[cir.cum.stan.tial] adj (1600) 1: belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances
2: pertinent but not essential: incidental
3: marked by careful attention to detail: abounding in factual details "a ~ account of the fight"
4: ceremonial -- cir.cum.stan.ti.al.i.ty n -- cir.cum.stan.tial.ly adv syn circumstantial, minute, particular, detailed mean dealing with a matter fully and usu. point by point. circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space "a circumstantial account of our visit". minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details "a minute examination of a fossil". particular implies a precise attention to every detail "a particular description of the scene of the crime". detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail "a detailed analysis of the event".