Circumnutation, sėr-kum-nū-tā′shun, n. a nodding or turning successively towards all points of the compass, as in the tendrils of plants.—v.i. Circumnū′tate.—adj. Circumnū′tatory. [L. circum, about, nutāre, -ātum, to nod.]
Circumpolar, sėr-kum-pō′lar, adj. situated round the pole. [See Polar.]
Circumpose, sėr′kum-pōz, v.t. to place round.—n. Circumposi′tion, the act of placing round. [See Position.]
Circumscribe, sėr-kum-skrīb′, v.t. to draw a line round: to enclose within certain limits, to curtail, abridge.—adj. Circumscrib′able, able to be circumscribed.—ns. Circumscrib′er, one who circumscribes; Circumscrip′tion, limitation: the line that limits: a circumscribed place.—adj. Circumscrip′tive, marking the external form or outline. [L. scribĕre, to write.]
Circumspect, sėr′kum-spekt, adj. looking round on all sides watchfully: cautious: prudent.—n. Circumspec′tion, watchfulness: caution: examining.—adj. Circumspec′tive, looking around: wary.—adv. Cir′cumspectly.—n. Cir′cumspectness. [L. specĕre, spectum, to look.]
Circumstance, sėr′kum-stans, n. the logical surroundings of an action: an accident or event: ceremony: detail: (pl.) the state of one's affairs.—v.t. to place in particular circumstances:—pa.p. cir′cumstanced.—adj. Circumstan′tial, consisting of details: minute.—n. Circumstantial′ity, the quality of being circumstantial: minuteness in details: a detail.—adv. Circumstan′tially.—n.pl. Circumstan′tials, incidentals: details.—v.t. Circumstan′tiate, to prove by circumstances: to describe exactly.—Circumstantial evidence, evidence which is not positive nor direct, but which is gathered inferentially from the circumstances in the case.—In good or bad circumstances, prosperous or unprosperous; In, Under the circumstances, owing to certain conditions. [L. stans, stantis, standing—stāre, to stand.]
Circumvallate, sėr-kum′val-āt, v.t. to surround with a rampart.—n. Circumvallā′tion, a surrounding with a wall: a wall or fortification surrounding a town or fort. [L. vallum, rampart.]
Circumvent, sėr-kum-vent′, v.t. to come round or outwit a person: to deceive or cheat.—n. Circumven′tion.—adj. Circumvent′ive, deceiving by artifices. [L. venīre, to come.]
Circumvolve, sėr-kum-volv′, v.t. to roll round.—v.i. to revolve:—pr.p. circumvolv′ing; pa.p. circumvolved′.—n. Circumvolū′tion, a turning or rolling round: anything winding or sinuous. [L. volvĕre, volutum, to roll.]
Circus, sėr′kus, n. a circular building for the exhibition of games: a place for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship: a group of houses arranged in the form of a circle: applied to nature, as, e.g., high hills surrounding a plain.—n. Cirque (sėrk), a circus: a ring of some sort. [L. circus; cog. with Gr. kirkos.]