circumstance

plural circumstances · alternative obsolete circumstaunce

1. countableuncountableSomething which is related to, or in some way affects, a fact or event.

   A victim of circumstance.

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   The report should focus on to the current circumstances of the organisation, to help us find a way to grow in the future.

   She went missing in somewhat spooky circumstances.

   She performed well under/in/given the circumstances.

   The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened.

   1819, Washington Irving, The Broken Heart

   The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely, William, to whom she was passionately attached; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas. […]

   1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Tragedy in Dartmoor Terrace, →OL

2. countableuncountableAn event; a fact; a particular incident, occurrence, or condition (status).

   Then another circumstance happened, which made a lasting impression on my memory, though I was but a small child.

   1834, David Crockett, chapter I, in A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee. […], Philadelphia, Pa.: E[dward] L[awrence] Carey and A[braham] Hart; Boston, Mass.: Allen & Ticknor, →OCLC, page 20

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   I have ſeen Two or Three antique Buſts of Alexander in the ſame Air and Poſture, and am apt to think the Sculptor had in his Thoughts the Conqueror's weeping for new Worlds, or ſome other the like Circumſtance of his History.

   1705, J[oseph] Addison, “Florence”, in Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 413

3. archaiccountableuncountableEvasive or indirect language; circumlocution.

   Right, you are in the right, and therefore / I holde it meet without more circumſtance at all, / Wee ſhake hands and part; […]

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell, published 1603, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]

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   But he (as louing his owne pride, and purpoſes) / Euades them, with a bumbaſt Circumſtance, / Horribly ſtufft with Epithites of warre,

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 310, column 1

   Old Ger. You put vs to a needeleſſe labour ſir, / To runne and winde about for circumſtance, / When the plaine word, I thanke you, would have ſeru'd.

   1614, John Cooke, Greene's Tu Quoque, London: John Trundle, page 83

4. countableuncountableCondition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings.

   She was born into comfortable circumstances.

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   When men are eaſy in their circumſtances, they are naturally enemies to innovations: […]

   1716 May 24 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 42. Sunday, May 14. [1716.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC, page 514

present singular third person circumstances · participle present circumstancing · participle past circumstanced · past circumstanced · alternative obsolete circumstaunce

1. To place in a particular situation, especially with regard to money or other resources.

   Frank muttered something. Tidings had in some shape reached his ears that his father was not comfortably circumstanced as regarded money.

   1858, Anthony Trollope, “Matrimonial Prospects”, in Doctor Thorne. […], volume I, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 184

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   While also taxing Ferrein with the same motives, Diderot's account of his doings is much more circumstanced than La Mettrie's, and also much more amusing, thanks to the interpolation of the «bijoux» motif.

   1949, Diderot Studies, volume 11, page 170