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 the observation of that learned printer Mr Bowyer, 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 native of cycelus, "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." Some account of the history and merits of the different Encyclopædias which have appeared will be found in the General Preface to this work.