Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

circumambient

[sur-kuh m-am-bee-uh nt]
See more synonyms for circumambient on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. surrounding; encompassing: circumambient gloom.
Show More

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. 2018

Related Words

neighboringencompassingaroundcircumambientcircumferential

Examples from the Web for circumambient

Historical Examples

  • 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 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?

British Dictionary definitions for circumambient

circumambient

adjective
  1. surrounding
Show More
Derived Formscircumambience or circumambiency, noun

Word Origin

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.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper