Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Cir'cum-ăm'bu-lā'tion, n. p. 232The act of walking round.Cir'cum-bĕnd'i-būs, n. p. 232A circuitous movement or route. [Vulgar.] Goldsmith.Cir'cum-cēl'ion, n. p. 232(Eccl. Hist.) One of a set of illiterate peasants that adhered to the Donatists in the fourth century, receiving this name because they rambled from one town to another, and pretended to public…Cîr'cum-cīse, v. t. p. 232To cut off the prepuce or foreskin of, in the case of males, and the internal labia of, in the case of females. The circumcision of males is practiced as a religious rite by the Jews, Mohammedans…Cir'cum-ci'ser, n. p. 232One who performs circumcision. Milton.Cir'cum-cī'sion, n. p. 232The act of cutting off the prepuce or foreskin of males, and the internal labia of females. 2. (Script.) (a.) Rejection of the sins of the flesh; spiritual purification, and acceptance of the…Cir'cum-clū'sion, n. p. 232The act of inclosing on all sides.Cir'cum-cur-sā'tion, n. p. 232The act of running about. [Obs.] “A factious circumcursation of desperate wretches.” Barrow.Cir'cum-dūce', v. t. p. 232To circumduct. [Rare.] “I must circumduce the term.” W. Scott.Çĩr'cum-dŭct', v. t. p. 232To lead about; to lead astray. [Rare.] 2. (Law.) To contravene; to nullify; as, to circumduct acts of judicature. Ayliffe.Çĩr'cum-dŭc'tion, n. p. 232A leading about. [Rare.] Hooker. 2. An annulling; cancellation. [Rare.] Ayliffe.Çĩr'cum-fẽr, v. t. p. 232To bear or carry round. [Obs.] Bacon.Çir-cŭm'fer-ençe, n. p. 232The line that goes round or encompasses a circular figure; a periphery. “The scale of nature set from center to circumference.” Milton. 2. The space included in a circle; a circle; any thing…Cir-cūm'fer-ence, v. t. p. 232To include in a circular space. [Obs.] Browne.Cir-cūm'fer-ēn'tial, a. p. 232Pertaining to the circumference. Parkhurst.Cir-cūm'fer-ēn'tor, n. p. 232An instrument used by surveyors for taking horizontal angles and bearings. It is nearly the same as the surveyor's compass, except that the graduation of the scale is continued to 360°.Cir'cum-flānt, a. p. 232Blowing around. [Obs. and rare.] “Circumflant air.” Evelyn.Cir'cum-flēct, v. t. p. 232To mark with the circumflex. [Rare.]Cir'cum-flĕx, n. p. 232A wave of the voice embracing both a rise and fall on the same syllable. Walker. 2. A character, or accent, denoting in Greek a rise and fall of the voice on the same long syllable, marked thus [~ or…Cĭr'cum-flĕx, v. t. p. 232To mark or pronounce with a circumflex. Walker.Cir'cum-flēx, a. p. 232Moving or turning round; circuitous. [Rare.] Swift.Cir'cum-flex'ion, n. p. 232The act of bending, or causing to assume a curved form. 2. A winding about; a turning; a circuitry; a fold.Cir-cŭm'flu-ence, n. p. 232A flowing round on all sides; an inclosure of waters.Cir-cŭm'flu-ent or Cir-cŭm'flu-ous, a. p. 232Flowing round; surrounding in the manner of a fluid. “The deep, circumfluent waves.” Pope. “Built on circumfluous waters calm.” Milton.Cĭr'cum-fo-rā'ne-an or Cĭr'cum-fo-rā'ne-ous, a. p. 232Going about or abroad; walking or wandering from house to house. Addison.Cir'cum-fūse', v. t. p. 232To pour round; to spread round. Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused, Their pleasant dwelling-place. Milton.Cĭr'cum-fū'sile, a. p. 232Capable of being poured or spread round. “Circumfusile gold.” Pope.Cir'cum-fū'sion, n. p. 232The act of pouring or spreading round; the state of being poured round. “Daily creation and circumfusion.” Swift.Cir'cum-ges-tā'tion, n. p. 232The act or process of carrying about. [Obs.] “Circumgestation of the eucharist to be adored.” Bp. Taylor.Circum-gy′rate or Circum-gy′re′, v. t. p. 232To roll or turn round; to perform a rotatory or circular motion. [Rare.] Ray.Circum-gy-rā'tion, n. p. 232The act of turning, rolling, or whirling round. “A certain turbulent and irregular circumgyration.” Holland.Cir'cum-in-cĕs'sion, n. p. 232(Theol.) The reciprocal existence in each other of the three persons of the Trinity.Cir'cum-i'tion, n. p. 232A going round. [Obs.] Bailey.Cĭr'cum-jā'sence, n. p. 232The condition or state of being circumpacent, or of bordering on every side.Cĭr'cum-jā'cent, a. p. 232Lying round; bordering on every side. “Surrounded with the circumjacent countries.” Fuller.Cĭr'cum-li-gā'tion, n. p. 232The act of binding round; the bond with which any thing is encompassed. [Obs.] Bailey.Cir/cum-lit'to-ral, a. p. 232Adjoining the shore.Cĭr'cum-lo-cū'tion, n. p. 232A circuit or compass of words; a periphrase; the use of a number of words to express an idea, when a suitable term is not at hand, or when a speaker chooses to avoid the use of a single term.…Cir'cum-lo-cā'tion-al, a. p. 232Relating to, or consisting of, circumlocutions; periphrastic; circuitous.Cĭr'cum-lōc'ū-to-ry, a. p. 232Pertaining to a circumlocution; consisting or contained in a compass of words; periphrastic. Shenstone.Cĭr'cum-mūred',, a. p. 232Walled round; encompassed with a wall. Shak.Cir'cum-nāv'i-ga-ble, a. p. 232Capable of being sailed round. Ray.Cĭr'cum-nāv'i-gāte, v. t. p. 232To sail round; to pass round by water. “Having circumnavigated the whole earth.” Fuller.Cir'cum-nāv-i-gā'tion, n. p. 232The act of circumnavigating, or sailing round. Arbuthnot.Cir'cum-nāv'i-gā'tor, n. p. 232One who sails round.Cĭr'cum-pli-cā'tion, n. p. 232A folding, winding, or wrapping round, or a state of being inwrapped. [Rare.] Bailey.Cĭr'cum-pō'lar, a. p. 232About the pole; situated near the pole; as, circumpolar constellations.Cir'cum-po-sĭ'tion, n. p. 232The act of placing in a circle, or the state of being so placed. Evelyn.Cĭr'cum-rā'sion, n. p. 232The act of shaving or paring round. [Obs.] Bailey.Cir'cum-rō'ta-ry, a. p. 233Turning, rolling, or whirling round.Cir'cum-ro-tā'tion, n. p. 233The act of rolling or revolving round, as a wheel; circumvolution; the state of being whirled round. Gregory.Cir'cum-rō'ta-to-ry, a. p. 233Turning, rolling, or whirling round. “A variety of circumrotatory flourishes.” Shenstone.Cir'cum-scīs'sile, a. p. 233(Bot.) Dehiscing or opening by a transverse circular opening round the sides of a pod, &c. Gray.Cir'cum-scrib'a-ble, a. p. 233Capable of being circumscribed.Cir'cum-scribe', v. t. p. 233To write, draw, or engrave around. [Rare.] “Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph.” Ashmole. 2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine. “To circumscribe royal…Cir'cum-scrib'er, n. p. 233One who, or that which, circumscribes.Cir'cum-scrip'ti-ble, a. p. 233Capable of being circumscribed or limited by bounds.Cir'cum-scrip'tion, n. p. 233A circular inscription. [Rare.] Ashmole. 2. The termination or limits of a body; the exterior line which determines the form or magnitude of a body. Ray. 3. The limitation by conditions, restraints…Cĭr'cum-scrĭp'tive, a. p. 233Defining the external form; marking or inclosing the limits or superficies of a body. Grew.Cir'cum-scrip'tive-ly, adv. p. 233In a limited manner.