circumambient

[sur-kuh m-am-bee-uh nt]

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adjective

surrounding; encompassing: circumambient gloom.

Origin of circumambient

First recorded in 1625–35, circumambient is from the Late Latin word circumambient- (stem of circumambiēns). See circum-, ambient

Related formscir·cum·am·bi·ence, cir·cum·am·bi·en·cy, nouncir·cum·am·bi·ent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for circumambient

neighboring, encompassing, around, circumferential

Examples from the Web for circumambient

Historical Examples of circumambient

The air was electric with the thrill of circumambient existence.
A Summer Evening's Dream
Edward Bellamy
He clutched feebly at the circumambient darkness for expedients.
The Plattner Story and Others
H. G. Wells
The phrase 'a quarter of a million' glinted and flashed in the circumambient air.
Mr. Prohack
E. Arnold Bennett
Debussy gives the circumambient atmosphere, Ravel the inner form.
Musical Portraits
Paul Rosenfeld
So you could soar into the circumambient ether and leave all mundane things below?
The Girls of Central High in Camp
Gertrude W. Morrison

British Dictionary definitions for circumambient

circumambient

adjective

surrounding

Derived Formscircumambience or circumambiency, noun

Word Origin for circumambient

C17: from Late Latin circumambīre, from circum- + ambīre to go round

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

Word Origin and History for circumambient

adj.

1630s, from circum- + ambient.