circum-
(sɜːkəm)
A Latin adv. and prep. meaning ‘around, round about’, much used in composition with verbs, and hence with the ns. and adjs. formed from them, as in circumambulāre to walk about, circumflectĕre to bend round, circumflexus bent round, circumflexio a bending round, etc. Only a few of these survived in OF. (e.g. circoncire to circumcise, circonscrire to circumscribe) and passed thence into Eng. (with circon-, circun-, circum-); but a large number of words adopted from or formed on the Latin, or in accordance with L. analogies, have arisen in modern French, and still more in English, where the analogy has occasionally been extended by prefixing circum-, as a living element, to native or naturalized verbs; e.g. circumbind, circumflow, circumzoned.
A much rarer Latin use (which was however common in Gr. with περί) was in parasynthetic derivatives from circum prep. + n., forming adjectives, as in circumpadānus, (f. circum Padum) lying round the Po, circummurānus around the walls, circumforāneus around the forum, circumcordiālis Tertull. = περικάρδιος, around the heart. This has proved a fruitful analogy for modern compounds, e.g. circumpolar, circumlittoral, etc.
All important words in circum- will be found in their alphabetical places as main-words; but a number of less important or trivial words are collected here, under their respective types.
1. Derivatives and combinations in which circum (= around, about, on all sides) adverbially qualifies (a) verbs, (b) participles and participial adjectives, (c) verbal substantives; as (among combinations of obvious meaning, mostly nonce-words) a. circum-bind, to bind round, circum-ˈcompass, to compass about, circum-flow, circum-glaze, circum-inˈclose, circum-inˈclude, circum-pass, circum-press, circum-roll, circum-sail, circum-ˈspangle, circum-stand, circum-walk; b. circum-ˈbeamed, circum-fixed, circum-flanked, circum-ˈseated, circum-stationed, circum-zoned; so circumˈbendingly adv.; c. circum-gurgiˈtation, circum-miˈgration, circum-revoˈlution, etc.
Similary as † circumˈaggerate v. [L. circumaggerāre], † -aggeˈration (see quots.). † circumcept v., see circumsept. † circumˈcingle v., to girdle round. † circumˈclose v., to enclose about or around. † circumˈcross v., to mark round with a cross. † circumcurˈsation [f. L. circumcursāre to run round about], running round or about; † (?) rambling (in language). circumdenuˈdation, Geol. denudation all around (see quot.). † cirˈcumdolate v. [f. L. circumdolāre to hew off around + -ate3; also in Bailey 1731–66 associated with dolus deceit]. circumeˈrration [L. circumerrāre], wandering or strolling about. † cirˈcumflant a. [L. circumflānt-em pres. pple. of circumflāre], blowing around. † circumˈfodient a. [L. circumfodient-em pres. pple. of circumfodīre to dig round about], ‘that digs or entrenches about’ (Blount Gl. 1656). † circumˈfulgent a. [L. circumfulgēnt-em pres. pple. of circumfulgēre to shine around]. † circumˈfulsed pa. pple. [f. L. circumfuls- pa. pple. of circumfulgēre], shone round. circumˈhabitant a. [L. habitāre to dwell], dwelling around. † ˌcircuminˈvolve v. [L. circuminvolv-ĕre], to surround on all sides, enclose, envelop. ˌcircumitineˈration, a journeying around or about. † circuˈmition [L. circumitiōn-em, f. īre to go]. † circumˈlite v. [f. L. circumlit- ppl. stem of circumlinĕre], to smear round or about; so † circumˈlition [f. circumlitiōn-em]. † circumˈlucid a., bright on every side. † circumˈmortal a., used by Herrick, app. for ‘beyond’ or ‘more than mortal’. circumˈnatant a. [L. natānt-em pres. pple. of natāre to swim], swimming around; so circumˈnatatory a. † circumˈnebulous a., cloudy on every side. † ˌcircumobreˈsistance, ? = next. † ˌcircumobˈsistence, ? surrounding or external opposition. circumpaˈnation [L. panis bread], in eucharistic controversy, a surrounding with bread, the having a ‘bready’ external aspect. † ˌcircumporˈtation [L. portāre to carry], carrying about. † circumˈpulsion (see quots.). † circumˈradiancy, ? = irradiation. circumˈrasion [L. circumrāsiōn-em, f. circumrādĕre to scrape or pare around] (see quots.). † ˌcircumreˈsistency, resistance on all sides. † circumˈroundabout, a circuitous proceeding, a circumlocution. circumˈsept v. [f. L. circumsēpt- ppl. stem of circumsēpīre to hedge or fence round], to surround or enclose as with a fence. † circumˈsist v. [L. circumsistĕre to stand around], ? to surround. † circumˈsistent a. [L. circumsistent-em], surrounding. † circumsonant a. [L. circumsonānt-em], sounding on every side; so † cirˈcumsonate v. [f. L. circumsonāre + -ate3]. † circumˈspacious a., of large extent on every side. circumˈspatial a., pertaining to surrounding space. † circumˈstate v. [L. circumstāre], to stand round. † circumˈstation [L. circumstatiōn-em], standing round. † circumˈstipate v. [L. circumstīpāre], to surround (as a crowd). † circumˈstrue v. [L. circumstruĕre], to build round about. † circumˈtend v. [L. tendĕre to stretch], to stretch around; so circumˈtension, -tention. circumˈundulate v., to flow round in undulations; so ˌcircumunduˈlation. cirˈcumvagant a. [L. circumvagānt-em pres. pple. of circumvagāri to wander about], wandering about (in later edd. of Bailey altered to circumvagrant). † circumˈvect v. [f. L. circumvect- ppl. stem of circumvehĕre], to carry about; so † circumˈvection [L. circumvectiōn-em]. circumˈviron v., to environ on all sides. † circumˈvision (?). circumˈvolitate v. [L. circumvolitāre], to hover around.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., *Circumaggerate, to heap, or cast a heap about. |
| 1678–96 Phillips, *Circumaggeration, a heaping round about. Hence in Kersey, Bailey, Ash. |
| 1635 D. Person Varieties ii. 66 A Comet *circumbeamed about with..long hayre. |
| 1840 New Monthly Mag. LIX. 494 [He] makes his nod *circumbendingly. |
| 1648 Herrick Hesper., Temple 64 The fringe that *circumbinds it too. |
| 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Physicke 154/1 *Circumcingle the Egge with fier. Ibid. 184/2 §2 That he may circumcingle the patient about his body. |
| 1645 Quarles Sol. Recant. xii. 15 Wisdome shall guide thee, Love shall *circumclose thee. |
| c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon (1714) II. 261 The second that *circum-compassed the earthly Globe. |
| 1648 Herrick Hesper., To Silvia, I am holy while I stand *Circum-crost by thy pure hand. |
| a 1677 Barrow Pope's Suprem. 252 (1687) The address..was but a factious *circumcursation of desperate wretches. 1855 Smedley Occult Sc. 334 The object of this circumcursation was simply to exclude the interference of the will. |
| 1882 Geikie Text-Bk. Geol. vii. 925 Eminences detached by erosion from the masses of rock..have been termed hills of *circumdenudation. |
| 1623 Cockeram *Circundolate, to hew round about. [Hence in Blount Glossogr.] 1731 Bailey, To Circumdolate, to chip, or cut about; also to deceive. |
| 1648 Herrick Hesper., To Sir J. Berkley, This citie..seven times *circumflankt with brasse. |
| 1657 Jer. Taylor in Evelyn Mem. (1857) III. 99 That little particle of fire is soon overcome by the *circumflant air. |
| 1843 Blackw. Mag. LIV. 412 China, India, and the seas *circumflowing. |
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., *Circumfulgent, shining about, or on all sides. 1667 H. More Div. Dial. v. §10 (1713) 440 Circumfulgent fire. |
| 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 2038 This lady *cyrcumfulsed with grace. Ibid. ii. 433 With grace circumfulced and lyghtned was Englande. |
| 1590 Greene Never too late O iij b, Assoone as I beganne to *circumglaze her with my Sophistry. |
| 1842 Kingsley Lett. in Life iv, Considering the oscillations and perplex *circumgurgitations of this piece-meal world. |
| 1842 Blackw. Mag. LI. 25 *Circumhabitant infancy and childhood congregate. |
| 1664 Power Exp. Philos. ii. 103 The Ayr..presses..upon the Earth, and all Bodies *circuminclosed by it. |
| Ibid. i. 81 A double Crystalline humour, one *circum-included within the other. |
| Ibid. i. 48 Other Seeds, besides the *circuminvolving Pulpe, are immured in Shells. |
| 1792 Gibbon Lett. in Misc. Wks. (1796) I. 696, I wanted patience to undertake the tedious *circumitineration of the Tirol. |
| 1731–36 Bailey *Circumition, a going about. [1766–1800 the act of going round.] |
| 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 675 Another Cucurbite..well..*circumlited with..clay. |
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., *Circumlition, an annointing about, also a polishing. 1678–96 Phillips Circumlition, a daubing or plaistering about. |
| 1662 Stanley Hist. Chaldaick Philos. (1701) 11/1 The place above the Moon is *circumlucid, or bright throughout. |
| 1833 Lamb Elia, Pop. Fallacies xi. (1860) 417 In their..round of unconscious *circum-migration. |
| 1648 Herrick Hesper., Upon Julia's Breasts, Display thy breasts, my Julia, there let me Behold that *circummortall purity. Ibid. To T. Shapcott, A verse that shall (When hence thy circummortall part is gone) Arch-like hold up thy name's inscription. |
| 1791 E. Darwin Bot. Gard. i. 76 note, With intervals of the *circumnatant fluid between them. 1828 Blackw. Mag. XXIII. 408 The..circumnatant ducks. |
| 1835 Wilson Ibid. XXXVIII. 154 Perch rarely failed you, for..you were sure to fall in with one *circumnatatory school or other. |
| 1662 Stanley Hist. Chaldaick Philos. (1701) 12/1 The place beneath the Moon is *circumnebulous, dark on every side. |
| 1652 Urquhart Jewel Wks. (1834) 289 A fountain..whose nature is to be the colder within itself the greater *circumobresistance of heat be in the aire. |
| 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 258/2 Sleep..is a recession of the heat inward, with a natural kind of *Circumobsistence. |
| 1582 N. T. (Rhem.) 1 Tim. vi. 20 note, Their Companation, Impanation, *Circumpanation, to auoid the true Conuersion in the..Eucharist. |
| 1588 Lett. T. Cavendish in Arb. Garner II. 128 To *Circumpass the whole Globe. c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon §192 (1810) 204 The second that circumpassed..the..globe. |
| 1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. iii. (1636) 106 Their reservation of the Hoast in a Boxe: their *circumportation thereof. |
| 1664 Power Exp. Philos. ii. 117 Upon removal of the *circumpressing Quicksilver. |
| 1681 tr. Willis' Rem. Med. Wks. Voc., *Circumpulsion, a driving about. 1696 Phillips Circumpulsion, is the thrusting forward of all Bodies that are mov'd by the Bodies that lie round about 'em. [Hence in Bailey.] |
| 1673 Gregory in Rigaud Corr. Sc. Men (1841) II. 253 Making insensible the *circumradiancy of celestial bodies. |
| 1731 Bailey II, *Circumrasion (with Botanists), a scraping or raking off the bark round about. 1755 Johnson, Circumrasion, the act of shaving or paring round. |
| 1664 Power Exp. Philos. ii. 101 When the *circum-resistency of other contiguous Bodies to them is removed. |
| Ibid. Pref. 13 *Circumrevolutions [of the Planetary Bodies] about their central Suns. |
| 1812 Sir R. Wilson Private Diary I. 80 The *circum-rolling waves. |
| 1754 Richardson Grandison vi. (1812) 155 (D.) With your hums and your haws, and the whole *circumroundabouts of female nonsense, to stave off the point. |
| 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. xi. lxii. (1612) 271 Ye, of whom are some haue *circum-sail'd the earth. |
| .. Clifton The Group (L.), President and all..*circumseated at an empty board. |
| 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 303 Broad leafs *circumsepted with hard pricks. |
| 1650 Macallo Can. Physick 28 The *circumsisting Aire..maketh the blood more hot and dry. |
| 1625 Bp. R. Montagu Ap. Cæsar 196 Accessory and *circumsistant. |
| 1681 Glanvill Sadducismus i. (1726) 70 The *Circumsonant Clangor of those surrounding Trumpets. |
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., *Circunsonate, to make a sound on all parts, to be heard on every side; to ring about. [Hence in Phillips, Bailey, Ash.] |
| 1648 Herrick Hesper., Ultimus Heroum, When Cato the severe Entred the *circumspacious theater. |
| Ibid. To J. Crofts, Some few immortals..To *circumspangle this my spacious sphere (As lamps for everlasting shining here). |
| 1839 Bailey Festus xix. (1848) 206 A shout..which caused The *circumspatial skies shake. |
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix. (1682) 367 All the *circumstanding knights. |
| 1623 Cockeram *Circunstate, to compasse about. |
| Ibid. ii, A Compassing about..*Circunstation. [In Blount and Ash.] |
| 1850 H. H. Wilson tr. Rig-veda I. 15 The *circum-stationed (inhabitants of the three worlds). |
| a 1734 North Exam. i. iii. §156 (1740) 223 He was well lodged at Whitehall..and *circumstipated with his Guards. |
| 1623 Cockeram, *Circumstrued, built round about. |
| 1684 tr. Bonet's Merc. Compit. iii. 57 A thin Membrane *circumtended like a Valve. |
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1021 The extentions and *circumtentions of right lines. |
| 1835 T. Hook G. Gurney (1850) III. iv. 384 A clear trout-stream *circumundulated the grounds. |
| 1664 Power Exp. Philos. i. 69 The..Observation of the Spirits *circumundulation when the Snail..moved. |
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., *Circunvagant, that wandreth about. 1721– in Bailey. 1755 in Ash. 1878 L. Wingfield Lady Grizel III. xvii. 370 With circumvagrant windings. |
| 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 281 Other grains..are *circumvected by circulators. |
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., *Circunvection, a carrying or conveying about. [In Bailey, Johnson, etc.] |
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi. (1682) 267 The Mountains, that *Circumviron Jerusalem. 1860 All Y. Round No. 43. 401 Those circumvironing cypresses. |
| a 1528 Skelton Vox. Pop. 82 Within the *circumvisions Of your graces domynyons. |
| 1819 H. Busk Vestriad v. 92 He *circumvolitates the prostrate scene. |
| 1648 Herrick Hesper., Sailing fr. Julia, Those deities which *circum-walk the Seas. |
| 1664 Evelyn Sylva (1776) 314 Cones [of the cedar]..*Circum-zoned, as it were, with pretty broad thick scales. |
2. Adjectives in which
circum (
= around, surrounding) prepositionally governs a
n. implied in the second part of the compound; as
circumanˈtarctic,
circumˈarctic around the Antarctic or Arctic pole or circle.
circumˈbasal, around the base.
circumˈcentral, around or about the centre.
circumcoˈlumnar, surrounding a column.
circumˈcorneal, around the cornea of the eye.
circumˈlental, around the crystalline lens of the eye.
circum-Mediteˈrranean, around the Mediterranean Sea.
circumˈmundane [L.
mundus world], surrounding the world.
circuˈmocular [L.
oculus eye], ‘running or extending round the eye’ (
Syd. Soc. Lex.).
circumœˈsophagal,
-eal, surrounding the œsophagus; applied to a ring of nerve-ganglia in Crustaceans.
circumˈpallial, around the pallium or ‘mantle’ of Molluscs.
circumˈspheral, surrounding a sphere.
circumumˈbilical, surrounding the umbilicus.
circumˈzenithal, around or about the zenith.
| 1855–60 Maury Phys. Geog. Sea xi. §511 In the *circumantartic regions, where all is sea. |
| 1880 Watson in Jrnl. Linn. Soc. XV. No. 82. 106 Two stronger *circumbasal threads. |
| 1708 Motteux Rabelais v. xlvii. (1737) 198 In these *Circumcentral Regions. |
| 1880 Watson in Jrnl. Linn. Soc. XV. No. 82. 126 The absence of the *circumcolumnar thread on the base. |
| 1861 Bumstead Ven. Dis. (1879) 710 The *circumcorneal injection. |
| 1879 P. Smith Glaucoma 169 The *circumlental space does not reopen. 1880 Brit. Med. Jrnl. Sept. 388 The circumlental space, i.e. the space which separated the margin of the lens from the ciliary processes. |
| 1881 Nature XXIV. 35 The *circum-Mediterranean fauna. |
| 1884 in N.Y. Tribune 28 Nov., An open, *circummundane, annular sea. |
| 1847–8 Todd Cycl. Anat. IV. 173/2 The eight larger ganglia of the *circumœsophageal ring. |
| 1880 Bastian Brain iv. 75 Distinct branches of the *circumpallial nerves. |
| 1839 Bailey Festus xix. 59/2 A cold..rayonnance As is the moon's of naked light, ungarbed In *circumspheral air. |
| 1881 Watson in Jrnl. Linn. Soc. XV. No. 85. 254 An indistinct and blunt *circumumbilical carina. |
| 1882 Nature XXVI. 312 Astronomical observations without measurement of angles, by M. Rouget. He designates them *circumzenithal. |