adj.
- Of broad or liberal scope; comprehensive: "The 100-odd pages of formulas and constants are surely the most catholic to be found" (Scientific American).
- Including or concerning all humankind; universal: "what was of catholic rather than national interest" (J.A. Froude).
- Catholic
- Of or involving the Roman Catholic Church.
- Of or relating to the universal Christian church.
- Of or relating to the ancient undivided Christian church.
- Of or relating to those churches that have claimed to be representatives of the ancient undivided church.
A member of a Catholic church, especially a Roman Catholic.
[Middle English catholik, universally accepted, from Old French catholique, from Latin catholicus, universal, from Greek katholikos, from katholou, in general : kat-, kata-, down, along, according to; see cata- + holou (from neuter genitive of holos, whole).]
catholically ca·thol'i·cal·ly (kə-thŏl'ĭk-lē) adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
