See Also: catholic(dictionary)
Catholic(dictionary)
Anglo-Catholic(dictionary)
Roman Catholic(dictionary)
Catholic (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Catholic Emancipation(encyclopedia)
Catholic League(encyclopedia)
Old Catholic church(encyclopedia)
Anglo-Catholic(dictionary)
Roman Catholic(dictionary)

Catholic (iou)



Catholic adjective & noun. In branch II of the adjective c-. LME.
[Old & mod. French catholique or its source Christian Latin catholicus from Greek katholikos general, universal, from katholou (kath' holou) in general, from kata in respect of, holos whole.]
A. adjective.
I. Christian Church.
1. Of, belonging to, or designating the ancient Church before the great schism between East and West, or any Church standing in historical continuity with it, as (a) the Western or Latin Church after the schism (distinguished from Eastern, Orthodox), (b) the Latin Church that remained under the Roman obedience after the Reformation (= ROMAN CATHOLIC adjectival phr., opp. Protestant etc.), (c) the Anglican Church regarded as a continuation of both the Ancient and Latin Churches (= ANGLO-CATHOLIC adjective). LME.
2. Of, belonging to, or designating the Christian Church as a whole. M16.
3. Recognizing or having sympathies with all Christians. M17.
R. Baxter The Lord Protector is noted as a man of a Catholic spirit, desirous of the unity and peace of all the servants of Christ.
II. gen.
4. Universal; of interest or use to everyone. M16.
J. A. Froude What was of Catholic rather than national interest.
b. Of a medicine, remedy, etc.: universally applicable. E17-M18.
c. Common, prevalent. Only in 17.
5. Having sympathies with all; all-embracing; broad-minded, tolerant. L16.
A. Burgess I've got Catholic tastes. Catholic with a small 'c', of course.
B. noun.
1. A member of a Catholic Church; esp. = ROMAN CATHOLIC noun phr. LME.
2. = CATHOLICOS. E17-M18.
Phrases & comb.: ANGLO-CATHOLIC. Catholic and Apostolic Church, Catholic Apostolic Church a religious body founded about 1835 according to the teachings of Edward Irving. Catholic Emancipation: see EMANCIPATION. Catholic Epistles: those of James, Peter, and Jude, and the first of John, as not being addressed to particular Churches or persons. Catholic King Hist. the King of Spain. German Catholic (a) noun a member of either of two religious parties who separated from the Roman Catholic communion in 19th-cent. Germany (usu. in pl.); (b) adjective of or pertaining to the German Catholics. his Catholic Majesty = Catholic King above. Old Catholic (a) noun a member of any of various religious parties who separated from the Roman Catholic communion, esp. the Church of Utrecht in the 18th cent. and the German Catholics (usu. in pl.); a member of a Roman Catholic family in England since the Reformation; (b) adjective of or pertaining to Old Catholics. ROMAN CATHOLIC. ROMISH Catholic.
Catholically adverb E16.
Catholicism noun (adherence to) the system, faith, and practice of a Catholic (esp. the Roman Catholic) Church L16.
Catholicization noun the action of making Catholic E20.
Catholicize verb trans. & intrans. make Catholic or catholic; become (a) Catholic: E17.
Catholicly adverb in accordance with the faith or teaching of the Catholic Church M16.