circa

[ sur-kuh ]
See synonyms for circa on Thesaurus.com
preposition, adverb
  1. about: used especially in approximate dates: The Venerable Bede was born circa 673.Abbreviation: ca, ca., c., c, cir., circ.

Origin of circa

1
First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin: “around, about,” akin to circus circus

Words Nearby circa

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use circa in a sentence

  • Thirty-five years earlier (circa 1770), even the quickest stages were no speedier than the vans.

  • Potentia generandi in maribus vulgo circa annum sexagesimum-secundum cessat, exceptiones autem multae inveniuntur.

  • There could be no denying that our countrymen of 1918 (circa) lived through an interesting period of their country's history.

    The Secret of the League | Ernest Bramah
  • Hoc circa templum sit jus mercatoribus æqum, pondera ne vergant nec sit conventio prava.

    The Royal Pawn of Venice | Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull
  • Quo cum peruenirent sui commilitones, congregati circa ipsum dominum suum, excercitum magnum et fortem conflauerunt.

    Beowulf | R. W. Chambers

British Dictionary definitions for circa

circa

/ (ˈsɜːkə) /


preposition
  1. (used with a date) at the approximate time of: circa 1182 bc . Abbreviation: c., ca.

Origin of circa

1
Latin: about; related to Latin circus circle, circus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012