The Collaborative International Dictionary
Encyclic
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.
Encyclic
Encyclic \En*cyc"lic\, Encyclical \En*cyc"li*cal\, n.
An encyclical letter, esp. one from a pope.
--Shipley.
Wiktionary
encyclic
n. An encyclical; a papal letter.