circuity
(səˈkjuːɪtɪ)
Also 6 circuitee, cyrcuity.
[a. OF. circuité circuit, ambit, precinct, etc., f. L. circuit-us app. after words like gratuité, vacuité, etc.]
= circuit n., in various senses.
† 1. Ambit, enclosure, compass, area. Obs.
| 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. (1877) 220 (D.) A dominion of muche more large and ample circuitee then the same whiche he was Lorde of before. 1578 Lyte Dodoens vi. lxx. 749 In the circutie or shadowe of the same. 1580 Baret Alv. C. 536 Within the Circuitie of reason. |
2. Circuitous quality; roundabout process.
| a 1626 Bp. Andrewes Serm. (1856) I. 157 Without all circuity, noting, naming, and in a manner pointing to it. 1768 Blackstone Comm. III. 43 It prevents the circuity and delay of justice. 1801 T. Jefferson Writ. (1830) III. 473 The correspondence must involve circuities. 1837–9 Hallam Hist. Lit. iii. ii. §71 His vehemence loses its effect by the circuity of his pleonastic language. 1845 Campbell Chancellors (1857) I. Introd. 8 To avoid the circuity of applying to Parliament. |
b. Law. (See quot. and cf. circuit n. 8 c.)
| 1641 Termes de la Ley 39 When an action is rightfully brought for a duty but yet about the bush, as it were..it is called Circuity of action. |
3. Circular motion.
| 1770 T. Whately Observ. Mod. Gardening 67 (L.) The characteristic property of running water is progress, of stagnant is circuity. |