circumstance

[ sur-kuhm-stans or, esp. British, -stuhns ]
/ ˈsɜr kəmˌstæns or, esp. British, -stəns /

noun

verb (used with object), cir·cum·stanced, cir·cum·stanc·ing.

to place in particular circumstances or relations: The company was favorably circumstanced by the rise in tariffs.
Obsolete.
  1. to furnish with details.
  2. to control or guide by circumstances.

Idioms for circumstance

    under no circumstances, regardless of events or conditions; never: Under no circumstances should you see them again.
    under the circumstances, because of the conditions; as the case stands: Under the circumstances, there is little hope for an early settlement. Also in the circumstances.

Origin of circumstance

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin circumstantia ( circumstant-, stem of circumstāns, present participle of circumstāre to stand round), equivalent to circum- circum- + stā- stand + -nt present participle suffix + -ia noun suffix; see -ance

Example sentences from the Web for circumstances

British Dictionary definitions for circumstances

circumstance
/ (ˈsɜːkəmstəns) /

noun

verb (tr)

to place in a particular condition or situation
obsolete to give in detail

Word Origin for circumstance

C13: from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstāre to stand around, from circum- + stāre to stand

Idioms and Phrases with circumstances

circumstance

see extenuating circumstances; under the circumstances.