circumvent
- to go around or bypass: to circumvent the lake; to circumvent the real issues.
- to avoid (defeat, failure, unpleasantness, etc.) by artfulness or deception; avoid by anticipating or outwitting: He circumvented capture by anticipating their movements.
- to surround or encompass, as by stratagem; entrap: to circumvent a body of enemy troops.
Origin of circumvent
Synonyms for circumvent
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for circumvention
Historical Examples of circumvention
Well, what can't be done by main courage, in war, must be done by circumvention.
The Last of the MohicansJames Fenimore Cooper
In which there is no wound or defeat or circumvention so long as thou fleest not.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume I of II)Henry Osborn Taylor
From the day an animal is born, instinct and training are bent toward the circumvention of enemies.
Wild Life Near HomeDallas Lore Sharp
And even in dreams her genius invented fresh expedients, wrote notes of apology, or made speeches of circumvention.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
One worthy deed, however, he did perform: he publicly burned the Bill for the Circumvention of the Flamp, amid deafening applause.
circumvent
- to evade or go around
- to outwit
- to encircle (an enemy) so as to intercept or capture
Word Origin for circumvent
Word Origin and History for circumvention
early 15c., from Latin circumventionem (nominative circumventio), noun of action from past participle stem of circumvenire "to get around" (see circumvent).
circumvent
mid-15c., "to surround by hostile stratagem," from Latin circumventus, past participle of circumvenire "to get around, be around, encircle, surround," in figurative sense "to oppress, assail, cheat," from circum "around" (see circum-) + venire "to come" (see venue). Meaning "to go round" is from 1840. Related: Circumvented; circumventing.