circumstances
cir·cum·stance
[sur-kuh
m-stans or, esp. British, -stuhns] noun, verb, cir·cum·stanced, cir·cum·stanc·ing. 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.
verb (used with object)
8.
to place in particular circumstances or relations: The company was favorably circumstanced by the rise in tariffs.
9.
00:10
Circumstances
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To circumstances
Collins
World English Dictionary
circumstance (ˈsɜːkəmstəns) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | (usually plural) a condition of time, place, etc, that accompanies or influences an event or condition |
| 2. | an incident or occurrence, esp a chance one |
| 3. | accessory information or detail |
| 4. | formal display or ceremony (archaic except in the phrase pomp and circumstance) |
| 5. | under no circumstances, in no circumstances in no case; never |
| 6. | under the circumstances because of conditions; this being the case |
| 7. | in bad circumstances (of a person) in a bad financial situation |
| 8. | in good circumstances (of a person) in a good financial situation |
| —vb | |
| 9. | to place in a particular condition or situation |
| 10. | obsolete to give in detail |
| [C13: from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstāre to stand around, from | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
circumstance
early 13c., "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 mid-14c. Obsolete sense of "formality about an important event" (late 14c.) lingers in Shakespeare's phrase pomp and circumstance ("Othello" III, iii).
circumstances
"condition of life, material welfare" (usually with a qualifying adj.), 1704, from circumstance (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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