Chapter C: G. T (7)

CICUTOXIN Cic`u*tox"in, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The active principle of the water hemlock (Cicuta) extracted as a poisonous gummy substance.

CID Cid, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. Ar. seid lord.]

1. Chief or commander; in Spanish literature, a title of Ruy Diaz, Count of Bivar, a champion of Christianity and of the old Spanish royalty, in the 11th century.

2. An epic poem, which celebrates the exploits of the Spanish national hero, Ruy Diaz.

CIDER Ci"der, n. Etym: [F. cidre, OF. sidre, fr. L. sicera a kind of strong drink, Gr. shakar to be intoxicated, shekar strong drink.]

Defn: The expressed juice of apples. It is used as a beverage, for making vinegar, and for other purposes.

Note: Cider was formerly used to signify the juice of other fruits, and other kinds of strong liquor, but was not applied to wine. Cider brandy, a kind of brandy distilled from cider. -- Cider mill, a mill in which cider is made. -- Cider press, the press of a cider mill.

CIDERIST Ci`der*ist, n.

Defn: A maker of cider. [Obs.] Mortimer.

CIDERKIN Ci"der*kin, n. Etym: [Cider + -kin.]

Defn: A kind of weak cider made by steeping the refuse pomace in water. Ciderkin is made for common drinking, and supplies the place of small beer. Mortimer.

CI-DEVANT Ci`-de*vant", a. Etym: [F., hitherto, formerly.]

Defn: Former; previous; of times gone by; as, a cidevant governor.

CIERGE Cierge, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. cera wax.]

Defn: A wax candle used in religous rites.

CIGAR Ci*gar", n. Etym: [Sp. cigarro, orig., a kind of tobacco in the island of Cuba: cf. F. cigare.]

Defn: A small roll of tobacco, used for smoking. Cigar fish (Zoöl.), a fish (Decapterus punctatus), allied to the mackerel, found on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

CIGARETTE Cig`a*rette", n. Etym: [F. cigarette.]

Defn: A little cigar; a little fine tobacco rolled in paper for smoking.

CILIA Cil"i*a, n. pl. Cilium, the sing., is rarely used. Etym: [L. cilium eyelid.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The eyelashes.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Small, generally microscopic, vibrating appendages lining certain organs, as the air passages of the higher animals, and in the lower animals often covering also the whole or a part of the exterior. They are also found on some vegetable organisms. In the Infusoria, and many larval forms, they are locomotive organs.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Hairlike processes, commonly marginal and forming a fringe like the eyelash.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Small, vibratory, swimming organs, somewhat resembling true cilia, as those of Ctenophora.

CILIARY Cil"ia*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ciliaire.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the cilia, or eyelashes. Also applied to special parts of the eye itself; as, the ciliary processes of the choroid coat; the ciliary muscle, etc.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Pertaining to or connected with the cilia in animal or vegetable organisms; as, ciliary motion.

CILIATA Cil`i*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Cilia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the orders of Infusoria, characterized by having cilia. In some species the cilia cover the body generally, in others they form a band around the mouth.

CILIATE; CILIATED Cil"i*ate, Cil"i*a`ted, a.

Defn: Provided with, or surrounded by, cilia; as, a ciliate leaf; endowed with vibratory motion; as, the ciliated epithelium of the windpipe.

CILICE Cil"ice, n. Etym: [F. See Cilicious.]

Defn: A kind of haircloth undergarment. Southey.

CILICIAN Ci*li"cian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Cilicia in Asia Minor. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Cilicia.

CILICIOUS Ci*li"cious, a. Etym: [L. cilicium a covering, orig. made of Cilician goat's hair, fr. Cilicious Cilician, fr. Cilicia, a province of Asia Minor.]

Defn: Made, or consisting, of hair. [Obs.] A Cilicious or sackcloth habit. Sir T. Browne.

CILIFORM; CILIIFORM Cil"i*form, Cil"i*i*form`, a. Etym: [Cilium + -form]

Defn: Having the form of cilia; very fine or slender.

CILIOGRADE Cil"i*o*grade, a. Etym: [Cilium + L. gradi to step: cf. F. ciliograde.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Moving by means of cilia, or cilialike organs; as, the ciliograde Medusæ.

CILIUM Cil"i*um, n. Etym: [L., eyelid.]

Defn: See Cilia.

CILL Cill, n.

Defn: See Sill., n. a foundation.

CILLOSIS Cil*lo"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cilium eyelid.] (Med.)

Defn: A spasmodic trembling of the upper eyelid.

CIMA Ci"ma, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A kind of molding. See Cyma.

CIMAR Ci*mar", n.

Defn: See Simar.

CIMBAL Cim"bal, n. Etym: [It. ciambella.]

Defn: A kind of confectionery or cake. [Obs.] Nares.

CIMBIA Cim"bi*a, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A fillet or band placed around the shaft of a column as if to strengthen it. [Written also cimia.]

CIMBRIAN Cim"bri*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cimbri. -- n.

Defn: One of the Cimbri. See Cimbric.

CIMBRIC Cim"bric, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the Cimbri, an ancient tribe inhabiting Northern Germany. -- n.

Defn: The language of the Cimbri.

CIMELIARCH Ci*me"li*arch, n. Etym: [L. cimeliarcha, Gr.

Defn: A superintendent or keeper of a church's valuables; a churchwarden. [Obs.] Bailey.

CIMETER Cim"e*ter, n.

Defn: See Scimiter.

CIMEX Ci"mex, n.; pl. Cimices. Etym: [L., a bug.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of hemipterous insects of which the bedbug is the best known example. See Bedbug.

CIMIA Cim"i*a, n. (Arch.)

Defn: See Cimbia.

CIMISS Ci"miss, n. Etym: [L. cimex, -icis, a bug.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The bedbug. [Obs.] Wright.

CIMMERIAN Cim*me"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Cimmerius.] [Written also Kimmerian.]

1. Pertaining to the Cimmerii, a fabulous people, said to have lived, in very ancient times, in profound and perpetual darkness.

2. Without any light; intensely dark. In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. Milton.

CIMOLITE Cim"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. Cimolus, an island of the Cyclades.] (Min.)

Defn: A soft, earthy, clayey mineral, of whitish or grayish color.

CINCH Cinch, n. Etym: [Sp. cincha, fr. L. cingere to gird.]

1. A strong saddle girth, as of canvas. [West. U. S.]

2. A tight grip. [Colloq.]

CINCHONA Cin*cho"na, n. Etym: [So named from the wife of Count Chinchon, viceroy of Peru in the seventeenth century, who by its use was freed from an intermittent fever, and after her return to Spain, contributed to the general propagation of this remedy.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of trees growing naturally on the Andes in Peru and adjacent countries, but now cultivated in the East Indies, producing a medicinal bark of great value.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The bark of any species of cinchona containing three per cent. or more of bitter febrifuge alkaloids; Peruvian bark; Jesuits' bark.

CINCHONACEOUS Cin`cho*na"ceous, a.

Defn: Allied or pertaining to cinchona, or to the plants that produce it.

CINCHONIC Cin*chon"ic, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or obtained from, cinchona. Mayne.

CINCHONIDINE Cin*chon"i*dine, n. Etym: [From Cinchona.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of the quinine group of alkaloids, found especially in red cinchona bark. It is a white crystalline substance, C19H22N2O, with a bitter taste and qualities similar to, but weaker than, quinine; -- sometimes called also cinchonidia.

CINCHONINE Cin"cho*nine, n. Etym: [From Cinchona: cf. F. cinchonine.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of the quinine group of alkaloids isomeric with and resembling cinchonidine; -- called also cinchonia.

CINCHONISM Cin"cho*nism, n. Etym: [From Cinchona.] (Med.)

Defn: A condition produced by the excessive or long-continued use of quinine, and marked by deafness, roaring in the ears, vertigo, etc.

CINCHONIZE Cin"cho*nize, v. t.

Defn: To produce cinchonism in; to poison with quinine or with cinchona.

CINCINNATI EPOCH Cin`cin*na"ti ep"och. (Geol.)

Defn: An epoch at the close of the American lower Silurian system. The rocks are well developed near Cincinnati, Ohio. The group includes the Hudson River and Lorraine shales of New york.

CINCINNUS Cin*cin"nus, n.; pl. -ni (#). [Also cicinus, cicinnus.] [L., a curl of hair.] (Bot.)

Defn: A form of monochasium in which the lateral branches arise alternately on opposite sides of the false axis; -- called also scorpioid cyme. --Cin*cin"nal (#), a.

CINCTURE Cinc"ture, n. Etym: [L. cinctura, fr. cingere, cinctum, to gird.]

1. A belt, a girdle, or something worn round the body, -- as by an ecclesiastic for confining the alb.

2. That which encompasses or incloses; an inclosure. "Within the cincture of one wall." Bacon.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: The fillet, listel, or band next to the apophyge at the extremity of the shaft of a column.

CINCTURED Cinc"tured, n.

Defn: Having or wearing a cincture or gridle.

CINDER Cin"der, n. Etym: [AS. sinder slag, dross; akin to Icel. sindr dross, Sw. sinder, G. sinter, D. sintel; perh. influenced by F. cendre ashes, fr. L. cinis. Cf. Sinter.]

1. Partly burned or vitrified coal, or other combustible, in which fire is extinct.

2. A hot coal without flame; an ember. Swift.

3. A scale thrown off in forging metal.

4. The slag of a furnace, or scoriaceous lava from a volcano. Cinder frame, a framework of wire in front of the tubes of a locomotive, to arrest the escape of cinders. -- Cinder notch (Metal.), the opening in a blast furnace, through which melted cinder flows out.

CINDERY Cin"der*y, a.

Defn: Resembling, or composed of, cinders; full of cinders.

CINEFACTION Cin`e*fac"tion, n. Etym: [LL. cinefactio: L. cinis ashes + facere to make: cf. F. cinéfaction.]

Defn: Cineration; reduction to ashes. [Obs.]

CINEMATIC; CINEMATICAL Cin`e*mat"ic, Cin`e*mat"ic*al, a.

Defn: See Kinematic.

CINEMATICS Cin`e*mat"ics, n. sing.

Defn: See Kinematics.

CINEMATOGRAPH Cin`e*mat"o*graph, n. [Gr. , , motion + -graph.]

1.

Defn: A machine, combining magic lantern and kinetoscope features, for projecting on a screen a series of pictures, moved rapidly (25 to 50 a second) and intermittently before an objective lens, and producing by persistence of vision the illusion of continuous motion; a moving-picture machine; also, any of several other machines or devices producing moving pictorial effects. Other common names for the cinematograph are animatograph, biograph, bioscope, electrograph, electroscope, kinematograph, kinetoscope, veriscope, vitagraph, vitascope, zoögyroscope, zoöpraxiscope, etc.

The cinematograph, invented by Edison in 1894, is the result of the introduction of the flexible film into photography in place of glass. Encyc. Brit.

2. A camera for taking chronophotographs for exhibition by the instrument described above.

CINEMATOGRAPHER Cin`e*ma*tog"ra*pher, n.

Defn: One who exhibits moving pictures or who takes chronophotographs by the cinematograph. -- Cin`e*mat`o*graph"ic (#), a. -- Cin`e*mat`o*graph"ic*al*ly (#), adv.

CINEMOGRAPH Ci*ne"mo*graph, n. [Gr. motion + -graph.]

Defn: An integrating anemometer.

CINERACEOUS Cin`er*a"ceous, a. Etym: [L. cineraceus, fr. cinis ashes.]

Defn: Like ashes; ash-colored; cinerous.

CINERARIA Cin`e*ra"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. LL. cinerarius pert. to ashes, fr. cinis ashes. So called from the ash-colored down on the leaves.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan genus of free-flowering composite plants, mostly from South Africa. Several species are cultivated for ornament.

CINERARY Cin"er*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. cinerarius, fr. cinis ashes.]

Defn: Pertaining to ashes; containing ashes. Cinerary urns, vessels used by the ancients to preserve the ashes of the dead when burned.

CINERATION Cin`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. cinis ashes: cf. F. cinération.]

Defn: The reducing of anything to ashes by combustion; cinefaction.

CINEREOUS Ci*ne"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. cinereus, fr. cinis ashes.]

Defn: Like ashes; ash-colored; grayish.

CINERESCENT Cin`er*es"cent, a.

Defn: Somewhat cinereous; of a color somewhat resembling that of wood ashes.

CINERITIOUS Cin`er*i"tious, a. Etym: [L. cineritius, cinericius, fr. cinis ashes.]

Defn: Like ashes; having the color of ashes, -- as the cortical substance of the brain.

CINERULENT Ci*ner"u*lent, a.

Defn: Full of ashes. [Obs.]

CINGALESE Cin`ga*lese", n. sing. & pl. Etym: [Cf. F. Cingalais.]

Defn: A native or natives of Ceylon descended from its primitive inhabitants; also (sing.),

Defn: the language of the Cingalese. -- a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cingalese. [Written also Singhalese.]

Note: Ceylonese is applied to the inhabitants of the island in general.

CINGLE Cin"gle, n. Etym: [L. cingula, cingulum, fr. cingere to gird.]

Defn: A girth. [R.] See Surcingle.

CINGULUM Cin"gu*lum, n. Etym: [L., a girdle.] (Zoöl.) (a) A distinct girdle or band of color; a raised spiral line as seen on certain univalve shells. (b) The clitellus of earthworms. (c) The base of the crown of a tooth.

CINNABAR Cin"na*bar, n. Etym: [L. cinnabaris, Gr. qinbar, Hind. shangarf.]

1. (Min.)

Defn: Red sulphide of mercury, occurring in brilliant red crystals, and also in red or brown amorphous masses. It is used in medicine.

2. The artificial red sulphide of mercury used as a pigment; vermilion. Cinnabar Græcorum (. Etym: [L. Graecorum, gen. pl., of the Greeks.] (Med.) Same as Dragon's blood. -- Green cinnabar, a green pigment consisting of the oxides of cobalt and zinc subjected to the action of fire. -- Hepatic cinnabar (Min.), an impure cinnabar of a liver-brown color and submetallic luster.

CINNABARINE Cin"na*ba*rine, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cinabarin.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, cinnabar; consisting of cinnabar, or containing it; as, cinnabarine sand.

CINNAMENE Cin"na*mene, n. Etym: [From Cinnamic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Styrene (which was formerly called cinnamene because obtained from cinnamic acid). See Styrene.

CINNAMIC Cin*nam"ic, a. Etym: [From Cinnamon.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, cinnamon. Cinnamic acid (Chem.), a white, crystalline, odorless substance. C6H5.C2H2C2H2.CO2H, formerly obtained from storax and oil of cinnamon, now made from certain benzene derivatives in large quantities, and used for the artificial production of indigo.

CINNAMOMIC Cin`na*mom"ic, a. Etym: [L. cinnamomum cinnamon.] (Chem.)

Defn: See Cinnamic.

CINNAMON Cin"na*mon, n. Etym: [Heb. qinnamon; cf. Gr. cinnamomum, cinnamon. The Heb. word itself seems to have been borrowed from some other language; cf. Malay kaju manis sweet wood.] (a) The inner bark of the shoots of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, a tree growing in Ceylon. It is aromatic, of a moderately pungent taste, and is one of the best cordial, carminative, and restorative spices. (b) Cassia. Cinnamon stone (Min.), a variety of garnet, of a cinnamon or hyacinth red color, sometimes used in jewelry. -- Oil of cinnamon, a colorless aromatic oil obtained from cinnamon and cassia, and consisting essentially of cinnamic aldehyde, C6H5.C2H2.CHO. -- Wild cinnamon. See Canella.

CINNAMONE Cin"na*mone, n. Etym: [Cinnamic + -one.]

Defn: A yellow crystalline substance, (C6H5.C2H2)2CO, the ketone of cinnamic acid.

CINNAMYL Cin"na*myl, n. Etym: [Cinnamic + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical radical, (C6H5.C2H2)2C, of cinnamic compounds. [Formerly written also cinnamule.]

CINNOLINE Cin"no*line, n. Etym: [Cinnamic + quinoline.]

Defn: A nitrogenous organic base, C8H6N2, analogous to quinoline, obtained from certain complex diazo compounds.

CINQUE Cinque, n. Etym: [F. cinq, fr. L. quinque five. See Five.]

Defn: Five; the number five in dice or cards.

CINQUECENTIST Cin`que*cen"tist, n.

1. An Italian of the sixteenth century, esp. a poet or artist.

2. A student or imitator of the art or literature of the Cinquecento.

CINQUECENTO Cin`que*cen"to, n. & a. Etym: [It., five hundred, abbrev. for fifteen hundred. The Cinquecento style was so called because it arose after the year 1500.]

Defn: The sixteenth century, when applied to Italian art or literature; as, the sculpture of the Cinquecento; Cinquecento style.

CINQUEFOIL Cinque"foil`, n. Etym: [Cinque five + foil, F. feuille leaf. See Foil.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The name of several different species of the genus Potentilla; -- also called five-finger, because of the resemblance of its leaves to the fingers of the hand.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: An ornamental foliation having five points or cups, used in windows, panels, etc. Gwilt. Marsh cinquefoil, the Potentilla palustris, a plant with purple flowers which grows in fresh-water marshes.

CINQUE-PACE Cinque"-pace`, n. Etym: [Cinque + pace.]

Defn: A lively dance (called also galliard), the steps of which were regulated by the number five. [Obs.] Nares. Shak.

CINQUE PORTS Cinque" Ports`. Etym: [Cinque + port.] (Eng. Hist.)

Defn: Five English ports, to which peculiar privileges were anciently accorded; -- viz., Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich; afterwards increased by the addition of Winchelsea, Rye, and some minor places. Baron of the Cinque Ports. See under Baron.

CINQUE-SPOTTED Cinque"-spot`ted, a.

Defn: Five-spotted. [R.] Shak.

CINTER Cin"ter, n. Etym: [F. cintre.] (Arch.)

Defn: See Center.

CINURA Ci*nu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The group of Thysanura which includes Lepisma and allied forms; the bristletails. See Bristletail, and Lepisma.

CION Ci"on, n. Etym: [OF. cion. See Scion.]

Defn: See Scion. The cion overruleth the stock; and the stock is but passive, and giveth aliment, but no motion, to the graft. Bacon.

CIPHER Ci"pher, n. Etym: [OF. cifre zero, F. Chiffre figure (cf. Sp.cifra, LL. cifra), fr. Ar. çifrun, çafrun, empty, cipher, zero, fr. çafira to be empty. Cf. Zero.]

1. (Arith.)

Defn: A character [0] which, standing by itself, expresses nothing, but when placed at the right hand of a whole number, increases its value tenfold.

2. One who, or that which, has no weight or influence. Here he was a mere cipher. W. Irving.

3. A character in general, as a figure or letter. [Obs.] This wisdom began to be written in ciphers and characters and letters bearing the forms of creatures. Sir W. Raleigh.

4. A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name; a device; a monogram; as, a painter's cipher, an engraver's cipher, etc. The cut represents the initials N. W.

5. A private alphabet, system of characters, or other mode of writing, contrived for the safe transmission of secrets; also, a writing in such characters. His father . . . engaged him when he was very young to write all his letters to England in cipher. Bp. Burnet. Cipher key, a key to assist in reading writings in cipher.

CIPHER Ci"pher, a.

Defn: Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. "Twelve cipher bishops." Milton.

CIPHER Ci"pher, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ciphered; p. pr. & vb. n. Ciphering.]

Defn: To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic. "T was certain he could write and cipher too. Goldsmith.

CIPHER Ci"pher, v. t.

1. To write in occult characters. His notes he ciphered with Greek characters. Hayward.

2. To get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer.

3. To decipher. [Obs.] Shak.

4. To designate by characters. [Obs.] Shak.

CIPHERER Ci"pher*er, n.

Defn: One who ciphers.

CIPHERHOOD Ci"pher*hood, n.

Defn: Nothingness. [R.] Goodwin.

CIPOLIN Cip"o*lin, n. Etym: [It. cippollino, prop., a little onion, fr. cipolla onion (cf. E. cibol). So called because its veins consist, like onions, of different strata, one lying upon another.] (Min.)

Defn: A whitish marble, from Rome, containiing pale greenish zones. It consists of calcium carbonate, with zones and cloudings of talc.

CIPPUS Cip"pus, n.; pl. Cippi. Etym: [L., stake, post.]

Defn: A small, low pillar, square or round, commonly having an inscription, used by the ancients for various purposes, as for indicating the distances of places, for a landmark, for sepulchral inscriptions, etc. Gwilt.

CIRC Circ, n. Etym: [See Circus.]

Defn: An amphitheatrical circle for sports; a circus. [R.] T. Warton.

CIRCAR Cir*car", n. Etym: [See Sircar.]

Defn: A district, or part of a province. See Sircar. [India]

CIRCASSIAN Cir*cas"sian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Circassia, in Asia. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Circassia.

CIRCEAN Cir*ce"an, a. Etym: [L. Circaeus.]

Defn: Having the characteristics of Circe, daughter of Sol and Perseis, a mythological enchantress, who first charmed her victims and then changed them to the forms of beasts; pleasing, but noxious; as, a Circean draught.

CIRCENSIAL; CIRCENSIAN Cir*cen"sial, Cir*cen"sian, a. Etym: [L. Circensis, ludi Circenses, the games in the Circus Maximus.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or held in, the Circus, In Rome. The pleasure of the Circensian shows. Holyday.

CIRCINAL Cir"ci*nal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Circinate.

CIRCINATE Cir"ci*nate, a. Etym: [L. circinatus, p. p. of circinare to make round, fr. circinus a pair of compasses, from Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Rolled together downward, the tip occupying the center; -- a term used in reference to foliation or leafing, as in ferns. Gray.

CIRCINATE Cir"ci*nate, v. t.

Defn: To make a circle around; to encompass. [Obs.] Bailey.

CIRCINATION Cir`ci*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. circinatio circle.]

1. An orbicular motion. [Obs.] bailey.

2. A circle; a concentric layer. [Obs.] "The circinations and spherical rounds of onions." Sir T. Browne.

CIRCLE Cir"cle, n. Etym: [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr. L. circulus (Whence also AS. circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr. Circus, Circum- .]

1. A plane figure, bounded by a single curve line called its circumference, every part of which is equally distant from a point within it, called the center.

2. The line that bounds sush a figure; a circumference; a ring.

3. (Astron.)

Defn: An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which consists of an entire circle.

Note: When it is fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in the plane of the meridian, a meridian or transit circle; when involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a reflecting circle; and when that of repeating an angle several times continuously along the graduated limb, a repeating circle.

4. A round body; a sphere; an orb. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth. Is. xi. 22.

5. Compass; circuit; inclosure. In the circle of this forest. Shak.

6. A company assembled, or conceived to assemble, about a central point of interest, or bound by a common tie; a class or division of society; a coterie; a set. As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance widened. Macaulay.

7. A circular group of persons; a ring.

8. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself. Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain. Dryden.

9. (Logic)

Defn: A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning. That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and, again, that gravity is a quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent circle and teaches nothing. Glanvill.

10. Indirect form of words; circumlocution. [R.] Has he given the lie, In circle, or oblique, or semicircle. J. Fletcher.

11. A territorial division or district.

Note: The Circles of the Holy Roman Empire, ten in number, were those principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet. Azimuth circle. See under Azimuth. -- Circle of altitude (Astron.), a circle parallel to the horizon, having its pole in the zenith; an almucantar. -- Circle of curvature. See Osculating circle of a curve (Below). -- Circle of declination. See under Declination. -- Circle of latitude. (a) (Astron.) A great circle perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic, passing through its poles. (b) (Spherical Projection) A small circle of the sphere whose plane is perpendicular to the axis. -- Circles of longitude, lesser circles parallel to the ecliptic, diminishing as they recede from it. -- Circle of perpetual apparition, at any given place, the boundary of that space around the elevated pole, within which the stars never set. Its distance from the pole is equal to the latitude of the place. -- Circle of perpetual occultation, at any given place, the boundary of the space around the depressed pole, within which the stars never rise. -- Circle of the sphere, a circle upon the surface of the sphere, called a great circle when its plane passes through the center of the sphere; in all other cases, a small circle. -- Diurnal circle. See under Diurnal. -- Dress circle, a gallery in a theater, generally the one containing the prominent and more expensive seats. -- Druidical circles (Eng. Antiq.), a popular name for certain ancient inclosures formed by rude stones circularly arranged, as at Stonehenge, near Salisbury. -- Family circle, a gallery in a theater, usually one containing inexpensive seats. -- Horary circles (Dialing), the lines on dials which show the hours. -- Osculating circle of a curve (Geom.), the circle which touches the curve at some point in the curve, and close to the point more nearly coincides with the curve than any other circle. This circle is used as a measure of the curvature of the curve at the point, and hence is called circle of curvature. -- Pitch circle. See under Pitch. -- Vertical circle, an azimuth circle. -- Voltaic circle or circuit. See under Circuit. -- To square the circle. See under Square.

Syn. -- Ring; circlet; compass; circuit; inclosure.

CIRCLE Cir"cle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circled; p. pr. & vb. n. Circling.] Etym: [OE. cerclen, F. cercler, fr. L. circulare to make round. See Circle, n., and cf. Circulate.]

1. To move around; to revolve around. Other planets circle other suns. Pope.

2. To encompass, as by a circle; to surround; to inclose; to encircle. Prior. Pope. Their heads are circled with a short turban. Dampier. So he lies, circled with evil. Coleridge. To circle in, to confine; to hem in; to keep together; as, to circle bodies in. Sir K. Digby.

CIRCLE Cir"cle, v. i.

Defn: To move circularly; to form a circle; to circulate. Thy name shall circle round the gaping through. Byron.

CIRCLED Cir"cled, a.

Defn: Having the form of a circle; round. "Monthly changes in her circled orb." Shak.

CIRCLER Cir"cler, n.

Defn: A mean or inferior poet, perhaps from his habit of wandering around as a stroller; an itinerant poet. Also, a name given to the cyclic poets. See under Cyclic, a. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

CIRCLET Cir"clet, n.

1. A little circle; esp., an ornament for the person, having the form of a circle; that which encircles, as a ring, a bracelet, or a headband. Her fair locks in circlet be enrolled. Spenser.

2. A round body; an orb. Pope. Fairest of stars . . . that crown'st the smiling morn With thy bright circlet. Milton.

3. A circular piece of wood put under a dish at table. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

CIRCOCELE Cir"co*cele, n.

Defn: See Cirsocele.

CIRCUIT Cir"cuit, n. Etym: [F. circuit, fr. L. circuitus, fr. circuire or circumire to go around; circum around + ire to go.]

1. The act of moving or revolving around, or as in a circle or orbit; a revolution; as, the periodical circuit of the earth round the sun. Watts.

2. The circumference of, or distance round, any space; the measure of a line round an area. The circuit or compass of Ireland is 1,800 miles. J. Stow.

3. That which encircles anything, as a ring or crown. The golden circuit on my head. Shak.

4. The space inclosed within a circle, or within limits. A circuit wide inclosed with goodliest trees. Milton.

5. A regular or appointed journeying from place to place in the exercise of one's calling, as of a judge, or a preacher.

6. (a) (Law) A certain division of a state or country, established by law for a judge or judges to visit, for the administration of justice. Bouvier. (b) (Methodist Church) A district in which an itinerant preacher labors.

7. Circumlocution. [Obs.] "Thou hast used no circuit of words." Huloet. Circuit court (Law), a court which sits successively in different places in its circuit (see Circuit, 6). In the United States, the federal circuit courts are commonly presided over by a judge of the supreme court, or a special circuit judge, together with the judge of the district court. They have jurisdiction within statutory limits, both in law and equity, in matters of federal cognizance. Some of the individual States also have circuit courts, which have general statutory jurisdiction of the same class, in matters of State cognizance. -- Circuit or Circuity of action (Law), a longer course of proceedings than is necessary to attain the object in view. -- To make a circuit, to go around; to go a roundabout way. -- Voltaic or Galvanic circuit or circle, a continous electrical communication between the two poles of a battery; an arrangement of voltaic elements or couples with proper conductors, by which a continuous current of electricity is established.

CIRCUIT Cir"cuit, v. i.

Defn: To move in a circle; to go round; to circulate. [Obs.] J. Philips.

CIRCUIT Cir"cuit, v. t.

Defn: To travel around. [Obs.] "Having circuited the air." T. Warton.

CIRCUITEER Cir`cuit*eer", n.

Defn: A circuiter. Pope.

CIRCUITER Cir"cuit*er, n.

Defn: One who travels a circuit, as a circuit judge. [R.] R. Whitlock.

CIRCUITION Cir`cu*i"tion, n. Etym: [L. circuitio. See Circuit.]

Defn: The act of going round; circumlocution. [R.]

CIRCUITOUS Cir*cu"i*tous, a. Etym: [LL. circuitosus.]

Defn: Going round in a circuit; roundabout; indirect; as, a circuitous road; a circuitous manner of accompalishing an end. -- Cir*cu"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Cir*cu"i*tous*ness, n.

Syn. -- Tortuous; winding; sinuous; serpentine.

CIRCUITY Cir*cu"i*ty, n.

Defn: A going round in a circle; a course not direct; a roundabout way of proceeding.

CIRCULABLE Cir"cu*la*ble, a.

Defn: That may be circulated.

CIRCULAR Cir"cu*lar, a. Etym: [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F. circulaire. See Circle.]

1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.

2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning.

3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior. See Cyclic poets, under Cyclic. Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido Dennis.

4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a common interest; circulated, or intended for circulation; as, a circular letter. A proclamation of Henry III., . . . doubtless circular throughout England. Hallam.

5. Perfect; complete. [Obs.] A man so absolute and circular In all those wished-for rarities that may take A virgin captive. Massinger. Circular are, any portion of the circumference of a circle. -- Circular cubics (Math.), curves of the third order which are imagined to pass through the two circular points at infinity. -- Circular functions. (Math.) See under Function. -- Circular instruments, mathematical instruments employed for measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round the whole circumference of a circle, or 360º. -- Circular lines, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as sines, tangents, secants, etc. -- Circular note or letter. (a) (Com.) See under Credit. (b) (Diplomacy) A letter addressed in identical terms to a number of persons. -- Circular numbers (Arith.), those whose powers terminate in the same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose squares are 25 and 36. Bailey. Barlow. -- Circular points at infinity (Geom.), two imaginary points at infinite distance through which every circle in the plane is, in the theory of curves, imagined to pass. -- Circular polarization. (Min.) See under Polarization. -- Circular or Globular sailing (Naut.), the method of sailing by the arc of a great circle. -- Circular saw. See under Saw.

CIRCULAR Cir"cu*lar, n. Etym: [Cf. (for sense 1) F. circulaire, lettre circulaire. See Circular, a.]

1. A circular letter, or paper, usually printed, copies of which are addressed or given to various persons; as, a business circular.

2. A sleeveless cloak, cut in circular form.

CIRCULARISE circularise v.

1. to canvass by distributing letters. Syn. -- circularize. [WordNet 1.5]

2. to distribute circulars to. Syn. -- circularize. [WordNet 1.5]

3. to to pass around, as information. Syn. -- circulate, circularize, distribute, disseminate, propagate, broadcast, spread, diffuse, disperse. [WordNet 1.5]

CIRCULARITY Cir`cu*lar"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. circularitas.]

Defn: The quality or state of being circular; a circular form.

CIRCULARLY Cir"cu*lar*ly, adv.

Defn: In a circular manner.

CIRCULARY Cir"cu*la*ry, a.

Defn: Circular; illogical. [Obs. & .] "Cross and circulary speeches." Hooker.

CIRCULATE Cir"cu*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ciorculated; P. pr. & vb. n. Circulating.] Etym: [L. circulatus, p. p. of circulare, v. t., to surround, make round, circulari, v. i., to gather into a circle. See Circle.]

1. To move in a circle or circuitously; to move round and return to the same point; as, the blood circulates in the body. Boyle.

2. To pass from place to place, from person to person, or from hand to hand; to be diffused; as, money circulates; a story circulates.

Circulating decimal. See Decimal. -- Circulating library, a library whose books are loaned to the public, usually at certain fixed rates. -- Circulating medium. See Medium.

CIRCULATE Cir"cu*late, v. t.

Defn: To cause to pass from place to place, or from person to person; to spread; as, to circulate a report; to circulate bills of credit. Circulating pump. See under Pump.

Syn. -- To spread; diffuse; propagate; disseminate.

CIRCULATION Cir`cu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. circulatio: cf. F. circulation.]

1. The act of moving in a circle, or in a course which brings the moving body to the place where its motion began. This continual circulation of human things. Swift.

2. The act of passing from place to place or person to person; free diffusion; transmission. The true doctrines of astronomy appear to have had some popular circulation. Whewell.

3. Currency; circulating coin; notes, bills, etc., current for coin.

4. The extent to which anything circulates or is circulated; the measure of diffusion; as, the circulation of a newspaper.

5. (Physiol.)

Defn: The movement of the blood in the blood-vascular system, by which it is brought into close relations with almost every living elementary constituent. Also, the movement of the sap in the vessels and tissues of plants.

CIRCULATIVE Cir"cu*la*tive, a.

Defn: Promoting circulation; circulating. [R.] Coleridge.

CIRCULATOR Cir"cu*la`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. L. circulator a peddler.]

Defn: One who, or that which, circulates.

CIRCULATORIOUS Cir`cu*la*to"ri*ous, a.

Defn: Travelling from house to house or from town to town; itinerant. [Obs.] "Circulatorious jugglers." Barrow.

CIRCULATORY Cir"cu*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. circulatorius pert. to a mountebank: cf. F. circulatoire.]

1. Circular; as, a circulatory letter. Johnson.

2. Circulating, or going round. T. Warton.

3. (Anat.)

Defn: Subserving the purposes of circulation; as, circulatory organs; of or pertaining to the organs of circulation; as, circulatory diseases.

CIRCULATORY Cir"cu*la*to*ry, n.

Defn: A chemical vessel consisting of two portions unequally exposed to the heat of the fire, and with connecting pipes or passages, through which the fluid rises from the overheated portion, and descends from the relatively colder, maintaining a circulation.

CIRCULET Cir"cu*let, n.

Defn: A circlet. [Obs.] Spenser.

CIRCULINE Cir"cu*line, a.

Defn: Proceeding in a circle; circular. [Obs.] "With motion circuline". Dr. H. More.

CIRCUM- Cir"cum-. Etym: [Akin to circle, circus.]

Defn: A Latin preposition, used as a prefix in many English words, and signifying around or about.

CIRCUMAGITATE Cir`cum*ag"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. circum + agitate.]

Defn: To agitate on all sides. Jer. Taylor.

CIRCUMAMBAGE Cir`cum*am"bage, n. Etym: [Pref. circum- + ambage, obs. sing. of ambages.]

Defn: A roundabout or indirect course; indirectness. [Obs.] S. Richardson.

CIRCUMAMBIENCY Cir`cum*am"bi*en*cy, n.

Defn: The act of surrounding or encompassing. Sir T. Browne.

CIRCUMAMBIENT Cir`cum*am"bi*ent, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + ambient.]

Defn: Surrounding; inclosing or being on all sides; encompassing. "The circumambient heaven." J. Armstrong.

CIRCUMAMBULATE Cir`cum*am"bu*late, v. t. Etym: [L. circumambulatus, p. p. of circumambulare to walk around; circum + ambulare. See Ambulate.]

Defn: To walk round about. -- Cir`cum*am`bu*la"tion, n.

CIRCUMBENDIBUS Cir`cum*bend"i*bus, n.

Defn: A roundabout or indirect way. [Jocular] Goldsmith.

CIRCUMCENTER Cir`cum*cen"ter, n. (Geom.)

Defn: The center of a circle that circumscribes a triangle.

CIRCUMCISE Cir"cum*cise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumcised; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumcising.] Etym: [L. circumcisus, p. p. of circumcidere to cut around, to circumcise; circum + caedere to cut; akin to E. cæsura, homicide, concise, and prob. to shed, v. t.]

1. To cut off the prepuce of foreskin of, in the case of males, and the internal labia of, in the case of females.

2. (Script.)

Defn: To purify spiritually.

CIRCUMCISER Cir"cum*ci`ser, n.

Defn: One who performs circumcision. Milton.

CIRCUMCISION Cir`cum*cision, n. Etym: [L. circumcisio.]

1. The act of cutting off the prepuce or foreskin of males, or the internal labia of females.

Note: The circumcision of males is practiced as a religious rite by the Jews, Mohammedans, etc.

2. (Script.) (a) The Jews, as a circumcised people. (b) Rejection of the sins of the flesh; spiritual purification, and acceptance of the Christian faith.

CIRCUMCLUSION Cir`cum*clu"sion, n. Etym: [L. circumcludere, -clusum, to inclose.]

Defn: Act of inclosing on all sides. [R.]

CIRCUMCURSATION Cir`cum*cur*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumcursare, -satum, to run round about.]

Defn: The act of running about; also, rambling language. [Obs.] Barrow.

CIRCUMDENUDATION Cir`cum*den`u*da"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. circum- + denudation.] (Geol.)

Defn: Denudation around or in the neighborhood of an object. Hills of circumdenudation, hills which have been produced by surface erosion; the elevations which have been left, after denudation of a mass of high ground. Jukes.

CIRCUMDUCE Cir`cum*duce", v. t. Etym: [See Circumduct.] (Scots Law)

Defn: To declare elapsed, as the time allowed for introducing evidence. Sir W. Scott.

CIRCUMDUCT Cir`cum*duct", v. t. Etym: [L. circumductus, p. p. of circumducere to lead around; circum + ducere to lead.]

1. To lead about; to lead astray. [R.]

2. (Law)

Defn: To contravene; to nullify; as, to circumduct acts of judicature. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

CIRCUMDUCTION Cir`cum*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumductio.]

1. A leading about; circumlocution. [R.] Hooker.

2. An annulling; cancellation. [R.] Ayliffe.

3. (Phisiol.)

Defn: The rotation of a limb round an imaginary axis, so as to describe a concial surface.

CIRCUMESOPHAGAL Cir`cum*e*soph"a*gal, a. Etym: [Pref. circum + esophagal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding the esophagus; -- in Zool. said of the nerve commissures and ganglia of arthropods and mollusks.

CIRCUMESOPHAGEAL Cir`cum*e`so*phag"e*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Circumesophagal.

CIRCUMFER Cir"cum*fer, v. t. Etym: [L. circumferre; circum + ferre to bear. See lst Bear.]

Defn: To bear or carry round. [Obs.] Bacon.

CIRCUMFERENCE Cir*cum"fer*ence, n. Etym: [L. circumferentia.]

1. The line that goes round or encompasses a circular figure; a periphery. Millon.

2. A circle; anything circular. His ponderous shield . . . Behind him cast. The broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon. Milton.

3. The external surface of a sphere, or of any orbicular body.

CIRCUMFERENCE Cir*cum"fer*ence, v. t.

Defn: To include in a circular space; to bound. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

CIRCUMFERENTIAL Cir*cum`fer*en"tial, a. Etym: [LL. circumferentialis.]

Defn: Pertaining to the circumference; encompassing; encircling; circuitous. Parkhurst.

CIRCUMFERENTIALLY Cir*cum`fer*en"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: So as to surround or encircle.

CIRCUMFERENTOR Cir*cum`fer*en"tor, n. Etym: [See Circumfer.]

1. A surveying instrument, for taking horizontal angles and bearings; a surveyor's compass. It consists of a compass whose needle plays over a circle graduated to 360º, and of a horizontal brass bar at the ends of which are standards with narrow slits for sighting, supported on a tripod by a ball and socket joint.

2. A graduated wheel for measuring tires; a tire circle.

CIRCUMFLANT Cir"cum*flant, a. Etym: [L. circumflans, p. pr. of circumflare.]

Defn: Blowing around. [Obs.] Evelyn.

CIRCUMFLECT Cir"cum*flect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumflected; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumflecting.] Etym: [L. circumflectere. See Circumflex.]

1. To bend around.

2. To mark with the circumflex accent, as a vowel. [R.]

CIRCUMFLECTION Cir`cum*flec"tion, n.

Defn: See Circumflexion.

CIRCUMFLEX Cir"cum*flex, n. Etym: [L. circumflexus a bending round, fr. circumflectere, circumflexum, to bend or turn about; circum + flectere to bend. See Flexible.]

1. A wave of the voice embracing both a rise and fall or a fall and a rise on the same a syllable. Walker.

2. A character, or accent, denoting in Greek a rise and of the voice on the same long syllable, marked thus [~ or Accent, n., 2.

CIRCUMFLEX Cir"cum*flex, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumflexed; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumflexing.]

Defn: To mark or pronounce with a circumflex. Walker.

CIRCUMFLEX Cir"cum*flex, a. Etym: [Cf. L. circumflexus, p. p.]

1. Moving or turning round; circuitous. [R.] Swift.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Curved circularly; -- applied to several arteries of the hip and thigh, to arteries, veins, and a nerve of the shoulder, and to other parts.

CIRCUMFLEXION Cir`cum*flex"ion, n.

1. The act of bending, or causing to assume a curved form.

2. A winding about; a turning; a circuity; a fold.

CIRCUMFLUENCE Cir*cum"flu*ence, n.

Defn: A flowing round on all sides; an inclosing with a fluid.

CIRCUMFLUENT; CIRCUMFLUOUS Cir*cum"flu*ent, Cir*cum"flu*ous, a. Etym: [L. circumfluere, p. pr. of circumfluere; circum + fluere to flow; also L. circumfluus.]

Defn: Flowing round; surrounding in the manner of a fluid. "The deep, circumfluent waves." Pope.

CIRCUMFORANEAN; CIRCUMFORANEOUS Cir`cum*fo*ra"ne*an, Cir`cum*fo*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. circumforaneus found in markets; circum + forum a market place.]

Defn: Going about or abroad; walking or wandering from house to house. Addison.

CIRCUMFULGENT Cir`cum*ful"gent, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + fulgent.]

Defn: Shining around or about.

CIRCUMFUSE Cir`cum*fuse", v. t. Etym: [L. circumfusus, p. p. of circumfundere to pour around; circum + fundere to pour.]

Defn: To pour round; to spread round. His army circumfused on either wing. Milton.

CIRCUMFUSILE Cir`cum*fu"sile, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. fusilis fusil, a.]

Defn: Capable of being poured or spread round. "Circumfusile gold." Pope.

CIRCUMFUSION Cir`cum*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. circumfusio.]

Defn: The act of pouring or spreading round; the state of being spread round. Swift.

CIRCUMGESTATION Cir`cum*ges*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumgestare to carry around; circum + gestare to carry.]

Defn: The act or process of carrying about. [Obs.] Circumgestation of the eucharist to be adored. Jer. Taylor.

CIRCUMGYRATE Cir`cum*gy"rate, v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. circum- + gyrate.]

Defn: To roll or turn round; to cause to perform a rotary or circular motion. Ray.

CIRCUMGYRATION Cir`cum*gy*ra"tion, n.

Defn: The act of turning, rolling, or whirling round. A certain turbulent and irregular circumgyration. Holland.

CIRCUMGYRATORY Cir`cum*gy"ra*to*ry, a.

Defn: Moving in a circle; turning round. Hawthorne.

CIRCUMGYRE Cir`cum*gyre", v. i.

Defn: To circumgyrate. [Obs.]

CIRCUMINCESSION Cir`cum*in*ces"sion, n. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. incedere, incessum, to walk.] (Theol.)

Defn: The reciprocal existence in each other of the three persons of the Trinity.

CIRCUMJACENCE Cir`cum*ja"cence, n.

Defn: Condition of being circumjacent, or of bordering ou every side.

CIRCUMJACENT Cir`cum*ja"cent, a. Etym: [L. circumjacens, p. pr. of circumjacere; circum + jac to lie.]

Defn: Lying round; borderong on every side. T. Fuller.

CIRCUMJOVIAL Cir`cum*jo"vi*al, n. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. Jupiter, gen. Jovis, Jove.]

Defn: One of the moons or satellites of the planet Jupiter. [Obs.] Derham.

CIRCUMLITTORAL Cir`cum*lit"to*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + littus, littoris, shore; preferable form, litus, litoria.]

Defn: Adjointing the shore.

CIRCUMLOCUTION Cir`cum*lo*cu"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumlocutio, fr. circumloqui, - locutus, to make use of circumlocution; circum + loqui to speak. See Loquacious.]

Defn: The use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few; indirect or roundabout language; a periphrese. the plain Billingagate way of calling names . . . would save abundance of time lost by circumlocution. Swift. Circumlocution office, a term of riducle for a governmental office where business is delayed by passing through the hands of different officials.

CIRCUMLOCUTIONAL Cir`cum*lo*cu"tion*al, a.

Defn: Relating to, or consisting of, circumlocutions; periphrastic; circuitous.

CIRCUMLOCUTORY Cir`cum*loc"u*to*ry, a.

Defn: Characterised by circumlocution; periphrastic. Shenstone. The officials set to work in regular circumlocutory order. Chambers's Journal.

CIRCUMMERIDIAN Cir`cum*me*rid"i*an, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + meridian.]

Defn: About, or near, the meridian.

CIRCUMMURE Cir`cum*mure", v. t. Etym: [Pref. circum- + mure, v. t.]

Defn: To encompass with a wall. Shak.

CIRCUMNAVIGABLE Cir`cum*nav"i*ga*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being sailed round. Ray.

CIRCUMNAVIGATE Cir`cum*nav"i*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumnavigated; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumnavigating.] Etym: [L. circumnavigatus, p. p. of circumnavigare to sail round; circum + navigare to navigate.]

Defn: To sail completely round. Having circumnavigated the whole earth. T. Fuller.

CIRCUMNAVIGATION Cir`cum*nav`i*ga"tion, n.

Defn: The act of circumnavigating, or sailing round. Arbuthnot.

CIRCUMNAVIGATOR Cir`cum*nav"iga`tor, n.

Defn: One who sails round. W. Guthrie.

CIRCUMNUTATE Cir`cum*nu"tate, v. i. Etym: [Pref. circum- + nutate.]

Defn: To pass through the stages of circumnutation.

CIRCUMNUTATION Cir`cum*nu*ta"tion, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The successive bowing or bending in different directions of the growing tip of the stems of many plants, especially seen in climbing plants.

CIRCUMPOLAR Cir`cum*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + polar.]

Defn: About the pole; -- applied to stars that revolve around the pole without setting; as, circumpolar stars.

CIRCUMPOSITION Cir`cum*po*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumpositio, fr. circumponere, - positium, to place around.]

Defn: The act of placing in a circle, or round about, or the state of being so placed. Evelyn.

CIRCUMROTARY; CIRCUMROTATORY Cir`cum*ro"tary, Cir`cum*ro"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + rotary, rotatory.]

Defn: turning, rolling, or whirling round.

CIRCUMROTATE Cir`cum*ro"tate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. circumrotare; circum + rotare to turn round.]

Defn: To rotate about. [R.]

CIRCUMROTATION Cir`cum*ro*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The act of rolling or revolving round, as a wheel; circumvolution; the state of being whirled round. J. Gregory.

CIRCUMSCISSILE Cir`cum*scis"sile, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + scissle.] (Bot.)

Defn: Dehiscing or opening by a transverse fissure extending around (a capsule or pod). See Illust. of Pyxidium.

CIRCUMSCRIBABLE Cir`cum*scrib"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being circumscribed.

CIRCUMSCRIBE Cir`cum*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumscribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumscribing.] Etym: [L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum + scribere to write, draw. See Soribe.]

1. to write or engare around. [R.] Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph. Ashmole.

2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain. To circumscribe royal power. Bancroft.

3. (Geom.)

Defn: To draw a line around si as to touch at certain points without cutting. See Inscribe, 5.

Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ; encircle; inclose; encompass.

CIRCUMSCRIBER Cir`cum*scrib"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, circumscribes.

CIRCUMSCRIPTIBLE Cir`cum*scrip"ti*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being circumscribed or limited by bounds.

CIRCUMSCRIPTION Cir`cum*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumscriptio. See Circumscribe.]

1. An inscription written around anything. [R.] Ashmole.

2. The exterior line which determines the form or magnitude of a body; outline; periphery. Ray.

3. The act of limiting, or the state of being limited, by conditions or restraints; bound; confinement; limit. The circumscriptions of terrestrial nature. Johnson. I would not my unhoused, free condition Put into circumscription and confine. Shak.

CIRCUMSCRIPTIVE Cir`cum*scrip"tive, a.

Defn: Circumscribing or tending to circumscribe; marcing the limits or form of.

CIRCUMSCRIPTIVELY Cir`cum*scrip"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a limited manner.

CIRCUMSCRIPTLY Cir"cum*script`ly, adv.

Defn: In a literal, limited, or narrow manner. [R.] Milton.

CIRCUMSPECT Cir"cum*spect, a. Etym: [L. circumspectus, p. p. of circumspicere to look about one's self, to observe; circum + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy.]

Defn: Attentive to all the circustances of a case or the probable consequences of an action; cautious; prudent; wary.

Syn. -- See Cautious.

CIRCUMSPECTION Cir`cum*spec"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumspectio.]

Defn: Attention to all the facts and circumstances of a case; caution; watchfulness. With silent circumspection, unespied. Milton.

Syn. -- Caution; prudence; watchfulness; deliberation; thoughtfulness; wariness; forecast.

CIRCUMSPECTIVE Cir`cum*spec"tive, a.

Defn: Looking around everi way; cautious; careful of consequences; watchful of danger. "Circumspective eyes." Pope.

CIRCUMSPECTIVELY Cir`cum*spec"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: Circumspectly.

CIRCUMSPECTLY Cir"cum*spect"ly, adv.

Defn: In a circumspect manner; cautiously; warily.

CIRCUMSPECTNESS Cir"cum*spect"ness, n.

Defn: Vigilance un guarding against evil from every quarter; caution. [Travel] forces circumspectness on those abroad, who at home are nursed in security. Sir H. Wotton.

CIRCUMSTANCE Cir"cum*stance, n. Etym: [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 conqoeror weeping for new worlds, or the like circumstances in histery. Addison.

3. Circumlocution; detail. [Obs.] So without more circumstance at all I hold it fit that shake hands and part. Shak.

4. pl.

Defn: 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.

CIRCUMSTANCE Cir"cum*stance, v. t.

Defn: To place in a particular situation; to suppy relative incidents. The poet took the matters of fact as they came down to him and circumstanced them, after his own manner. Addison.

CIRCUMSTANCED Cir"cum*stanced, p. a.

1. Placed in a particular position or condition; situated. The proposition is, that two bodies so circumstanced will balance each other. Whewell.

2. Governed by events or circumstances. [Poetic & R.] "I must be circumstanced." Shak.

CIRCUMSTANT Cir"cum*stant, a. Etym: [L. circumstans. See Circumstance.]

Defn: Standing or placed around; surrounding. [R.] "Circumstant bodies." Sir K. Digby.

CIRCUMSTANTIABLE Cir`cum*stan"tia*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being circumstantiated. [Obs.] Jer Taylor.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL Cir`cum*stan"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. circonstanciel.]

1. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents. The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety. Paley.

2. Incidental; relating to, but not essential. We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship . . . and what is merely circumstantial. Sharp.

3. Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular. Tedious and circumstantial recitals. Prior. Circumstantial evidence (Law), evidence obtained from circumstances, which necessarily or usually attend facts of a particular nature, from which arises presumption. According to some authorities circumstantial is distinguished from positive evidence in that the latter is the testimony of eyewitnesses to a fact or the admission of a party; but the prevalent opinion now is that all such testimony is dependent on circumstances for its support. All testimony is more or less circumstantial. Wharton.

Syn. -- See Minute.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL Cir`cum*stan"tial, n.

Defn: Something incidental to the main subject, but of less importance; opposed to an essential; -- generally in the plural; as, the circumstantials of religion. Addison.

CIRCUMSTANTIALITY Cir`cum*stan`ti*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state, characteristic, or quality of being circumstantial; particularity or minuteness of detail. "I will endeavor to describe with sufficient circumstantiality." De Quincey.

CIRCUMSTANTIALLY Cir`cum*stan"tial*ly, adv.

1. In respect to circumstances; not essentially; accidentally. Of the fancy and intellect, the powers are only circumstantially different. Glanvill.

2. In every circumstance or particular; minutely. To set down somewhat circumstantially, not only the events, but the manner of my trials. Boyle.

CIRCUMSTANTIATE Cir`cum*stan"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumstantiated; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumstantiating.] Etym: [See Circumstantiating (

1. To place in particular circumstances; to invest with particular accidents or adjuncts. [R.] If the act were otherwise circumstantiated, it might will that freely which now it wills reluctantly. Bramhall.

2. To prove or confirm by circumstances; to entr into details concerning. Neither will time permint to circumstantiate these particulars, which I have only touched in the general. State Trials (1661).

CIRCUMTERRANEOUS Cir`cum*ter*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. terra earth.]

Defn: Being or dwelling around the earth. "Circumterraneous demouns." H. Hallywell.

CIRCUMUNDULATE Cir`cum*un"du*late, v. t. Etym: [Pref. circum- + undulate.]

Defn: To flow round, as waves. [R.]

CIRCUMVALLATE Cir`cum*val"late, v. t. Etym: [L. circumvallatus, p. p. of circumvallare to surround with a wall; circum + vallare to wall, fr. vallum rampart.]

Defn: To surround with a rampart or wall. Johnson.

CIRCUMVALLATE Cir`cum*val"late, a.

1. Surrounded with a wall; inclosed with a rampart.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounded by a ridle or elevation; as, the circumvallate papillæ, near the base of the tongue.

CIRCUMVALLATION Cir`cum*val*la"tion, n. (Mil.) (a) The act of surrounding with a wall or rampart. (b) A line of field works made around a besieged place and the besieging army, to protect the camp of the besiegers against the attack of an enemy from without.

CIRCUMVECTION Cir`cum*vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumvectio; circum + vehere to carry.]

Defn: The act of carrying anything around, or the state of being so carried.

CIRCUMVENT Cir`cum*vent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumvented; p. pr. vb. n. Circumventing.] Etym: [L. circumventis, p. p. of circumvenire, to come around, encompass, decieve; circum + venire to come, akin to E. come.]

Defn: To gain advantage over by arts, stratagem, or deception; to decieve; to delude; to get around. I circumvented whom I could not gain. Dryden.

CIRCUMVENTION Cir`cum*ven"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumventio.]

Defn: The act of prevailing over another by arts, address, or fraud; deception; fraud; imposture; delusion. A school in which he learns sly circumvention. Cowper.

CIRCUMVENTIVE Cir`cum*vent"ive, a.

Defn: Tending to circumvent; deceiving by artifices; deluding.

CIRCUMVENTOR Cir`cum*vent"or, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who circumvents; one who gains his purpose by cunning.

CIRCUMVEST Cir`cum*vest", v. t. Etym: [L. circumvestire; circum + vestire to clothe.]

Defn: To cover round, as woth a garment; to invest. [Obs.] Circumvested with much prejudice. Sir H. Wotton.

CIRCUMVOLANT Cir*cum"vo*lant, a. Etym: [L. circumvolans, p. pr. See Circumvolation.]

Defn: Flying around. The circumvolant troubles of humanity. G. Macdonald.

CIRCUMVOLATION Cir`cum*vo*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumvolate. -volatum, to fly around; circum + volare to fly.]

Defn: The act of flying round. [R.]

CIRCUMVOLUTION Cir`cum*vo*lu"tion, n. Etym: [See Circumvolve.]

1. The act of rolling round; the state of being rolled.

2. A thing rolled round another. Arbuthnot.

3. A roundabout procedure; a circumlocution. He had neither time nor temper for sentimental circumvolutions. Beaconsfield.

CIRCUMVOLVE Cir`cum*volve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumvolved; p. pr. vb. n. Circumvolving.] Etym: [L. circumvolvere, -volutum; circum + volvere to roll.]

Defn: To roll round; to cause to revolve; to put into a circular motion. Herrick.

CIRCUMVOLVE Cir`cum*volve", v. i.

Defn: To roll round; to revolve.

CIRCUS Cir"cus, n.; pl. Circuses. Etym: [L. circus circle, ring, circus (in sense 1). See Circle, and cf. Cirque.]

1. (Roman Antiq.)

Defn: A level oblong space surrounded on three sides by seats of wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers one above another, and divided lengthwise through the middle by a barrier around which the track or course was laid out. It was used for chariot races, games, and public shows.

Note: The Circus Maximus at Rome could contain more than 100,000 spectators. Harpers' Latin Dict.

2. A circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship, acrobatic displays, etc. Also, the company of performers, with their equipage.

3. Circuit; space; inclosure. [R.] The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. Byron.

CIRL BUNTING Cirl" bun`ting. Etym: [Cf. It. cirlo.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A European bunting (Emberiza cirlus).

CIRQUE Cirque, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. circus.]

1. A circle; a circus; a circular erection or arrangement of objects. A dismal cirque Of Druid stones upon a forlorn moor. Keats.

2. A kind of circular valley in the side of a mountain, walled around by precipices of great height.

CIRRATE Cir"rate, a. Etym: [L. cirratus having ringlets, fr. cirrus a curl.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having cirri along the margin of a part or organ.

CIRRHIFEROUS Cir*rhif"er*ous, a.

Defn: See Cirriferous.

CIRRHOSE Cir"rhose, a.

Defn: Same as Cirrose.