English; both forms are correct.

Usage and nuances: Encyclopaedic commonly signals breadth rather than depth, implying a wide but potentially shallow survey across many subjects. It is often used to describe reference works, dictionaries, or collections that aim to present a comprehensive overview. In contemporary contexts, digital databases, museums, and scholarly projects that strive for wide coverage may be described as encyclopaedic.

See also: encyclopedia (encyclopaedia), encyclopaedist, encyclopedic knowledge, comprehensive.