CIRCUMSTANCE


Meaning of CIRCUMSTANCE in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈsər-k ə m-ˌstan(t)s, -stən(t)s ]

noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstant-, circumstans, present participle of circumstare to stand around, from circum- + stare to stand — more at stand

Date: 13th century

1.

a. : a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another : an essential or inevitable concomitant

the weather is a circumstance to be taken into consideration

b. : a subordinate or accessory fact or detail

cost is a minor circumstance in this case

c. : a piece of evidence that indicates the probability or improbability of an event (as a crime)

the circumstance of the missing weapon told against him

the circumstance s suggest murder

2.

a. : the sum of essential and environmental factors (as of an event or situation)

constant and rapid change in economic circumstance — G. M. Trevelyan

b. : state of affairs : eventuality

open rebellion was a rare circumstance

— often used in plural

a victim of circumstance s

c. plural : situation with regard to wealth

he was in easy circumstance s

rose from difficult circumstance s

3. : attendant formalities and ceremonial

pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war — Shakespeare

4. : an event that constitutes a detail (as of a narrative or course of events)

considering each circumstance in turn

Synonyms: see occurrence

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.