What does circumstance mean?

Definitions for circumstance
ˈsɜr kəmˌstæns; esp. Brit. -stənscir·cum·stance

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word circumstance.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. circumstancenoun

    a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

  2. context, circumstance, settingnoun

    the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event

    "the historical context"

  3. circumstance, condition, considerationnoun

    information that should be kept in mind when making a decision

    "another consideration is the time it would take"

  4. circumstancenoun

    formal ceremony about important occasions

    "pomp and circumstance"

Wiktionary

  1. circumstancenoun

    That which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things.

  2. circumstancenoun

    An event; a fact; a particular incident.

  3. circumstancenoun

    Circumlocution; detail.

  4. circumstancenoun

    Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings.

  5. circumstanceverb

    To place in a particular situation, especially with regard to money or other resources.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. CIRCUMSTANCEnoun

    Etymology: circumstantia, Latin.

    When men are ingenious in picking out circumstances of contempt, they do kindle their anger much. Francis Bacon, Essays.

    Our confessing or concealing persecuted truths, vary and change their very nature, according to different circumstances of time, place and persons. South.

    Of these supposed crimes give me leave,
    By circumstance, but to acquit myself. William Shakespeare, Rich. III.

    Sense outside knows, the soul thro’ all things sees:
    Sense, circumstance; she doth the substance view. Davies.

    He defended Carlisle with very remarkable circumstances of courage, industry, and patience. Edward Hyde, b. viii.

    The sculptor had in his thoughts the conqueror’s weeping for new worlds, or some other the like circumstance in history. Joseph Addison, on Italy.

    The poet has gathered those circumstances which most terrify the imagination, and which really happen in the raging of a tempest. Joseph Addison, Spectator, №. 489.

    None but a virtuous man can hope well in all circumstances. Francis Bacon, Ornam. Ration.

    We ought not to conclude, that if there be rational inhabitants in any of the planets, they must therefore have human nature, or be involved in the circumstances of our world. Richard Bentley.

    When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations. Joseph Addison, Freeholder, №. 42.

  2. To Circumstanceverb

    To place in particular situation, or relation to the things.

    Etymology: from the noun.

    To worthiest things,
    Virtue, art, beauty, fortune, now I see,
    Rareness or use, not nature, value brings,
    And such as they are circumstanc’d, they be. John Donne.

ChatGPT

  1. circumstance

    A circumstance refers to a fact, condition, situation, or an event that affects or influences an occurrence or outcome. It is often outside of an individual's control and can impact decisions, attitudes, or behaviors.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Circumstancenoun

    that which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things

  2. Circumstancenoun

    an event; a fact; a particular incident

  3. Circumstancenoun

    circumlocution; detail

  4. Circumstancenoun

    condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings

  5. Circumstanceverb

    to place in a particular situation; to supply relative incidents

Wikidata

  1. Circumstance

    "Circumstance" is an allegorical short story written by American author Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford as a periodical in The Atlantic Monthly in 1860. The story takes place in the woods of Maine following an unnamed protagonist who travels to return to home after caring for a sick neighbor. She ventures into the woods where she comes in contact with the Indian Devil who assaults her throughout the story but in this life/death situation she realizes her reality and religion and comes to terms with her life, sexuality and fears. By the end of the story, her husband shoots the Devil with his shotgun in one hand and their baby in the other while the 'true Indian Devils' destroy their home and town.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Circumstance

    sėr′kum-stans, n. the logical surroundings of an action: an accident or event: ceremony: detail: (pl.) the state of one's affairs.—v.t. to place in particular circumstances:—pa.p. cir′cumstanced.—adj. Circumstan′tial, consisting of details: minute.—n. Circumstantial′ity, the quality of being circumstantial: minuteness in details: a detail.—adv. Circumstan′tially.—n.pl. Circumstan′tials, incidentals: details.—v.t. Circumstan′tiate, to prove by circumstances: to describe exactly.—Circumstantial evidence, evidence which is not positive nor direct, but which is gathered inferentially from the circumstances in the case.—In good or bad circumstances, prosperous or unprosperous; In, Under the circumstances, owing to certain conditions. [L. stans, stantis, standing—stāre, to stand.]

The Roycroft Dictionary

  1. circumstance

    1. The fresh banana-peel just around the corner. 2. _Ex-post-facto_ knowledge of a series of incidents, episodes and laws which, had we known before doing something that we should not have done anyhow, we would have done otherwise, in the same way, or not at all. 3. The Shadowy Iago that follows us up and down life's promenades. 4. Man Friday to Chance.

British National Corpus

  1. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'circumstance' in Nouns Frequency: #403

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of circumstance in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of circumstance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of circumstance in a Sentence

  1. Cheryl Dorsey:

    Where was the Taser? why didn't they deploy a Taser? If they didn't have one on scene, they should have had one with an officer who was responding as backup. What was the urgency? There was no exigent circumstance that the officers could not have waited until a Taser arrived on scene.

  2. Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser:

    Religion is a bandage that man has invented to protect a soul made bloody by circumstance.

  3. Mohsen Nazemi:

    They have expressed concern about not being familiar with this type of gas collection and capture, it’s a very unusual circumstance.

  4. Eric Dinerstein:

    This debate— it’s a bit vitriolic, and I don’t think it’s that helpful, what we should be focusing on is the tremendous capacity for tigers to recover if given the right kind of circumstance and protection.

  5. Mary Ann Lisanti:

    I understand that this kind of language is not acceptable under any circumstance and I will do everything I can to regain the trust of my constituents and my colleagues.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

circumstance#10000#16420#100000

Translations for circumstance

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"circumstance." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/circumstance>.

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    the trait of lacking restraint or control; reckless freedom from inhibition or worry
    A hypernym
    B pluck
    C whitewash
    D abandon

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