ENCYCLOPEDIA (ἐν κυκλῷ a circle, ἰνστροφή instruction), a term nearly synonymous with CYCLOPEDIA, but adopted in preference to it in denominating the present work, as being etymologically more definite and complete. For, as it has been justly remarked—Cyclopædia may denote "the instruction of a circle," as Cyropædia is "the instruction of Cyrus;" whereas in Encyclopædia, the preposition determines the meaning to be "instruction in a circle." Vossius, in his book De Vitis Sermonis, observes—"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.