Etymology

ecumenical

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Today it means: Pertaining to the universal Church, representing the entire Christian world; interdenominational; sometimes by extension, interreligious. Full definition →

First used 16th c.
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The story

From ecumenic + -al. By surface analysis, ecumene + -ical.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 16th c. Pertaining to the universal Church, representing the entire Christian world; interdenominational; sometimes by extension, interreligious.
  • from 17th c. General; universal; catholic; worldwide.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.