circumstantiable 
Circumstantiablet (ser-kum-stan'shi-a-bl), a. 
[< cireitmstanti(ate), v., + -able.'] Capable of 
being circumstantiated. Jcr. Taylor. 
circumstantial (ser-kuin-stan'shal), a. and n. 
[= F. circoHxtaiiciel = Sp. circunstancial = Pg. 
circitmshinriiil, < L. as if * eircumstantialis, < cir- 
cumstantia, circumstance: see circumstance, .] 
1. a. 1. Attending; incidental; casual; sus- 
taining a minor or less important relation. 
This is an attempt to separate wlmt is substantial and 
material from what is circumstantial and useless in his- 
tory. Goldsmith, The Martial Review, Pref. 
All that is merely circumstantial shall be subordinated 
to and in keeping with what is essential. J. Caird. 
2. Consisting in, pertaining to, or derived from 
circumstances or particular incidents : as, cir- 
cumstantial evidence. 
The usual character of human testimony is substantial 
truth under circumstantial variety. Paley. 
Strangers, whether wrecked and clinging to a raft, or 
duly escorted and accompanied by portmanteaus, have 
always had a circumstantial fascination for the virgin 
mind, against which native merit has urged itself in vain. 
Geoiye Eliot, Middlemarch, I. 129. 
3. Abounding with circumstances ; exhibiting 
or stating all the circumstances ; minute ; par- 
ticular; detailed: as, a circumstantial account 
or recital. 
All the rest the prisoner himself confirmed by a more 
circumstantial account. Goldsmith, Vicar, xxxi. 
Circumstantial evidence, evidence from more or less 
relevant circumstances or incidents bearing upon a case 
under consideration, as distinguished from direct testi- 
mony. Such evidence may either be quite inadequate to 
establish the fact, or constitute by logical inference the 
strongest proof of its existence. = Syn. 3. Particular, etc. 
See minute, a. 
II. . Something incidental and of subordi- 
nate importance; an accident or incident; a 
circumstance : opposed to an essential. 
To study thy preceptive will, to understand even the 
niceties and circumntantialx of my duty. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 73. 
Who would not prefer a religion that differs from his 
own in the circumstantials before one that differs from it 
in the essentials'; Addimn, Freeholder. 
Circumstantiality (ser-kum - stan - shi - al'i - 1 i ) , 
n. ; pi. circumstantialities (-tiz). [< circumstan- 
tial + -ity.] 1. The quality of being circum- 
stantial; minuteness; fullness of detail: as, 
the circumstantiality of a story or description. 
From the circumstantiality . . . [of Homer's account of 
killing a wild goat], it is evident that some honour attach- 
ed to the sportsman who had succeeded in such a capture. 
De Quincey, Homer, ii. 
2. A circumstance ; a particular detail. 
The deep impression of so memorable a tragedy had car- 
ried into popular remembrance vast numbers of special- 
ties and c-ircumstantialities. De Quincey, Homer, iii. 
circumstantially ( ser - kum - stan ' shal - i ) , adv . 
1. In regard to circumstances ; not essentially ; 
accidentally. [Bare.] 
Of the fancy and intellect the powers are only circum- 
stantially different. Glannille, Seep. Sci. 
2. Minutely ; exactly ; with every circumstance 
or particular. 
To set down somewhat circumstantially not only the 
events but the manner of my trials. 
Boyle, Works, II. 470. 
Circumstantiate (ser-kum-stan'shi-at), v. t.; 
pret. and pp. circumstantiated, ppr. circumstan- 
tiating. [< NL. as if *circumstantiatus, pp. of 
"circumstantiarc, < L. circumstantia, circum- 
stance : see circumstance, n., and -ate 2 .] 1. To 
place in particular circumstances; invest with 
particular conditions, accidents, or adiuncts. 
[Rare.] 
If the act were otherwise circumstantiated, It might will 
that freely which now it wills reluctantly. Bramhall. 
2. To place in a particular condition with re- 
gard to power or wealth. [Rare.] 
A number infinitely superior and the best circumstan- 
tiated are for the succession of Hanover. Sivirt. 
3. To confirm by circumstances ; establish cir- 
cumstantially. [The prevalent use of the word.] 
Neither will time permit to circumstantiate these par- 
ticulars. Ilarffravf. 
4. To describe circumstantially; give full or 
minute details regarding. [Rare.] 
De Foe is the only author known who has so plausibly 
circumstantiated his false historical records as to make 
them pass for genuine, even with literary men and critics. 
De Quincey, Homer, iii. 
Circumstantiate! (ser-kum-stan'shi-at), o. [< 
NL. *circumstantiatus, pp. : see the verb.] Cir- 
cumstantial. 
God . . . also does distinguish us by the proportions 
and circumstantiate applications of his grace to every 
singular capacity. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1836), I. 49. 
1014 
circumstantiation (ser-kum-stan-shi-a'shon), 
n. [<. circumstantiate, v.: see -alioii."] The act 
of circumstantiating, or investing with circum- 
stantial and plausible adjuncts. 
By inventing such little circumxtantiatiom of any char- 
acter or incident as seem, by their apparent inertness of 
effect, to verify themselves. DC Quincey, Homer, iii. 
circumstantlyt (ser'kum-staut-li), adv. [< 
etreumstant (with ref. to circumstance) + -ly 2 .] 
Circumstantially ; exactly. 
A gentleman . . . cuttes asunder certain partes of the 
wild bcaste in a certain order very circttmstantly. 
Chalvner, Praise of Kollie. 
circumterraneous (ser"kum-te-ra'ne-us), a. 
[< L. circum, around, + terra, earth : see ter- 
raneous.'] Around the earth ; being or dwell- 
ing around the earth. Hallywell. [Rare.] 
circumtorsion (ser-kum-tor'shon), n. [< cir- 
cum- + torsion.] A torsional stress ; an elastic 
force tending to make a bar, fiber, etc., untwist 
itself. 
Circumtriangle (ser'kum-tr! / 'ang-gl), . [< 
circum- + triangle.] In math., a circumscribed 
triangle. 
Circumtropical (ser-kum-trop'i-kal), a. [< cir- 
cum- + tropic + -aL] Surrounding the tropics ; 
adjacent to tropical regions. 
The total number of species of coral in the circitmtropi- 
cal seas must be very great ; in the Red Sea alone, 120 
kinds, according to Ehrenberg, have been observed. 
Daririn, Coral Reefs, p. 87. 
Circumundulate (ser-kum-un'du-lat), r. t. [< 
circum- + undulate, v.] To flow round, as waves. 
[Rare.] 
circumvallate (ser-kum-val'at), v. t. ; pret. and 
pp. circumvallated, ppr. circumvallating. [< L. 
circumvallatus, pp. of cireumvallare (> It. cir- 
convallare = Sp. circunvalar = Pg. circumval- 
lar), wall around, < circum, around, -f- vallare, 
wall, fortify with a rampart, < vallum, wall, ram- 
part : see wall.] To surround with or as with a 
rampart or fortified lines. Johnson. 
Circumvallate (ser-kum-val'at), a. [< L. cir- 
cumvallatus, pp. : see the verb.] Walled in ; sur- 
rounded by or as by a parapet Circumvallate 
papillae, large papilla;, 7 to 12 in number, on the back part 
of the tongue. They are of the shape of a truncated cone, 
and are surrounded by an annular depression (fossa) and 
elevation (vallum). Also called calycifonn papillae. 
circumvallation (ser'kum-va-fa'shon), n. [= 
F. circonvallation = Sp. circunvalacion = Pg. cir- 
cumvallaqtto = It. circonvallazione, < NL. *cir- 
cumvallatio(n-), < L. cireumvallare, wall around: 
see circumcallate, v.] In fort., the art or act of 
throwing up fortifications about a place, either 
for defense or attack ; the line of works so 
formed. Specifically (a) Aline of works thrown up to 
protect an investing or besieging army from attacks in the 
rear, (o) A line of field-works consisting of a rampart or 
parapet with a trench, surrounding a besieged place or 
the camp of a besieging army. 
3 August, at night, we rode about the lines of circuni- 
vallation, the Gener'll being then in the field. 
Evelyn, Diary, 1641. 
The wall of circumvallation round Paris, and the places 
by which we are to be let out and in, are nearly completed. 
Je/ergon, Correspondence, II. 224. 
The besieging forces closed round [the place] ... on 
every side, and the lines of circumvallation were rapidly 
formed. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxi. 
circumvectiont (ser-kum-vek'shon), n. [< L. 
circunivectio(n-), < circumveetus, pp. of "circum- 
vchere, carry around, dep. circumvehi, ride 
around, < circum, around, + vehere, carry, move : 
see vehicle, and cf. convection, etc.] A carrying 
about. E. Phillips, 1706. 
circumvent (ser-kum-venf), * [< L- cir- 
cumventus, pp. of circumvenire (> F. circonvenir 
= Sp. circunvenir (obs.) = It. cireonvenire), 
come around, encompass, beset, deceive, cheat, 
< circum, around, + venire = E. come.] To 
gain advantage over by artfulness, stratagem, 
or deception; defeat or get the better of by 
cunning; get around; outwit; overreach: as, 
to circumvent one's enemies. 
It might be the pate of a politician, . . . one that could 
circumvent God, might it not? Shak., Hamlet, v. 1. 
Circumvented thus by fraud. Stilton, P. L., iii. 152. 
With a commonplace capacity, and with a narrow polit- 
ical education, he intended to circumvent the most pro- 
found statesman of his age. 
Motley, Dutch Republic, III. 530. 
= Syn. See cheats. 
circumvention (ser-kum-ven'shon), n. [= F. 
circonvention = Sp. circumvention = It. circon- 
venzione, < LL. circumventio(n-), < .L. circum- 
venire, circumvent: see circumvent.] 1. The 
act of circumventing; the act of outwitting or 
overreaching; deception; fraud; stratagem. 
They stuff thir Prisons, but with men committed rather 
by circumvention, then any just cause. 
Milton, Hist. Eng., iii. 
circus 
2. Means of circumventing. Shak. [Rare.] 
3. In .sV'o/.s law, an act of fraud or deceit. 
circumventiye (ser-kum-ven'tiv), a. [< cir- 
cumvent + -ive.] Tending or designed to cir- 
cumvent; deceiving by artifices; outwitting; 
deluding. 
circumventor (ser-kum-ven'tor), n. [< LL. 
circumventor, < L. circumvenire, circumvent : see 
circumvent.] 1. One who circumvents, or gains 
his purpose by cunning or wiles ; a plotter or 
schemer. 
Your majesty now of late hath found . . . the said 
Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, ... to be the most 
false and corrupt traitour, deceiver, and circumventor 
against your most royal person. 
Bp. Burnet, Records, iii. 16. 
2. Same as circumferentor, 1. 
circumversiont (ser-kum-ver'shpn), n. [< L. 
circumversio(n-), < circumvertere, pp. circumver- 
sus, turn around, < circum, around, -f vertere, pp. 
versus, turn : see verse.] A turning about. Hoi- 
land. [Rare.] 
circumvestt (ser-kum-vesf), t. [< L. circum- 
rcxtire, clothe or cover over, < circuni, around, 
+ vestire, clothe: see vest, invest, etc.] To 
cover round, as with a garment. 
Who on this base the earth didst firmly found, 
And mad'st the deep to circumveit it round. 
Sir //. Walton, Poems. 
circumyolation (ser " kum - vo - la ' shon), . [< 
L. as if "circumvolatio(n-), < circumvolare, pp. 
eircumvolatus, fly around, < circum, around, + 
volare, fly: seevolant.] The act of flyingabout. 
[Rare.] 
Circumvolution (ser"kum-vo-lu'shon), n. [= 
F. circonvolution = Sp. circunvolucion = Pg. cir- 
cumvoluqolo = It. circonvoluzione, < L. as if *cir- 
cumvolutio(n-), < circumvolvere, pp. circumvolu- 
tus, roll around : see circumvolve.] 1. The act 
of rolling around. 
Stable, without circumvolution; 
Eternal! rest. 
Dr. II. More, Psychathanasia, III. ii. 36. 
2. The state of being rolled around or wound 
into a roll. 
The twisting of the guts is really either a circumvolu- 
tion or insertion of one part of the gut within the other. 
Arbttthnot. 
3. One of the windings of a thing wound or 
twisted; a convolution. [Bare.] 4. Figura- 
tively, a winding; a roundabout method of pro- 
cedure. 
He had neither time nor temper for sentimental circum- 
volutions. Disraeli, Coningsby, vi. 2. 
Never did a monarch hold so steadfastly to a deadly pur- 
pose, or proceed so languidly and with so much circum- 
volution to his goal. Motley, Dutch Republic, II. 102. 
Circum VOl vet ( ser-kum- volv ' ) , v. [= It. circon- 
volgere, < L. cireumvolvcre, roll around, < circum, 
around, + volrere, roll: 8eo volution.] I. trans. 
To turn or cause to roll about ; cause to revolve. 
Whene'er we circumvolve our eyes. 
Herrick, On Fletcher's Incomparable Plays. 
To ascribe to each sphere an intelligence to circumvolve 
it were unphilosophical. Glanville, Seep. Sci. 
H. intrans. To roll around; revolve. E. 
Darwin. 
circumvolvencet (ser-kum-vol'vens), n. [< 
circumvolve + -ence.] Circumvolution; revo- 
lution. 
See the piled floors of the sky, and their furniture, 
clouds, circumvolvence, contest, and war. 
H. Jennings, Rosicrucians, p. 76. 
Circus (ser'kus), n. [= F. cirque = Sp. Pg. It. 
cireo = D. G. Sw. circus = Dan. cirkus, < L. cir- 
cus, a circle, ring (in this sense commonly cir- 
culus: see circle), a circus (see def. 1), a race- 
course, = Gr. npiKof, later wp/cof, a ring, a circle, 
also, after the L., a circus. Hence (from L. cir- 
cus) ult. E. circ, circle, circum-, circulate, cirque, 
encircle, etc., and search, q. v.] 1. In Rom. 
antiq., a large, oblong, roofless inclosure, used 
especially for horse- and chariot-races. It was 
rounded at one end, and had at the other the barriers or 
starting-places for the horses. The course passed round 
a low central wall, called the spina, which reached nearly 
from end to end, and was surrounded by tiers of seats 
rising one above another for the accommodation of the 
spectators. It was essentially an adaptation of the Greek 
hippodrome, but was used also, like the amphitheater, for 
gladiatorial contests, combats with wild beasts, etc. 
This broken circus, where the rock-weeds climb, 
Flaunting with yellow blossoms, and defy 
The gods to whom its walls were piled so high. 
Bryant, Ruins of Italica (trans.). 
2. In modern times, a place of amusement 
where feats of horsemanship and acrobatic dis- 
plays form the principal entertainment; the 
company of performers in such a place, with 
their equipage ; the entertainment given. 
