Encyclopedia from a Renaissance misreading of Greek enkyklios paideia ('circular education'). PIE *kwel- (to revolve) + *peh₂w- (young). The full orbit of knowledge a citizen should master. From Pliny to Diderot to Wikipedia — a five-century-old dream of total knowledge born from a scribal error.
A comprehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects, usually arranged alphabetically.
From Latin 'encyclopaedia,' a Renaissance misreading of Greek 'ἐγκύκλιος παιδεία' (enkyklios paideia), meaning 'circular/general education' — the well-rounded curriculum of knowledge expected of a free citizen. Renaissance scholars fused two separate Greek words into one pseudo-compound, and the error stuck permanently. Greek 'enkýklios' means 'circular, recurring, general' (from 'en-' in + 'kýklos' circle), and 'paideía' means 'education, child-rearing' (from 'paîs' child). The PIE
The word is itself based on a scholarly error. Renaissance humanists misread two separate Greek words as one compound. The mistake was so successful it became one of the most recognised words in every European language. From Pliny's prototype to Diderot's revolution to Wikipedia — the dream of total knowledge in a circle, carried by a happy scribal blunder.