Definition
A comprehensive reference book or set of books containing articles on a wide range of topics arranged alphabetically or by subject. Before digital search engines, encyclopedias were the primary source for general knowledge and research.
Example Usage
My parents bought a set of Encyclopedia Britannica for the house so we could look things up for school projects.
Origin
From Greek 'enkyklios' (circular, general) and 'paideia' (education); the concept dates to ancient times but the modern form emerged in 17th-century Europe.
Fun Fact
The decline of printed encyclopedias began with the rise of the internet and search engines; Wikipedia essentially replaced them as the go-to general reference source.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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