Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Cir'cum-spĕct, a. p. 233Attentive to all the circumstances of a case; cautious; prudent; watchful; wary; vigilant. Be wise and circumspect. Shak. Syn.—See CAUTIOUS.Cir'cum-spēc'tion, n. p. 233Attention to all the facts and circumstances of a case; caution; prudence. “With silent circumspection.” Milton. Syn.—Caution; watchfulness; deliberation; thoughtfulness; wariness; forecast.Cir'cum-spēet'ive, a. p. 233Looking round every way; cautious; careful of consequences; watchful of danger. “Circumspective eyes.” Pope.Cir'cum-spĕct'ive-ly, adv. p. 233With watchfulness to guard against danger; cautiously; heedfully.Cir'cum-spēet'ly, adv. p. 233With watchfulness every way; with attention to guard against surprise or danger; cautiously.Cir'cum-spĕct'ness, n. p. 233Vigilance in guarding against evil from every quarter; caution; circumspection. It [travel] forces circumspectness on those abroad, who at home are nursed in security. Wotton.Cir'cum-stance, n. p. 233The condition of things surrounding or attending an event. With all circumstance they tell us when and who first set foot upon this island. Milton. 2. One of the things surrounding, attending, or…Cir'cum-stance, v. t. p. 233To place relatively, or in a particular situation. The proposition is, that two bodies so circumstanced will balance each other. Whewell.Cir'cum-stānt, a. p. 233Standing or placed around; surrounding. [Rare.] “Circumstant bodies.” Digby.Cir'cum-stănʹti-a-ble, a. p. 233Capable of being circumstantiated. [Obs.] Bp. Taylor.Cir'cum-stăn’tial, a. p. 233Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances, or particular incidents. The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety. Paley. 2. Abounding with…Cir'cum-stān’tial, n. p. 233Something incidental to the main subject, but of less importance; opposed to an essential;— generally in the plural; as, the circumstantials of religion. Addison.Cir'cum-stān/ti-āl/i-ty, n. p. 233The appendage of circumstances; the state of any thing as modified by circumstances. Johnson. 2. Particularly in exhibiting circumstances; minuteness.Cir'cum-stān/tial-ly, adv. p. 233According to circumstances; not essentially; accidentally. 2. In every circumstance or particular; minute. “To set down somewhat circumstantially, not only the events, but the manner of my trials.”…Cir'cum-stān’ti-āte, v. t. p. 233To place in particular circumstances; to invest with particular accidents or adjuncts. [Rare.] If the act were otherwise circumstantiated, it might will that freely which now it wills reluctantly.…Cĭr'cum-ter-rā'ne-oŭs, a. p. 233Being or dwelling around the earth. “Circumterraneous demons.” Halliwell.Cir'cum-ŭn'du-lāte, v. t. p. 233To flow round, as waves. [Rare.]Cir'cum-vāl'lāte, v. t. p. 233To surround with a rampart.Cir'cum-val-lā'tion, n. p. 233(Mil.) (a.) The act of surrounding with a wall or rampart. (b.) A line of field works surrounding the camp of a besieging army, to guard the camp against any attack of an enemy attempting to relieve…Cir'cum-vēc'tion, n. p. 233The act of carrying any thing around. [Obs.]Cir'cum-vent', v. t. p. 233To gain advantage over, by arts, stratagem, or deception; to deceive; to delude. I circumvented whom I could not gain. Dryden.Cir'cum-vēn’tion, n. p. 233The act of prevailing over another by arts, address, or fraud; deception; fraud; imposture; delusion. “A school in which he learns sly circumvention.” Cowper.Cir'cum-vēnt'ive, a. p. 233Deceiving by artifices; deluding.Cir'cum-vēst', v. t. p. 233To cover round, as with a garment. “Circumvested with much prejudice.” Wotton.Cir'cum-vo-lā'tion, n. p. 233The act of flying round. [Rare.]Cir'cum-vo-lū'tion, n. p. 233The act of rolling round; the state of being rolled. 2. A thing rolled round another. Arbuthnot. 3. (Anat.) One of the sinuous elevations on the surface of the brain in the higher animals.Cir'cum-vōlve', v. t. p. 233To roll round; to cause to revolve; to put into a circular motion. Whene'er we circumvolve our eyes. Herrick.Cir'cum-vŏlve', v. i. p. 233To roll round; to revolve.Cĭr'cus, n. p. 233(Roman Antiq.) An open or inclosed space, or the edifice inclosing it, in which games and shows were exhibited. 2. A circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship. 3. The company of…Çĩrl'-bŭnt'ing, n. p. 233(Ornith.) A species of bunting, native in Europe; the Emberiza cirlus. S. F. Baird.Çĩrque, n. p. 233A circus. Wordsworth.Çĭr'rhōse, a. p. 233See CIRROUS.Çĭr'rhoŭs, a. p. 233See CIRROUS.Cĭr-rĭf'ĕr-ōŭs, a. p. 233Producing tendrils or claspers, as a plant.Cir'ri-fōrm, a. p. 233Formed like a tendril. Clarke.Cir-rĭg'er-oŭs, a. p. 233Having curled locks of hair; supporting cirri, or hair-like appendages. R. Owen.Cir'ri-grāde, a. p. 233(Nat. Hist.) Moved by cirri, or hair-like appendages. Carpenter.Cir'ri-pēd, n. p. 233(Zoöl.) An animal having a shell like a mollusk, but with jointed members or legs as well as body, thus being strictly a crustacean. From the opening of the shell, which is closed by two valves, the…Cir'ro-cū'mu-lūs, n. p. 233(Meteor.) A cloud which is composed of the cumulus broken up into small masses, and presenting a fleecy appearance. [See Note under CLOUD.]Cir'rōse, a. p. 233Same as CIRROUS.Cir'ro-strā'tus, n. p. 233(Meteor.) A cloud having the characters of the stratus in its main body, but of the cirrus on its margin. [See Note under CLOUD.]Cir'roūs, a. p. 233(Bot.) Having, or terminating in, a curl or tendril; as, a cirrous leaf. [Written also cirrhous.]Cĭr'rus, n. p. 233(Bot.) A tendril. Lindley. 2. (Meteor.) A form of cloud composed of thin filaments, the union of which resembles sometimes a brush, sometimes masses of woolly hair, and again slender net-work.…Cir'so-cēle, n. p. 233(Med.) The varicose dilatation of the spermatic vein. Dunglison.Cis-ăl'pīne, a. p. 233On the hither side of the Alps with reference to Rome, that is, on the south side of the Alps;—opposed to transalpine.Cis'at-lăn’tic, a. p. 233Being on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Story.Cis'co, n. p. 233(Ichth.) A fish of the herring kind, found in Lake Ontario. Bartlett.Cis-mōn'tāne, a. p. 233On this side of the mountains.Cĭs'pa-dāne', a. p. 233On the hither side of the Po with reference to Rome, that is, on the south side. Stephens.Cĭs'soid, n. p. 233(Geom.) A curve invented by Diocles, for the purpose of solving two celebrated problems of the higher geometry; viz., to trisect a plane angle, and to construct two geometrical means between two…Cĭst, n. p. 233(Arch. & Sculp.) A chest or basket, — usually applied to the baskets employed in processions connected with the Eleusinian mysteries. See CYST. 2. (Antiq.) A tomb of the Celtic period, consisting of…Cist'ed, a. p. 233Inclosed in a cyst. See CYSTED.Cis-tēr'cian, n. p. 233(Eccl.) One of an order of monks established at Citeaux, in France, by Robert, abbot of Moleme. Its fundamental law was that of the Benedictines, but was more rigidly enforced than by them. Hook.Cis'tern, n. p. 233An artificial reservoir or receptacle for holding water, beer, or other liquids. 2. A natural reservoir; a hollow place containing water. “The wide cistern of the lakes.” Blackmore.