Learn English – Why does the word “Catholic” have two contrasting meanings

etymology

catholic means including a wide variety of things; all-embracing.

and

Catholic means of the Roman Catholic faith.

But whenever I hear the someone say, "I'm catholic", it's hard for me to distinguish which usage are they referring to (even with the context). In writing, its easy to differentiate them by the lowercase/uppercase beginning.

My question, though, is what is the origin of the meaning of these two words? I get confused more because I associate the Catholicism with conservatism which is kinda the opposite of being catholic.

Best Answer

I think the main religious usage is by far the more common, and the more general one can be easily understood in context. Note that in the religiosense the term is often capitalized:

Definition of catholic:

1)

a often capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the church universal.

b often capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it.

c capitalized : ROMAN CATHOLIC Her son goes to a Catholic school.

2)

COMPREHENSIVE, UNIVERSAL especially : broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests.

a catholic taste in music

(M-W)

Catholic:

mid-14c., "of the doctrines of the ancient Church" (before the East/West schism), literally "universally accepted," from French catholique, from Church Latin catholicus "universal, general," from Greek katholikos, from phrase kath' holou "on the whole, in general,"

(Etymonline)

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