oecumenicum

Oecumenicum is a term used in ecclesiastical Latin to signify ecumenical or universal to the Christian Church. It functions as an adjective, and in neuter form as oecumenicum, and is encountered in phrases such as concilium oecumenicum, meaning an ecumenical council, which is a council considered universal across Christian jurisdictions.

Etymology: From the Greek oikoumenikos "of the inhabited world" through Latin oecumenicus and neuter oecumenicum. The English equivalent is ecumenical.

Historical usage: The term appears in medieval and early modern Latin sources describing church councils and measures intended to apply to the whole church rather than a single region. The concept underpins the distinction between ecumenical (universal) councils and local synods.

Modern usage: In contemporary English, ecumenical is standard; oecumenicum survives chiefly in Latin quotations, translations, or scholarly discussions of Latin ecclesiastical vocabulary. It is not commonly used as a stand-alone English word.

See also: Ecumenical Council; Ecumenism; Oikoumene.