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circumstances

 - 4 dictionary results

cir⋅cum⋅stance

  [sur-kuhm-stans or, especially Brit., -stuhns] noun, verb, -stanced, -stanc⋅ing.
Use circumstances in a Sentence
–noun
1. a condition, detail, part, or attribute, with respect to time, place, manner,agent, etc., that accompanies, determines, or modifies a fact or event; a modifying or influencing factor: Do not judge his behavior without considering every circumstance.
2. Usually, circumstances. the existing conditions or state of affairs surrounding and affecting an agent: Circumstances permitting, we sail on Monday.
3. an unessential or secondary accompaniment of any fact or event; minor detail: The author dwells on circumstances rather than essentials.
4. circumstances, the condition or state of a person with respect to income and material welfare: a family in reduced circumstances.
5. an incident or occurrence: His arrival was a fortunate circumstance.
6. detailed or circuitous narration; specification of particulars: The speaker expatiated with great circumstance upon his theme.
7. Archaic. ceremonious accompaniment or display: pomp and circumstance.
–verb (used with object)
8. to place in particular circumstances or relations: The company was favorably circumstanced by the rise in tariffs.
9. Obsolete.
a. to furnish with details.
b. to control or guide by circumstances.
—Idioms
10. under no circumstances, regardless of events or conditions; never: Under no circumstances should you see them again.
11. under the circumstances, because of the conditions; as the case stands: Under the circumstances, there is little hope for an early settlement. Also, in the circumstances.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME < L circumstantia (circumstant-, s. of circumstāns, prp. of circumstāre to stand round), equiv. to circum- circum- + stā- stand + -nt prp. suffix + -ia n. suffix; see -ance

Synonyms:
7. ritual, formality, splendor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To circumstances
cir·cum·stance   (sûr'kəm-stāns')   
n.  

  1. A condition or fact attending an event and having some bearing on it; a determining or modifying factor.

  2. A condition or fact that determines or must be considered in the determining of a course of action.

  3. The sum of determining factors beyond willful control. Often used in the plural: a victim of circumstance; work that will begin on Monday if circumstances permit.

  4. circumstances Financial status or means: "Prior came of a good family, much reduced in circumstances" (George Sherburn).

  5. Detail accompanying or surrounding an event, as in a narrative or series of events.

  6. Formal display; ceremony: the pomp and circumstance of a coronation.

  7. A particular incident or occurrence: Your arrival was a fortunate circumstance. See Synonyms at occurrence.

tr.v.   cir·cum·stanced, cir·cum·stanc·ing, cir·cum·stanc·es
To place in particular circumstances or conditions; situate.

[Middle English, from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstāns, circumstant-, present participle of circumstāre, to stand around : circum-, circum- + stāre, to stand; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

circumstance 
c.1225, "conditions surrounding and accompanying an event," from L. circumstantia "surrounding condition," neut. pl. of circumstans (gen. circumstantis), prp. of circumstare "stand around," from circum "around" + stare "to stand" from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Meaning "a person's surroundings, environment" is from c.1340. Obsolete sense of "formality about an important event" (c.1386) lingers in Shakespeare's phrase pomp and circumstance ("Othello" III, iii). Circumstantial evidence is from 1736.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: cir·cum·stance
Function: noun
1 a : a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another circumstances constituting fraud or mistake shall be stated —Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 9(b)> b : a piece of evidence that indicates the probability or improbability of an event circumstances clearly indicate the trustworthiness of the statement —State v. Lopez, 764 Pacific Reporter, Second Series 1111 (1988)>
2 plural : situation with regard to wealth circumstances of the parties before the divorce>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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