Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Encyclic \En*cyc"lic\, Encyclical \En*cyc"li*cal\, n.
   An encyclical letter, esp. one from a pope. --Shipley.

Encyclic \En*cyc"lic\, Encyclical \En*cyc"li*cal\, a. [L.
   encyclios of a circle, general, Gr. ?; ? in + ? circle: cf.
   F. encyclique. See {Cycle}.]
   Sent to many persons or places; intended for many, or for a
   whole order of men; general; circular; as, an encyclical
   letter of a council, of a bishop, or the pope.

Source : WordNet®

encyclical
     adj : intended for wide distribution; "an encyclical letter"

encyclical
     n : a letter from the pope sent to all Roman Catholic bishops
         throughout the world [syn: {encyclical letter}]