n.
Pronunciation: ' s ə r-k ə m- ˌ stan(t)s, -st ə n(t)s
Function: 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