catholic

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is a word of Greek origin meaning 'universal' and 'of universal human interest', and retains this meaning in English when spelt with a small initial (as in catholic styles, tastes, etc). When spelt with a capital initial it refers to the Roman Catholic Church, although historically its range of reference is wider than this, embracing all Churches claiming to be descended from the ancient Christian Church. Although the meaning is clear in (for example) Catholics and Protestants, use Roman Catholic when there is any room for uncertainty.

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adjective

So pervasive and all-inclusive as to exist in or affect the whole world: cosmic, cosmopolitan, ecumenical, global, pandemic, planetary, universal, worldwide. See limited/unlimited, specific/general.

adj

Definition: all-embracing, general
Antonyms: narrow, narrow-minded, specific

IN BRIEF: Broad in tastes or interests. Also: A member of a particular church.

Catholics have come under scrutiny lately because of child molestation cases.

Tutor's tip: The "Catholic" (member of the Roman Catholic Church) priest may or may not have a "catholic" (comprehensive or universal) view of religious history.

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sign description: The U-handshape makes the sign of the cross in front of the forehead.

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See words rhyming with "Catholic."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Catholic.

Common misspelling(s) of catholic

• cathlic

Dansk (Danish)
n. - katolik
adj. - omfattende, frisindet

Français (French)
n. - catholique
adj. - catholique

Deutsch (German)
n. - Katholik
adj. - katholisch

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (θρησκ.) καθολικός
adj. - καθολικός, οικουμενικός, γενικός

Italiano (Italian)
cattolico

Português (Portuguese)
n. - católico (m)
adj. - católico

Русский (Russian)
католик, католический, с широким вкусом

Español (Spanish)
n. - católico
adj. - católico

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - katolik
adj. - universell, allomfattande, katolsk

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
天主教徒, 天主教的, 普遍的, 旧教的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 天主教徒
adj. - 天主教的, 普遍的, 舊教的

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 카톨릭 교도
adj. - 카톨릭교의, 광범위한

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 旧教の, カトリックの, 普遍的な, 幅広い
n. - 旧教徒

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮קתולי, בן הדת הקתולית‬
adj. - ‮קתולי, מקיף, רחב, כללי, מתעניין בכל, של הדת הקתולית, כולל את כל הנוצרים המערביים, כולל את כל הנוצרים‬

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