† circumstantadj.n.
Obsolete.
A. adj.
1. Standing around, surrounding, circumjacent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > [adjective]
circumjacent1490
circumstant1545
circumvoisin1548
environing?a1560
encompassing1571
ambient1572
succingent1578
embracing1590
circling1594
girdling1598
circumdant1600
rounding1600
all round?1611
circumferent1620
circumsistent1625
circuiting1632
circulating1632
encircling1632
surrounding1637
begirting1645
circumambient1648
circumstantial1650
girding1658
skirtingc1735
entwining1737
circumadjacent1780
belting1808
engirdling1843
encyclic1850
engirding1852
zoning1853
roundaboutc1860
begirding1877
wraparound1957
1545 T. Raynald in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. sig. F.viiiv The circumstant colde aer.
a1610 J. Healey tr. Theophrastus Characters 54 in tr. Epictetus Manuall (1636) Turning himselfe to the circumstant multitude.
1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis 47 The braine and the circumstant parts.
1650 R. Baxter Saints Everlasting Rest (1662) ii. x. 279.
1666 J. Sergeant Let. of Thanks 39 Constant Practice of the circumstant Faithfull.
2. Pertaining as a circumstance; incidental, attendant.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > extrinsicality or externality > [adjective] > non-essential
accidental1387
casual1398
incident1523
accidentary?1549
accessarya1555
chanceablea1557
accessory1563
circumstant1583
advenient1594
adventive1605
adventitial1607
circumstantial1608
contingent1628
adventious1633
incidental1644
accessional1646
contingential1647
non-essential1647
extra-essential1667
attachable1798
dividuous1816
inessential1832
peripheral1902
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [adjective]
circumstant1583
circumstanceda1616
circumstantiala1616
circumstantionable1647
circumstantive1866
situational1867
situationist1926
1583 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (ed. 4) II. 1404/1 Such trinckets as were to the foresaid Masse apperteining or circumstant.
1617 S. Collins Epphata to F. T. i. v. 220 Miracles come from no inhærent power..from a circumstant rather, or an attendant.
1656 tr. T. White Peripateticall Inst. 75 The circumstant causes.
3. Circumspect, cautious. rare. [So medieval Latin circumstans.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adjective]
warelyOE
warec1000
adviseda1325
averty1330
aware1340
ferdfula1382
well-advisedc1405
circumspect1430
hooly1513
fearful1526
curiousa1533
chary1542
wareful1548
cautelous1574
cauty1579
careful1580
wary1580
retentive1599
wary1599
ginger1600
circumstant1603
cautel1606
shya1616
cautionate1616
warisome1628
cautiousa1640
circumspectious1649
circumspectivea1674
gingerish1764
safe1874
pussy-footed1893
pussyfooting1926
risk-averse1961
risk-adverse1969
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 248 Aduising him to be very circumspect [1638 circumstant] in his marching.
B. n. plural.
Persons standing round or about, bystanders.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > bystander or onlooker
circumstanta1513
bystander1534
stander-by1534
looker-on?1536
onlooker1550
titlark1800
tricoteuse1828
railbird1894
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. cxxxi. f. lxvii Noon of ye circumstauntis by neclygence gaue answere vnto the bysshop.
1577 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara Chron. 424 He threwe amongst the circumstants, a great summe of money.
1675 R. Burthogge Cavsa Dei 126 The circumstants and standers by.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.n.a1513