encyclopedia
UK[ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpiː.di.ə]US[ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpiː.di.ə]
n
A book or set of books giving information about many subjects or about one particular subject, usually arranged in alphabetical order.
Morpheme Breakdown
en
cyclo
pedia
en
in
cyclo
circle
pedia
education
Etymology
The word 'encyclopedia' originates from a mistaken Medieval Latin phrase 'encyclopaedia', believed to be from Greek 'enkyklios paideia', meaning "general education" or literally "education in a circle" of arts and sciences. The Greek components are 'enkyklios' (circular, general, from 'en' meaning 'in' and 'kyklos' meaning 'circle') and 'paideia' (education, child-rearing). This "circle" metaphorically represented the comprehensive cycle of knowledge essential for a well-rounded liberal education. Over time, the term came to specifically denote a comprehensive reference work covering the full circle or complete system of learning.
Analysis
Structure: en (in) + cyclo (circle) + pedia (education)
en: Greek origin, a prefix meaning "in" or "within".
cyclo: Greek origin, from 'kyklos', meaning "circle" or "cycle".
pedia: Greek origin, from 'paideia', meaning "education", "rearing of a child".
Examples
I looked up the history of the Roman Empire in the encyclopedia.
The online encyclopedia is updated more frequently than the printed volumes.
Writing an entry for a scholarly encyclopedia requires expert knowledge.