Adjacent Words

ecumenical definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions; "ecumenical thinking"; "ecumenical activities"; "the ecumenical movement" [syn: ecumenic, oecumenic, ecumenical, oecumenical]
2: of worldwide scope or applicability; "an issue of cosmopolitan import"; "the shrewdest political and ecumenical comment of our time"- Christopher Morley; "universal experience" [syn: cosmopolitan, ecumenical, oecumenical, general, universal, worldwide, world- wide]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Late Latin oecumenicus, from Late Greek oikoumenikos, from Greek oikoumen? the inhabited world, from feminine of oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein to inhabit, from oikos house — more at vicinity Date: circa 1587 1. worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application 2. a. of, relating to, or representing the whole of a body of churches b. promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation • ecumenically adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 of or representing the whole Christian world. 2 seeking or promoting worldwide Christian unity. Derivatives: ecumenically adv. Etymology: LL oecumenicus f. Gk oikoumenikos of the inhabited earth (oikoumene)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ecumenic Ec`u*men"ic, Ecumenical Ec`u*men"ic*al, a. [L. oecumenicus, Gr. ? (sc. ?) the inhabited world, fr. ? to inhabit, from ? house, dwelling. See Economy.] General; universal; in ecclesiastical usage, that which concerns the whole church; as, an ecumenical council. [Written also [oe]cumenical.] Ecumenical Bishop, a title assumed by the popes. Ecumenical council. See under Council.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Ecumenical activities, ideas, and movements try to unite different Christian Churches. (FORMAL) ...ecumenical church services... ADJ: usu ADJ n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. See ecumenic

Moby Thesaurus

all-comprehending, all-comprehensive, all-covering, all-embracing, all-encompassing, all-filling, all-including, all-inclusive, all-pervading, allover, broad, broad-gauged, broad-minded, catholic, coacting, coactive, coadjutant, coadjuvant, coefficient, collaborative, collective, collectivist, collectivistic, collusive, combined, commensal, common, communal, communalist, communalistic, communist, communistic, communitarian, comprehensive, concerted, concordant, concurrent, concurring, conniving, cooperant, cooperating, cooperative, cosmic, cosmopolitan, country-wide, ecumenic, ecumenistic, fellow, galactic, general, global, harmonious, harmonized, heaven-wide, inclusive, international, joint, mutual, national, noncompetitive, nondenominational, noninsular, nonsectarian, planetary, reciprocal, spacious of mind, symbiotic, synergetic, synergic, synergistic, total, unbigoted, uncompetitive, unfanatical, unhidebound, universal, unparochial, unprovincial, wide, wide-minded, world-wide, worldwide