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An '''encyclopedia''' is a collection of knowledge. Often, in an encyclopedia, there is an article related to events, things, social facts, social phenomenon, science topics, and so forth. Encyclopedias can cover a large array of knowledge. | An '''encyclopedia''' is a collection of knowledge. Often, in an encyclopedia, there is an article related to events, things, social facts, social phenomenon, science topics, and so forth. Encyclopedias can cover a large array of knowledge. | ||
Historically, most encyclopedias were printed on paper. Today, most are on the internet, though there are a few that still print physical copies or distribute digital media. | |||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
Revision as of 18:16, 13 September 2016
An encyclopedia is a collection of knowledge. Often, in an encyclopedia, there is an article related to events, things, social facts, social phenomenon, science topics, and so forth. Encyclopedias can cover a large array of knowledge.
Historically, most encyclopedias were printed on paper. Today, most are on the internet, though there are a few that still print physical copies or distribute digital media.
Etymology
encyclopedia (n.) 1530s, "course of instruction," from Modern Latin encyclopaedia (c.1500), thought to be a false reading by Latin authors of Greek enkyklios paideia taken as "general education," but literally "training in a circle," i.e. the "circle" of arts and sciences, the essentials of a liberal education; from enkyklios "circular," also "general" (from en "in" + kyklos "circle") + paideia "education, child-rearing," from pais (genitive paidos) "child" (see pedo-).
Modern sense of "reference work arranged alphabetically" is from 1640s, often applied specifically to the French "Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des Sciences, des Arts, et des Métiers" (1751-65). [1]