circum-

¹ American  

1. a prefix with the meaning “round about, around,” found in Latin loanwords, especially derivatives of verbs that had the general senses “to encompass or surround” (circumference; circumjacent; circumstance ) or “to go around” by the means or in the manner specified by the verb (circumnavigate; circumscribe ); on this basis forming adjectives in English with the meaning “surrounding” that named by the stem (circumocular; circumpolar ).

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circum. ² American  

abbreviation

1. circumference.

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circum- British  

prefix

1. around; surrounding; on all sides

   circumlocution

   circumrotate

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circum– Scientific  

1. A prefix meaning “around”, as in circumscribe, to draw a figure around another figure.

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Etymology

Origin of circum-

From Latin circum “around” (accusative of circus; circus, circle ), originally as an adverb fixed in relation to the verb, later construed as a prefix

Example Sentences

And that, at least, gave me some hope: that even under ordinary circum- stances, I still might find a way to live an extraordinary life.

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs

Under present circum- stances, I can do nothing.

From The Survivors of the Chancellor by Verne, Jules

Here she could see some object which circum- stances proved to be a vehicle for after a few minutes the horse down the road, mingled with the sound of light wheels.

From Far from the Madding Crowd by Hardy, Thomas

Under these circum- stances the waiter of course felt justified in sitting down at the same table with a gentleman who had come in and asked him for writing materials.

From A Little Tour in France by James, Henry

I spent two days there, mostly in the rain, and even under these circum- stances I carried away a kindly impression.

From A Little Tour in France by James, Henry