<P> The Greek adjective katholikos, the origin of the term "catholic" means "universal". Directly from the Greek, or via Late Latin catholicus, the term catholic entered many other languages, becoming the base for the creation of various theological terms such as catholicism and catholicity (Late Latin catholicismus, catholicitas). </P> <P> The term "catholicism" is the English form of Late Latin catholicismus, an abstract noun based on the adjective "catholic". The Modern Greek equivalent καθολικισμός (katholikismos) is back - formed and usually refers to the Catholic Church . </P> <P> The terms "catholic", "catholicism" and "catholicity" is closely related to the use of the term Catholic Church . The earliest evidence of the use of that term is the Letter to the Smyrnaeans that Ignatius of Antioch wrote in about 108 to Christians in Smyrna . Exhorting Christians to remain closely united with their bishop, he wrote: "Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude (of the people) also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church ." </P> <P> From the second half of the second century, the word "catholic" began to be used to mean "orthodox" (non-heretical), "because Catholics claimed to teach the whole truth, and to represent the whole Church, while heresy arose out of the exaggeration of some one truth and was essentially partial and local". In 380, Emperor Theodosius I limited use of the term "Catholic Christian" exclusively to those who followed the same faith as Pope Damasus I of Rome and Pope Peter of Alexandria . Numerous other early writers including Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 315--386), Augustine of Hippo (354--430) further developed the use of the term "catholic" in relation to Christianity . </P>

When was the term catholic church first used