Cir"cum*stance , v. t. To place in a particular situation;
to supply relative incidents.
The poet took
the matters of fact as they
came down to him and circumstanced them,
after his own manner.
Addison.
Cir"cum*stance (?), n.
[L. circumstantia, fr. circumstans,
-antis, p. pr. of
circumstare to stand around; circum + stare to stand. See Stand.]
1. That which attends, or relates to, or
in some way
affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of
things.
The
circumstances are well known in the
country where they happened.
W.
Irving.
2. An event; a fact; a particular incident.
The sculptor had in his
thoughts the conqueror weeping for new worlds, or the like circumstances in history.
Addison.
3. Circumlocution; detail. [Obs.]
So without more circumstance
at all
I hold it fit that we shake
hands and part.
Shak.
4. pl. Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation;
surroundings.
When men are easy
in their circumstances,
they are naturally enemies to
innovations.
Addison.
Not a circumstance, of no account. [Colloq.] --
Under the circumstances,
taking all things into consideration.
Syn. -- Event; occurrence; incident; situation; condition; position; fact; detail; item. See Event.
Hear it pronounced