circumstance
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈsɜːkəmst(ə)ns/
ipa: /-ɑːns/
ipa: /-æns/
ipa: /ˈsɝ.kəmˌstæns/
ipa: /ˈsɜːkəmstæns/
ipa: /-aːns/
Forms: form: circumstances
form: circumstaunce
Etymology: From Middle English circumstaunce, from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia.
Senses: examples: text: The report should focus on to the current circumstances of the organisation, to help us find a way to grow in the future.
text: She went missing in somewhat spooky circumstances.
text: The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened.
ref: 1819, Washington Irving, The Broken Heart:
text: The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas. […]
ref: 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Tragedy in Dartmoor Terrace, →OL:
glosses: Something which is related to, or in some way affects, a fact or event.
examples: text: I have ſeen Two or Three antique Buſts of Alexander in the ſame Air and Poſture, and am apt to think the Sculptor had in his Thoughts the Conqueror's weeping for new Worlds, or ſome other the like Circumſtance of his History.
ref: 1705, J[oseph] Addison, “Florence”, in Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 413:
text: Then another circumstance happened, which made a lasting impression on my memory, though I was but a small child.
ref: 1834, David Crockett, chapter I, in A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee. […], Philadelphia, Pa.: E[dward] L[awrence] Carey and A[braham] Hart; Boston, Mass.: Allen & Ticknor, →OCLC, page 20:
coordinate_terms: accident
happenstance
glosses: An event; a fact; a particular incident, occurrence, or condition (status).
examples: text: Right, you are in the right, and therefore / I holde it meet without more circumſtance at all, / Wee ſhake hands and part; […]
ref: c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell, published 1603, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:
text: But he (as louing his owne pride, and purpoſes) / Euades them, with a bumbaſt Circumſtance, / Horribly ſtufft with Epithites of warre,
ref: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 310, column 1:
text: Old Ger. You put vs to a needeleſſe labour ſir, / To runne and winde about for circumſtance, / When the plaine word, I thanke you, would have ſeru'd.
ref: 1614, John Cooke, Greene's Tu Quoque, London: John Trundle, page 83:
roman: Modernised: Old Ger. You put us to a needless labour sir, / To run and wind about for circumstance, / When the plain word, "I thank you", would have served.
glosses: Evasive or indirect language; circumlocution.
examples: text: She was born into comfortable circumstances.
text: When men are eaſy in their circumſtances, they are naturally enemies to innovations: […]
ref: 1716 May 25 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 42. Monday, May 14. [1716.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC, page 514:
glosses: Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings.
Synonyms: word: circumstance
word: position
word: posture
Hyponyms: word: complication
Derived terms: aggravating circumstance
attendant circumstance
attenuating circumstance
exigent circumstance
extenuating circumstance
extenuating circumstances
mitigating circumstance
mitigating circumstances
pomp and circumstance
under no circumstance
under the circumstances
Related terms: circumstantial
coinstantial
circumspection