circumstance Hear it!

circumstance definition

cir·cum·stance (sʉr′kəm stans′, -stəns)

noun

  1. a fact or event accompanying another, either incidentally or as an essential condition or determining factor circumstances alter cases
  2. any happening or fact; event
  3. conditions surrounding and affecting a person, esp. financial conditions in comfortable circumstances
  4. chance; luck circumstance would have it so
  5. ceremony; show pomp and circumstance
    1. accompanying or surrounding detail
    2. fullness of detail

Etymology: OFr < L circumstantia, a standing around, condition < circumstare < circum, around + stare, stand

transitive verb circumstanced -·stanced′, circumstancing -·stanc′·ing

to place in certain circumstances

Related Forms:

circumstance Idioms

under no circumstances

under no conditions; never

under the circumstances

conditions being what they are or were

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