encyclopedia

Etymology

From New Latin encyclopaedia (“general education”), a univerbated form of Koine Greek ἐγκύκλιος παιδείᾱ (enkúklios paideíā, “education in the circle of arts and sciences”), from ἐγκύκλιος (enkúklios, “circular”) + παιδείᾱ (paideíā, “child-rearing, education”).

noun

1. A comprehensive reference work (often spanning several printed volumes) with articles (usually arranged in alphabetical order, or sometimes arranged by category) on a range of subjects, sometimes general, sometimes limited to a particular field.
   I only use the library for the encyclopedia, as we’ve got most other books here.
   His life's work is a four-volume encyclopedia of aviation topics.
2. (dated) The circle of arts and sciences; a comprehensive summary of knowledge, or of a branch of knowledge.