cir·cum·stance
(sûŕkəm-stănś)
[Middle English, from Old French circonstance, from Latin circumstantia, from circumstāns, circumstant- present participle of circumstāre, to stand around, circum-, circum-, + stāre, to stand.]
noun
- A condition or fact attending an event and having some bearing on it; a determining or modifying factor.
- A condition or fact that determines or must be considered in the determining of a course of action.
- The sum of determining factors beyond willful control. Often used in the plural: a victim of circumstance; work that will begin on Monday if circumstances permit.
- Financial status or means: “Prior came of a good family, much reduced in circumstances” (George Sherburn)
- Detail accompanying or surrounding an event, as in a narrative or series of events.
- Formal display; ceremony: the pomp and circumstance of a coronation.
- A particular incident or occurrence: Your arrival was a fortunate circumstance. See synonyms at occurrence
transitive verb: -stanced, -stanc·ing, -stanc·es.
- To place in particular circumstances or conditions; situate.
idioms
- under no circumstances
- In no case; never.
- under the circumstances
- Given these conditions; such being the case.
