catholic

/'kæθəlik/

Thân thiện

A person with catholic tastes enjoys art, music, and food from many cultures.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Free from provincial prejudices or attachments; broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests: Describes a person, attitude, or set of interests that is universal, wide-ranging, and not limited or narrow.
   • Of or relating to or supporting Catholicism: Pertaining to the beliefs, practices, or institutions of the Roman Catholic Church.

2. Noun:

   • A member of a Catholic church: A person who is a believer in and adherent of Catholicism, typically the Roman Catholic Church.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (broad in sympathies/tastes):
  • She has a catholic taste in music, enjoying everything from classical to hip-hop.
  • His catholic interests made him a fascinating conversationalist.
• Adjective (relating to Catholicism):
  • They follow Catholic doctrine.
  • The Catholic school is located downtown.
• Noun:
  • He is a devout Catholic.
  • Many Catholics attend mass every Sunday.

Advanced Usage

• With a lowercase 'c' (catholic): When used with a lowercase 'c', the word typically refers to the adjective meaning "broad, universal, or all-embracing." This usage is formal.
  • The professor's knowledge was impressively catholic.
• With an uppercase 'C' (Catholic): When capitalized, it almost always refers specifically to the Roman Catholic Church, its members, or its doctrines.
  • Catholic teachings on social justice are well-known.

Variants and Related Words

• Catholicism (n): The faith, practice, and system of the Catholic Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church.
  • She studied the history of Catholicism.
• Catholicity (n): The quality of being catholic (broad or universal); also, adherence to the Catholic faith.
  • The catholicity of his literary appreciation was remarkable.

Synonyms

• Adjective (broad): Eclectic, wide-ranging, broad-minded, universal, comprehensive.
• Adjective (religious): Roman Catholic, papal.
• Noun: Roman Catholic, communicant.

Related Phrases

• catholic church: When not capitalized, can refer conceptually to a universal Christian church. When capitalized (Catholic Church), it refers specifically to the Roman Catholic Church.
  • He was received into the Catholic Church.
• catholic spirit: An attitude of broad sympathy and inclusivity.
  • We need a more catholic spirit in our approach to different cultures.

Notes on Meaning

• The core duality of this word lies in its case sensitivity. The lowercase form (catholic) is a general adjective meaning "comprehensive" or "liberal." The uppercase form (Catholic) is a proper adjective and noun referring specifically to the Christian denomination centered in Rome. The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. free from provincial prejudices or attachments
   • catholic in one's tastes
2. of or relating to or supporting Catholicism
   • the Catholic Church

Noun

1. a member of a Catholic church

Từ đồng nghĩa

• catholic