ˈsərkəmzˌtan(t)s, ˈsə̄k-, ˈsəik-, -mˌst-, -taa(ə)n-, -tain- Brit usually & US also -_tən- or -_stən-; sometimes -ˌtȧn- or -ˌstȧn- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstant-, circumstans, present participle of circumstare to stand around, from circum- + stare to stand — more at stand
1.
a. : a specific part, phase, or attribute of the surroundings or background of an event, fact, or thing or of the prevailing conditions in which it exists or takes place : a condition, fact, or event accompanying, conditioning, or determining another : an adjunct or concomitant that is present or logically likely to be present
it was late but he overlooked that circumstance
the time, place, and other circumstances of an action
the circumstance that the man was happy raised the presumption that he was prosperous enough
every circumstance of calculated and characteristic … treachery — Sir Winston Churchill
b. : a subordinate detail : an adventitious nonessential fact or detail
the gist of the matter, not the circumstances
2.
a. : the total complex of essential attributes and attendant adjuncts of a fact or action : the sum of essential and environmental characteristics : arrangement, situation, composition, or nature of an event or thing — usually used in singular without the indefinite article and rarely with the definite article
constant and rapid change in economic circumstance , social custom, and intellectual atmosphere — G.M.Trevelyan
b. : occurrence , eventuality
the unofficial minority voted solidly against a government measure — a rare circumstance — W.T.Stace
c. : an evidential condition on the basis of which an event (as a crime) may be inferred or an accusation made probable or improbable
the circumstances of the case indicate murder
the circumstances tell against the accused
d. : surroundings or situation as regards wealth, property, assured income — usually used in plural
a bachelor in easy circumstances with a large inheritance to draw on
e. obsolete : a likely appurtenance : a characteristic property
3. : formalities and ritualistic display especially as contrasted with essential procedure : attendant ceremonial
pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war — Shakespeare
with appropriate ducal and episcopal circumstance — Francis Hackett
4. in a narrative : circumstantial detail
stress circumstance rather than action in a novel
5. : an occurrence or fact viewed as a detail in a larger continuum
the conqueror weeping for new worlds or the like circumstances in history — Joseph Addison
6. : chance , fate
a training in self-reliance, endurance, and indifference to circumstance — Geographical Review
a mere victim of circumstance — Fritz Stern
Synonyms: see occurrence
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- in the circumstances
- not a circumstance to
- under no circumstances