ENCYCLOPÆDIA, a term nearly synonymous with Cyclopædia; but adopted in preference to it in denominating the present work, as being more definite and of better authority. According to an observation of the late learned printer Mr Bower, the preposition en makes the meaning of the word more precise: For Cyclopædia may denote "the instruction of a circle," as Cyropædia is "the instruction of Cyrus," whereas in Encyclopædia the preposition determines the word to be from the dative of cyclos, "instruction in a circle." And Vossius in his book De vitiis sermonis, has observed, "That Cyclopædia is used by some authors, but Encyclopædia by the best."