See Also: circumstance(dictionary)
circumstance(dictionary)
extenuating circumstance(encyclopedia)

circumstance (iou)



circumstance noun & verb. ME.
[Old & mod. French circonstance or Latin circumstantia, from circumstant- pres. ppl stem of circumstare, formed as CIRCUM- + stare to stand: see -ANCE.]
A. noun.
I. Something surrounding (lit. & fig.).
That which stands around or surrounds; surroundings. ME-L19.
In pl., or sing. (as a non-count noun). The material, logical, or other environmental conditions of an act or event; the time, place, manner, cause, occasion, etc., of an act or event; the external conditions affecting or that might affect action, spec. as indicating criminality. ME.
J. Webster We have nought but circumstances To charge her with, about her husband's death. J. A. Froude Who found himself in circumstances to which he was unequal. L. P. Hartley A soldier has to change his mind when circumstances demand it. J. Heller That men should die was a matter of necessity; which men should die, though, was a matter of circumstance. J. Barth When I next saw her, it was under entirely different circumstances. J. Fowles Ernestina..was..a victim of circumstances.
b. In sing. (as a count noun). Any of such conditions. M16.
J. Galsworthy A solid and prolonged happiness such as perhaps no other circumstance in life had afforded him.
c. spec. In pl. State of financial or material welfare. E18.
N. Mitford Summer came and went without any change in Polly's circumstances.
Formality, ceremony, or fuss surrounding an act or event. Now chiefly in pomp and circumstance. LME.
b. Importance. L16-L17.
Detail about the external conditions of an act or event; arch. circumlocution, indirectness. E16.
II. Something accessory.
An accessory matter; a particular, a detail. Usu. in pl. ME.
Swift The sentence of death with all the circumstances of hanging, beheading, quartering, embowelling and the like.
b. spec. A material adjunct; a physical feature. L16-L18.
Subordinate matters or details. LME-E18.
The part(s) not of the essence or substance of something. arch. L16.
An incident, an occurrence; a fact. L16.
T. Capote A circumstance which explained the presence of perhaps a third of the immense congregation.
Phrases: a mere circumstance, a poor circumstance, a remote circumstance US colloq. a person or thing of little or no importance. creature of circumstance: see CREATURE. in no circumstances not whatever happens; never. in the circumstances owing to or making allowance for circumstances. narrow circumstances: see NARROW adjective. not a circumstance to US colloq. nothing in comparison with. under no circumstances = in no circumstances above. under the circumstances = in the circumstances above.
b. verb trans.
Subject to conditions or circumstances. LME-M18.
Place with regard to circumstances or relations. Chiefly as circumstanced ppl adjective. E17.
= CIRCUMSTANTIATE 4. M17-L18.