■ noun
1》 a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action.
2》 ( ~s ) one's state of financial or material welfare.
3》 archaic ceremony and public display: pomp and ~.
Phrases
under (or in ) the ~s given the difficult nature of the situation.
under (or in ) no ~s never.
Derivatives
~d adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. circonstance or L. circumstantia , from circumstare 'encircle, encompass'.