circumscription

American  

[sur-kuhm-skrip-shuhn] / ˌsɜr kəmˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of circumscribing.

2. circumscribed state; limitation.

3. anything that circumscribes, surrounds, or encloses; boundary.

4. periphery; outline.

5. a circumscribed area.

6. a circular inscription on a coin, seal, etc.

7. limitation of a meaning; definition.

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circumscription British  

/ ˌsɜːkəmˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. the act of circumscribing or the state of being circumscribed

2. something that limits or encloses

3. a circumscribed space

4. an inscription around a coin or medal

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncircumscriptive
  adjective
• circumscriptive
  adjective
• circumscriptively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of circumscription

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin circumscrīptiōn- (stem of circumscrīptiō ), equivalent to circumscrīpt ( us ) (past participle of circumscrībere to circumscribe; see circum-, script) + -iōn- -ion